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Walk-In Tub Models201 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Choosing a Two-Seat Walk-In Tub: Companion, Escape, Tub4Two, and Big4Two ComparedBathing together is one of the most requested features in the walk-in tub world, and Ella's Bubbles offers four two-seat models to make it possible: the Companion, the Escape, the Tub4Two, and the Big4Two. All four share the same core safety and therapy design, with a bright acrylic shell, a low entry threshold, a textured floor, and dual molded seats. The differences come down to overall size, seat widths, and…
• 📖The LayDown Walk-In Tubs: 30x60 vs 32x72 Sizes, Faucet Options, and FeaturesThe Ella LayDown walk-in tubs are the two models built for lying down rather than sitting: the LayDown60 (30 inches by 60 inches) and the LayDown72 (32 inches by 72 inches). Most walk-in tubs are designed for seated bathing, and lying down in a seated walk-in tub is not recommended, so if a full-body soak is what you want, these are the tubs to look at. Both have a tempered glass side-entry door, straight…
• 📖Wheelchair Transfer Tubs Compared: Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60, and TransferXXLElla's Transfer series is built for wheelchair users and for any bather who wants the easiest possible entry and exit. Every model in the family features an extra-wide L-shaped door that swings outward a full 172 degrees and is designed to fit over a toilet, making side transfers from a wheelchair natural and safe. There are five models, sized from a compact 26-inch width up to the bariatric TransferXXL, and this…
• 📖Ella Elite 30x52: Specs, Packages, Jets, and FitThe Ella Elite walk-in tub is the most popular stainless-steel-door model in the line: actual size 30 inches wide by 52 inches long by 35 inches high, a 22 inch seat, 75 gallons unoccupied (35 to 55 gallons with a bather), and a choice of soaking, hydro, hydro plus air, hydro plus independent foot massage or hydro plus microbubble packages. A 7 inch extension panel is included so it fits a standard 60 inch alcove…
• 📖Ella Petite 28x52: The Narrowest Stainless-Door TubThe Ella Petite 28x52 is the narrowest walk-in tub in our stainless-steel inward-swing door family. It is sold as 28 x 52 nominal; the current spec sheet lists an actual size of 27.5 inches wide by 52 inches long by 35 inches high with a 19 inch seat. Use 27.5 inches for any fit planning. A 27 inch figure in one manual table is a known misprint. The Petite in a small bathroom, with its stainless steel and…
• 📖Ella Royal 32x52: Widest Stainless-Door Seat and Triple TherapyThe Ella Royal 32x52 is the widest walk-in tub in our stainless-steel inward-swing door family and the only one offered with the triple Hydro + Air + Microbubble package. The spec sheet lists an actual size of 31.5 inches wide by 52 inches long by 35 inches high, a 23 inch seat (the widest in the stainless family), and 100 gallons unoccupied (45 to 65 occupied). The Royal with the door open and the optional…
• 📖Ella Deluxe 30x55: Extra Legroom With a Fixed Air and Hydro PackageThe Ella Deluxe walk-in tub is the 55 inch stainless-steel-door tub for average to taller bathers who want more legroom without a 60 inch footprint: actual size 29.5 inches wide by 55 inches long by 39 inches high, a 21 inch seat, and about 107 gallons unoccupied. Unlike its siblings in the stainless inward-door family it ships as a fixed dual-massage package, Air + Hydro with LED chromatherapy and ozone…
• 📖Ella Ultimate 30x60: Independent Foot Massage StandardThe Ella Ultimate is our full-length stainless-steel-door tub, and it is always fully jetted: Hydro massage, Independent Hydro Foot and Calf massage on its own pump, and three-speed Air massage are standard. The spec sheet lists an actual size of 29.625 inches wide by 59.50 inches long by 35.75 inches high. Size and fit Actual 29 5/8 x 59 1/2 x 35 3/4 in; crate 33 x 63 x 47 in; net 220 lb, shipping 350 lb.…
• 📖Ella Ultra 30x52: Frameless Aluminum Door, ADA Seat Height, Magnetic PanelsThe Ella Ultra is our inward-swing tub with a frameless brushed aluminum door and frosted tempered glass. The spec sheet lists an actual size of 29.5 inches wide by 52.125 inches long by 40 inches high, a 22 inch seat, and an ADA-compliant 17 inch seat height. It is sold only with jets; there is no soaker Ultra. Size, seat, soaking depth Actual 29.5 x 52 1/8 x 40 in; crate 32 x 54 x 50 in; net 205 lb…
• 📖Ella Capri 30x52: Outward-Swing Door With Independent Foot OptionThe Ella Capri is the 30 x 52 walk-in tub in the U-shape outward-swing door family, and the model the team describes as "exactly like the Monaco, just a little smaller" for homes with 30 inch doors. The spec sheet lists an actual size of 30 inches wide by 52 inches long by 40 inches high, a 20 inch seat, and 85 gallons unoccupied (45 to 65 occupied). The white PVC composite and tempered glass door swings outward…
• 📖Ella Monaco 32x52: Wide Seat Outward-Swing TubThe Ella Monaco 32x52 is the wide-seat walk-in tub in our U-shape outward-swing door family, with a 22.5 to 23 inch seat, a 26 inch shoulder width, and about 42 inches of usable interior. Its technical drawings show an overall length of 51 3/4 inches, a width of 31 3/4 inches, and a height of 39 1/4 inches, with a 3 5/8 inch threshold and a door that swings outward 165 degrees. It is the roomy middle-ground tub…
• 📖Ella Front Entry 32x40: The Compact End-Door TubThe Ella Front Entry walk-in tub is the shortest walk-in tub in the line, with the door at the end instead of the side: actual size 32 inches wide by 40 inches long by 40 inches high, a 25 inch seat, and 70 gallons unoccupied (25 to 55 occupied). It fits narrow spaces where a conventional tub or shower will not, and because the outward U-shape door faces the front it is the one Ella model that is not ordered as…
• 📖Ella Mobile 26x45: The Smallest Walk-In TubThe Ella Mobile 26x45 is the smallest walk-in tub Ella's Bubbles makes: 45 inches long, 26 inches wide (the video quotes 25 3/4), and 39 1/4 inches high, with an outward-swing U-shape door, a 19 to 20 inch seat, and a step-in of about 3 3/4 inches. It is the model to look at when a 52 inch tub will not fit the room or will not pass the doorway, and it still carries a full hydro or air and hydro therapy…
• 📖Ella Lounger 27x59: Narrow Tub for Taller BathersThe Ella Lounger walk-in tub is the narrow tub for taller bathers who do not have a wide space: actual size 27 inches wide by 59 inches long by 40 inches high (27 x 60 nominal; the video gives 26 3/4 inches wide), a 20 inch seat, and 85 gallons unoccupied (45 to 65 occupied). Instead of width it adds length, with nearly 51 inches of interior and a reclined seat, behind an outward-swing U-shape door. The…
• 📖Ella ShaK 36x72: The Largest Single-Seat Walk-In TubThe Ella ShaK 36x72 is the largest single-seat walk-in tub we make, designed for athletes, bariatric bathers, and people about 6 ft 4 and taller. The spec sheet lists an actual size of 36 inches wide by 72 inches long by 39 inches high, a 28 inch seat, and 145 gallons unoccupied (80 to 120 occupied). It ships with the digital-controller Air + dual Hydro package and is the frame that can carry all four…
• 📖Ella Big4One 33x66: Large Single-Seat Tub for Tall and Broad BathersThe Ella Big4One is the large single-seat walk-in tub built for tall or broad bathers, one size below the ShaK. Its spec sheet lists an actual size of 33 1/8 inches wide by 66 inches long by 39.5 inches high, a 24 inch seat, and a water capacity of 127 gallons unoccupied and 75 to 100 gallons occupied, depending on bather size. It uses the outward-swing U-shape door, ships with the digital controller running air…
• 📖Ella Standard 30x52 and Standard60 30x60: Hydro-Only Value TubsThe Ella Standard 30x52 and Standard60 30x60 are our hydro-only value walk-in tubs, built on the inward-swing acrylic S-shape door platform with a single 2 inch drain. Each ships in one configuration: 18 hydro jets with an in-line heater and intensity dial, the 5-piece fast-fill faucet, and a floor drain with an emergency pull chain. The Standard60 is also the only Ella tub offered with the H2 hydrogen and…
• 📖Ella Zen 30x52 and Zen60 30x60: Budget Hydro Tubs With a Single-Lever FaucetThe Ella Zen and Zen60 are our budget hydro-massage tubs, built on the Standard platform with a smaller seat, 17 hydro jets, and the 2-piece single-lever fast-fill faucet in place of the 5-piece set. Both use the inward-swing acrylic S-shape door. Zen 30x52 vs Zen60 30x60 Zen: 29 1/2 x 52 x 37.5 in; seat 20 x 15 in; 65 gallons unoccupied, 30 to 50 occupied; crate 32 x 54 x 49 in; net 210 lb, shipping 310 lb…
• 📖Ella Flow 28x48: The Tub That Fits a 28 Inch DoorwayThe Ella Flow walk-in tub is the compact hydro tub built to pass a 28 inch doorway: actual size 28 inches wide by 48 inches long by 36.5 inches high, a 20 by 13 inch seat, 65 gallons unoccupied (30 to 50 occupied), and 16 hydro jets with an in-line heater. It is the only Ella tub whose spec sheet calls for a 15 amp GFCI outlet, and it ships with an extension panel so it can still fill a standard 60 inch…
• 📖Ella HomeCare 32x60 Transfer Tub: Assisted Bathing With a Pre-Filled TankThe Ella HomeCare Transfer Bathtub (SKU HC3260L or HC3260R) is an assisted-bathing walk-in tub with an 80 gallon internal tank that pre-heats water so the tub fills in about 90 seconds after the bather is seated. Its documentation states it is designed exclusively for assisted bathing, not self-bathing, and must be used under the supervision of a caregiver or trained professional. Ella HomeCare is simply the name…
• 📖HoistAssist and CareGiver Assisted-Bathing Systems: What Is PublishedBeyond the HomeCare tub, Ella's Bubbles lists two assisted-bathing systems: the HoistAssist (Transfer3060HL), a battery-powered hoist paired with a 60 inch tub for bathers who must be lifted in and out, and the CareGiver or Care Assist XL (model LD6632), a lay-down tub with a heated side reservoir of about 105 gallons for caregiver-run bathing. Only spec sheets and drawings are published for these products, so…
• 📖S-Class 3052, 3060 and 3655: Understanding Ella's Legacy SeriesThe S-Class is an earlier Ella walk-in tub series sold in three sizes: the 3052 (30 x 52), the 3060 (30 x 60), and the 3655 (36 x 55) for extra tall and large bathers. If you own an S-Class tub, the videos below are the clearest published record of its features, and support can match parts to your serial number. Lifetime technical support applies to every Ella tub, including these legacy models. An S-Class…
• 📖Soaking-Only Walk-In Tubs: No Jets, No Pumps, No ElectricalYes, most Ella walk-in tubs can be ordered as a soaking-only tub: a walk-in tub with a door and seat, gravity drains, and no pumps. A soaking package has no jets and no jet holes, it needs no electrical outlet unless you add the heated seat and backrest, and it is the quiet, simple choice for bathers who want the safety of a low threshold and a seat without massage. An Elite soaking tub: the same shell and…
• 📖Which Therapy Combinations Fit Which Tub: Hydro, Air, Microbubble, and Foot Massage by ModelWhich therapy combinations fit which walk-in tub comes down to space under the seat. Ella tubs are ordered with one of six therapy packages: Soaking, Hydro, Air + Hydro, Hydro + Microbubble, Hydro + Independent Foot Massage, or Air + Hydro + Microbubble. Any package with two systems is a dual massage package and includes the LED chromatherapy light. Every system has its own pump under the seat, so the bigger the…
• 📖Where Are Ella Tubs Made? Chicago Assembly, Testing, and Company BackgroundElla walk-in tubs are assembled, jetted, and tested to order at our production facility in Chicago, Illinois. Our published FAQ states that the acrylic shells are manufactured in partner factories in Asia, and the company video mentions manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Asia, so the accurate description is "assembled and tested in the USA," not "100 percent made in the USA." The company Family-owned and…
• 📖How Ella Tubs Are Built: Acrylic Shell, Fiberglass Reinforcement, and Stainless FrameEvery current Ella walk-in tub is built the same way: a vacuum-formed acrylic shell reinforced with gel-coated fiberglass, bonded to a rust-proof stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs. The result is a gloss white, non-porous surface that resists mold, mildew, and staining and can be polished if it ever dulls, on a frame that will not rust and that can be leveled on an imperfect floor. This article…
• 📖Find Your Manual, Spec Sheet, Schematic, and Drawings by ModelTo find your Ella walk-in tub manual, spec sheet, schematic or drawings, open the product page for your model on ellasbubbles.com: every page has a Downloads section with the spec sheet, owner's manual, operating and cleaning instructions, and warranty form, plus a Drawings button that opens a dimensioned PDF. Manuals are written per door family rather than per model, so one PDF covers several tubs; the map below…
• 📖What Can and Cannot Be Customized on an Ella Tub: Add-Ons, Special Orders, and Fixed FeaturesYou can customize an Ella walk-in tub in many ways, but only at order time: door hand, therapy package, faucet style and finish, heated seat, aromatherapy, controls, screens and panels are all chosen before the shell is drilled and jetted to match. What cannot change is anything built into the shell: faucet and control locations, jet counts and layouts, tub color, and the therapies themselves once the tub is…
• 📖Ella Pet Spa: Microbubble Grooming Tub SpecsThe Ella Pet Spa is a 51 x 32 inch microbubble grooming tub for dogs and other pets, with a walk-in door, 20 adjustable sidewall jets, a removable platform for small animals, and a microbubble handset with built-in ozone. Billions of microbubbles under 1,000 micrometers penetrate fur and pores to clean, exfoliate, and moisturize, and the ozone sterilization in the handset adds disinfection and odor reduction to…
• 📖Two-Seat Tubs on Video: Big4Two, Escape, Tub4Two and Companion WalkthroughsElla's Bubbles builds four two-seat walk-in tubs, and this page puts the two-seat tubs on video: the Big4Two, the Escape, the Tub4Two and the Companion. All four are true two-seaters, meaning each seat has its own jets and its own share of the systems, and none of them is simply an extra-large single tub. The videos below walk through the family, and the notes under each one stand on their own if you would rather…
• 📖Wheelchair Transfer Tubs on Video: Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60, TransferXXL and the Legacy S-Class 3655Three Ella's Bubbles videos put the wheelchair transfer tubs on video. The first is a product tour of the Transfer30 and Transfer32, the second is a showroom walkthrough of how a bather enters an L-shape door tub and how wide the family runs, and the third presents the legacy S-Class 3655, an older model with a 6 inch threshold. This article tells you which video to watch for which question and puts the on-screen…
• 📖LayDown Tubs on Video: 30x60 and 32x72 Walkthroughs, the Glass Door, the Drain and Where the Controls AreThe Ella LayDown tubs on video come in two sizes, a 30 inch by 60 inch model and a 32 inch by 72 inch model, each orderable with a left or right drain, and three videos show them: a showroom walkthrough of the family, a product video introducing the 3272 and 3060, and a short dimension visual for the 3272. This article explains what each video shows, where the controls sit, how the glass door works, and how the…
• 📖Stainless-Door Tubs on Video: Elite, Royal, Petite, Deluxe and Ultimate WalkthroughsThe Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe and Ultimate share the same stainless steel walk-in tub door: a U-shape brushed stainless steel inward-swing door with a frosted tempered glass panel, removable for cleaning, closed by a chrome locking handle. This page gathers the Ella's Bubbles video tours of that family, one for each model, says what each one shows, lists the shared features you will see in all of them, and…
• 📖Outward U-Door Tubs on Video: Capri, Monaco, Lounger, Front Entry, Mobile, Big4One and ShaKThe outward U-door tubs on video are the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, ShaK and Big4One, the seven models that use the Ella's Bubbles outward-swing U-shape door: a plastic composite and tempered glass door that swings outward 165 degrees and locks with a 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism. Four videos are gathered here: the Capri product tour, the Mobile dimension tour, a short ShaK testimonial and…
• 📖Ultra, Standard, Flow and S-Class on Video: Seat Heights, Soaking Depth, Thresholds and the Legacy LineThis page puts the Ultra, Standard, Flow and S-Class on video. The Ultra is the aluminum-and-glass inward-door tub, the Standard and the Flow are the acrylic inward S-shape door tubs, and the S-Class is a legacy line that appears in older Ella's Bubbles videos. Each current model has a product video, and this article pairs the on-screen figures for seat heights, soaking depth and thresholds with the current spec…
• 📖Choosing a Walk-In Tub on Video: Measuring Yourself, Doorways, Door Styles, Therapies, Hot Water and the Line OverviewChoosing a walk-in tub on video is the easiest way to get it right, and Ella's Bubbles has a short series that does exactly that: one video on measuring your body for the right seat, one on measuring doorways, one on hot water supply, one on soaking depth, a longer video that also covers door styles and therapies, and an overview of the whole line recorded for Ella partners. Four are embedded below with a…
• 📖Fiji 36x66 and Solo 32x60 Infusion Microbubble Alcove Bathtubs: Specs, Electrical and WarrantyThe Fiji and the Solo are conventional alcove acrylic bathtubs from Ella's Bubbles with the Infusion Microbubble Therapy system built in. They are not walk-in tubs: there is no door, no seat and no threshold, so you step over the side as you would with any standard alcove tub. What they add is the same microbubble system used on the walk-in line, which pressurizes the water with air and releases a cloud of tiny…
• 📖Legacy Ella Models: Chi OAC3252, Malibu OA3052, Tramo WT5932 and the Gel Coat Wheelchair-Access LineLegacy Ella models such as the Chi OAC3252, the Malibu OA3052, the Tramo WT5932 wheelchair transfer tub and the gel coat wheelchair-access line are no longer in production, but many are still in daily use, and Ella's Bubbles, founded in 2005, still supports them with lifetime technical support and a Legacy Parts section. Below are the printed facts for each line, the older manuals that apply to 2017 and 2018…
• 📖Walk-In Tub or Low-Threshold Shower? Comparing Ella Options for Mobility, Space and CaregiversWalk-in tub or low-threshold shower? Both an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub and a low-threshold shower make bathing safer than a conventional tub, and the choice usually comes down to four things: whether you want to soak or to shower, how low the entry needs to be, how much help a caregiver needs to give, and how much plumbing and electrical work your bathroom can take. Here is a plain comparison drawn from the…
• 📖Ella Transfer26 26x52: The Narrowest Wheelchair Transfer Tub, on VideoThe Ella Transfer26 is the narrowest wheelchair-accessible walk-in tub in the Ella's Bubbles lineup. Its actual size is 26 inches wide by 52 inches long by 40 inches tall, it carries a 19 inch wide seat, and it uses the same oversized L-shaped outward-swing door as the rest of the Transfer family. It was designed for petite to average bathers and for bathrooms where a wider tub simply will not fit, and an included…
• 📖Ella Transfer30 30x52: Specs, Packages, Seat Size and Color OptionsThe Ella Transfer30 is the standard-size member of the wheelchair-accessible Transfer family and, according to its product page, the most popular one. Its actual size is 30 inches wide by 52 inches long by 40 inches tall with a 22 inch wide molded seat. It uses the 36 inch wide L-shaped outward-swing door with the two-latch gear and shaft lock, ships with an 8 inch extension panel for 60 inch alcoves, and is…
• 📖Ella Transfer32 32x52: Wide-Seat Transfer Tub With Three-System PackagesThe Ella Transfer32 is the wide-seat 52 inch model in the wheelchair-accessible Transfer family. Its actual size is 32 inches wide by 52 inches long by 40 inches tall, and the extra 2 inches over the Transfer30 go into a roomier 24 inch wide molded seat. It is also the smallest Transfer model to offer a three-system package that combines air massage, hydro massage and Infusion microbubble therapy in one tub.…
• 📖Ella Transfer60 30x60: Full-Length Transfer Tub With Dual Hydro Pumps, on VideoThe Ella Transfer60 is the full-length member of the wheelchair-accessible Transfer family, built for taller bathers who want more leg room. Its actual size is 29 1/2 inches wide by 60 inches long by 40 inches tall with a 22 inch wide seat, and because it already fills a 60 inch opening it is the one Transfer model that does not list an extension panel. Its signature is the dual hydro pump layout: one pump for the…
• 📖Ella TransferXXL 36x55: The Bariatric Transfer Tub With the Widest SeatThe Ella TransferXXL is the bariatric model of the wheelchair-accessible Transfer family and the largest low-threshold walk-in tub Ella's Bubbles makes. Its actual size is 36 inches wide by 55 inches long by 40 inches tall, and it carries a 29 inch wide molded seat, the widest seat in the entire lineup. It uses the same 36 inch wide L-shaped outward-swing door and two-latch gear and shaft lock as the rest of the…
• 📖Getting Into a Transfer Tub: Three Entry Methods and How the L-Door Is Built, on VideoA Transfer tub is built so that nothing stands between the bather and the seat. Because the L-shaped door swings outward and there is no sidewall beside the seat, you can get in three ways: transfer directly from a wheelchair, sit on the seat and swing your legs in, or simply step in and sit down. This walkthrough follows a factory presentation video that explains those three methods, how the door itself is built…
• 📖Ella Big4Two 36x80: The Largest Two-Seat Tub, on VideoThe Ella Big4Two is the largest two-seat walk-in tub Ella's Bubbles makes. Its actual size is 36 inches wide by 80 inches long by 40 inches tall, with two molded seats of 22 and 24 inches facing each other across the longest interior of any Ella two-seater. It holds 145 gallons unoccupied, fills through twin two-piece fast-fill faucets, runs its therapies from digital controls, and closes with a U-shaped outward…
• 📖Ella Tub4Two 32x60: The Two-Seat Tub That Fits a Standard 60 Inch OpeningThe Ella Tub4Two is the two-seat walk-in tub that fits inside a standard 60 inch bathtub opening. Its actual size is 32 inches wide by 60 inches long by 40 inches tall, with two molded seats of 20 and 22 inches facing each other, and it comes standard with an independent foot massage on its own pump. It uses the U-shaped outward-swing door with the three-latch gear and shaft lock, the same door family as the…
• 📖Ella Companion 32x60: Two Seats Behind a Removable Stainless Steel DoorThe Ella Companion walk-in tub is a two-seat walk-in tub built to fit a standard 60 inch alcove: 32 inches wide by 60 inches long by 40 inches tall, with two facing molded seats of 23 and 25 inches behind a removable, inward-swinging brushed stainless steel door with frosted tempered glass. It is designed for petite to average-sized bathers who want to bathe together, and because the door swings into the tub it…
• 📖Ella Escape 36x72: The Widest-Seat Two-Person TubThe Ella Escape walk-in tub is the two-seat walk-in tub with the widest seats Ella's Bubbles offers: 27 inches on one side and 29 inches on the other. Its actual size is 36 inches wide by 72 inches long by 40 inches tall, it holds 145 gallons unoccupied, and it uses the inward-swinging removable brushed stainless steel door with frosted tempered glass. It ships with twin two-piece fast-fill faucets and two…
• 📖Safety Certifications on Ella Tubs and Faucets: UL, ETL, CSA and IAPMO Marks, Where the Label Is, and What They Mean for CanadaYes. Ella walk-in tubs are built and tested to the North American standards for hydromassage bathtubs. When a customer, an installer or a building inspector asks, the team's standard answer is that our tubs conform to UL Standard 1795 (Hydro Massage Tub) and CSA Standard C22.2 No. 218.2, that the pumps, in-line heaters and other electrical components are ETL certified and clearly marked, and that the listing…
• 📖Using Your Own Faucet: No-Faucet Orders, Pre-Drilled Decks, Wall-Mount Options, and Which Tubs Require a Customer-Supplied FaucetYes, you can pair an Ella walk-in tub with your own faucet, and on one model you have to. Every seated Ella tub is normally ordered with its fast-fill faucet set and pull-out hand shower already included. The LayDown60 is the exception: it has no faucet option at all and always needs a customer-supplied faucet, usually wall-mounted. The LayDown72 lets you choose No Faucet, 2-piece or 5-piece at order time. On the…
• 📖Assisted Bathing Options Compared: HomeCare 32x60 Pre-Filled Tank, HoistAssist Battery Hoist Tub, CareGiver Lay-Down With 400L Tank, and When a Transfer Tub Is EnoughWhen a caregiver does the bathing, the right Ella tub depends on how the bather gets in and how the tub is filled. The HomeCare 32x60 is a caregiver-only transfer tub with a built-in 80 gallon pre-filled tank that fills the tub in about 90 seconds at a preset temperature. The HoistAssist (Transfer3060HL) pairs a transfer tub with a battery hoist rated for about 440 pounds, and it is the one tub the team points to…
• 📖Walk-In Tub Versus a Regular Bathtub: Seven Practical Differences in Entry, Seating, Fill and Drain, Water Use, Electrical, Installation and CleaningA walk-in tub is a bathtub you enter through a sealed door, sit in on a built-in seat, and leave after the water has drained. A regular bathtub is an open basin you climb into over a high wall and lie down in. That single difference in how you get in changes almost everything else: the seating, the fill and drain sequence, how much water you use, whether you need an electrician, how the tub fits the alcove, and…
