Who Installs a Walk-In Tub: a Plumber, an Electrician, or a Contractor?

A walk-in tub is installed by local licensed trades, not by Ella's Bubbles. A licensed plumber makes the water and drain connections, a licensed electrician wires the therapy systems, and a local contractor or dealer installation crew can coordinate the whole job. Ella supplies the tub, the documents and free technical support to whoever does the work, as explained in Who Services an Installed Ella Tub? Parts From Ella, Labor From a Local Pro, and What to Do When the Installer or Dealer Is Gone.

Ella Builds the Tub and Does Not Install It

Ella's Bubbles manufactures the tub and never performs or charges for installation. There are no Ella installation crews, and Ella does not send technicians into the field. The work is done by a licensed, experienced local contractor, and any licensed installer you already trust is welcome to do it. Certification by Ella is not required. If you do not have someone in mind, the team can refer installers from its nationwide network, so reach out through ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your installation address.

Which Trade Does Which Part of the Job

• Licensed plumber. The plumber handles the water supply, the drain connection and the faucet hookup. The water spout ships loose and is mounted into the open hole in the deck during that hookup, as described in There Is an Open Hole in the Deck of My New Tub: That Is Where the Spout Installs.
• Licensed electrician. Therapy systems are wired by an electrician. On a tub with the heated seat and back option, for example, the two heater pads connect to a control box under the tub, and a licensed electrician is the person who fits a replacement pad later, as covered in How Do I Get a Replacement Heated Seat or Back Pad for My Walk-In Tub?.
• Contractor or dealer crew. Where an Ella dealer sells and installs the tub, the dealer's crew handles the installation and the follow-up visits. An independent contractor can coordinate the plumber and electrician in the same way.
• Handyman for small jobs later. Some later work is simple. A complete replacement door bolts to the existing hinges with an Allen wrench, so the installer or a handy family member can do the swap, as noted in Ordering a Complete Replacement Door: What It Includes, What the Team Needs, and How It Installs.

What Ella Provides to Your Installer

Lifetime technical support comes with the tub, and it is available to whoever does the work. The team supports any licensed plumber, electrician or handyman with manuals, videos and a phone or video call while they are on site during business hours, so prior Ella experience is not needed. Ella also shares the tub specifications and the electrical diagrams for the therapies you choose. Installation pricing is set by the contractor and never by Ella, so questions about the cost of the work go to the installer.

Labor Coverage and the Warranty

Installers operate independently and provide their own labor warranties, so ask your installer what coverage they offer and get it in writing before the work begins. Ella backs the tub with its lifetime limited parts warranty for the original purchaser at the original installation address. That warranty covers parts only. Labor, removal, replacement, plumbing and electrical connections, and water damage to the home are not covered, and improper installation is excluded from coverage. When a part fails later, the team diagnoses it with you by phone, photos or live video, ships the verified part under the warranty, and a local licensed professional does the labor.

Related Guides

• Installation Documents for Your Contractor: Spec Sheets, Electrical Diagrams, Manuals and the Live Video Session
• Electrical requirements by model: dedicated GFCI circuits for your walk-in tub
• What Size Water Heater Do I Need for My Walk-in Tub?

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