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Who installs walk-in tubs, and how do I find an installer?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. Who Does What on an Ella Installation
  2. How to Find an Installer
  3. What to Give Your Installer Before the Tub Arrives
  4. Who Installs Walk-In Showers
  5. Repairs, Parts and the Warranty After Installation
  6. Related Guides
  7. Related Videos
  8. Common Questions

A local licensed plumber and electrician install a walk-in tub. Ella's Bubbles builds and tests each tub at its facility in Chicago and ships it nationwide, but it does not send technicians and does not perform installations, so the work in your bathroom is done by a contractor you hire, using the owner's manual and Ella's free technical support by phone and email. If you do not already have an installer, the team at (800) 480-6850 can help you get in touch with installers in your area, as Where can I buy an Ella walk-in tub near me? explains.

Who Does What on an Ella Installation

The roles are split cleanly. Your Ella dealer or the team confirms the model, door side, therapy package, faucet and accessories, and the tub is assembled and tested to that configuration before it ships. Installation is local: any licensed plumber and electrician can install the tub using the owner's manual, and your installer can call (800) 480-6850 during the job with questions. Ella technical support is available to the installer by phone, email or video, and it stays available for the life of the tub, since lifetime tech support comes with every Ella tub. What Ella does not do is set the tub, level it, connect the drain and supply lines, run the electrical or fit the faucet. Those are the installer's tasks, and the labor is the installer's responsibility rather than part of the warranty.

How to Find an Installer

  • Ask the team. Call (800) 480-6850 or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support and ask for installers in your area. Ella can refer installers from its nationwide network.
  • Any licensed local plumber and electrician qualifies. Certification by Ella's Bubbles is not required. Look for a licensed, experienced contractor who is willing to read the manual and spec sheet before the tub arrives and to call support during the job rather than improvise.
  • Ask where you purchased. When a dealer or contractor manages the project, they often coordinate the installation, and replacement parts can later ship directly to the installer who will do the work.
  • In Canada, Ella has no installers of its own, so a local licensed contractor does the work there as well.

What to Give Your Installer Before the Tub Arrives

Sharing the spec sheet and the manual with your installer before delivery means the rough-in is ready when the tub arrives. A few items surprise first-time installers and are worth pointing out in advance.

  • The spout ships uninstalled. The open hole in the deck of a new tub is the mounting point for the water spout, which travels with the other loose components and is fitted during the faucet hookup. There Is an Open Hole in the Deck of My New Tub explains what to unpack before reporting anything missing.
  • The 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill sets include different components, so the number of loose parts differs by order. Have the installer match what arrives against the faucet set on the order.
  • The shower column kit needs access to the back side of the tub, so it is installed prior to the final installation of the tub. If you want an overhead shower, plan for it when you order.
  • Ella walk-in tubs drain by gravity through 2-inch drains rather than a pump, so the installer connects them to a proper 2-inch drain line, which is what lets a tub empty in two minutes or less.
  • Keep all packaging material until the installer has confirmed nothing is damaged or missing.

Who Installs Walk-In Showers

The same answer applies to an Ella walk-in shower: a local licensed contractor installs it. Ella's online shower builder tool lets you put together a custom design, and after you build a design a contractor visits your home to measure the space in person and finalize the installation details. An Ella shower kit ships with the stall, the grab bar set listed for that kit, and the drain, but not a shower head, a hand shower, a mixing valve or valve trim, and the wall arrives without a valve cutout, so your plumber selects the valve and cuts the openings. If you would rather add a shower to a walk-in tub, the shower column kit ships from Ella and a homeowner or a local licensed plumber fits it, as described in Can you take a shower in a walk-in tub?. Where Can I Buy an Ella Walk-In Tub or Shower? covers the ordering path for both.