• 📖How to Read an Ella Spec Sheet: Actual Versus Nominal Size, Shipping Size, Occupied Versus Unoccupied Capacity, Package Jet Tables, Amp Disclaimers and Known MisprintsThe spec sheet prints the actual, measured size of the tub, while the product page and brochure print a rounded nominal size, so when the sheet says 27.5 inches and the page says 28, the sheet is right and the sheet is what you plan an installation around. That rule, actual beats nominal, is the first of a handful you need to read an Ella spec sheet confidently. The others: use the shipping size for doorways, use…
• 📖Common Model Questions: Soakers Without Jets, Big Tubs Without Jets, Colors, Off-White Transfer Tubs, Royal Versus Ultimate, Two-Seat Doors, Inward-Only Models and Front Entry Faucet SideMost sit-down Ella tubs can be ordered as soakers, the tubs come in white, the two-seat models differ mainly by door type and size, and every model except the Front Entry can be built with the door on the left or the right. Those are the short answers to the questions we hear most often when someone is narrowing the list. Here are thirteen of them with the detail behind each, and a link to the profile article for…
• 📖Your Standard, Zen or Flow Owner's Manual, Section by Section, With the Corrections to KnowThis page walks through the printed owner's manual that comes with the Ella Standard, Zen and Flow walk-in tubs, section by section, and points out the printed lines that have since been corrected. It covers the Standard Acrylic Walk In Bathtub Owners Manual (24 numbered pages plus covers, dated 3/22/23), the ZEN manual (same date and page count) and the Ella Flow 28x48 manual (24 pages, dated 6/13/23). Keep the…
• 📖Older Operations Instructions Still Online: Which Ones Exist, Which Tubs They Match, and Where They Differ From Today's ManualsThis page lists the older operations instructions that are still online at ellasbubbles.com, explains which tubs each one matches, and shows where their wording differs from the current owner's manuals and published support pages. If you found one through a search engine or an old bookmark, this page tells you how much of it to trust. The five legacy documents and their URLs Document Location on…
• 📖Where Everything Is on a Stainless Steel Door Tub: The Brochure Callout Diagram Explained (Elite Shown With Air + Hydro)This page explains the labeled callout diagram printed in the Ella Stainless Steel and Tempered Glass Door Acrylic Walk-In Tubs brochure, so you can match each label to the part on your own tub. The brochure covers the inward-swing stainless steel door family (Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe and Ultimate) and draws its diagram on an Elite fitted with the Air plus Hydro jetting option. Facts on this page come from…
• 📖Where Everything Is on the Ella Ultra: The Brochure Callout Diagram and Its Jet Count Table by PackageThis page explains the labeled callout diagram and the jet count table printed in the Ella Ultra brochure, so you can find each part on your own tub and know exactly how many jets your package includes. It is drawn from the Ella Ultra Updated Brochure and cross-checked against the current Ultra spec sheet (dated 6/7/23). The Ultra is the 30 inch by 52 inch acrylic tub with the S-shape inward-swing door in brushed…
• 📖Where Everything Is on a U-Shape Outward-Swing Tub: The Brochure Callout Diagram Explained (Capri Shown With Air + Hydro)This page explains the labeled callout diagram printed in the Ella U-Shape Outward Swing Door Acrylic Walk-In Tubs brochure, so you can match every label to the part on your own tub. The brochure covers the seven outward-swing models (Capri, Monaco, Lounger, Big4One, Shak, Front Entry and Mobile) and draws its diagram on a Capri fitted with the Air plus Hydro option. Facts here come from that brochure and from the…
• 📖Where Everything Is on a Transfer Tub: The Brochure Callout Diagram Explained (Transfer30 Shown With Air + Hydro)This page explains the labeled callout diagram printed in the Ella Wheelchair Accessible Transfer Walk-In Tub brochure, so you can match each label to the part on your own tub. The brochure covers the five Transfer models (Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL) and draws its diagram on a Transfer30 fitted with the Air plus Hydro option. Facts come from that brochure and the current…
• 📖Your Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door Owner's Manual, Section by Section, With the Corrections to Know (Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, Ultimate)This page walks you through the printed owner's manual that ships with the stainless steel inward-swing door family: the Ella Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe and Ultimate. It is based on the 28-page "stainless-steel-door" owner's manual dated 6/15/23 and flags the printed lines our current published documents have since corrected. If your tub is a different family, start at manuals, spec sheets and drawings by…
• 📖Your Ella Ultra Owner's Manual, Section by Section, With the Corrections to KnowThis page is a section-by-section guide to the Ella Ultra owner's manual, the 27-page "Ella Acrylic Walk In Bathtubs Owners Manual" dated 6/15/23 that covers the Ultra 30"W x 52"L and its inward-swing door of brushed aluminum and frosted tempered glass, the S-shape door. It also explains the older operations-only PDF still linked from the Ultra page and calls out the printed lines our current published documents…
• 📖Your Outward-Swing Door Owner's Manual, Section by Section, With the Corrections to Know (Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, Big4One)This page walks through the owner's manual for the outward-swing door family, the Ella Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak and Big4One. It draws on the 28-page "outward-swing-door" owner's manual dated 6/15/23, the October 2021 operations instructions, and the short Front Entry operations sheet, and it flags the printed lines our current published documents have since corrected, including one entry…
• 📖Your Transfer Tub Owner's Manual, Section by Section, Plus the Legacy Transfer Operations Sheet (Transfer26, 30, 32, 60, XXL)This page is a section-by-section guide to the owner's manual for the Ella Transfer family: the Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL. It is drawn from the 28-page manual dated 6/15/23 that the site serves under two download names, plus the legacy Transfer operations sheet still hosted at the older /pdf/ address, which adds a few details the full manual leaves out. Printed lines since…
• 📖Your Two-Seat Tub Owner's Manual, Section by Section (Tub4Two, Companion, Escape, Big4Two)This page walks through the owner's manual for the Ella two-seat family: the Tub4Two, Companion, Escape and Big4Two. It is based on the 28-page "two-seat" owner's manual dated 6/15/23, with a few feature details confirmed from the two-seat brochure, and it flags the printed lines that our current published documents have since corrected. For a side-by-side look at the four models, see the two-seat tub comparison…
• 📖Your LayDown Owner's Manual, Section by Section (30x60 and 32x72)This page walks through the owner's manual for the Ella LayDown tubs, the "ELLA LAY-DOWN WALK IN TUBS 30"x60" and 32"x72" OWNERS MANUAL," a 23-page document dated 6/15/23. One manual covers both sizes, and the site links the very same file from the LayDown60 and LayDown72 pages. This guide maps its sections, explains which pages apply to which size and configuration, and flags the printed lines that our current…
• 📖Where Everything Is on a Two-Seat Tub: The Brochure Callout Diagram Explained (Big4Two Shown With Air + Hydro)This page explains the labeled component diagram printed in the Ella's Bubbles Two Seats Acrylic Walk-In Tubs brochure. The diagram shows a Big4Two 36 with the Air plus Hydro therapy option, and every callout on it is covered here. We also compare the brochure's sizes with the jet counts on the Big4Two and Escape spec sheets. What the brochure diagram shows The brochure covers four models: Big4Two, Escape…
• 📖Where Everything Is on a LayDown Tub: The Brochure Callout Diagram Explained (32x72 Shown With Air Massage)This page explains the labeled component diagram printed in the Ella's Bubbles Lay Down Acrylic Walk-In Tubs brochure. The diagram shows the 32"W x 72"L LayDown with the Air Massage option, and each of its eleven callouts is described here. We also point out where the brochure's family-level wording is broader than what ships with each size. What the brochure diagram shows The LayDown brochure covers two…
• 📖What Is the HomeCare Transfer Bathtub?The HomeCare Transfer Bathtub, model HC3260L or HC3260R and often called the HomeCare 32x60 or the tank tub, is Ella's assisted-bathing tub with an 80 gallon internal tank that pre-heats water so the tub fills in about 90 seconds after the bather is seated. It is designed for caregiver-supervised bathing only, never for self-bathing, so the bather is not left sitting in an empty tub while it slowly fills. The…
• 📖What Is a Soaking Walk-In Tub?A soaking walk-in tub, often called a soaker or the soaker configuration, is an Ella walk-in tub ordered with no jets, no pumps and no therapy controls. It keeps the same door, seat, faucet, hand shower and drain hardware as the jetted version of the model, with a smooth interior and nothing to switch on: the quiet, simple choice for bathers who want safety and comfort without massage. A soaker keeps the door…
• 📖What Are the Acrylic Shell and Stainless Steel Frame on a Walk-In Tub?The acrylic shell and stainless steel frame are the construction of every current Ella walk-in tub: a vacuum-formed acrylic and ABS shell reinforced with gel-coated fiberglass, bonded to a rust-proof stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs. The acrylic gives a gloss white, non-porous bathing surface that resists mold, mildew and staining, and the stainless frame carries the pumps and plumbing and…
• 📖What Is HoistAssist on a Walk-In Tub?HoistAssist is Ella's Transfer3060HL assisted-bathing system, sometimes called the hoist tub, bath hoist or patient lift tub. It pairs a battery-powered hoist with a 60 inch walk-in tub, shell LOLA3060, so a caregiver can lift a bather who cannot stand or slide across into the tub and back out again. The HoistAssist hoist rolls up to the tub door; a fast-fill tank is shown alongside in this product image.…
• 📖Is My Tub Door Inward or Outward Swing, and Which Door Do I Have?If you are wondering which door your tub has, the model name settles it, because every Ella model belongs to one door style. The Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, ShaK and Big4One have an outward-swing U-shape door made of white PVC composite and tempered glass with a 3 latch gear and shaft mechanism. The Tub4Two and Big4Two share that outward U-shape door, while the Companion and Escape have…
• 📖Does the Ella Standard Have Dual Drains?No, the Ella Standard does not have dual drains, and that is by design. If the website says single drain but you were told all tubs have dual drains, the website is right for this model: the Standard ships with one 2 inch gravity floor drain with an overflow and an emergency pull-up chain. The Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow share a single-drain platform; dual drains belong to our other walk-in families.…
• 📖What a UL, ETL or CSA Listing Covers and How to Read the Label on a Walk-In TubA UL, ETL or CSA mark on a walk-in tub tells an inspector, an electrician or an owner that the equipment was evaluated against a published safety standard by an independent laboratory. Ella walk-in tubs are built to conform to UL Standard 1795 for hydromassage bathtubs and CSA Standard C22.2 No. 218.2, and the pumps, in-line heaters and other electrical components inside the tub are ETL certified and clearly…
• 📖How Ella Walk-In Tubs and Their Published Documents Have Changed: A Revisions TimelineElla walk-in tubs have been documented in several generations of published paper: warranty editions dated May 2013, 2018 and 2019, operations sheets from 2021, full owner's manuals from 2023, spec sheets revised from 2023 through 2026, and therapy schematics with their own revision dates. Because older files stay online and printed copies stay on shelves, two documents can disagree. This page lays out the dated…
• 📖Walk-in Tub Model Highlights: Longer, Deluxe, Monaco, and Transfer XXLElla's Bubbles offers several walk-in tub models built around different bathing preferences, from stretching out to sitting up in deeper water, along with swing-in and swing-out door options and a range of therapy features. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can help match a model to your bathroom and the way you like to bathe. Longer Model: Built for Stretching Out The Longer model measures 27 by 60…
• 📖Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs: A General OverviewElla's Bubbles is a manufacturer of luxury walk-in tubs, assembled in America at the company's facility in Chicago, with walk-in showers also available for anyone who prefers a shower-based bathing option. What Ella's Bubbles Offers Ella's Bubbles offers a line of luxury walk-in tubs designed for a safer, more comfortable bathing experience. In addition to walk-in tubs, the company offers walk-in showers, giving…
• 📖What Products Does Ella's Bubbles Offer?Ella's Bubbles focuses on walk-in tubs and safety bathing equipment, and also offers acrylic shower walls and shower bases. Products ship out from Ella's Bubbles' Chicago warehouse to its dealer network, so the specific models and shower components available to you depend on your local Ella dealer. Walk-In Tubs and Safety Bathing Equipment Walk-in tubs and related safety bathing equipment are the core of the…
• 📖How to Get the Spec Sheet and Manual for Your Ella Walk-In Tub ModelThe spec sheet and the owner's manual for every current Ella walk-in tub are available as PDF downloads on that model's page at ellasbubbles.com, under the Downloads tab. Electrical diagrams for each therapy system are under the Therapy Options tab on the same page. If you own a tub without any paperwork, or you cannot find your model on the site, send the team a photo of the label behind the magnetic access panel…
• 📖Confirming What a Clearance Tub Includes by Serial Number: Model, Size, Door Side, Therapies and FaucetEvery clearance tub is one specific unit identified by its serial number, and the team can read back exactly what that serial includes before you commit: the model and family, exterior length and width, door swing and which hand it is, seat width, the therapy systems fitted, the faucet, grab bars, drain configuration and the warranty terms that apply to that unit. Ask for the spec sheet, the written list of what…
• 📖Does the LayDown Tub Have a Seat? Flat Bottom Design, Seat Figures on Listings, Faucets and Therapy ChoicesNo. The LayDown tubs have a flat floor from end to end with no elevated or molded seat. They are built like a conventional bathtub with a watertight glass door in the side wall, so you lie back in the water rather than sit upright. If a LayDown listing shows seat width or seat height figures, they do not describe anything inside the tub, because there is no seat. Work from the exterior dimensions on the spec…
• 📖Which Ella Walk-In Tubs Are 60 Inches Long?The Ella Ultimate is the sit-down walk-in tub built to the standard bathtub footprint of 30 inches wide by 60 inches long. It uses the stainless steel inward-swing door and can be ordered with air massage, hydro massage and independent hydro foot massage together. The LayDown 30 by 60 is the other model at that footprint, designed for reclined bathing with a glass side door. The Elite, by contrast, is 30 inches by…
• 📖How to Narrow Down an Ella Walk-In Tub by Space, Door Side and TherapyThe fastest way to find your Ella model is to settle three facts in order: the space you have, the side your house drain is on, and the kind of therapy you want. Most people who reach out start with a length limit or an awkward bathroom, and nearly all of them end up with a short list of one or two models once those points are pinned down. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can email the spec sheet for…
• 📖What Is the Total Weight Capacity of a Walk-In Tub?What is the total weight capacity of a walk-in tub? Ella's Bubbles does not publish a single bather weight limit across the lineup, because the deciding factor is fit rather than weight: if you can sit comfortably inside the tub, the tub holds you. Every Ella shell is reinforced with a rustproof stainless steel frame that carries the load to the floor, and where a rated capacity has been quoted for an individual…
• 📖Ella Capri Versus Ella Elite: Threshold, Seat Height, Door Width, Handle Location and Door SwingThe Ella Capri and the Ella Elite share the same therapy options, drains, grab bars and faucet choices, so the choice between them comes down to the door and the seat. The Capri has a lower step-in threshold, a taller seat, a slightly wider door opening, an exterior door handle and an outward-swinging door. The Elite has a higher threshold, a lower seat, a slightly narrower door opening, an interior handle and an…
• 📖Can Ella Cut a Walk-Through Opening or Add a Door to My Existing Bathtub?No. Ella's Bubbles manufactures complete walk-in bathtubs and does not cut a walk-through opening, add a door or gate, or make any other alteration to an existing bathtub or tub and shower combination. There is no Ella cut-in kit or conversion product. If you want to keep your current tub, a licensed plumber or contractor would have to evaluate that kind of modification on their own, without Ella parts or support.…
• 📖Can I Upgrade to a Stronger Hydro Pump for More Jet Pressure?A stronger hydro pump is not a standard option on most Ella walk-in tubs. Ella fits its pumps by tub family: the standard hydro pump on the single-seat tubs, a larger pump on the two-seat tubs, and the largest pump, called the Hercules, on the Big4Two. Putting a larger-than-standard pump into a smaller tub is not a menu choice, and any request to do so has to be approved by the factory before an order is changed.…
• 📖Lounger Versus Transfer60: A Side-by-Side Comparison From the Spec SheetsThe Transfer60 and the Lounger are both 60 inch long walk-in tubs available with or without jets, and the real differences are the door and the width. The Transfer60 is 60 inches by 30 inches with an L-shape door designed for a seated transfer and a 22 inch wide seat. The Lounger is 60 inches by 27 inches with a U-shape outward-swing door and a 20 inch wide seat. Both are offered as a soaking tub with no jets as…
• 📖Does Ella Offer Auto Fill or Emergency Lowering Features on Walk-In Tubs?No. Ella's Bubbles does not offer an auto fill feature or an emergency lowering feature on any walk-in tub. Ella tubs fill through a faucet that the bather or a caregiver opens and closes, and they empty by gravity through a drain the bather opens from inside the tub. If a facility specification or grant checklist lists auto fill and emergency low as requirements, those two items cannot be met with an Ella tub.…
• 📖Can I Order an Ella Walk-In Tub Without a Door?No. Every Ella's Bubbles tub is built with a door, and that includes the LayDown models. Ella specializes in walk-in tubs, so a doorless version of any model is not offered. If you are picturing a conventional soaking tub with a bifold shower door on top, the closest Ella option is a LayDown tub, which lets you recline at full length while still stepping in through a low glass side door. Why every Ella tub has a…
• 📖Ella Ultimate vs Ella Monaco 32x52: Key DifferencesThe Ella Ultimate and the Ella Monaco are both Ella walk-in tubs, but they suit different bathrooms and different bathers. The Monaco measures 32 inches wide by 52 inches long and is the shorter of the two. Although it gives up length, it has a wider interior with a 23-inch seat and a lower step-in threshold. The Ultimate is the longer tub. If your space has room for the longer model, the Ultimate is the natural…
• 📖Are Ella Walk-In Tubs Portable or Movable?No. Ella walk-in tubs are not portable and are not designed to be moved around. Every model is built for permanent installation: it is plumbed to the home's water supply and drain by a licensed plumber, and jetted models are wired by a licensed electrician. Once installed, the tub stays where it is, and the warranty is tied to that original installation address. What permanent installation means A walk-in tub…
• 📖What Comes With Your Walk-In Tub Order: Faucet, End Panel, Grab Bars, Drains and What Your Plumber SuppliesAn Ella walk-in tub ships as a complete, factory-assembled package. The therapy systems you selected, the Ella fast-fill faucet with hand shower on models that include a faucet, the grab bars for that model, the drain assembly, the controls and one end panel are all in the crate. There is no separate hardware kit to buy. Your plumber supplies only the PVC couplings and pipe needed to tie into your home's drain and…
• 📖Heated Seat and Back: How It Works, Which Tubs Offer It, and How to Add It to Your OrderYes. The heated seat and back is an optional upgrade offered on every Ella sit-down walk-in tub, including the two-seat Companion and the wheelchair-accessible Transfer family up to the TransferXXL. It is chosen when you place your order, so ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 to include it before your order is finalized. If you already own an Ella tub, see can I add jets or a heated seat to my tub…
• 📖Personalized Dealer Catalogs and Print-Ready Brochure FilesYes. Ella's Bubbles shares the current walk-in tub and shower catalog as a digital PDF, normally as a download link rather than a large attachment. Dealers can go one step further. The team edits the catalog with the dealer's company name, website, phone number and address, then shares a high-resolution file through a download link so copies can be printed locally. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call…
• 📖Can Ella Walk-In Tubs Be Installed in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and Long-Term Care Facilities?Ella does not designate its walk-in tubs as residential-only or commercial-only, so they can be considered for bathing rooms at nursing homes, assisted living and memory care communities, and long-term care facilities. Every Ella tub is UL certified, and a Certificate of Compliance is available for your plan reviewer or inspector. Because each facility and each state health department has its own requirements…
• 📖Is My Unbranded Walk-In Tub an Ella, and Which Model Is It?Yes, Ella's support team can usually tell you whether a used or unlabeled walk-in tub is an Ella and which model it is from photos, exterior measurements and whatever numbers are on the tub's label. Once the model is confirmed, support sends you the product page link where the current manual and spec sheet can be downloaded, and replacement parts are often still available for older units. Open a ticket at…
• 📖Monaco vs. Capri: What Actually Differs Between Ella's Two Outward-Swing 52-Inch TubsThe Monaco and the Capri are the same outward-swing walk-in tub design in two widths. The Monaco is 32 inches wide and 52 inches long, the Capri is 30 inches wide and 52 inches long, and that 2-inch difference in width, which shows up as a wider seat and more interior room, is the real distinction. Both have an estimated soaking depth of about 33 inches measured from the tub floor to the overflow drain and the…
• 📖What the Digits and Letters in an Ella Model Number Mean, and Why Dealer Portal SKUs Differ From the WebsiteThe digits and letters in an Ella model number describe the tub family, its footprint, the door side and the faucet that ships in the crate. On website listings the door side is written as a digit, where 7 means a left-hand door and 8 means a right-hand door, and 5P means the 5-piece fast-fill faucet is included. The dealer portal writes the same information with letters, such as L or R for the door side, and the…
• 📖Ultimate, Zen, Standard or Deluxe: Comparing Ella's 30 by 60 Inch Inward-Swing TubsFor a 30 by 60 inch walk-in tub with an inward-swing door, Ella's team explains that there are two real choices today: the Ella Ultimate and the Ella Zen. The Ultimate comes with the stainless steel inward-swing door, a larger hydro jet package and air massage, and it is Ella's most popular walk-in tub by a wide margin. The Zen is the newer value model in the same footprint, with the acrylic S-shape inward-swing…
• 📖What Are the Shell, Frame, Door and Towel Bar of an Ella Walk-In Tub Made Of?An Ella walk-in tub is built on a stainless steel frame with a shell that is thermoformed from acrylic and reinforced on the underside with fiberglass. The stainless steel inward-swing door and its frame are stainless steel, outward-swing doors use a plastic composite frame with tempered glass, and the towel bar is brushed stainless steel finished to match the door. Those are the materials Ella's team confirms…
• 📖Ella Elite 30x52 Versus the 60-Inch Inward-Swing Tub: Legroom, Therapy Room and What Stays the SameNeither tub is better or worse than the other. The Ella Elite 30x52 and its 60-inch inward-swing sibling, the Ultimate 30x60, are very comparable tubs, and the main difference between them is size. The extra length on the 60-inch tub gives you more legroom and enough room under the seat to install all four therapy systems, while the 52-inch Elite fits a smaller footprint and can carry only three therapies at once.…
• 📖Does a Soaking Walk-In Tub Need Electrical Wiring or Keep the Water Warm?A plain soaking walk-in tub needs no electrical outlet, and it has no heater, so it relies on the water you fill it with. Both facts come from the same design: a soaker has gravity drains and no pumps, and the in-line water heater is part of the hydro system that a soaker does not have. The models available as soakers are listed in Soaking-Only Walk-In Tubs: No Jets, No Pumps, No Electrical . Why there is…
• 📖Do You Have to Step Over the Threshold on a Transfer Wheelchair Tub?No. On the Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL the L-shape door opens the entire side of the seat, so you sit on the edge of the seat from a wheelchair or transfer bench and swing your legs and body into the tub before closing the door. The threshold is still among the lowest in the line at roughly 3.5 to 4 inches, but you do not have to step over it. Figures for every model are in Step-In…
• 📖Can Features Be Added to an Ella Walk-In Tub After It Is Installed?Some features can be added to an installed Ella walk-in tub, and some cannot. Accessories that attach to the deck or the wall, such as the 4-fold glass screen, the shower column kit, the hand shower slide bar, extra end panels, seat pillows and risers, the head pillow, the swivel tray and add-on grab bars, can be added later. Anything built into the shell at the factory, including the therapy systems, the heated…
• 📖Which Ella Walk-In Tub Works With a Hoyer Lift or Patient Lift?When a Hoyer lift is part of the plan, the tub the team points to is the HoistAssist, model Transfer3060HL, which pairs a transfer tub with its own battery hoist rated for about 440 pounds. If the household already has its own way of moving the bather and the priority is a fast, preset-temperature fill, the HomeCare 32x60 with its built-in pre-filled tank is the caregiver tub to compare. Both, along with the…
• 📖Does This Tub Include the Heated Seat and Backrest? Confirming the Configuration Before You OrderWhether a walk-in tub includes a heated seat and backrest depends on the exact configuration you order, not on the model name and not reliably on the letters at the end of a listing's model number. On some listings the letters HB in the model number refer to the faucet package, not to the heated seat, so a tub can carry an HB suffix and still ship without seat heating. The only safe way to confirm is to check the…
• 📖What is the Ella Elite 30x52 inward swing door walk-in tub?The Ella Elite is a 30 by 52 inch acrylic walk-in tub with an inward-swinging brushed stainless steel door, a frosted tempered glass panel and a 22 inch wide seat. It belongs to the stainless-door family alongside the Petite, Royal, Deluxe and Ultimate, and you can watch it walked through in Stainless-Door Tubs on Video . The current spec sheet gives its actual size as 30 by 52 by 35 inches and lists five…
• 📖How Do I Choose the Right Walk-In Tub for Mobility Issues?Start with who will be bathing and how they move, then let the bathroom settle the rest. Describe any mobility concerns to your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, because an outward-swing door eases entry while a smaller bathroom may favor an inward-swing door, and a licensed contractor's fit check confirms the size and door side before anything is ordered. The full sequence is laid out in How Ordering a…
• 📖What Is the Ella Petite Walk-In Tub and Who Does It Fit?The Ella Petite is the narrowest model in the stainless steel inward-swing door family, marketed as a 28 x 52 nominal tub with an actual size of 27.5 x 52 x 35 inches and a 19 inch seat. It suits a narrow alcove or tight doorway and a bather who wants the stainless door with frosted tempered glass in a smaller footprint. Why the name and the measurement differ is explained in What Is Nominal Size vs Actual Size…
• 📖How Do Walk-In Tubs Work, From the Door Seal to the Drain?A walk-in tub works like a conventional bathtub with a watertight door built into its side. You step through the door, close and latch it so the door seal holds the water in, fill the tub from the faucet, and when you are done the tub empties by gravity through 2-inch floor drains before you open the door and step out. On an Ella walk-in tub no pump is involved in draining, and a tub connected to a proper 2-inch…
• 📖What is a walk-in tub and who is it designed for?A walk-in tub is a bathtub with a door in its side and a low threshold, so you step in through the door instead of climbing over a tub rim, then sit and bathe with the door closed. Ella's Bubbles builds its walk-in tubs for a safer, more comfortable bathing experience, and the line is introduced in Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs: A General Overview . It is designed for anyone who worries about slipping while getting…
• 📖Which Ella Wheelchair Transfer walk-in tub sizes are available: 26x52, 30x52 or 32x52?Ella's wheelchair Transfer walk-in tubs come in three 52 inch long sizes: the Transfer26 at 26 inches wide, the Transfer30 at 30 inches wide and the Transfer32 at 32 inches wide. All three stand 40 inches tall, use the same oversized L-shaped outward-swing door with a two-latch gear and shaft lock, and include an 8 inch extension panel so any of them finishes inside a standard 60 inch alcove. Longer members of the…
• 📖What Is the Ella LayDown60 30x60 Walk-In Tub and Its Drain?The Ella LayDown60 is a 30 inch by 60 inch acrylic walk-in tub built for bathing lying down at full length rather than sitting upright. It has a tempered glass inward swing door in a brushed aluminum frame, a flat floor with no seat, and one 2 inch brass drain with overflow rather than the dual drains found on Ella's seated walk-in tubs. How it compares with the larger 32 by 72 model is covered in The LayDown…
• 📖What is the Ella Transfer60 30x60 wheelchair transfer walk-in tub?The Ella Transfer60 is the 30 by 60 inch nominal member of Ella's wheelchair transfer family, built around the extra-wide L-shape outward-swing door that lets a bather move onto the seat while seated. The current spec sheet lists an actual size of 29.5 by 60 by 40 inches, a 22 inch wide seat, and a door that opens 172 degrees on a 2-latch gear and shaft mechanism. It is the longest model in Wheelchair Transfer…
• 📖What Is the Ella Deluxe Walk-In Tub and What Does It Include?The Ella Deluxe is a 30 by 55 inch inward-swing walk-in tub with a brushed stainless steel door, built for a deeper, more upright soak and shipped with air massage, hydro massage, LED chromatherapy and ozone sterilization as one fixed package. It is five inches shorter than the 30 by 60 inch Ultimate but stands 39 inches tall, which gives a deeper soak in a more compact space. Ultimate, Zen, Standard or Deluxe…
• 📖What is the Ella Companion two-seat walk-in tub for couples?The Ella Companion is a two-seat walk-in tub designed to fit into a standard 60 inch tub alcove, sized for medium to petite bathers who want to bathe together. It measures 32 inches wide by 60 inches long by 40 inches tall, with two facing seats of 23 and 25 inches, an inward-swinging removable brushed stainless steel door, and hydro massage, three-speed air massage and independent foot massage included. To see…
• 📖What is the Ella Flow walk-in tub and what does it include?The Ella Flow is Ella's compact space-saver walk-in tub, 28 inches wide by 48 inches long by 36.5 inches tall, designed for small to average size bathers and smaller bathrooms. It comes with a 16 jet hydro massage system with an in-line water heater and intensity dial, the 2-piece fast-fill faucet set with a pull-out hand shower, an inward-swing acrylic S-shape door, and a single 2 inch drain with an emergency…
• 📖What is the Ella LayDown72 32x72 lay-down walk-in tub?The Ella LayDown72 is the larger of the two Ella LayDown walk-in tubs: a 32 inch wide by 72 inch long acrylic tub built for bathing lying down at full length rather than seated. You enter through an inward-swinging tempered glass side door in a brushed aluminum frame, the tub empties through a single oversized 2 inch brass drain, and it can be ordered as a soaking tub or with air massage, hydro massage or…
• 📖Can you lie down in a walk-in tub?Yes, but only in a walk-in tub that was built for it. Ella's Bubbles makes two LayDown walk-in tubs, the LayDown 30x60 and the LayDown 32x72, that let you recline at full length while still stepping in through a low glass side door. Every other Ella walk-in tub is designed for seated bathing, and lying down in a seated walk-in tub is not recommended and could be hazardous, a point also made in Can I Order an Ella…
• 📖What is an accessible bathtub, and who are walk-in tubs designed for?An accessible bathtub, in the Ella's Bubbles lineup, is a walk-in tub: a complete bathtub built around a sealed, low-threshold door, a built-in seat at a comfortable height and grab bars, so the bather steps through the door and sits rather than climbing over a tub wall and lowering down to the floor of the tub. Walk-in tubs are designed for bathers who want that easier entry, for wheelchair users, and for people…
• 📖What is the Ella Big4Two two-seat walk-in tub?The Ella Big4Two is the largest of Ella's Bubbles two-seat walk-in tubs: an acrylic tub with two molded seats facing each other, an outward-swing door and an actual size of 36 x 80 x 40 inches. It comes with hydro massage for the seat jets, a separate hydro system for the foot and calf jets, three-speed air massage and an LED chromatherapy light, all included, with microbubble therapy and heated seats as options.…
• 📖How do I choose a wheelchair accessible walk-in tub?Choosing a wheelchair accessible walk-in tub comes down to three decisions: the width that fits both your bathroom and your body, the door you will slide across from the chair, and the therapy package you want. Ella's Bubbles builds its wheelchair accessible models as the Transfer family, from the compact Transfer26 to the bariatric TransferXXL, and every one uses an oversized L-shaped outward swing door with no…
• 📖What are the disadvantages and common problems with walk-in tubs?The real disadvantages of a walk-in tub come from its design: you sit inside while it fills and drains, drain speed depends on your home's plumbing, installation needs licensed trades, and repairs are done by a local plumber or electrician rather than a factory technician. Most of the problems owners actually report have simple causes, such as a drain handle that is not turned all the way open or a hand shower…
• 📖Which Ella Walk-In Tubs Have Textured Floors, Grab Bars and Easy Entry?Every Ella walk-in tub has a textured, slip-resistant floor, a low step-in threshold and deck or wall-mounted grab bars, so the real choice is which door style gives you the easiest entry. Most models also have a seat height of 17 inches, similar to a standard chair, as explained in the ADA and accessibility answers . The sections below list the features that come on every model and then group the current tubs by…
• 📖How Do I Choose a Walk-In Tub for Aging in Place?Choose a walk-in tub for aging in place by starting with the bather's mobility, comfort and safety needs, then confirming the tub will fit through your doorways and into the space, then settling the door side and swing, and only then picking therapy and comfort features. If you want neutral help with the first step, your state Assistive Technology program or Area Agency on Aging can compare bathing equipment and…
• 📖Which Ella Walk-In Tubs Offer the Lowest Step-In for Seniors?Every Ella walk-in tub has a low step-in threshold, running roughly 3.5 to 7 inches depending on the model and how the drain is set up, compared with the 18 to 22 inch wall you would swing a leg over on a standard bathtub. The lowest published figures belong to outward-swing door models such as the Monaco and the Mobile, and most Ella tubs can be set lower at installation by recessing the drain. Our article What…
• 📖How Do You Transfer From a Wheelchair Into an Ella Walk-In Tub?You transfer sideways from the chair onto the seat. On an Ella Transfer tub the L-shape outward door takes the whole side of the tub with it, so there is no sidewall beside the seat and a wheelchair can pull up alongside. The bather rolls up next to the tub, drops the wheelchair arm, slides across onto the molded seat, brings the legs in and closes the door. The videos on this page walk through that path on the…
• 📖What is the Ella LayDown walk-in bathtub and which sizes are available?The Ella LayDown is a walk-in bathtub you lie down in rather than sit in: a flat-floored acrylic tub with a tempered glass side-entry door in a brushed aluminum frame, a low threshold, straight sidewalls and a single oversized 2 inch brass drain. It comes in two sizes, the LayDown60 at 30 inches wide by 60 inches long by 21 inches high and the LayDown72 at 32 inches wide by 72 inches long. Because there is no…
• 📖What is the Ella Transfer32 32x52 wheelchair transfer walk-in tub?The Ella Transfer32 is the widest of the three 52 inch long wheelchair transfer tubs, built around the oversized L-shaped outward-swing door that lets a bather slide onto the seat from a wheelchair or walker while seated. The current spec sheet lists an actual size of 32 by 52 by 40 inches, a 24 inch wide molded seat, 107 gallons of water unoccupied and 45 to 65 gallons occupied, and an 8 inch extension panel so…
• 📖What is the Ella Escape 36x72 two-seat walk-in tub like?The Ella Escape is the largest two-seat walk-in tub Ella's Bubbles builds on the inward-swinging stainless steel door platform. It measures 36 inches wide by 72 inches long by 40 inches tall, seats two bathers facing each other on 27 inch and 29 inch seats, and comes with seat hydro massage, an independent foot and calf massage on its own pump, three-speed air massage and LED chromatherapy. To see how it lines up…
• 📖Are walk-in tubs safe for seniors and people with limited mobility?Yes. An Ella walk-in tub is built so the bather is seated with the door closed and locked before any water goes in and stays seated until the tub is completely empty, which removes the step-over and the lowering-down that make a standard tub hard for seniors and people with limited mobility. The safety comes from a low threshold, a chair-height seat, grab bars and a sealed door, matched to the person and paired…
• 📖What is the Ella Big4Two 36 by 80 two-seat walk-in tub like?The Ella Big4Two is the largest of Ella's Bubbles' four two-seat walk-in tubs: an acrylic outward-swing-door tub with an actual size of 36 inches wide by 80 inches long by 40 inches tall, two molded seats that face each other, and seat hydro massage, independent foot and calf massage, three-speed air massage and LED chromatherapy all included. It is built for two bathers who each want their own jets and their own…
• 📖What features should I look for in a walk-in bathtub?The features to look for in a walk-in bathtub are the ones that make entry safe and the bath comfortable: a low step-in threshold, a door that seals and cleans easily, a built-in seat at a comfortable height, grab bars and a textured floor, fast drainage, a rustproof frame and the therapy systems you will actually use. Ella walk-in tubs are built around all of these, and What is an accessible bathtub, and who are…
• 📖What Is a Mobility or Accessible Tub, and Who Needs One?A mobility tub, also called an accessible tub or walk-in tub, is a bathtub with a watertight door in its side and a molded seat, so the bather steps over a low threshold and sits down instead of climbing over a high tub wall. Ella walk-in tubs add grab bars, a textured floor and a choice of door swings, and the Transfer family is built for wheelchair transfer. Anyone who finds a conventional tub hard or unsafe to…
• 📖Which accessible bathtub options work best for elderly users?For most elderly bathers the best accessible bathtub is a seated walk-in tub with a low step-in threshold, a built-in seat at about chair height and grab bars, because the bather steps through a sealed door and sits rather than climbing over a tub wall and lowering down to the floor. What is an accessible bathtub, and who are walk-in tubs designed for? explains that design, and the right option within it depends…
• 📖What is the Ella Big4One walk-in tub and what do owners say?The Ella Big4One is an extra-large single-bather walk-in tub with an outward-swing door, built for tall and wide bathers who feel cramped in a mid-size tub. Its actual size is 33 1/8 inches wide by 66 inches long by 39.5 inches high, with a 24 inch wide seat, and it ships with seat hydro massage, independent foot and calf hydro massage, three-speed air massage and a chromatherapy light as standard equipment. You…
• 📖Gelcoat vs Acrylic Walk-In Tub: Which Material Holds Up Better?Every current Ella walk-in tub is built from a vacuum-formed acrylic and ABS shell, reinforced on the back with gel-coated fiberglass and bonded to a stainless steel frame, so the surface you bathe on is solid acrylic with the white running all the way through the sheet. A gelcoat tub is built the other way around: a thin sprayed gel coat is the bathing surface, and fiberglass resin is built up behind it. Because…
• 📖What are the features and size of the Ella Petite walk-in tub?The Ella Petite is the narrowest tub in Ella's stainless-steel door family, sold as 28 x 52 nominal with an actual size of 27.5 inches wide by 52 inches long by 35 inches high and a 19 inch seat. It has an inward-swinging brushed stainless steel door with frosted tempered glass, two 2 inch drains, and a choice of soaking, hydro massage, air massage or microbubble packages. Its exact footprint alongside every other…
• 📖What is the best walk-in tub, and how do I compare models?There is no single best walk-in tub, because the tub that suits you is the one that fits your body, your bathroom and the way you like to bathe. Ella's Bubbles builds a full range of walk-in tubs, and comparing them comes down to seat width, soaking depth, door style and therapy options, all measured against you rather than against a ranking. The method starts with Seat sizes and soaking depth: how to measure…
• 📖What is the Ella Lounger 27x60 outward swing door walk-in tub?The Ella Lounger is a 27 by 60 inch nominal walk-in tub with an outward-swing U-shape door, a 20 inch wide seat and a lounging layout that gives a single bather room to stretch out. The current spec sheet lists an actual size of 27 by 59 by 40 inches, 85 gallons of water unoccupied and 45 to 65 gallons occupied, and the tub is offered as a soaking tub or with Ella therapy packages. It is compared with the wider…
• 📖What is a walk-in bath and how does it work?A walk-in bath, also called a walk-in tub, is a bathtub with a watertight door in its side and a low threshold, so you step in through the door instead of climbing over a rim, sit on a built-in seat, close and lock the door, and fill the tub from a deck-mounted faucet while you are already seated. When the bath is over, you open the drain, let the tub empty while you stay seated, then unlock the door and step…
• 📖Are Walk-In Tubs a Good Choice for Seniors and Aging in Place?Walk-in tubs are a good choice for most seniors because they replace the high step over a conventional tub wall with a low threshold door, a built-in seat, grab bars and a textured floor, so bathing happens seated behind a sealed door rather than standing on a wet surface. Every Ella walk-in tub is built around those safety basics, and the line ranges from a 45 inch compact model to two-seat, wheelchair transfer…
• 📖What Are the Most Important Walk-In Tub Features for Seniors?The walk-in tub features that matter most for seniors are a low step-in threshold, a seat at a comfortable sit-down height with real soaking depth, a door that swings the right way for the room, a textured floor, and a fill and drain setup that does not leave a bather sitting in cooling water. Every Ella walk-in tub has a low threshold, running roughly 3.5 to 7 inches depending on the model and drain setup…
• 📖What Are the Negatives of a Walk-In Tub and How Do I Choose One?The real negatives of a walk-in tub are commitments you make before it ships: the door side and swing are set at the factory and cannot be reversed, an outward-swing door needs clear floor in front of it, and the molded seat height is fixed. Choosing well means measuring the route and the bathroom first, matching the door side to your house drain, and then picking the door style and features that suit your…
• 📖Which Ella Wheelchair Transfer walk-in tub sizes and door options exist?Ella's Wheelchair Transfer walk-in tubs come in five sizes. The Transfer26, Transfer30 and Transfer32 are all 52 inches long and 40 inches tall and differ only in width and seat size, while the Transfer60 is the longer member of the family and the TransferXXL is the bariatric option at 36 by 55 inches. Every one of them uses the same oversized L-shaped outward-swing door with a two-latch gear and shaft lock, and…
• 📖What is the Ella Flow walk-in tub and what makes it different?The Ella Flow is Ella's Bubbles' compact space-saver walk-in tub: 28 inches wide, 48 inches long and 36 1/2 inches tall, with an inward-swing acrylic S-shape door, a 20 inch wide seat and a 16-jet hydro massage system, designed for small to average size bathers and smaller bathrooms. Three things set it apart from the rest of the lineup. Its spec sheet calls for a 15 AMP dedicated line where most other Ella tubs…
• 📖What is the Ella Big4Two 36x80 two-seat walk-in bathtub?The Ella Big4Two is the longest two-seat walk-in bathtub Ella's Bubbles builds: an acrylic tub with two facing seats, an outward-swinging door, and seat hydro massage, independent foot and calf massage, three-speed air massage and LED chromatherapy all included. Its actual size is 36 inches wide by 80 inches long by 40 inches tall, with seats of 22 and 24 inches. To see how it lines up with the other three…
• 📖Are walk-in tubs worth it, and what are the common problems?For a bather who can no longer climb safely over a conventional tub wall, a walk-in tub is worth it, because bathing becomes a seated activity behind a sealed door instead of a balancing act on a wet surface. The trade-offs are real but predictable: you sit in the tub while it fills and drains, drain speed depends on your home's plumbing, installation needs licensed trades, and repairs are done by a local plumber…
• 📖How do I choose the best walk-in tub for a senior?The best walk-in tub for a senior is the one whose seat is wider than their seated hips, whose threshold they can clear comfortably, and whose door swings the right way for the bathroom, not the model at the top of a ranking. Ella's Bubbles builds every walk-in tub around the same safety basics, so choosing well means matching the published seat, threshold and door figures to one particular bather. What Are the…
• 📖What are the different types of Ella walk-in tubs?Ella walk-in tubs come in three types: seated walk-in tubs that you enter through a low-threshold door and soak in while sitting up, wheelchair transfer tubs with an oversized outward-swing door for moving across from a wheelchair, and lay-down tubs with a flat interior floor for a reclined soak. Widths run from 26 inches to 38 inches, and the most common footprint is 30 inches wide by 52 inches long, as How wide…
• 📖What is a mobility tub and who is it designed for?A mobility tub is a walk-in bathtub built for someone who cannot safely climb over the wall of a conventional tub or lower themselves to its floor. An Ella walk-in tub is a mobility tub in exactly this sense: you step over a low threshold, sit on a chair-height molded seat, close and lock a sealed door, and stay seated while the tub fills and drains, with grab bars, a textured floor and a hand shower within reach.…
• 📖What accessibility upgrades can a bathroom remodel add?A bathroom remodel can add a curbless roll-in shower base, a low step-in threshold, a walk-in tub with a built-in seat and sealed door, grab bars anchored into reinforced backing, a hand shower on a slide bar or shower column, and comfort options such as a heated seat and easy-touch controls. Which of these belong in your bathroom depends on whether the bather walks in, uses a walker, or transfers from a…
• 📖Can two people fit in a walk-in bathtub, and how big is it?Yes, two people can fit in a bathtub when it is built with two separate seats, and Ella's Bubbles makes four two-seat walk-in tubs for exactly that: the Escape, the Companion, the Tub4Two and the Big4Two. The biggest of them, the Escape, measures 36 inches wide by 72 inches long by 40 inches tall and seats two bathers facing each other, as What is the Ella Escape 36x72 two-seat walk-in tub like? describes in…
• 📖Where can I buy a walk-in tub sized for a mobile home?A walk-in tub sized for a mobile home is ordered through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and the models Ella's team points mobile home owners toward are its compact tubs: the Front Entry and the Mobile for single-wide mobile homes, and the Flow for mobile homes and trailers. The smallest of them is the Mobile, described in Ella Mobile 26x45: The Smallest Walk-In Tub , at 45 inches long, 26 inches…
• 📖Which walk-in tub features matter most for safety and independence?The features that matter most are the ones that remove the reasons people fall in a bathroom: a low step-in threshold, a molded chair-height seat, built-in grab bars and a textured floor, followed by a door style that suits the room, drains that empty the tub quickly, and a faucet with a hand shower so bathing can happen seated. Every Ella walk-in tub includes the first group as standard, so the decisions that…
• 📖Are walk-in tubs actually a good idea for your home?A walk-in tub is a good idea when you want to bathe seated, step in over a low threshold instead of climbing a high tub wall, and have safety and therapy features built into the tub rather than added on. It is a less natural fit if you expect a drop-in swap that needs no plumber or electrician, because every Ella tub is built to order and installed by a local licensed contractor. The five jetting systems and the…
• 📖What Is a Hybrid Stainless Steel Walk-In Tub Made Of?A hybrid stainless steel walk-in tub is a tub that combines a stainless steel frame, and on many models a stainless steel door, with an acrylic bathing shell instead of being made of metal throughout. Ella's own documentation does not use the word hybrid, but that mixed construction is how every Ella walk-in tub is built: a thermoformed acrylic shell reinforced underneath with fiberglass sits on a rust-proof…