Repairs, Parts and the Warranty After Installation

The split continues after the tub is in. Ella's lifetime parts warranty covers the tub and its supporting equipment for the original purchaser at the original installation address, and verified parts ship without charge. Labor is not covered, and Ella does not send technicians, so the same installer, or a local licensed plumber or electrician, fits the part. How Do I Get a Replacement Heated Seat or Back Pad? shows the pattern: the team confirms the model, ships the pad by parcel carrier, emails the tracking number, and the part can go straight to the installer who will do the work. The warranty on the labor itself comes from the contractor who did the installation, so keep your installer's contact details with your invoice. Improper installation is not covered by the tub's warranty, which is one more reason to hire a licensed, experienced contractor and have them call support before improvising.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Pre-Installation Checks and Tips Before installation, the video emphasizes checking tub dimensions, inspecting for damage, and leak-testing the tub with water.
  2. 1:34 Dual Drain System Installation The video demonstrates how to install Ella's exclusive dual drain system, showing various configurations and recommending a two-inch house drain.
  3. 3:09 Leveling and Door Alignment The technician levels the tub, ensuring proper door alignment for a leak-proof seal, and advises leaving the door unlocked when not in use.
  4. 3:53 Water Supply and Electrical Connections The video shows connecting fast-fill faucets with three-quarter inch supply lines and emphasizes using GFCI-protected outlets and breakers for electrical connections.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Important Installation Disclaimer This video is for educational purposes only and requires licensed contractors to follow local building codes.
  2. 0:16 Ella's Dual Drain Technology Ella's walk-in tubs feature dual 2-inch drains for fast, efficient drainage and overflow protection.
  3. 1:47 Fast Fill Faucet Sets Ella offers five-piece or two-piece fast-fill faucet sets, each with an extendable hand shower and five-foot supply lines.
  4. 2:18 Electrical Components And Leveling Electrical components are clearly marked and accessible, and the tub must be perfectly level before testing.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Preparing for Your Walk-In Tub The video shows the removal of an old tub and the preparation of the space for a new Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub.
  2. 0:31 Unboxing and Leveling the Tub The installer removes the tub's panels to prevent damage and then levels the tub using its adjustable leveling legs.
  3. 1:00 Ella's Dual Drain Technology The video explains Ella's dual drain system and shows different drain configurations for efficient water removal.
  4. 2:03 Water Supply and Electrical Connections The video highlights the importance of shutoff valves, proper supply lines, and dedicated GFCI circuits for the tub.
  5. 2:31 Designing for Easy Access The video recommends incorporating access panels into the bathroom remodel for convenient future servicing of the tub.

Common Questions

Does Ella's Bubbles install the walk-in tubs it builds?
No. Ella's Bubbles manufactures and ships the tub but does not send technicians and does not perform installations. A local licensed plumber and electrician do the installation using the owner's manual, with free technical support from Ella by phone and email.
Do I need an installer certified by Ella's Bubbles?
No. Any licensed local plumber and electrician can install an Ella walk-in tub. Choose a licensed, experienced contractor, share the spec sheet and manual before delivery, and have them call (800) 480-6850 with questions during the job.
Can my installer call Ella's Bubbles during the installation?
Yes. Your installer can call (800) 480-6850 during the job, and Ella technical support is available by phone, email or video. Lifetime technical support comes with every Ella tub, so the same help is there for repairs years later.
Who installs an Ella walk-in shower rather than a tub?
A local licensed contractor. After you build a design in the online shower builder tool, a contractor visits your home to measure the space and finalize the details. Your plumber selects the mixing valve and cuts the valve openings, since the kit ships without them.
Is the installation labor covered by the tub's warranty?
No. The lifetime warranty covers parts only, and Ella ships verified replacement parts without charge. Labor is the responsibility of the installer, and the warranty on the workmanship comes from the contractor who did the installation.
Who installs replacement parts after the tub is in?
Your installer or a local licensed plumber or electrician. Ella ships the part under the warranty, either to the tub's address or directly to the installer, and emails a tracking number. Ella does not send technicians for repairs.

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