• 📖How do the Ella Standard 30x52 and Ella Zen 30x52 compare?The Ella Standard 30x52 and the Ella Zen 30x52 are built on the same hydro-only acrylic platform: the same inward-swing S-shape door, the same 8.1A 900W hydro pump with a 6A 650W in-line heater, and the same single 2 inch gravity drain. The Zen is the budget version, so it carries a 20 by 15 inch seat instead of the Standard's 22 by 18 inch seat, 17 hydro jets instead of 18, and a 2-piece single-lever faucet in…
• 📖What is the difference between the Ella Tub4Two and Big4Two?The main difference between the Ella Tub4Two and the Ella Big4Two is size. The Tub4Two measures 32 by 60 inches and fits a standard 60 inch opening, while the Big4Two measures 36 by 80 inches and is the longest of the four two-seaters. Both use the frameless outward-swing U-shape door with the 3-latch gear and shaft lock and both seat two bathers facing each other with independent jets at each seat, and the whole…
• 📖What are the features of the Ella Deluxe walk-in tub?The Ella Deluxe is a 30 by 55 inch walk-in tub, 55 inches long by 29.5 inches wide by 39 inches tall in actual size, built for bathers who want to sit upright and sink into deeper water while still having room for their legs. It comes with an inward-swinging brushed stainless steel door, a 21 inch seat, and a fixed dual-massage package of 16 air jets and 14 hydro jets with an in-line heater, LED chromatherapy and…
• 📖What does the Ella Escape 36x72 two-seat walk-in tub offer?The Ella Escape is the largest of Ella's inward-swing two-seat walk-in tubs, measuring 36 inches wide by 72 inches long by 40 inches tall, with two facing seats of 27 and 29 inches and 60 inches of overall soaking length. Its therapy package is included rather than optional: 18 seat hydro jets, an independent foot and calf hydro massage with an in-line heater, a three-speed air massage with auto purge, ozone…
• 📖Which Ella walk-in tub is best for seniors, and why?The best walk-in tub for a senior is the one whose seat is wider than their seated hips, whose threshold they can step over comfortably, and whose door swings the right way for the bathroom, so no single Ella model is best for every senior. Within the Ella lineup, the Monaco gives the lowest published step-in together with a 23-inch seat, the Ultra suits a smaller bathroom with its inward door and ADA compliant 17…
• 📖How does the Ella Transfer60 outward swing door walk-in tub work?The Ella Transfer60 is the 60 inch long member of Ella's wheelchair accessible Transfer family: a walk-in tub whose oversized L-shape door swings outward and takes the whole sidewall beside the seat with it, so a bather can slide sideways from a wheelchair onto the 22 inch wide seat instead of stepping through an opening. It is offered as a soaking tub or with hydro, air and microbubble therapy packages, and its…
• 📖Is the Ella Tub4Two the right two-seat walk-in tub for couples?The Ella Tub4Two is a two-seat walk-in bathtub built for couples: two molded seats face each other inside a 32 by 60 inch footprint, and each seat has its own hydro jets, air jets and foot jets, so both bathers get the same massage at the same time. Because it fits inside a standard 60 inch bathtub opening, it is the two-person tub that goes where a conventional tub sat, without moving walls. The measurements and…
• 📖Is the Ella Big4Two a walk-in shower or a two-seat bathtub?The Ella Big4Two is a two-seat walk-in bathtub, not a walk-in shower. It is a 36 by 80 by 40 inch acrylic tub with two molded seats facing each other, an outward-swinging door and a 145 gallon unoccupied capacity, and Ella's product video calls it the largest two-seat walk-in tub available on the market. The shower searches come from how it can be used: the pull-out hand shower, the optional dual rain shower heads…
• 📖What features should I look for in a home hydrotherapy tub?In a home hydrotherapy tub, look for a hydro massage system with an in-line heater and an intensity dial, a fast-fill faucet set with a hand shower, an oversized gravity drain with an overflow and emergency pull chain, and a low threshold, textured floor and grab bars around a seat that fits the bather. On an Ella walk-in tub these features belong to the therapy package and the faucet set rather than to one model…
• 📖Are walk-in tubs really worth it for your home?A walk-in tub is worth it when the things it changes about bathing are the things you need: a low threshold to step over instead of a high tub wall, a built-in seat so you bathe sitting down, and a door that lets you sit or stand while showering or soaking. Owners in Ella's published customer videos single out exactly those points, along with fast filling and draining and the therapy options. The rest of the…
• 📖Which low-threshold walk-in tubs come with a lifetime warranty?The best low-threshold walk-in tubs with a lifetime warranty are the Ella models whose door lip sits closest to the bathroom floor: the Monaco at 3 5/8 inches, the Mobile at about 3 3/4 inches and the Transfer32 at about 4 to 4.5 inches, with the Big4One and ShaK at about 5 inches. Every Ella walk-in tub carries the same Lifetime Limited Warranty on the shell, frame, door, door seal, finish and supporting…
• 📖Can I Order an Ella Walk-In Tub in a Color Other Than White?No. Every current Ella walk-in tub is made in white, and there is no color to select when you order. Off-white appears only on occasional clearance listings, so a tub that looks pink, yellow or off-white in your bathroom is a surface film, a ring from the jets or a finish concern to look at, never a color you chose, as explained in Why Does My White Walk-In Tub Look Pink, Yellow or Stained? . What is white…
• 📖How Do I Get the Manual for a Discontinued or Older Ella Tub?Manuals and spec sheets for Ella walk-in tubs are downloaded from each model's product page, so the way to get one for an older tub is to have the support team confirm which model you own and send you that page's link. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with a photo of the serial label, the tub's exterior measurements and a few photos, and the team matches the tub to the lineup; requests on retired models…
• 📖Can one person bathe alone in an Ella two-seat walk-in tub?Yes. One person can bathe alone in an Ella two-seat walk-in tub, and Ella's own sizing guidance points to the wider two-seat models such as the Escape and Big4Two as tubs that give a single bather an exceptional amount of room to stretch out, with feet up on the second seat. The bathing sequence does not change when one seat is empty, and the same seated measurements that choose a one-seat tub still decide the…
• 📖Why Is the Ella Deluxe 39 Inches High and Does That Change the Step-In?The Ella Deluxe stands 39 inches tall because it is designed as a deeper soaking tub, so the extra shell height becomes water around a seated bather rather than a taller step at the door. On a walk-in tub you enter through the door over a low threshold instead of climbing over the rim, which is why How Tall Are Walk-In Tubs Compared to Standard Tubs? treats exterior height as a depth figure, not an entry figure.…
• 📖Ella Lounger 27x59 vs Ultimate 30x60: which suits a tall bather?For a bather around 6 feet tall, the Ella Lounger 27x59 and the Ella Ultimate 30x60 are the two tubs the team recommends, and both give you about 51 inches of interior length to stretch into. The Lounger is the narrow answer, 27 inches wide with a reclined 20 inch seat behind an outward-swing U-shape door, while the Ultimate is 29 5/8 inches wide with a deeper 18 1/2 inch seat-to-overflow height behind a removable…
• 📖Ella Big4One vs TransferXXL: which bariatric tub suits a broad bather?For a broad bather the choice between these two bariatric tubs turns on height, not weight. Ella's guidance is that the Big4One, with its 24 inch seat, long seat and 66 inch length, suits bathers around 6 feet and taller, while a larger bather who is not tall is usually happier in the TransferXXL, which carries the widest seat in the line at 29 inches in a 55 inch tub that keeps the feet supported. Neither model…
• 📖Ella Standard 30x52 vs Elite 30x52: what does the value tub give up?The Ella Standard 30x52 gives up therapy choice rather than size. It is a hydro-only tub with 18 hydro jets, a single 2 inch drain and an inward-swing acrylic S-shape door, while the Ella Elite 30x52 can be ordered in five configurations from soaking to dual massage packages and adds a removable brushed stainless steel door, dual 2 inch drains, ozone sterilization and an LED chromatherapy light. Both fill the same…
• 📖Where are the Tub4Two foot jets and do both seats get them?On the Ella Tub4Two, the foot massage jets sit in the single large footwell between the two facing seats, and both bathers use them because that footwell is shared. The current spec sheet lists 4 foot jets and 4 calf jets on their own hydro pump, plus 6 air jets in the foot area, so the foot massage runs without filling the rest of the tub. The complete set of model figures is in Ella Tub4Two 32x60: The Two-Seat…
• 📖How Does the HomeCare 180 Degree Door Work for Caregiver Bathing?The door on the Ella HomeCare 32x60 is a 27 inch wide aluminum outward-swing door with a two-latch lock that opens a full 180 degrees, so it folds completely out of the way and leaves the whole opening free for a caregiver to move a bather from a wheelchair into the seat. The caregiver closes and locks the door from outside, presses the fill button, and the pre-heated 80 gallon tank fills the tub in about 90…
• 📖Which Ella walk-in tub models come with the 2-piece or 5-piece faucet?The Standard and Standard60 come with the 5-piece Ella fast-fill faucet, while the Zen, Zen60 and Flow come with the 2-piece single-lever set. The LayDown72 is faucet-ready and can take either set as an option, the LayDown60 has no deck faucet at all, and on the other faucet-equipped models the 2-piece or 5-piece set is chosen when the tub is ordered and the deck is drilled for that set at the factory. Both sets…
• 📖Comparing Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tub ModelsElla's Bubbles offers 27 different walk-in tub models, so you can choose the size, door style, and features that fit your bathroom and your needs. Every model comes in white, and details like seating, door type, and depth vary from model to model. Here is how the lineup compares so you can narrow down your options. Two-Seater Tubs If you want a tub built for two people, Ella's Bubbles offers two-seater models.…
• 📖What is the best walk-in tub to buy right now?The best walk-in tub is the one whose seat is wider than the bather's seated hips, whose footprint clears the doorway and fits the alcove, and whose door swings the right way for the room, which is why Ella's Bubbles builds a full line rather than one flagship. A tight bathroom points to the Mobile or the Petite, a very tall or wide bather points to the ShaK or the Big4One, and two people, or one person who wants…
• 📖What are the features of the Ella Transfer60 walk-in tub?The Ella Transfer60 is the 60 inch long member of Ella's wheelchair-accessible Transfer family. Its current spec sheet lists an actual size of 29.5 by 60 by 40 inches, a 22 inch wide seat, an oversized L-shaped outward-swing door that opens 172 degrees on a two-latch gear and shaft lock, two 2 inch drains with two overflows, and a choice of soaking, hydro, air, independent foot massage and microbubble packages.…
• 📖What Is a Tub Cut and How Does It Compare to a Walk-In Tub?A tub cut is a modification to an existing bathtub in which part of the tub's side wall is cut away to make a walk-through opening, sometimes with a door or gate fitted over the cut. Ella's Bubbles does not cut openings into existing tubs and sells no cut-in kit; it builds complete walk-in tubs whose door, seal, frame and threshold are engineered together, as explained in Can Ella Cut a Walk-Through Opening or…
• 📖What Are the Features of the Ella TransferXXL Wheelchair Accessible Walk-In Tub?The TransferXXL is the widest wheelchair accessible model in Ella's Transfer family, a bariatric walk-in tub measuring 36 by 55 inches with a 29 inch wide seat and the outward-swing L-shape transfer door that opens through 172 degrees so there is no sidewall beside the seat. It can be ordered as a soaking tub or with one of six therapy packages, and its place in the lineup is summarized in Walk-in Tub Model…
• 📖What is a walk-in tub, and how is it different from a regular bathtub?A walk-in tub is a bathtub with a door built into its side and a low threshold, so you open the door, step across the threshold and sit down instead of climbing over the wall of a conventional bathtub. Ella's Bubbles builds walk-in tubs with a textured slip resistant floor, a built-in seat on most models, dual 2-inch drains and optional massage jets, and every tub is assembled in Chicago and shipped nationwide…
• 📖What is an adapted bathtub, and who actually needs one?An adapted bathtub is not a model name and not a product category that Ella's Bubbles makes. The word adapted comes from the VA's adapted-housing grants, Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Home Adaptation (SHA), so in practice an adapted tub is a walk-in tub chosen as part of a home being changed for a veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability. Any of the three Ella tub types described in…
• 📖Which Faucet Comes With the Ella Royal Walk-In Bathtub?The Ella Royal's current spec sheet documents the 5-piece Ella Fast-Fill faucet: a deck-mounted set rated up to 18 GPM at 60 PSI with ideal in-home plumbing, with a pull-out chrome hand shower on a 5 foot retractable stainless braided hose. The faucet is chosen at order time rather than fixed to the model, so a Royal can also be built with the 2-piece Ella Fast-Fill set or with the thermostatic faucet package, and…
• 📖Ella Royal vs Elite: what does the extra width actually change?The Ella Royal and the Ella Elite share the same length, the same height and the same stainless steel inward-swing door, and the one dimension that separates them is width: the Royal's shell measures 31.5 inches wide against the Elite's 30 inches, and that wider shell carries a 23 inch seat where the Elite has a 22 inch seat. The two inch figure people search for comes from the nominal names, because the Royal is…
• 📖Does Ella Make a Walk-In Tub for Very Large or Bariatric Bathers?Yes. Ella's Bubbles builds several walk-in tubs for very large and bariatric bathers, including the extra-large Big4One with its outward-swing U-shape door, the wheelchair-accessible TransferXXL, and the ShaK and Big4Two, which are the largest-capacity models in the lineup. Ella does not publish a single bather weight limit, because the deciding factor is fit rather than weight, and What Is the Total Weight…
• 📖What Features Come on the Ella Capri 30x52 Outward Swing Door Tub?The Ella Capri is a 30 inch by 52 inch acrylic walk-in tub with a plastic composite and tempered glass outward-swing door, a 20 inch seat, a 5-piece fast-fill faucet, two 2 inch drains, and a choice of five packages that run from a simple soaker to dual therapy combinations. Its current spec sheet lists an actual size of 30 inches by 52 inches by 40 inches and a water capacity of 85 gallons unoccupied, or 45 to 65…
• 📖What are the size and features of the Ella Big4Two two-seat tub?The Ella Big4Two is a two-seat acrylic walk-in tub with an actual size of 36 inches wide by 80 inches long by 40 inches tall. It has two facing seats 22 and 24 inches wide and an outward-swing door. Per its current spec sheet it includes seat hydro massage, an independent foot and calf hydro massage with an in-line water heater and ozone, three-speed air massage and an LED chromatherapy light. It is the model…
• 📖How Do I Choose the Right Walk-In Tub for My Needs?Choose a walk-in tub in this order: the bather first, then the bathroom and the route into it, then the door style and door side, then the therapy features, and finally the installer who will do the work. Each step narrows the lineup, so by the end only a few models are left to compare. Once you have a model in mind, How Ordering a Walk-In Tub Works When Your Contractor Is Involved shows how the spec sheet, the…
• 📖Which Walk-In Tub Is Best If I Have Difficulty Stepping Over a Tub?Every Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub replaces the tall wall of a regular bathtub with a watertight door and a low threshold, so you step in through the door instead of climbing over a rim. If stepping is your main difficulty, the strongest fit is usually the Transfer family, because its outward door opens completely out of the way and there is no sidewall beside the seat, which lets you sit down first and swing your…
• 📖What Is the Ella Big4Two Two-Seat Walk-In Tub With Shower Options?The Ella Big4Two is the largest tub in Ella's two-seat family: an acrylic walk-in bathtub with two facing seats, an outward-swinging door, and hydro massage, air massage, foot and calf massage and LED chromatherapy included. Its actual size is 36 inches by 80 inches by 40 inches, and with Ella's glass screens, dual rain shower heads or dual hand showers it also works as a place to shower. For footage of the tub…
• 📖Where Can I See Pictures of Ella's Bubbles Tubs and Showers?The simplest way to see pictures of Ella's Bubbles tubs and showers is to ask for them. The team sends photos, key specifications and diagrams by email, and can text the same information to your phone if you do not have an email address handy. Printed brochures are not mailed out, so email or text is how the pictures reach you, as explained in Getting Ella's Bubbles Tub Information by Email or Text . You can also…
• 📖What is a pet spa tub and how do you bathe a small dog?The Ella Pet Spa is a 51 x 32 inch acrylic microbubble grooming tub for dogs and other pets, with a walk-in door that seals shut, 20 fully adjustable sidewall jets, a removable platform that raises a small pet to a comfortable height, and a multi-function faucet set with an extendable hand shower and a microbubble handset with built-in ozone. To bathe a small dog you drop the platform in, check the water on your…
• 📖Does the Ella LayDown Walk-In Tub Have a Seat or Is It Lie-Down Only?The Ella LayDown is a lie-down tub, and it does not have a built-in seat. Both sizes, the LayDown 30x60 and the LayDown 32x72, are built for reclining at full length rather than sitting. Instead of a molded chair-height seat you get a long, flat, textured floor to stretch out on, behind a low glass side door. For the wider picture of reclining across the Ella line, see Can you lie down in a walk-in tub? . What…
• 📖What Sling, Lift Capacity and Battery Does the HoistAssist Hoist Have?The HoistAssist hoist is published with a lifting capacity of about 440 lbs, a hoist seat with a safety harness rather than a separate sling, and a long-life battery with a charge indicator. No battery run time, charging time or sling size is printed anywhere, because the spec sheet is the only document published for this system, as What Is HoistAssist on a Walk-In Tub? explains. This page gathers every…
• 📖Which Ella walk-in tub is right for me? Choosing between the tub familiesWhich Ella walk-in tub is right for me comes down to four questions: who is bathing, how much space you have, which door style suits your bathroom, and which therapies you want. The quick answer: able-bodied bathers in standard bathrooms usually choose an inward-swing model, wheelchair users choose the Transfer family with its L-shape outward door, couples choose a two-seat model, tall or broad bathers choose the…

Sizes, Fit & Measuring98 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Is There a Weight Limit? Bariatric and Large-Bather Walk-In Tub OptionsIs there a weight limit on a walk-in tub? One of the questions we hear most often, and the answer is reassuring: Ella's Bubbles does not have a set weight limit for its walk-in bathtubs. The primary factor is simply whether the bather can comfortably fit inside the tub. Every Ella shell is reinforced with a rustproof stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs for structural integrity and durability, and…
• 📖How Fast Does a Walk-In Tub Drain? Dual Drain Technology ExplainedHow fast does a walk-in tub drain? With Ella's gravity-driven Dual Drain Technology, an average-size Ella walk-in tub drains in approximately 80 seconds under ideal house-drain conditions, and our field tests have recorded complete drainage in as little as 52 seconds. That matters because you sit in the tub while the water goes down before the door can open. Actual drain time in your home depends on the tub's…
• 📖Left-Hand or Right-Hand? Choosing Door, Drain, and Faucet SideChoosing a left-hand or right-hand walk-in tub comes down to one question: which end of the tub should hold the door and seat, and which end should hold the drains and faucet? Every Ella walk-in tub except the Front Entry is built in left-hand and right-hand versions, even though product photos show one side. The side is named as you face the tub, ready to enter: the door and seat are on one side, and the drains…
• 📖Inward or Outward Swing Door: Which Should I Choose Before Ordering?Choosing between an inward swing door and an outward swing door is mostly about your bathroom and how you enter, because both seal watertight. Ella builds three door styles. Inward-swing doors (brushed stainless with frosted glass on the Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, Ultimate, Companion and Escape; aluminum on the Ultra; acrylic S-shape on the Standard, Zen and Flow) save floor space and are held shut by water…
• 📖Step-In Threshold Heights by Model and How Low It Can GoThe step-in threshold height on an Ella walk-in tub is the low lip you cross at the door, and depending on the model and how the drain is installed it runs from about 3.5 to 7 inches, compared with the roughly 18 to 22 inch wall of a standard bathtub. Published drawing values and the figures our team gives are listed below; if the threshold is critical for the bather, ask the team for your exact model's figure in…
• 📖How Many Jets Does Each Ella Tub Have? Counts by Model and PackageHow many jets does an Ella walk-in tub have? The jet count depends on the therapy package you order, not the model alone. A Hydro package has hydro jets only, Air + Hydro adds air jets, and Soaking has none. Most single-seat tubs carry 14 to 18 hydro jets and 14 to 17 air jets, and the counts below come from the current spec sheets, listed as seat plus foot jets. Hydro jets (larger chrome faces) and air jets…
• 📖Interior Length, Seat-to-Overflow and Seat-to-Footwell by Model: The Soaking Depth TableSoaking depth in a walk-in tub is not one number. It comes from three measurements working together: the interior length of the tub, the length of the seat, and the distance from the top of the seat to the center of the overflow. Ella's Bubbles publishes those measurements for every model on its comparison chart, and the tables below collect the interior dimensions and soaking depth by model so you can compare…
• 📖How Wide Is the Door Opening? Published Door Widths, Swing Arcs and Clearance by Door FamilyThe clear door opening on an Ella walk-in tub depends on the door family, not the tub size. The outward-swing U-shape drawings for the Monaco and Mobile print a 19 1/4 inch opening with a 165 degree swing, the LayDown glass door prints a 19 5/8 inch opening on a 115 degree arc, the L-shape Transfer door opens 172 degrees, the HomeCare door is 27 inches wide and swings a full 180 degrees, and the HoistAssist…
• 📖How Far Does the Backrest Recline? Published Backrest Angles and What Owners Say About Seating Comfort by ModelElla walk-in tubs are seated soaking tubs, so every backrest is closer to upright than a recliner, with a gentle lean built into the shell. The spec drawings print a backrest angle for four models: the Ultra at 88 degrees, the Flow at 96 degrees, and the Monaco and Mobile at 101 degrees. In that scale 90 degrees is straight up, so a bigger number means more lean. Most other spec sheets do not print an angle, and…
• 📖Planning the Bathroom Layout: Toilet Clearance, Corner Placement, Which Sides Can Be Open, Where the Outlet Goes and Where a Screen MountsAny Ella walk-in tub can be placed in a corner, against one wall or in a three-wall alcove, so the layout questions that really matter are where the door swings, which sides will be visible, where the drains and service access land, and whether a wall is available for a shower screen or column. The L-shape Transfer door is designed to pass over a standard-height toilet because its cutout sits about 20 to 21 inches…
• 📖Common Fit Questions: 58 Inch Openings, 48 Inch Tubs, 36 by 60 Requests, Tall or Broad Bathers, Seat Height, Doorways and DisassemblyMost fit questions have a short answer once you know three things: the actual exterior size of each model, which models include an extension panel, and the fact that every Ella tub ships in one piece with removable aprons and panels. Here are the ten fit questions the team hears most, answered briefly with links to the detailed guides. Where the answer depends on your own measurements, confirm them with your Ella…
• 📖What Is an Extension Panel (Filler Kit) on a Walk-In Tub?An extension panel, also called a filler kit or filler panel, is the trimmable side panel that fills the gap between a 52 to 55 inch Ella walk-in tub and a standard 60 inch three-wall alcove. It rests on adjustable stainless steel shelf brackets that are part of the tub frame, can sit on either end of the tub, is trimmed on site, and doubles as a handy shelf. Every Ella tub shorter than 60 inches includes one…
• 📖What Is an End Panel on a Walk-In Tub?An end panel, sometimes called a side panel or finishing panel, is the reversible panel that covers the exposed short end of an Ella walk-in tub, hiding the shell edge, plumbing and frame in a corner or exposed-end installation. One reversible end panel ships with every Ella tub and can go on either end, and a second end panel is available when both ends of the tub will be open to the room. How it works Picture…
• 📖What Is the Footwell on a Walk-In Tub?The footwell is the deep floor section in front of the seat of a walk-in tub where your feet rest. It holds the foot and calf jets, the lower air jets and the floor drains, and it is the only part you fill for an independent foot massage. Every Ella walk-in tub has a large footwell for easy entry and room for seated or standing showering. How it works The molded seat is about 17 inches high, and the footwell…
• 📖What Is the Step-In Threshold on a Walk-In Tub?The step-in threshold on a walk-in tub is the low lip you cross at the door, sometimes called the step-over height or step-in height. On Ella tubs it runs roughly 3.5 to 7 inches depending on the model and how the drain is set up, compared with the 18 to 22 inch wall you would swing a leg over on a standard bathtub. That low threshold, paired with a door you walk through, is what makes a walk-in tub…
• 📖What Is Soaking Depth on a Walk-In Tub?Soaking depth on a walk-in tub is how deep you sit in the water once the tub is full, sometimes called water depth when seated. It is set by three measurements working together: the interior length of the tub, the length of the seat, and the depth from the top of the seat to the overflow. Because you bathe sitting up on a molded seat rather than lying down, the number that matters is the seat-to-overflow depth…
• 📖What Are Seat Width and Seat Height on a Walk-In Tub?Seat width and seat height on a walk-in tub describe the molded seat you bathe on: how wide it is across the hips, and how high its surface sits above the tub floor. Ella seats range from 19 to 29 inches wide, and the seat height is roughly 17 inches on most models. The seat has to be wider than your seated hip measurement to be comfortable, which is why measuring yourself seated is the first step in choosing a…
• 📖What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub?An alcove installation places a walk-in tub in the classic three-wall opening where a standard 60 inch bathtub used to sit. The tub is enclosed on the back and both ends, with only the front apron exposed. Every Ella tub fits an alcove, and most 52 and 55 inch models use an extension panel to fill the gap at one end so the finished installation looks built in. A three-wall alcove with a wall surround above the…
• 📖What Is Nominal Size vs Actual Size on a Walk-In Tub?Nominal size and actual size are two ways of describing the same walk-in tub. The nominal size is the rounded figure used in the product name and brochure, such as Petite 28x52. The actual size is the measured dimension printed on the spec sheet, such as 27.5 x 52 x 35 inches for that same Petite. Both are correct for their purpose, but only the actual size should be used to plan an installation. How it works…
• 📖What Is Door Side (Left-Hand vs Right-Hand) on a Walk-In Tub?Door side, also called left-hand or right-hand configuration, is the side of the walk-in tub that holds the door and seat as you face the tub, ready to step in. Every current Ella walk-in tub except the Front Entry comes in a left-hand (LH) and a right-hand (RH) version, marked with an L or an R at the end of the SKU. The drains are always at the opposite end from the door and seat, so the practical way to choose…
• 📖What Is Occupied vs Unoccupied Water Capacity on a Walk-In Tub?Water capacity on a walk-in tub is stated as two numbers. Unoccupied capacity is how many gallons the tub holds with nobody in it. Occupied capacity, sometimes written as the occupied range, is the amount of water you actually use once a bather is seated and displacing water. Ella spec sheets print both, and the occupied figure is the one to use when sizing your water heater. How it works Your body takes up…
• 📖Will the Walk-In Tub Door Clear the Toilet?Whether the door will clear the toilet depends on your door family and on how tall and how close the toilet is. Inward-swing doors on the stainless steel, Ultra, Standard, Zen, Zen60, Flow and LayDown tubs open into the tub, so a toilet is never in their way. The outward U-shape door on the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, ShaK and Big4One swings 165 degrees into the room, and the L-shape Transfer door…
• 📖Which Side Is a Left Drain Walk-In Tub?Which side is a left drain? Stand facing the tub as if you were about to step in: a left drain walk-in tub has its drains, faucet and water supply at the end on your left, and because Ella builds the door and seat at the opposite end from the drains, a left drain tub is the same thing as a right-hand door tub. If you get confused, remember one rule: the door and the drains are always on opposite sides. A…
• 📖How Deep Is the Water Really in a Walk-In Tub?How deep is the water really? On every Ella tub the published depth is measured to the overflow, because water rises to the overflow opening and then runs out, so the spec sheet figure is the real depth you can fill to. On the LayDown 30x60 that figure is 15 3/4 inches from the floor of the tub to the overflow, and the team has confirmed that the water does reach 15 3/4 inches. On a seated tub the number to use is…
• 📖Low Windows and Countertops: Checking Tub Height Before You OrderIf a window, vanity countertop or shelf sits beside the space where your walk-in tub will go, the number to check first is the overall height of the tub, from the floor to the top of the deck. Every seated Ella walk-in tub stands between 35 and 40 inches tall, and none can be made shorter, so the honest answer to "what do you have under 24 inches?" is one family: the LayDown, at 21 inches to the deck edge on the…
• 📖ADA Seat Height and Grab Bar Placement Compared With Ella Walk-In Tub DimensionsThe 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design put the top of a bathtub seat at 17 to 19 inches above the finish floor and horizontal grab bars at 33 to 36 inches above the finish floor. Ella walk-in tubs line up well with those figures: the Ultra brochure and product video put its seat at 17 inches, the HomeCare 32x60 drawing carries a 17 inch callout on its front view, and most Ella models ship with a deck-mount…
• 📖Wheelchair Clearances, Turning Space and Ella Door Swing EnvelopesThe two ADA clearances people ask about when planning a walk-in tub for a wheelchair user are a clear floor space of 30 by 48 inches and a turning space 60 inches in diameter, both from the 2010 ADA Standards. In a private home those figures are a planning reference rather than a requirement, but they are a good one, because an Ella outward-swing door needs its own clear floor space too: the U-shape door swings…
• 📖Slip Resistance of the Walk-In Tub Floor and Seat: What Is Published and What Is NotEvery Ella walk-in tub brochure lists a textured floor, and the HoistAssist spec sheet lists a non-skid floor. That is the published fact about slip resistance on an Ella tub floor, and it is the only one: no Ella document prints a coefficient of friction, a slip rating or a test result for the shell surface, so you will not find one quoted here or anywhere else on this site. This page explains what the texture is…
• 📖Printable Pre-Install Measuring Checklist for a Walk-In TubThis is the measuring checklist to fill in before your walk-in tub is ordered: the bather, the path in, the alcove, the door side and the utilities, one line per measurement. Print it, walk the house with a tape, and bring the list to your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. How to use this page Write every figure in inches at the tightest point, with door stops and trim in place. Two sizes matter: the…
• 📖Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for FitElla's Bubbles walk-in tubs and shower bases come in a range of standard sizes, from compact 26x45 inch tubs to full 32x72 inch laid-down models, with custom shower base dimensions and cut-to-fit extension panels available for spaces that need a closer fit. Knowing your bathroom's exact measurements before you order helps make sure the unit you choose fits the space where your old tub or shower currently sits.…
• 📖How Far Does the Open Door Stick Out in Front of the Tub?How far the door sticks out depends on which door family your tub has. The wide outward-swing door on the Transfer family projects about 36 inches in front of the tub when opened to 90 degrees. The U-shape outward-swing door on the Monaco projects about 19 to 20 inches at the same angle. Inward-swing doors need no floor space in front of the tub at all. Those are the planning numbers to measure against a toilet…
• 📖Will a 60 Inch Tub Fit a 60 Inch Alcove? Stud Walls, Finished Walls and Doorway ClearanceA nominal 60 inch walk-in tub measures about 59 3/4 inches long on the shell, so an alcove that is 60 inches from stud to stud is a very tight fit, and the tub will not simply drop in. Once drywall and tile go onto the end walls, the finished opening is shorter than the framing, and it is the finished opening that has to clear the tub. Measure finished wall to finished wall, then measure every doorway and turn on…
• 📖How Tall Is an Ella Walk-In Tub, With and Without a Shower Column?Most Ella walk-in tubs stand between about 35 and 40 inches from the floor to the top of the deck, and the exact height for your model is the actual size figure on its spec sheet. A shower column adds its own height on top of that, measured upward from the deck, so the installed height is the deck height plus the column height. Use the deck height alone for windows, vanities and countertops, and the combined…
• 📖Will a Walk-In Tub Fit Where My Old Tub or Shower Stall Is Now?In most homes, yes. Ella walk-in tubs are built for a standard three-wall alcove and can also stand free against one or two walls, so the space left by an old bathtub, a shower stall or a tub under a window is usually a good fit. The work is in the checking: measure the opening, compare it with the actual size on the spec sheet, and match the door side to your drain. Measure the opening, not the old tub Start…
• 📖How High and How Big Is the Built-In Seat on an Ella Shower?The molded seat built into an Ella shower base is part of the acrylic shell, and its size depends on which base you choose. On the published drawings, seat heights are 20 inches or 22 inches above the shower floor, with widths from 25 1/2 inches to 31 inches and depths from 13 3/4 inches to 17 1/2 inches. The exact figures for your model are printed on the Specification drawing for that shower, so check the…
• 📖Ella Shower Dimensions: Nominal Size Versus Usable Interior FloorAn Ella shower is listed by its nominal outside footprint, for example 60 inches wide by 36 inches deep, and that nominal size is the one to use when you check whether the base will fit your alcove. The flat floor inside the shower is smaller than the nominal size. Front to back, the threshold and the slope down from the threshold to the floor take up part of the depth, and the molded soap and foot ledges on the…
• 📖Will a Three-Piece Ella Shower Fit Through My Doorway? Piece Dimensions and Turning the Base SidewaysYes, in most homes. Ella's three-piece showers are built so that each piece can pass through a standard interior doorway, which is the main reason to choose a three-piece stall over a one-piece stall for a remodel. Each unit ships as a base and two L-shaped wall panels that meet at a seam in the center of the back wall. The base is the largest piece, and the dimension that has to clear your door is the base…
• 📖Should My Walk-In Tub Door Be on the Left or Right Side?Match the door side to your house drain, because the door and the drains sit on opposite sides of an Ella walk-in tub. A right-side door puts the drains on the left, and a left-side door puts the drains on the right, with sides taken as you face the tub. Choosing between an inward and an outward swing is a separate decision, explained in Inward or Outward Swing Door: Which Should I Choose Before Ordering? . The…
• 📖How Do I Measure Doorways and Hallways for a One-Piece Ella Shower?Measure the narrowest point of every opening between where the shower is delivered and the bathroom, and confirm each one offers at least 33 inches of clear opening. A one-piece Ella shower arrives as a single molded unit that cannot be broken down, so one tight doorway, hallway or stairway is enough to stop it. The full rule, and why the stall is intended mostly for new construction, is in Will a One-Piece Ella…
• 📖Walk-In Tub Dimensions Explained: Which Figure Is the Width, the Length and the Height, and Where to Find the Spec DrawingEvery Ella walk-in tub is published with three outside dimensions, and the current specification drawing for your model is the authority on all of them. The width is the short side that runs from the front of the tub to the back wall, the length is the long side that runs along the wall, and the height runs from the floor to the top of the rim. Listings usually give the figures as width, length and height, but the…
• 📖Ella Shower Rough Opening, Standing Area and Floor Width: What to Measure Before You FrameThe rough opening, drain location and every interior dimension of an Ella shower are on the specification drawing for that model, and the drawing is what your framer and plumber should work from. For the Liberty three-piece low-threshold shower, the interior width is 55.75 inches, the molded seat takes 18.5 inches of that, and the standing floor beside the seat is 37.25 inches wide. Because the drain position is…
• 📖How Do I Choose the Right Walk-In Tub for My Bathroom?Choosing the right walk-in tub comes down to four checks: who will be bathing and how they get in, whether the tub fits your alcove and the path into the bathroom, which side your house drain is on, and which therapy features you want. Ella walk-in tubs come in sizes from 26 by 45 inches up to 32 by 72 inches, with the 30 by 52 inch footprint being the most common, and Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to…
• 📖What size walk-in tub fits a six-foot-tall person?For a bather around six feet tall or taller, the Ella models built with long seats and long interiors are the Big4One and the ShaK, and the ShaK is the largest single-seat walk-in tub Ella's Bubbles makes. Height alone does not choose the tub, though: your seated hip width, shoulder width and head-to-feet length decide the fit. The full large-bather lineup is covered in Is There a Weight Limit? Bariatric and…
• 📖Can a walk-in tub fit in a small bathroom, and which models work?Yes, a walk-in tub can fit in a small bathroom, and Ella's Bubbles builds two models with tight rooms in mind. The Ella Mobile 26x45: The Smallest Walk-In Tub is 45 inches long and 26 inches wide, the model to look at when a 52 inch tub will not fit the room or pass the doorway. The Petite 28x52 is the narrowest stainless-door tub at an actual 27.5 inches wide, and it still finishes a standard 60 inch alcove…
• 📖Can a 32 Inch Walk-In Tub Fit Through a 32 Inch Doorway?Not reliably, no. The doorway has to be wider than the tub's actual width, so a tub that measures a full 32 inches across needs an opening that clears more than 32 inches, measured at the tightest point with the door stops and trim in place. Before you rule a model in or out, check the actual size printed on its spec sheet rather than the rounded name, as explained in What Is Nominal Size vs Actual Size on a…
• 📖Do they make a bathtub that is only 15 inches high?Ella does not offer a walk-in tub with an overall height of only 15 inches. The lowest-profile Ella tubs are the LayDown models, and the LayDown60 stands 21 inches high with a soaking depth of 15 inches, which is almost certainly the figure you have seen. Seated walk-in tubs are taller still because they are built around a chair-height seat, and the number that decides how easy a tub is to enter is the step-in…
• 📖Are walk-in tubs a good option for mobile homes?Yes, a walk-in tub can be a good option for a mobile home when you choose a compact model and confirm the floor and the entry route before you order. Ella's team recommends two models for single-wide mobile homes, the Mobile 26x45 and the Front Entry 32x40, because both fit a short space and pass the narrow doorways common in manufactured housing. The full specification of the smaller of the two is in Ella Mobile…
• 📖Will a Walk-In Tub Fit Through a Standard Bathroom Doorway?Most Ella walk-in tubs pass through a bathroom doorway when the clear opening is wider than the tub's actual width on its spec sheet, because the crate can be opened outside and the tub carried in by its frame. The only way to be sure is to measure the front door, every hallway, every interior doorway and each corner the tub must turn, then compare those figures with the model you are considering. Will a 60 Inch…
• 📖How Wide Is a Walk-In Tub, and Will It Fit Your Home?Verified widths on Ella spec drawings run from 26 inches on the Lounger to 36 inches on the ShaK, the largest single-seat tub, with the 52 inch models such as the Petite at 27.5 inches and the Elite at 30 inches. On a walk-in tub the width is the short side that runs from the front of the tub to the back wall, and the actual inch figure on the spec drawing, not the rounded size in the model name, is the one to…
• 📖Are Walk-In Tub Dimensions the Floor Footprint or the Inside Bathing Space?The width by length listed for an Ella walk-in tub describes the exterior footprint the tub occupies on the floor, not the bathing space inside. The interior is described separately by seat width, seat length, the interior floor size on a LayDown, and the depth from the seat or floor to the overflow. How Deep Is the Water Really in a Walk-In Tub? explains how that depth figure is taken. Exterior size: the…
• 📖Can I Order a Left-Side Door With Right-Side Plumbing?Yes. A left-side entry door with the plumbing on the right is the standard left-hand configuration of an Ella walk-in tub, because the door and the drains always sit on opposite sides. Every current Ella model except the Front Entry is built in a left-hand and a right-hand version, so you order the left-hand tub and the drains and faucet deck land on the right end. Should My Walk-In Tub Door Be on the Left or…
• 📖What is the smallest walk-in tub for a petite bather?The smallest Ella walk-in tub by footprint is the Mobile at 26 inches wide by 45 inches long, the shortest of the seated tubs with a full-size seat is the Flow at 28 inches by 48 inches, and the narrowest seat in the line is the 19 inch seat shared by the Petite and the Transfer26. For a bather around five feet tall, though, the right tub is chosen from your seated hip, shoulder and head-to-feet measurements…
• 📖What is the biggest walk-in bathtub size you can buy?The biggest walk-in bathtub Ella's Bubbles makes is the ShaK, at 36 inches by 72 inches with an extra-wide 28 inch seat and a 145 gallon unoccupied capacity, and Ella describes it as the largest single-seat walk-in tub in the world. The Big4One, at 33 1/8 inches by 66 inches, is the next size down for a single large bather, and the two-seat Escape and Big4Two give one bather the most room to stretch out. What…
• 📖What is the smallest bathtub size you can buy for a bathroom?The smallest bathtub in the Ella's Bubbles line is the Mobile walk-in tub, which measures 26 inches wide by 45 inches long and still fits a full seat, a grab bar and a hydro or air and hydro therapy package. It is the model to look at when a standard 52 inch tub will not fit the room or will not pass through the doorway. The complete profile, with door, faucet and jet details, is in Ella Mobile 26x45: The…
• 📖Is there a whirlpool walk-in tub small enough to fit a shower space?Yes. Ella's two smallest walk-in tubs both carry jetted hydro massage, and both have a footprint smaller than Ella's own 32 by 60 inch roll-in shower base: the Mobile measures 26 by 45 inches and the Flow measures 28 by 48 inches. Hydro massage is Ella's name for the jetted water massage most people mean by whirlpool, so a tub with the therapy you want can sit where a standard shower stall now stands, provided the…
• 📖How wide are walk-in tubs, and is there a 34-inch model?Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs range from 26 inches to 38 inches wide, and the most common footprint is 30 inches wide by 52 inches long. There is no 34-inch width in Ella's published sizes: the widths offered are 26, 27, 28, 30, 32 and 38 inches, so a bathroom with about 34 inches of room is usually fitted with a 32-inch tub. Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit lists every standard size…
• 📖How Tall Are Walk-In Tubs Compared to Standard Tubs?Ella's seated walk-in tubs stand roughly chest high on a seated bather: the Petite and Elite are 35 inches tall, the Ultimate is 35 3/4 inches and the Deluxe is 39 inches, while the lie-down LayDown 30x60 is only 21 inches high. The sources do not list a standard bathtub's overall height, but Ella's own LayDown video compares soaking depth directly, 15 inches in the LayDown against 11 inches in a standard tub.…
• 📖Are there walk-in bathtubs only 28 inches wide for small bathrooms?Yes. The Ella Petite is the walk-in tub Ella's Bubbles sells as its 28-inch model, and its actual size on the current spec sheet is 27.5 inches wide by 52 inches long by 35 inches tall. The 28-inch figure is the nominal size used on the product page and brochure, so the narrow walk-in tub you have been searching for does exist, and it measures a half inch under its name. If you have been comparing it against…
• 📖What are the standard dimensions of a walk-in tub?Ella walk-in tubs are published with three outside dimensions, width, length and height, and the most common footprint is 30 inches wide by 52 inches long, a size that fits many standard tub alcoves. Across the line the verified widths run from 26 inches on the Lounger to 36 inches on the ShaK, lengths from the compact 26 by 45 inch tub up to 72 inch models, and heights from 21 inches on the reclining LayDown to…
• 📖How many gallons of water does a walk-in tub hold?An Ella walk-in tub holds between 65 and 145 gallons of water with nobody in it, depending on the model, and you use far less than that for a bath because the tub fills after you are seated and your body displaces part of the water. Most standard-size Ella models hold 65 to 107 gallons unoccupied and use 30 to 75 gallons once a bather is seated, while the largest tubs hold up to 145 gallons. How much water does a…
• 📖What size walk-in tub fits a five foot or six foot person?For a bather around five feet tall, the Ella walk-in tubs to compare first are the ones built on the lower 35 inch platform, the Petite, Elite and Royal, along with compact models such as the Flow, while a bather around six feet or taller fits the long-seat Big4One and ShaK, or the LayDown 32x72 for a full-length recline. Height alone never picks the tub, though: your seated hip width, shoulder width and…
• 📖How Do You Measure a Shower Base, Including a Corner Base?To measure for a shower base, record three things: the width and length of the footprint the pan will fill, where the existing drain sits measured from each wall, and whether the base goes into a three-wall alcove or a two-wall corner. Those figures tell you whether one of Ella's standard bases fits or whether a custom rectangle is needed, and What Sizes Do Ella Shower Bases and Shower Pans Come In? lists the…
• 📖What is the lowest height bathtub for easy entry?The lowest height Ella bathtub overall is the LayDown60, which stands 21 inches high, but the figure that decides how easy a tub is to enter is the step-in threshold, not the outside height. On Ella walk-in tubs that threshold runs roughly 3.5 to 7 inches, the lowest published figure belongs to the Monaco at 3 5/8 inches, and most models can be set lower still at installation, as Which Ella Walk-In Tubs Offer the…
• 📖What is an oversized bathtub and who actually needs one?An oversized bathtub is a tub that goes beyond the standard 60 inch bathtub footprint in length, width or soaking depth, so a tall bather can stretch out at full length and sink into deeper water. In the Ella line the clearest example is the LayDown72, a 32 inch wide by 72 inch long lay-down walk-in tub with a 15 inch soaking depth, described next to its smaller sibling in What is the Ella LayDown walk-in bathtub…
• 📖What is the standard bathtub size, and will a walk-in tub fit it?Most bathrooms were framed around a standard 60 inch bathtub, so the opening you are working with is usually 60 inches long, and the bathtub it held was about 31 1/2 inches wide. Every Ella walk-in tub fits that three-wall opening: tubs 60 inches or longer fill it on their own, and the 52 inch models close the gap at one end with an extension panel, as What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub? explains.…
• 📖Can a Walk-In Tub Be Part of an Aging-in-Place Shower Remodel?Yes. A walk-in tub can take the place of the shower in an aging-in-place remodel and still give the bather a standing rinse, because every Ella tub with the 5-piece fast-fill faucet includes a pull-out hand shower, and a slide bar, a rain shower column or a wall-mounted rain system can be added for showering on your feet. What the tub adds over a shower is seated bathing behind a sealed low-threshold door with a…
• 📖How much bathroom space and plumbing does the Ella Monaco need?The Ella Monaco fits a 52 inch alcove, needs every doorway on the delivery path to be wider than its 32 inch exterior, needs about 21 inches of clear floor in front of the tub for its outward-swinging door, and needs the house drain on the side opposite the door. Those four checks come from the Monaco technical drawing and the family fit rules, and the walk-in tub dimensions by model table lists the Monaco at 32…
• 📖How big is a standard bathtub, and how do you measure yours?A standard bathtub alcove is commonly 60 inches long, and that length, rather than the size of the old tub itself, is the number that decides what will fit in its place. To measure yours, record the finished length between the walls, the width from the back wall to the front edge of the alcove, and the height from the floor to the bottom of any window sill, then compare those figures with the actual size printed…
• 📖Where Can I Find Side-by-Side Dimension Guides for Walk-In Tubs?The dimension guide for any Ella walk-in tub is the spec sheet for that model, which prints the actual size, the shipping size and the seat and step-over threshold heights on one drawing. To compare models side by side, pull the actual size line from each sheet rather than the rounded figure in the model name, because the name is only a nominal size, as What Is Nominal Size vs Actual Size on a Walk-In Tub?…
• 📖How do I measure the soaking depth of a bathtub?To measure the soaking depth of a walk-in bathtub, run a tape measure from the top of the seat straight up to the center of the overflow opening, because the water can never rise above the overflow. Then record the length of the seat and the interior length of the tub, since those two figures decide how you sit in that water. The definition behind the number is in What Is Soaking Depth on a Walk-In Tub? ; this…
• 📖Which walk-in tub door type works best in a narrow bathroom?In a narrow bathroom the door type that usually works best is the inward-swing stainless steel door, because it opens into the tub rather than into the room; the Petite at an actual 27.5 inches wide and the Elite at 30 inches both use it. An outward-swing U-shape door gives the smallest tub of all, the 26 inch wide Mobile, but an outward door needs clear floor in front of it, about 21 inches on the Capri tour…
• 📖How Much Floor Clearance Does the Transfer L-Shape Door Need to Swing Open?The L-shape door on the Transfer family (Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL) swings outward through a 172 degree arc, and there are two clearance figures to plan with: the Transfer26 and Transfer32 drawings print a 20 inch door swing clearance callout, and the working figure the support team quotes is about 36.5 inches of clear floor beside the tub. Lay out the larger figure, then…
• 📖What are the door widths and step-in heights for each Ella door style?Ella's published door opening widths and step-in heights are set by the model rather than by the door style alone: the outward-swing Capri steps in at 3.5 inches through a 17.25 inch door opening, the inward stainless steel Elite steps in at 6 inches through a 16.25 inch opening, and the other models' thresholds run from about 3 5/8 inches on the Monaco to about 6.5 inches. The full threshold list lives in…
• 📖Will a Crated Walk-In Tub Fit Up Stairs, Through Doorways or in an Elevator?A crated Ella walk-in tub fits wherever its shipping size clears, and where the crate will not clear, the tub is uncrated outside and carried in by its frame, so the tub's actual width becomes the figure that decides the tightest doorway, stair turn or elevator door. Ella tubs ship fully assembled and cannot be disassembled to fit, so the only reliable answer comes from walking the route with a tape measure and…
• 📖Ella Front Entry vs Mobile: which compact tub fits a tiny bathroom?Choose the Ella Mobile when the tight dimension is the width of the room or the doorway, and choose the Ella Front Entry when the tight dimension is the length of the space and you can walk up to the tub from its end. The Mobile is the smallest tub Ella makes at 26 inches wide by 45 inches long, while the Front Entry is the shortest at 40 inches long but needs 32 inches of width. Both are described in full in…
• 📖Ella Mobile 26x45 vs Flow 28x48: which fits through a narrow doorway?The Ella Mobile passes the narrower doorway. Its 26 inch shell is the narrowest in the Ella line, and for a 25 inch opening the team names the Mobile as the only option, with the door frame removed so the shell can clear the jamb. The Ella Flow is built to pass a 28 inch doorway, because its shell measures 27 3/4 inches wide, and it is the tub to choose when the doorway allows it and you want a longer tub with an…
• 📖Can a 32 Inch Walk-In Tub Fit Through a 32 Inch Doorway?No. A walk-in tub with an actual width of 32 inches needs a passage wider than 32 inches, which is the same rule Ella applies to its 30 inch Elite: it should never be assumed to clear a 30 inch doorway. Before you give up on a model, confirm its actual width on the spec sheet, measure the finished opening of every doorway and turn on the route, and plan to remove the tub's panels and stand it on end at a tight…
• 📖Is there a walk-in tub and shower combo six feet long?Yes. Ella's Bubbles builds walk-in tubs that are a full 72 inches long, and any Ella walk-in tub ordered with an Ella deck-mount fast-fill faucet can be used as a tub and shower combo, with the optional shower column kit adding an overhead rain shower. The two six-foot models are the ShaK at 36 inches by 72 inches and the LayDown 32x72, and What Is the Best Walk-In Tub and Shower Combo? explains why there is no…
• 📖What is the shortest walk-in bathtub Ella's Bubbles makes?The shortest walk-in bathtub in the Ella's Bubbles line depends on which way you measure. Front to back, the Front Entry is the shortest at 40 inches, but it is entered from the front and needs 32 inches of width. Among side-entry tubs the Mobile is the shortest at 26 inches wide by 45 inches long, which is why What is the smallest bathtub size you can buy for a bathroom? names it the smallest tub Ella makes…
• 📖How tall are bathtubs and walk-in tubs, and why does it matter?Ella's seated compact walk-in tubs, the Petite and the Elite, stand 35 inches tall on the current spec sheets, the lay-down style LayDown 30x60 walk-in tub stands 21 inches high, and Ella's conventional step-over alcove tubs, the Solo 32x60 and Fiji 36x66, are 24 inches tall. A standard bathtub is usually described by its soaking depth of about 11 inches rather than by a published overall height. The narrowest of…
• 📖How do I measure my bathroom and myself for a walk-in tub?Choosing a walk-in tub takes two sets of measurements: three of your own body, taken while you sit in a chair, and a set of your bathroom that covers the alcove where the tub will sit and every doorway and hallway the tub must pass through on the way in. Your seated hip width, shoulder width and head-to-feet length are compared with the seat width, interior length and seat-to-overflow depth on each model's…
• 📖Ella Petite vs Elite vs Flow: which compact walk-in tub fits you?The current Ella spec sheets do not print a separate interior basin width for the Elite or the Petite. They print the actual exterior size and the seat width, and the seat width is the interior figure that decides whether the tub fits you: 22 inches on the Elite and 19 inches on the Petite, the narrowest seat in the line. Both tubs sit on the lower 35 inch platform that shorter bathers often prefer, as What is…
• 📖How Much Floor Space Does the Tub4Two Outward Door Need?The Tub4Two and Big4Two carry Ella's U-shape outward-swing door, which opens away from the tub through a 165 degree arc and needs about 21 inches of clear floor in front of the door side. Nothing can sit inside that arc, and the door must never be opened until the tub has completely drained. What Is a U-Shape Outward-Swing Door on a Walk-In Tub? describes the door itself; this page is about fitting the two-seat…
• 📖Can the Ella Front Entry 32x40 fit a standard 60 inch alcove?The Ella Front Entry can be set into a 60 inch alcove, but it will not fill one the way a 52 inch Ella tub does. The Front Entry measures 32 inches wide by 40 inches long, it ships with no extension panel and has no longer version, and its outward door sits on the end of the tub rather than the side, so in a three-wall alcove the door has to face the open side of the room and your installer frames and finishes the…
• 📖What doorway and room size does the Ella Big4One 33x66 need?The Ella Big4One measures 33 1/8 inches wide by 66 inches long, so every doorway, hallway and turn on the way to the bathroom must be wider than 33 1/8 inches once the panels are off, and the alcove must measure at least 66 inches from finished wall to finished wall. The crate is larger still, at 36 x 68 x 49 inches and 400 lbs, so plan the path up to the entry around the crate and the path inside the house around…
• 📖What Size Walk-In Tub Is Best for a Five Foot Person?For a bather around five feet tall, the Ella walk-in tubs to compare first are the models built on the lower 35 inch platform, the Petite, Elite and Royal, along with compact models such as the Flow, which has the shortest seat length listed. Height alone never picks the tub, because your seated hip width, shoulder width and head-to-feet length decide the fit. What size walk-in tub fits a five foot or six foot…
• 📖Do walk-in tubs come in different sizes to fit my bathroom?Yes. Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs come in a range of standard sizes, from compact 26x45 inch tubs to full 32x72 inch laid-down models, and the most common footprint is 30 inches wide by 52 inches long, a size that fits many standard tub alcoves. Ella builds around a set of standard footprints rather than custom shells, so the fit to your exact room comes from choosing the closest standard size and closing any gap…
• 📖What Is the Smallest Shower Pan Size You Can Buy?The smallest shower pan Ella's Bubbles makes is a custom acrylic base measuring 30 by 30 inches, and that minimum applies to both three-wall alcove bases and corner bases. The smallest pan in the standard lineup is 30 by 60 inches, so any square or short footprint is a custom request instead of a stock size. The complete range is laid out in What sizes do shower pans come in, from smallest to largest? , and this…
• 📖How wide are walk-in tubs, and do bathtubs come 34 inches wide?In Ella's published figures, walk-in tub widths run from 27.5 inches on the Petite, through 30 inches on the Elite and the LayDown 30x60, to 32 inches on the LayDown72 and the two-seat tubs. None of those published widths is 34 inches, because the printed sizes step from 32 inches straight to the 36 inch Fiji, which is a step-over alcove tub and not a walk-in. The narrow end of the range, and why a tub named 28…
• 📖How Do I Evaluate a Walk-In Tub's Footprint for a Small Bathroom?To evaluate a walk-in tub's footprint for a small bathroom, compare the tub's exterior width and length, which is the floor space it occupies, against three things: the opening where it will sit, the path it must travel to get there, and the floor the door needs in order to open. Then check the interior numbers, such as seat width, against the bather. Are Walk-In Tub Dimensions the Floor Footprint or the Inside…
• 📖Does Ella Have a Walk-In Tub That Fits a 48 Inch Space?Yes. Ella's standard sizes include a compact 26x45 inch walk-in tub, and it is the one standard footprint in the line that is shorter than a 48 inch opening. Every other standard size is 52 inches or longer, so those tubs will not slide into a 48 inch space unless the opening is reframed. The complete list of sizes is in Walk-In Tub and Shower Base Sizes and How to Measure for Fit , and this page looks at what…
• 📖Walk-in tub dimensions by model: exterior sizes, seat widths, and door typesWalk-in tub dimensions by model matter because every Ella walk-in tub is built on one of a few door platforms, and each model has its own exact exterior size and seat width. The quick answer: our tubs range from the compact Mobile at 26" wide by 45" long, up to the bariatric ShaK at 36" wide by 72" long, with seat widths from 19" to 29". The tables below give the exact factory dimensions for every family so you…
• 📖Will it fit through my doorway? How to measure your home for a walk-in tubWill a walk-in tub fit through your doorway? Ella walk-in tubs are delivered fully assembled as one unit, so the tub, and on delivery day the shipping crate, must travel from your entrance all the way to the bathroom. The quick answer: measure every doorway, hallway and turning angle along that route, then compare those measurements to the actual width and the shipping size of the model you want. Our narrowest…
• 📖Will it fit my alcove? Extension panels, end panels, and 60 inch spacesYes, an Ella walk-in tub will fit your alcove. Every model is designed for the classic three-wall alcove where a standard 60 inch bathtub used to sit, and each one can also stand against one or two walls. The quick answer on alcove fit: most 52 inch and 55 inch long models include a factory extension panel that fills the gap in a standard 60 inch alcove, while the 60 inch and longer tubs fill the space on their…
• 📖How many gallons does each Ella walk-in tub hold? Water capacity guideHow many gallons does a walk-in tub hold? Water capacity depends on the model and on you: the bather displaces water, so every Ella tub has two numbers, an unoccupied capacity and a typical occupied range. The quick answer: most standard-size Ella walk-in tubs hold 65 to 107 gallons unoccupied, and you will typically use 30 to 75 gallons per bath once you are seated. Our largest tubs, the ShaK, Escape, and…
• 📖How much does a walk-in tub weigh? Net, shipping, and filled weight guideHow much does a walk-in tub weigh? Ella walk-in tubs weigh between 160 and 328 pounds empty, depending on the model, and between 220 and 531 pounds as shipped in the crate. The quick answer for planning: most standard-size models weigh 200 to 240 pounds net, which two people can move safely once the access panels are removed, and your bathroom floor must support the tub plus the water plus the bather. Net and…
• 📖Seat sizes and soaking depth: how to measure yourself for a comfortable fitThe most important fit numbers in a walk-in tub are the seat width and the soaking depth, and both start with measuring you, not the bathroom. The quick answer: Ella seat widths run from 19" (Petite, Transfer26) to 29" (TransferXXL), and the tub seat must be wider than your hip measurement. Soaking depth is determined by the interior length of the tub, the length of the seat, and the depth from the top of the seat…
• 📖Are Ella walk-in tubs ADA compliant? Accessibility and wheelchair answersAre Ella walk-in tubs ADA compliant? There is no official ADA certification for walk-in tubs, or for any product: the U.S. Access Board, which writes the ADA standards, does not evaluate or certify products. ADA standards apply to buildings such as public accommodations and government facilities, not to typical private homes, and Ella tubs are designed for residential bathrooms with many ADA-compatible elements…

Showers, Panels & Accessories223 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Installing the Shower Column Kit on Your Walk-in TubShower column kit installation on an Ella walk-in tub means mounting a chrome or brushed nickel column into the hand shower hole on the tub deck, connecting it to the diverter of your Ella 2-piece or 5-piece fast fill faucet with the included 1/2 inch braided supply line, and anchoring the riser to the wall with a short or long pipe connector. Because that supply line runs to the faucet behind the tub, the deck…
• 📖Installing Glass Shower Screens: Four-Fold and LayDown ScreensInstalling a glass shower screen on an Ella walk-in tub comes down to two families: the four-fold tempered glass screen that folds accordion style on top of the tub deck, and the fixed panel glass screen and door made for the LayDown tubs. Both keep shower spray inside the tub while preserving easy entry, and both depend on one thing above all: setting the height and level so the bottom gasket brushes the deck…
• 📖Installing Ella Shower Bases, the Flexible Shower Dam, and Shower WallsInstalling an Ella shower base and the flexible shower dam is a job for your own licensed contractor, with the technical support team available to help at every step. The accessible shower line includes barrier-free roll-in shower bases, low-threshold acrylic bases, cultured marble bases, multi piece shower wall systems, and the flexible collapsible dam that keeps water inside a barrier-free stall while letting…
• 📖Wall Panels and Surrounds for Walk-In Tubs: Acrylic 3-Panel Kits, Cultured Marble, and PVC TilesWall panels and surrounds for walk-in tubs from Ella's Bubbles come in four families: an acrylic 3-panel wall kit, SMC subway-pattern wall kits, cultured marble wall panels, and grout-free tongue-and-groove PVC wall tiles. None of these is a tub-specific surround molded to one model. They are wall systems that you cut and fit to your space, so the key rule is that whatever you choose must match the tub footprint…
• 📖Ella Fast-Fill Faucets: 2-Piece vs 5-Piece, Finishes, and the Waterfall OptionElla fast-fill faucets come in two deck-mount sets, and every tub is drilled at order time for one of them: the 2-piece single-lever set rated up to 16 GPM at 60 PSI, or the 5-piece set with separate hot and cold levers rated up to 18 GPM. Both include a 5-setting pull-out hand shower (1.9 GPM) on a 5 ft braided hose and two 3/4 in by 5 ft supply lines; shut-off valves are not included. Real fill speed depends on…
• 📖Tub Colors and Hardware Finishes: White Only, Chrome Trim, and Faucet UpgradesWalk-in tub colors and hardware finishes at Ella's Bubbles are simple to summarize: every current Ella walk-in tub, LayDown tub, shower base and shower kit is white, the trim and fittings are chrome, and the faucet set is the one item you can order in another finish. Biscuit, bone, linen, almond and off-white are not offered as regular colors; the only off-white units mentioned recently were leftover clearance…
• 📖Swivel Tray, Seat Pillow Riser, and Seat Cushions: Which Tubs They FitElla's walk-in tub comfort accessories are the patented 360 degree removable swivel tray, seat pillow risers with or without a bidet cutout, seat cushions, and headrest pillows. Which one fits depends on the door family: the swivel tray is designed for the stainless inward-swing deck and is not compatible with the Ultra or the Transfer30, while the risers and pillows fit the Elite and most seated tubs. Check the…
• 📖Ella Shower Kits and Bases: Multi-Piece Showers, Roll-In Bases, and Cultured MarbleElla shower kits and bases cover the whole accessible shower, not just walk-in tubs: low-threshold and barrier-free multi-piece showers, one-piece AcrylX shower stalls, roll-in and barrier-free shower bases and pans that ship with a collapsible rubber dam, SMC low-profile bases, shower wall surrounds, and, in the past, cultured marble bases and wall panels. Complete one-piece and multi-piece shower kits are…
• 📖Installing an Ella One-Piece AcrylX Shower Stall: Alcove Prep, Drain Opening, Fastening and First UseInstalling an Ella one-piece shower stall means setting the AcrylX unit into a framed alcove that matches the rough-in diagram exactly, over a 6 inch floor opening for the 2 inch drain, and fastening it through its nailing flange at every stud and every 8 inches vertically. Because it is one piece, the unit has to be brought into the bathroom before the door framing is finished. This article covers the stall…
• 📖Installing the 60 x 33 Three-Piece Low-Threshold Shower With Molded Seat (Liberty 24 and 36)Three-piece shower installation for the 60 x 33 inch low-threshold unit with molded seat needs a framing pocket 60 to 60 1/4 inches wide and 33 1/4 inches deep; the base is leveled, shimmed and screwed to the studs before either wall goes on, the seat-side wall goes in first and the valve wall last, and the drain and all seams are checked before the wallboard closes the plumbing in. This article follows the…
• 📖Installing Multi-Piece Gel Coat Showers: Barrier-Free Roll-In (BF) and Low-Threshold (SH) UnitsInstalling a multi-piece gel coat shower from Ella's Bubbles follows one of two manuals. Barrier-free roll-in (BF) units need a framing pocket 1/4 inch larger than the shower, a floor within 1/8 inch of level, a 6 inch drain core with a 10 x 10 x 1/2 inch recess, and two installers. Low-threshold (SH) units rest on wood support wedges that are mandatory, are joined with silicone at every seam, fastened with 6d…
• 📖Installing the SMC Low-Profile Shower Bases: 1 Inch Reversible Linear Drain and Barrier-Free Linear-Drain BasesSMC shower base installation follows the same sequence for both Ella SMC (sheet molding compound) bases: cut a 5 x 5 inch floor opening for a 2 inch PVC waste pipe, set the base with its front edge in full contact with the rough floor, level it in two directions, and secure it to the studs through a tile flange before the wallboard and tile come down over it. The 1 inch low-profile reversible base ships with a…
• 📖Installing SMC Shower Niches and Soap DishesShower niche installation with an Ella SMC niche means recessing it between two studs, packing out the flanges so they sit flush with the plasterboard, screwing it to the framing without over-tightening, waterproofing with a self-adhesive membrane and sealing compound, tiling over the flanges, and finishing with silicone that cures for 24 hours before the first shower. The SMC soap dishes are surface-mounted…
• 📖Installing Framed Sliding Shower Doors and the Tidy Two-Panel Bath ScreenInstalling Ella's framed sliding shower doors and the Tidy two-panel bath screen comes down to four things: every model is reversible for left or right opening, every one mounts on a siliconed wall profile fixed with solid-wall plugs, the glass is hung and adjusted from inside the enclosure, and the finished job needs 24 hours after the final silicone before the first shower. Match your door to its manual by the…
• 📖Ella Shower Stalls Compared: One-Piece AcrylX E-Series, Three-Piece 60x33 Molded Seat, and the Legacy ESM Gel Coat StallsThe difference between a one-piece and a three-piece Ella shower stall comes down to how it reaches the bathroom. One-piece stalls are molded as a single unit with an integral base and seamless walls, which makes them a natural fit for new construction where the stall can be brought in before walls are closed. Three-piece kits ship as a base plus two wall sections that assemble from the front, which is what you…
• 📖Shower Base Sizes and Thresholds Compared: AcrylX Barrier-Free, SMC Linear-Drain, Molded-Seat and Cultured Marble BasesElla's Bubbles shower base sizes and thresholds fall into four families, and the differences that matter most are the threshold height, the drain style, whether a tile flange is built in, and weight. AcrylX barrier-free bases have a beveled entry between 3/4 inch and 1 1/8 inch depending on size. SMC bases have a 1 inch or 1 1/8 inch threshold with an integrated linear drain. The 36 by 60 molded-seat base has a 5…
• 📖Wall Kit Sizes at a Glance: SMC Subway Kits, Acrylic Surrounds, 3-Panel Kits, Wall Liners, Cultured Marble and Grout-Free TilesElla's Bubbles wall kit sizes fall into six systems, and the right one depends on the height you need, whether you are covering old tile, and how the panels have to reach the bathroom: SMC subway panel kits at 96, 72 or 48 inches high, acrylic 3-panel kits at 98 or 105 inches, the acrylic tub surround at 52 inches, acrylic wall liner packages at 98 1/2 inches, multi-piece cultured marble surrounds and grout-free…
• 📖Ella Bathroom Furniture: Element ST20 and ST30 Cabinets, the ST36 Vanity With Quartz Top and the FL25Alongside tubs and showers, Ella's Bubbles offers a small line of bathroom vanities and cabinets: the Element ST20 and ST30 modular floor cabinets, the Element ST36 standing vanity with a quartz top, and the Air FL25 wall-mount vanity with a cultured marble top. All four are built from MDF with an Arauco melamine coating in Ebony, Dark Walnut or White Oak, use push-to-open under-mount slides with no handles, and…
• 📖The Waterfall Wall-Mount Faucet: Installation Overview, Slider Bar, Finishes and Fill ExpectationsWaterfall faucet installation is wall work: the Ella Waterfall Bathtub Faucet is a wall-mounted brass faucet with a 24 inch slider bar and a hand-held shower, roughed into the wall by a licensed plumber before the walls close. It comes in matte black, chrome and brushed nickel, and on the demonstration tub it filled the bath in under 5 minutes. This article explains what is in the package, how the installation…
• 📖Installing the Wall-Mounted Hand Shower Slider Bar and the Extension Coupler So Nothing Leaks Behind the TubThe Ella hand shower slider bar lets you park the tub's pull-out hand shower on the wall at any height, and it installs with two anchored brackets, a chrome column, a holder, and, most importantly, a coupler and extension line that seal the hand shower's deck receptacle. Skip the coupler and extension, stretch the factory hose to the wall, and water will drip through the deck hole and pool behind the tub. This…
• 📖Installing Shower Seats, Folding Benches, the Fold-Up Chair, Teak Seat, Grab Bar Shelf and the Caregiver Curtain RodShower seat installation on an Ella shower always comes back to one rule: every wall-mounted seat, bench and shelf must anchor into studs or solid in-wall backing confirmed by a licensed contractor, and each product adds its own specifics. The bariatric corner seats need 2x6 backers and a bracket, the folding bench needs all four screws in every plate, the fold-up chair sits 18 to 19 inches high with silicone on…
• 📖Installing the SMC 12-Piece Wall Kit, Acrylic Tub Surrounds, the 3-Panel Kit, Tongue-and-Groove Wall Tiles and Palisade Vinyl TilesShower wall kit installation on an Ella shower goes one of three ways. The SMC 12-piece kit is four rows of 24 inch panels set bottom row first on 100 percent silicone with overlapping flanges. The acrylic 3-panel kit is glued only, never screwed or nailed, dry-fitted first and braced or taped for 24 hours while the silicone cures. The tongue-and-groove wall tiles and the Palisade vinyl tiles are glued to an…
• 📖Glass Door and Screen Options Beyond the 4-Fold: Sliding Doors, the Tidy Screen, the LayDown Bi-Fold and the Primo DoorThe four-fold tempered glass screen is the best-known way to close in an Ella walk-in tub for showering, but it is not the only glass door and screen option Ella's Bubbles publishes. Depending on the tub and the opening, there is also the Duo framed sliding door, framed thick-glass sliders such as the Primo in 48 and 60 inch widths, the Tidy two-panel bath screen, and the bi-fold screen made for the LayDown tubs.…
• 📖Shower Doors, Seats, Benches, Grab Bar Sets, Niches, Soap Dishes and Acrylic Trim: Sizes, Capacities and FinishesThis is the shower accessories spec sheet for an Ella's Bubbles shower: sliding shower doors, seats and benches with their rated load capacities, the SafeGrip 7-piece grab bar sets, SMC niches and soap dishes, and the acrylic trim pieces used with acrylic wall liners. Every figure is taken from the published specification sheet or installation document for that item; installation steps live in separate articles…
• 📖Custom-Size Shower Bases: Size Ranges, Threshold Options, Drain Placement Rules, Construction, and How to Request OneYes, Ella's Bubbles can build a custom-size acrylic shower base; a 46 by 46 inch pan with a low step-in threshold and a drain placed where your plumbing needs it is a typical request. Custom bases are built to your length and width, with a drain in a left, right, center, or custom position. Availability of the custom program has changed over time, so the first step is always to confirm with your Ella dealer or the…
• 📖Every Accessory Video in One Place: Swivel Tray, 4-Fold Screen, Shower Column, Slide Bar, Waterfall Faucet, Faucet Options, Pillows, Cushions, Heated Seat, Aromatherapy, Extension Panels and Tile FlangeEvery Ella's Bubbles accessory video is collected here in one place, grouped by accessory: the overview tours, the shower column kit, the wall-mounted slide bar, the faucets, the glass screens, the comfort items, the heated seat, aromatherapy, extension and end panels, and the glue-up tile flange. Each entry has a one-line caption drawn from the video itself and names the support article that goes deeper. Several…
• 📖Every Shower Video in One Place: Low-Threshold and Barrier-Free Installs, the Shower Dam, Shower Bases, Cultured Marble Walls, CNC Wall Kits and Grout-Free PVC TileEvery Ella's Bubbles shower video is collected here in one place: the three-piece low-threshold install, the five-piece barrier-free tutorial in two parts, the collapsible shower dam, the shower bases, the cultured marble walls and base, the CNC engraved acrylic wall kits, and the grout-free PVC tile. Each entry has a caption drawn from the video itself and names the support article that goes deeper. The complete…
• 📖Common Questions About Showering Add-Ons and Accessories: 4-Fold Screen Fit, Full-Length Screens, Rain Heads, Two-Seat Shower Heads, Slide Bars, Samples, Windows and Swivel Tray FitThese are the questions the team hears most often about showering add-ons and accessories, answered briefly with a link to the article that goes deeper. In short: the 4-fold screen fits seated Ella tubs, including the Ultimate; there is no full-length screen; the rain shower column is optional on tubs with an Ella deck-mount faucet; two-seat tubs with two faucets get two hand showers and can take two columns; wall…
• 📖The Four-Fold Bath Screen Printed Manual: Parts Supplied, Loose Fittings, Tools and the Eleven Numbered StepsThis page walks through the printed installation manual for the Ella four-fold bath screen, document code C0660-A00-01: the pre-start checks, safety notes, parts and loose fittings with quantities, tools required, and the eleven numbered steps in order. The manual states that the instructions suit both right and left hand fixing and that all product is supplied without the bath. For where the screen sits on the…
• 📖What Is a Fast-Fill Faucet on a Walk-In Tub?A fast-fill faucet on an Ella walk-in tub is one of Ella's deck-mounted faucet sets built to fill the tub as quickly as your home's plumbing allows: the 2-piece single-lever set, designed for 16 GPM at 60 PSI, and the 5-piece set with separate hot and cold levers, designed for 18 GPM. Owners also call it the Ella Fast-Fill, the deck faucet or the tub filler, and both sets come with a pull-out hand shower and two…
• 📖What Is a Hand Shower Diverter on a Walk-In Tub?A hand shower diverter on an Ella walk-in tub is the control on the faucet that switches water between the spout and the pull-out hand shower. On the 2-piece fast-fill faucet it is a button under the spout, and on the 5-piece faucet it is the middle lever between the hot and cold handles. Owners also call it the diverter valve, the diverter button or the shower switch. How it works On the 2-piece set, turn the…
• 📖What Is a Barrel Extension Hose (Leak Elimination Kit) on a Walk-In Tub?A barrel extension hose on an Ella walk-in tub is a 5 foot extension hose with a stainless steel barrel connector that plugs the deck insert hole so a pull-out hand shower can be wall-mounted without water leaking behind the tub. Ella also calls it the wall attachment and water leak elimination kit, and owners call it the hose extension with barrel fitting or simply the leak kit. How it works The pull-out hand…
• 📖What Is a Seat Pillow Riser on a Walk-In Tub?A seat pillow riser, also called a seat riser or riser cushion, is a moderately soft foam cushion, about 20 1/2 inches long by 13 inches wide by 3 1/2 inches high, that sits on the molded seat of a walk-in tub with suction cups to add height and comfort. It comes in a standard rectangle or in a U-shape with a bidet cutout, so the bidet air jets at the base of the seat still flow freely while you sit on it. How it…
• 📖What Is the Swivel Tray on a Walk-In Tub?The swivel tray is Ella's patented removable 360 degree tray, also called the rotating bath tray or bath caddy, that gives you a dry spot for a drink, a book or bath items while you soak. It measures 8.5 by 8.5 inches with a 2 inch pin on one corner, mounts in a threaded fitting near the door on the stainless inward-swing deck, and rotates out of the way for entry and exit. The 8.5 by 8.5 inch swivel tray pins…
• 📖What Is the Shower Column Kit on a Walk-In Tub?The shower column kit is Ella's overhead rain shower option for a walk-in tub. The column installs at the tub deck and is braced to the bathroom wall with adjustable connector rods so it stays rigid in use. The most common question about the kit today concerns those rods: the kit now ships with two shorter connector rods, one adjustable from 2 to 3 inches and one from 3 to 4 inches, which is a change from the…
• 📖What Is the 4-Fold Shower Screen on a Walk-In Tub?The 4-fold shower screen, also called the folding glass screen, accordion screen or four-panel bath screen, is a 44 by 42 inch tempered glass screen in a chrome ionized aluminum frame that mounts to the side wall beside your walk-in tub and keeps shower spray inside. Its four panels fold flat against the wall when not in use, and by removing one section it converts to a 32 inch wide 3-fold screen. The screen…
• 📖What Is the Waterfall Faucet on an Ella Tub?The waterfall faucet is Ella's wall-mounted brass bathtub faucet, sold as a complete set with a 24 inch slider bar and a hand shower and offered in matte black, chrome and brushed nickel. Unlike the deck-mounted 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucets, the spout, its double-handle hot and cold control and the slide bar all mount on the wall and are roughed in by a licensed plumber before the walls close, and water…
• 📖What Is a Collapsible Rubber Dam on a Roll-In Shower?A collapsible rubber dam, also called a water retainer, flexible shower dam or collapsible threshold, is the self-adhesive rubber strip that comes standard with Ella roll-in barrier-free shower bases. It sits across the open entry of the stall to keep water inside while a wheelchair or walker rolls right over it, flattening under the wheels and springing back once they pass. It gives a barrier-free shower the…
• 📖Why Does Water Spray Out of the Tub When I Use the Hand Shower?If water sprays out of the tub when you use the hand shower, the reason is usually simple: a walk-in tub is open on top, so a hand shower aimed toward the room, or jets running above the waterline, sends spray onto the bathroom floor. The first thing to check is where the spray is pointed and whether a splash guard is fitted. Ella's published splash guards are the 4 fold glass screen for seated tubs and the…
• 📖Why Does My Shower Column Drip After I Shut It Off?A shower column that drips after shutoff is releasing water that was still under pressure inside the column pipe, and that is normal: the rain head is the lowest open path for the leftover water in the riser. It stays small if you leave the column diverter pointing down to the hand shower whenever the tub is not in use. The first thing to check is whether you see a brief trickle from the rain head, which is…
• 📖Why Does My Shower Screen Gasket Have a Gap and Spray Water?When the gasket on the screen has a gap and sprays water, the cause is almost always the height and level of the screen rather than the gasket itself. On the 4 fold screen the bottom gasket must brush the tub deck lightly and evenly along its full length, with the rubber lip angled inward toward the tub: too high leaves a gap that leaks, too low damages the gasket and leaves it looking mangled. The first thing to…
• 📖What If My Shower Stall Wall Is Out of Square or the Base Is Damaged?If your shower stall wall is out of square, or the base has a hole, a crack or a coating coming off, the first thing to check is timing and support. Ella shower bases carry a 30 year limited warranty that asks for a defect to be reported within 10 days of discovering it; stalls carry their own printed terms, so report just as promptly. Freight damage, including concealed damage, must be reported within 48 hours of…
• 📖Why Don't the Suction Cups on My Tub Pillow Hold?When the suction cups on the pillow do not hold, the cause is nearly always the surface rather than the pillow. A suction cup grips only a clean, dry, smooth surface, so a headrest that falls off after a couple of days usually sits on a spot with a film of soap, oil or cleaner, or over a jet, a texture line, a grout line or the edge of the seat. The first thing to check is where the cups are placed and whether…
• 📖What Are My Options If My Swivel Tray Broke or Does Not Fit?If your swivel tray broke, or it will not fit your tub, the good news is that the tray and its mounting flange are replaceable accessories, and the first thing to check is whether your model takes the tray at all. The patented 360 degree swivel tray is designed for the stainless inward swing door deck: it is standard on the Elite, Royal, Deluxe and Ultimate and on the two seat Companion and Escape, it is not…
• 📖What If My Grab Bar Is the Wrong Size or Was Not in the Box?If your grab bar is the wrong size or was not in the box, start by checking what your model includes and where it was packed. Most Ella walk-in tubs include a chrome stainless steel grab bar, and many include both a deck mount bar and a wall mount bar, but the Petite and Companion include a deck mount bar only and the Tub4Two and the LayDown tubs do not come with a grab bar at all. The deck bar ships loose in a…
• 📖Is There a Seat Belt for the Walk-In Tub?Yes, there is a seat belt for the walk-in tub. Ella offers a seat belt accessory whose bracket mounts below the seat with drilled fasteners, which is the first thing to know before ordering: it cannot be installed without drilling, and adhesive such as super glue is not acceptable for a part that has to hold a bather in place. Because drilling into the tub is permanent, the team confirms the bracket location for…
• 📖Shower Bases and Wall PanelsElla's Bubbles manufactures its own custom shower bases and shower wall panel systems, along with acrylic wall surrounds designed for walk-in tubs. Shower bases come in standard sizes as well as fully custom dimensions, and wall panels are built to a consistent 98 inch height in a few different finish styles. If you are planning a shower or walk-in tub installation, your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850…
• 📖Shower Bases, Walls, and Filler PiecesElla's Bubbles offers a range of shower base and wall options, including 32 by 60 inch barrier-free roll-in bases in left and right configurations, three-inch step-in thresholds, wheelchair rolling bases, SMC seamless showers, and three-piece acrylic wall systems. An 8 inch wide L-shaped filler piece is also available to close a gap between a shower base and an adjoining wall or fixture. Details on sizing…
• 📖Shower Builder ToolElla's Bubbles offers an online shower builder tool that lets you scroll through the available options and put together a custom shower design before your project moves forward. Once you have explored your design, a contractor will visit in person to measure your space and finalize the installation details for your new shower. How the Shower Builder Tool Works The shower builder tool is designed to help you…
• 📖How to Get the Installation Guide, Spec Sheet and Manual for Your Ella Shower Wall Kit or EnclosureEvery Ella shower wall kit and enclosure has an installation guide, a spec sheet with the dimensions, and a user manual, and support will send them to you as attachments once they know which shower you have. If you bought the shower through The Home Depot, the fastest route is the product page itself: scroll to Product Description, open Additional Resources, and you will find the Warranty, Installation Guide…
• 📖Replacing or Reattaching the End Cap and Horizontal Seal on a Folding Shower ScreenThe end cap on a folding shower screen fits onto the end of the horizontal seal, and the printed installation manual covers attaching it in steps 4 and 5. If the cap has come off, you can usually refit it by following those steps without new parts. If it is cracked or lost, a replacement end cap kit is available through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. Because the horizontal seal is often trimmed…
• 📖Shattered or Cracked Shower Glass Panel: How Replacement WorksIf a glass shower screen or door panel on your Ella shower or tub has shattered or cracked, the fix is a complete replacement panel rather than a repair. Start by sending clear photos to the support team at ellasbubbles.com/support. The team will confirm which panel you need and whether the hardware is also damaged, tell you whether the damage falls under the warranty, and arrange the replacement with you. Ella…
• 📖Missing or Broken Shower Door Hardware: Rollers, Tracks, Knobs and Frame PartsYes, small shower door hardware can be replaced. Roller wheels and bearings, the top track, door knobs and the bottom aluminum frame are all parts the support team can locate and ship, and you receive a tracking number when the package leaves. The exception is the LayDown tub screen, where separate parts are limited and some pieces ship attached to the glass. Start with photos of what is missing or broken and your…
• 📖Is There a Cup Holder for My Walk-In Tub, and Which Tubs Fit the Swivel Tray?Ella does not offer a cup holder accessory for its walk-in tubs. The only tray accessory is the swivel tray, and it is made only for tubs with the inward-swing stainless steel door. If your tub has an outward-swing door, the swivel tray cannot be added, and an aftermarket bath caddy from a home goods or online retailer is the practical option. Which tubs the swivel tray fits The swivel tray is designed for the…
• 📖Where Should the 4-Fold Shower Screen Sit on the Tub Deck?Water is getting past the door because the 4-fold shower screen is sitting too far out on the tub deck. The screen must be mounted on the inside edge of the deck, the inner lip closest to the bathing well, especially where it passes over the door. When it sits farther out, water that bounces off the bather or the panels is funneled into the gap between the door and the tub on the hinge side, and the tub will leak…
• 📖Installing the Seat Belt Harness: Bracket Location, Pilot Holes and ScrewsThe seat belt harness attaches to the tub with a square bracket that has four screw holes. The bracket is screwed to the back of the tub behind the bather, at a position the team marks out for your model on a measurement picture. Once the four holes are marked, you pre-drill small pilot holes and drive the mounting screws. The bracket is fastened from inside the tub, so the belt can be added after installation…
• 📖Why the Three-Piece Shower Arrives as One Unit and Where the Shipping Bolts AreThe three-piece low-threshold shower ships from Ella's Bubbles fully preassembled, so it arrives looking like a single molded unit. That is by design. Bolting the sections together protects them in transit, and the seams are hard to see until the shower is completely out of its packaging. Before installation, remove the shipping bolts on the back of the shower, then follow the installation instructions published…
• 📖Slide Bar Holder Will Not Hold the Hand Shower Up: Fixes and Replacement OptionsWhen the holder on the hand shower slide bar stops gripping and creeps down the bar, the small sliding piece has lost its tension. Tightening it usually helps for a short while, but once the slider is worn it will not hold. The lasting fix is a replacement holder, or the complete slide bar kit, sent as a part under the lifetime parts warranty. To get the right part the first time, note whether the whole assembly…
• 📖What the Ella Acrylic Shower Base Is Made Of and How It Is InstalledElla's acrylic shower bases are vacuum-molded from an acrylic-capped ABS sheet and reinforced underneath with high-density foam. The result is a base that is light to carry yet rigid enough to sit directly on a subfloor or a concrete floor without a mortar bed. The base cannot be trimmed on site, so it must be ordered in the exact size and drain location you need, and a licensed local contractor sets it and…
• 📖Four-Fold Glass Shower Screen: Damaged Hardware, the Return Window and Why Panels Cannot Be AddedIf a slide, roller or frame piece on your four-fold glass shower screen is damaged or will not slide, replacement hardware ships from the Ella warehouse once you open a ticket with photos and your serial number. The screen itself follows the standard 30-day return policy for uninstalled products in original packaging, so it cannot be returned once that window has passed or once it has been installed. Individual…
• 📖Will a One-Piece Ella Shower Fit Through My Doorways? The 33-Inch Clearance Rule and New ConstructionA one-piece Ella shower unit arrives as a single molded piece and needs at least 33 inches of clear opening at every doorway and hallway on the path to the bathroom. It does not fit through an average finished doorway or hallway, which is why the one-piece stall is intended mostly for new construction, where it can be set in place before the framing and doors are finished. If your home is already built and the…
• 📖How Close to the Wall Can the Drain Be on a Custom Shower Base, and Can It Be Centered?On a custom-size Ella shower base, the drain must sit at least 9 inches from the back wall and at least 9 inches from the nearest side wall, measured from the outside edge of the base. This limit comes from the molds used to form the base, so it applies to every custom size and threshold option. Within that limit the drain can be centered or offset, and the team confirms the exact drain measurements with you in…
• 📖Can I Add a Hand Shower Slide Bar or Rain Shower Column After My Tub Is Installed?A hand shower slide bar can be added at any time, including long after the tub is installed, because it mounts to the wall and works with the hand shower you already have. A rain shower column is different. It replaces the hand shower holder on the tub deck and is connected from behind the tub, so it is best ordered and installed together with the tub. Adding a column to a finished installation is possible only if…
• 📖Folding Glass Shower Screen: Which Side It Mounts On, How Much Room It Takes Folded, and Confirming StockElla's folding tempered glass shower screens mount to the bathroom wall at one end of the tub and stack out of the way when open. Folded, the panels lean outward, away from the tub, and stand roughly 4 to 6 inches out from the wall, so the stack is never behind your head or shoulders while you bathe. The bifold screen is made for the LayDown tubs and is stocked as a left-hand or right-hand screen to match the…
• 📖How Shower Wall Edges Are Finished: 2-Inch Bends on White CNC Walls and Trim OptionsElla's acrylic shower wall panels arrive with their two outside vertical edges cut clean and finished, but they are not wrapped or rolled. To dress the exposed edge where a panel meets the shower base or an open wall, you have two options. The white CNC walls can be made with a 2-inch bend along the edge if you request it when you order. Any panel can be finished with a trim strip, either requested for the…
• 📖Can Ella Factory-Install a Grab Bar From Another Supplier?Ella's Bubbles does not factory-install grab bars supplied by a customer, dealer, or third party. Your Ella walk-in tub ships with the chrome deck-mount grab bar that was matched to your model, and the factory will not mount a bar it has not tested against the acrylic shell. If you would like a different finish, such as black, the swap is something your installer can do on site using the holes already in the tub…
• 📖Does Ella Offer a Dome, Ceiling Panel or Light for Its Showers?Ella does not offer a dome, a ceiling top panel or a light fixture for its showers. An Ella shower kit is made up of the acrylic base, the wall panels and, if you choose one, a glass door or screen, and the enclosure stays open to your bathroom ceiling. Lighting comes from the fixtures already in the room or from a new fixture your electrician installs, not from a part supplied by Ella. What an Ella shower kit…
• 📖Does the Ella Shower Stall Come With a Door, and What Size Door Fits the Opening?Ella shower stalls and shower kits ship without a door. You add a curtain, a sliding door or a pivot door of your choice. The side walls have wood built into the fiberglass, so a door frame or pivot hinges can be screwed straight into the stall without hunting for a stud behind it. Ella offers one door of its own, the Ella Duo sliding door, for the larger stall with its 55 3/4-inch inside opening. For the smaller…
• 📖How Much Weight Can the Molded Shower Seat and Shower Base Hold?Ella's molded shower seat is not given an official weight rating, but Ella states it will hold up to 250 pounds. The shower base is not formally rated either. Ella has quoted the base at up to 300 pounds, and in some answers the seat and pan together at 250 pounds, so treat 250 pounds as the safe planning figure and confirm the figure for your exact model with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. If a…
• 📖Do Ella Shower Stall Walls Come Smooth, or Only With the Molded Tile Pattern?Ella molded shower stalls come only with the tile pattern formed into the walls. There is no smooth-wall version of the stall, and the pattern cannot be left off at the factory because it is part of the molded surface rather than a printed or applied finish. If you want a plain wall surface, look at a separate shower base paired with one of Ella's wall kits instead, and confirm the available finishes with your…
• 📖Does a Walk-In Tub Come With a Shower Head? Riser, Column and Rain-System Options for a Standing ShowerShoppers comparing walk-in tubs often ask whether the tub comes with a shower head, whether a riser or column can be added so the tub doubles as a stand-up shower, and whether a separate rain shower system can share the space in a new build. The short answers: every Ella tub with the 5-piece fast-fill faucet includes a pull-out hand shower; the Ella rain shower column is offered only for certain models and is…
• 📖How to Get Pricing and Order Ella Grout-Free Shower Wall Tiles: Measuring Your Walls and Estimating BoxesElla's grout-free shower wall tiles are sold by the box, not by the wall or by the square foot, and per-box pricing is not listed in this knowledge base. To get pricing, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with the tile you want, the size of each wall you plan to cover and your complete delivery address, since shipping is figured from where the boxes are going. This article explains which wall…
• 📖Which Glass Shower Screen Fits Your Ella Tub and Where It MountsThe glass shower screen that fits an Ella tub depends on the tub type, and every Ella screen is designed for a three-wall alcove installation. Seated walk-in tubs use the 4-fold tempered glass shower screen, which closes off the open front of the alcove while you shower and folds back out of the way when you are done. The LayDown tubs use a separate bi-fold glass screen made for those tubs, and that bi-fold screen…
• 📖Acrylic 6-Piece Wall Panel Kit: Size, Shelves, Thickness and How It Compares to the 3-Piece Surround and SMC PanelsElla offers acrylic wall panels in two formats. The Acrylic Shower Wall Panels 6-Piece Kit in Carrara White measures 36 inches deep by 60 inches wide by 92 inches tall and has storage shelves on its left side, while the Acrylic Solid White Glossy 3-Piece Shower Wall Surround measures 40 inches deep by 60 inches wide by 97 inches tall with a 1-inch bend at the panel edges. Prices are not published in this knowledge…
• 📖What Is the Largest Custom Shower Base Ella's Bubbles Can Make?The largest custom shower base Ella's Bubbles makes is 44 inches wide by 80 inches long, in a rectangle only, with a left, right or center drain set at least 9 inches from each wall. Standard sizes, wall panels and zero threshold options are covered in Shower Bases and Wall Panels . This page focuses on the limits of a made-to-order base so you can check your space before your contractor cuts the floor. Start…
• 📖Installation Instructions and Spec Drawings for One-Piece and Multi-Piece Shower UnitsInstallation instructions and specification drawings for Ella one-piece and multi-piece shower units are issued per model, and the team will email the set for your exact unit on request. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with the full model number from your order, including the size and the seat and drain side, and you will receive the spec drawing and the installation guide for that…
• 📖The 24 Inch Grab Bar Does Not Fit the Back Wall of My One-Piece ShowerIf the horizontal grab bar shown on the back wall of your one-piece Ella shower will not fit the space, contact support before drilling anywhere or returning the shower. One-piece showers have shipped with three 24 inch stainless steel grab bars with concealed flanges. On some one-piece sizes the back wall does not have enough clear width to mount a 24 inch bar horizontally where the product images and spec sheet…
• 📖Removing Grab Bars, the Door Handle and Controls for Custom Plating or RefinishingYour tub ships fully assembled and tested, so the grab bars, door handle and other hardware travel with the tub rather than being sent ahead of it. Once the tub arrives, your contractor can remove the pieces you want plated and send them to a plating shop. Ella does not plate or refinish parts and cannot advise on the plating process, so remove one part first and confirm the process works before taking off the…
• 📖What Is the Hole at the Edge of My Shower Wall Panel and How Do I Close It?The small hole at the edge of the shower wall panel, near the flange where the back panel meets the base, does not need a fitting, fastener or plug. Nothing in the installation attaches to it, so you can simply close it. Fill it with the same caulk you use to seal the shower seams, or cover the panel edge with finish corner trim where the panel meets the drywall. Either method closes the hole cleanly and keeps…
• 📖How to Add a Second End Panel to Your Walk-In Tub Order or Buy One LaterEvery Ella walk-in tub includes one end panel, and you need a second one only when the tub sits against the back wall with both short ends open to the room. In a corner or a three-wall alcove the wall covers the other end, so the included panel is enough. A second panel can be added to your order before it ships or purchased later through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. When it is bought later it…
• 📖Wheelchair Accessible Shower Base Sizes, Drain Positions, and What Is Sold SeparatelyElla's wheelchair accessible roll-in shower base comes in three standard sizes: 30 x 60 inches, 32 x 60 inches, and 36 x 60 inches. All three are ADA curb-less roll-in pans that a wheelchair can roll straight into, and the drain position is specified when you order. Sizes outside the standard three can be made to order. Pricing is not published in this knowledge base. For current pricing and availability on any…
• 📖Getting an Extension Panel When Your Alcove Is Wider Than Your TubIf your alcove is wider than the walk-in tub you are installing, an Ella extension panel closes the open end with a finished, L-shaped acrylic panel, so there is no need for a site-built filler on the visible side. Tubs shorter than 60 inches ship with one panel in the crate, while 60-inch tubs such as the Zen60 do not, because they are built to fill a standard 60-inch alcove. If your tub did not include a panel…
• 📖Is There a Lock on the Walk-In Tub Door, and How Do I Stop Hand-Shower Splashing?Ella walk-in tubs do not have a door lock, and that is deliberate. A lock could keep a bather from getting out during a medical emergency, so the door is held closed by its latch mechanism and gasket and is simply not opened until the tub has drained. Splashing from the hand shower is a separate matter, and the answer there is the wall-mounted 4-fold tempered glass shower screen, or a plain shower curtain when you…
• 📖Shower Seat Sizes and Options: Is a Larger Fold-Down Seat Available?Ella does not carry a deeper replacement for the standard fold-down shower seat that ships with its shower stalls. The closest alternative is a 16.5 by 16.5 inch fold-down seat, which is about 1 1/2 inches deeper than the standard seat but narrower. Ella also offers a teak fold-up seat, left-hand or right-hand folding bench seats, and two seat styles for standard bathtubs. If a seat that is both wider and deeper…
• 📖Ordering the 5-Piece Shower Stall With Soap Ledges, a Bench, or Grab BarsThe Ella 5-piece shower stall can be ordered with soap ledges, a bench, and grab bars in either a 24-inch or 36-inch length. A molded-in seat is not offered on this unit, so if you want seating in the stall, the bench is the option to specify. Choose these options when you place the order with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, since soap ledges are an ordering option built into the wall panels rather…
• 📖Is a 3/4-Inch Shower Base Threshold ADA Compliant for a Commercial Building?ADA standards generally limit the threshold in a roll-in shower compartment to a maximum of 1/2 inch. The Accessible Caregiver Shower Base is listed with a 3/4-inch threshold, which sits above that figure, so it is normally not the right choice where a commercial or public project must meet the roll-in requirement. Ella's Bubbles offers barrier-free bases for those projects, and custom sizes can be made. Confirm…
• 📖Cultured Marble Shower Wall Panels: Stock Sizes, Cutting to Fit, and Finishing the EdgesElla's cultured marble shower wall panels are molded in stock sizes rather than made to your exact wall dimensions, so trimming a panel on site is a normal part of the installation. The largest panel is 60 inches wide by 96 inches tall, side panels are molded 30, 32, 34 and 36 inches wide, and every panel can be cut with a masonry blade in a circular saw. Cut edges are then finished with caulk, or covered with a…
• 📖Installing the Ella Fast-Fill Faucet on a Tub That Is Not an EllaYes, the Ella fast-fill faucet sets are available on their own, and people do ask about fitting one to a tub that is not an Ella. What Ella cannot do is confirm that the set will fit another brand's tub. The team has not seen that tub's deck, hole layout or plumbing, so whether it works is a decision for you and your contractor, made against the published specifications for the faucet. Order the set through your…
• 📖Can I Add a Ceiling Light Above an Open-Top Ella Shower?Yes, but the fixture comes from your electrician, not from Ella. Ella showers are open-top enclosures with no dome, ceiling panel or light, so the bathroom ceiling above the shower is where a licensed electrician installs a fixture rated for wet or damp locations. What Ella does and does not supply for the top of the enclosure is covered in Does Ella Offer a Dome, Ceiling Panel or Light for Its Showers? . Why…
• 📖Can a Seat Belt Harness Be Added to an Installed Walk-In Tub?Yes. The seat belt bracket is fastened from inside the tub, so the harness can be added after installation without moving the tub. A contractor or a handy family member mounts the square four-hole bracket with a drill and a screwdriver, using measurements the team supplies for your model. The step-by-step drilling guide is in Installing the Seat Belt Harness: Bracket Location, Pilot Holes and Screws . Why the…
• 📖Choosing a Shower Door for the Ella Liberty Three-Piece Shower: Opening Size, Mounting and SealingElla offers one door of its own for this opening, the Ella Duo framed sliding door, and the Liberty three-piece low-threshold shower also accepts any third-party door sized to the opening. Measured from the threshold, the interior opening of the Liberty is 55.75 inches wide and 73 inches high, and the specification drawing for the unit confirms both figures. The Liberty accommodates any style of shower door, and…
• 📖What Comes in the Box With an Ella Shower Kit, and What You Still Need to BuyAn Ella shower kit ships with the shower stall itself, the grab bar set listed for that kit, and the drain. It does not include 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 on site. Plan to buy the shower valve with its trim, the shower head and any hand shower separately before installation day.…
• 📖Grab Bar Length, Diameter, Weight Rating and Wall SpacingElla stainless steel grab bars come in two lengths, 24 inches and 36 inches, and both are 1.25 inches in diameter. They exceed the 250 pound minimum load called for by ADA and ANSI accessibility guidelines, the bar diameter sits within the 1.25 to 1.5 inch range those guidelines specify, and the bar stands 1.5 inches off the wall so a hand can wrap fully around it. Two lengths, one diameter The only difference…
• 📖Does the Ella Shower Door Have a Bottom Track or Is It Trackless?It depends on which door you are looking at. Ella's framed sliding shower doors are true framed doors with a track along the bottom, not barn-door style hangers. The Primo 8mm frameless sliding door is the exception: it has no bottom rail at all, only a low water retainer gasket along the bottom edge that expands about 3/8 of an inch to keep water in the shower. Framed sliding doors: track on the bottom The…
• 📖How Much Does the Ella Shower Kit or the Shower Base Alone Weigh?The 3-piece Ella shower kit with the shower door weighs 276 pounds in total. The shower base on its own weighs approximately 80 pounds, so the wall panels and the glass door account for the rest of the kit weight. These are the figures to use when planning how many people you need on delivery day and how the pieces will move through the house. Total kit weight When the shower is supplied as a 3-piece kit with a…
• 📖Are Ella Shower Stalls ADA Compliant? What the Answer Means for Home and Commercial ProjectsElla shower stalls are not ADA compliant. Ella gives that answer directly whenever a shopper asks whether a stall is ADA compliant or ADA approved, and it applies to the stall as a complete unit. Ella showers are built as accessible residential showers with a low step-in and factory grab bars, but they are not certified to the ADA standard for accessible shower compartments. That distinction matters most for…
• 📖Drilling an Ella Acrylic Shower Wall for Accessories, and Whether Third-Party Window Kits Will FitYou can add accessories to an Ella acrylic shower wall with a standard drill, as long as you run it at low speed and use a bit made for acrylic. Speed builds heat and stress in acrylic, and either one can crack the panel around the hole. Third-party add-ons such as a window trim kit may work with an Ella stall, but Ella cannot guarantee that another manufacturer's kit will fit or seal, so treat those projects as…
• 📖Where can I buy acrylic shower wall panels for my Ella bathroom?Ella's Bubbles offers acrylic shower wall panels as complete kits, and they are ordered through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, either together with a shower base or walk-in tub or for a bathroom you already have. If you already own an Ella product, where you purchased can also look up the matching panels. The two acrylic formats are the 6-piece Carrara White kit and the solid white glossy 3-piece…
• 📖Who Makes Custom Shower Pans and Bases for Accessible Showers?Ella's Bubbles manufactures its own acrylic shower pans, in three standard roll-in sizes and in custom rectangular sizes up to 44 inches wide by 80 inches long, with the drain placed left, right or center to your order. The bases are finished acrylic, so they need no tile, and they are sold through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. The size and drain limits are explained in What Is the Largest…
• 📖What standard sizes do shower pans come in?Ella's Bubbles shower pans come in three standard sizes: 30 by 60 inches, 32 by 60 inches, and 36 by 60 inches. Each is a finished acrylic base with a left or right drain, and the roll-in versions of all three are described in Wheelchair Accessible Shower Base Sizes, Drain Positions, and What Is Sold Separately . When none of the three fits, a rectangular custom base can be made from 30 by 30 inches up to 44…
• 📖What is a roll-in shower for wheelchair users?A roll-in shower is a barrier-free shower built on a curb-less base, so a wheelchair or walker rolls straight from the bathroom floor into the stall with no threshold to step or roll over. Ella's wheelchair accessible roll-in shower bases are ADA curb-less pans in 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inch sizes, and a collapsible rubber dam across the entry keeps the water inside without a curb. Sizes, drain positions…
• 📖What Is the Difference Between a Roll-In Shower and a Walk-In Shower?The difference is the threshold at the entry. A roll-in shower uses a barrier-free, curb-less base that sits flush with the bathroom floor with no lip to step or roll over, so a wheelchair can roll straight in, while a walk-in shower has a raised entry, such as a step-in threshold, that the bather steps over. Ella's Bubbles makes both kinds of base, both use the same wall systems and accessories, and the full line…
• 📖What is AcrylX and how does it compare to acrylic?AcrylX is the applied acrylic finish used on Ella's made-in-the-USA shower stalls, multi-piece shower kits and barrier-free roll-in bases. The stalls and kits are fiberglass reinforced with the AcrylX finish on the surface and Armorcore reinforced walls behind it, so you get an acrylic bathing surface on a rigid fiberglass shell. The construction of each stall is compared in Ella Shower Stalls Compared: One-Piece…
• 📖What Sizes Do Ella Shower Bases and Shower Pans Come In?Ella's Bubbles makes its own acrylic shower bases in three standard sizes, 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches, with the drain position specified when you order. When a standard size will not fit, a rectangular base can be made to order up to 44 inches wide by 80 inches long. Wheelchair Accessible Shower Base Sizes, Drain Positions, and What Is Sold Separately covers the standard roll-in pans in detail.…
• 📖Where Can I Buy Cultured Marble Shower Walls, and Is Acrylic Better?Ella's Bubbles cultured marble shower wall panels are ordered through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and you can review the current wall lines on the shower and accessories pages at ellasbubbles.com before you decide. Whether cultured marble or acrylic is the better choice depends on the look you want, how the panels need to reach your bathroom, and how you plan to cut and finish them. The stock…
• 📖What is a roll-in shower and how does it work?A roll-in shower is a barrier-free shower stall with no curb at the entry, so a wheelchair or walker rolls straight from the bathroom floor onto the shower base. Ella's Bubbles builds its roll-in showers from a curb-less base, a wall system sized to that base, and a collapsible rubber dam across the open entry that keeps water in without a step. The three standard base sizes and the drain choices are listed in…
• 📖What sizes do shower pans come in, from smallest to largest?Ella's Bubbles shower pans run from a 30 by 30 inch custom minimum up to a 44 inch wide by 80 inch long custom maximum, with three standard sizes in between: 30 by 60, 32 by 60, and 36 by 60 inches. The standard sizes are the simplest choice because the drain sits in a set position for each one, and a custom build fills any space a standard pan will not. The full custom ranges and how to request one are in…
• 📖How Do I Measure for a New or Replacement Shower Pan or Base?Measure three things: the alcove where the base will sit, taken both between the studs and at the finished walls, the height of the space if wall panels will go above the base, and the location of the existing drain measured from the center of the pipe to the framing behind it and to the nearer side wall. Note the threshold height you want as well. Compare those figures with the Specification drawing for the base…
• 📖What are standard shower pan sizes and how deep are they?Ella's Bubbles manufactures its own acrylic shower bases in three standard sizes, 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches, each with a left or right drain. The depth of a shower pan is really the height of its step-in edge, and Ella offers low-threshold pans as well as barrier-free bases that sit flush with the surrounding floor. If none of the standard footprints fits your room, the limits for a made-to-order base…
• 📖Who makes custom shower pans for odd bathroom layouts?Ella's Bubbles builds custom-size acrylic shower bases for spaces that a standard pan will not fit, as long as the pan is a rectangle. A custom base is made to your length and width for a three-wall alcove or a corner installation, with a left, right or center drain, within the limits described in What Is the Largest Custom Shower Base Ella's Bubbles Can Make? . Angled or curved edges are not offered, so the…
• 📖What is a roll-in shower and who is it designed for?A roll-in shower is a barrier-free shower built on a curb-less base, so there is no threshold to step or roll over and a wheelchair can roll straight into the stall. Ella's Bubbles makes wheelchair accessible roll-in shower bases in three standard sizes, 30 x 60, 32 x 60 and 36 x 60 inches, with the drain position chosen when you order, as described in Wheelchair Accessible Shower Base Sizes, Drain Positions, and…
• 📖How do I build or install a walk-in shower at home?Building a walk-in shower with Ella's Bubbles starts with a design, not a toolbox. You put the shower together online with the Shower Builder Tool , a contractor then visits your home to measure the space and finalize the installation details, and the base, wall panels and any screen are ordered as the pieces that contractor will install. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the shower components; a local licensed…
• 📖Can you add a shower to a walk-in tub?Yes. Ella's Shower Column Kit adds a rain head and a hand shower to an Ella walk-in tub fitted with an Ella 2-piece or 5-piece fast fill faucet, and its diverter selects the rain head or the hand shower one at a time. Pair it with the 4-fold glass screen so a seated or standing shower stays in the tub. Why Does Water Spray Out of the Tub When I Use the Hand Shower? covers the screen and the spray control. How…
• 📖Where and how should grab bars be installed around a walk-in tub?Extra grab bars around a bathtub belong on the walls, anchored into the framing, never drilled into the tub itself. Ella's guidance follows ADA practice: horizontal wall bars 33 to 36 inches above the tub floor, plus a vertical bar near the door, with every bar fastened into studs or solid in-wall backing that a licensed contractor has confirmed. The bar that ships with the tub is covered in What Is a Deck-Mount…
• 📖Should I choose a walk-in tub or a roll-in shower?Choose a roll-in shower when the person bathing stays in a wheelchair or shower chair and needs to roll straight in with no lip to cross. Choose a walk-in tub when you want to sit and soak, add therapies, and still shower from the seat with the hand shower. Ella's broader comparison of tubs and low-threshold showers is in Walk-In Tub or Low-Threshold Shower? Comparing Ella Options for Mobility, Space and…
• 📖What Is the Best Walk-In Tub and Shower Combo?There is no single best walk-in tub and shower combo, because every Ella walk-in tub with an Ella deck-mount fast-fill faucet can be used as a shower. The 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucet sets include an extendable multi-function hand shower for seated rinsing, and the optional shower column kit adds a height-adjustable overhead rain shower for a standing or seated shower. The best combo is the tub that fits…
• 📖Can you take a shower in a walk-in tub?Yes, you can shower in an Ella walk-in tub. The Ella 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucet sets come with a hand shower on the tub deck, so you can rinse while seated on the built-in seat, and a shower column kit can be added when you want a shower head above the tub. Ella's Bubbles also builds walk-in showers for anyone who prefers a shower-based bathing option, as described in Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs: A…
• 📖Should I choose a shower slide bar or a grab bar?A shower slide bar and a grab bar do two different jobs, so the choice is usually both rather than one or the other. The slide bar is a wall-mounted holder that parks the hand shower at standing or seated height, while grab bars are the bars you hold for support and are mounted into reinforced backing by your installer. Can I Add a Hand Shower Slide Bar or Rain Shower Column After My Tub Is Installed? covers the…
• 📖Can You Use a Shower Curtain With a Walk-In Shower?Yes. An Ella walk-in shower is an open-top enclosure with one open side, and that side can be finished with a curtain rod, a glass door or a screen depending on the package you choose, as described in the dome, ceiling panel and light article . A plain shower curtain is also the usual answer when a walk-in tub is used as a standing shower. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 which curtain rod fits…
• 📖Which Handheld Shower Head Is Best for an Ella Walk-In Tub?The handheld shower head that works best on an Ella walk-in tub is the one built for it. Every Ella fast-fill faucet set includes an extendable, multi-function hand shower with five spray settings on a 5 foot retractable hose, so seated showering is built in from day one. If you ever need a new head, order a matched handset rather than a generic one, because hoses and handsets are matched to your faucet set. Our…
• 📖What Is the Ella Grab Bar and How Is It Used?An Ella grab bar is a fixed metal handhold mounted on a walk-in tub or an Ella shower so the bather has something solid to hold on to. Ella walk-in tubs come with grab bars on the sidewall inside the bathing well and a deck-mount grab bar on the rim, while Ella one-piece showers ship with three 24 inch stainless steel grab bars with concealed flanges. A bar has to carry a bather's weight, so the tub bars are…
• 📖What Is a Shower Screen on a Walk-In Tub, and Do You Need One?A shower screen on an Ella walk-in tub is a set of hinged glass panels that mounts on the tub deck and folds open across the tub, so spray from the jets or the hand shower lands back in the bathing well instead of on the floor. It is an accessory rather than part of the tub, and the standard version is the 4-fold glass screen, which can be converted to a 3-fold screen when the tub sits in an alcove with an…
• 📖Where Can I Buy a Fiberglass or Acrylic Shower Pan or Base From Ella?Ella shower pans and bases are available through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and the complete one-piece and multi-piece shower kits are also carried by Home Depot. The stand-alone Ella shower base is acrylic, molded with the slope, threshold and drain built in, and it ships as the finished walking surface. Ella's low-threshold and barrier-free multi-piece showers are made in the USA from…
• 📖Are Walk-In Tub Faucets Available in Finishes Other Than Chrome?Yes. The Ella Fast-Fill faucet set is offered in chrome and brushed nickel, and black and gold are offered on some sets, with the 5-piece set listed in all four finishes. Only the faucet pieces change finish; the tub's therapy buttons, dials and other controls stay chrome whatever faucet you choose. Specifications and ordering details are in Buying a Fast-Fill Faucet Set or Valve Body on Its Own: Specs, Finishes…
• 📖Where Do I Buy an Extension Panel for My Walk-In Tub?Extension panels are bought through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and the first step is to check whether your tub already came with one: every Ella walk-in tub shorter than 60 inches ships with an extension panel so it fills a standard 60 inch alcove. Panels are cut for a specific model and door side, so have your model, serial number and door side ready before you call. The purchase path for a…
• 📖Can a Shower Screen Cover the Full Length of My Walk-In Tub?No. The 4-fold tempered glass shower screen measures 44 inches long by 42 inches high, and it is the screen offered for seated Ella walk-in tubs, so it does not run the full length of a 52 inch or 60 inch tub. Ella's Bubbles does not offer a full-length or full-height glass enclosure. For coverage along the whole tub, a regular shower curtain from any home and hardware store is the answer, and Is There a Lock on…
• 📖Does the 4-Fold Shower Screen Work With the Swivel Tray Installed?Yes. The 4-fold glass shower screen and the swivel tray can be used on the same tub, and the team confirms the screen fits seated tubs such as the Ultimate that come with the tray. Because the tray mounts in a threaded fitting near the door and the screen crosses the door on its way from the back wall to the front, the two need to be planned together so the tray can swing clear of the glass. What Is the Swivel…
• 📖What is a roll-in shower and who should get one?A roll-in shower is a shower built on a curb-less base, so a wheelchair or shower chair rolls straight in with no lip to step or roll over. Ella's wheelchair accessible roll-in base comes in three standard sizes with the drain position specified when you order, and it is the right choice when the person bathing stays seated in a wheelchair or shower chair. Should I choose a walk-in tub or a roll-in shower?…
• 📖What is included in a basic DIY walk-in shower kit?A basic Ella walk-in shower kit includes three things: the shower stall itself, the set of grab bars listed for that kit, and the drain. It does not include a shower head, a hand shower, a mixing valve or valve trim, and the wall arrives solid with no valve cutout, so those fixtures are bought separately and fitted on site. What Comes in the Box With an Ella Shower Kit, and What You Still Need to Buy lists the…
• 📖What Is a Shower Dam and When Do You Need One?A shower dam is the flexible, collapsible rubber strip that runs across the open entry of a barrier-free roll-in shower to keep water inside the stall while a wheelchair or walker rolls right over it. You need one when your shower base has no curb to hold water back, which is exactly the case with Ella's roll-in bases, and that is why the dam ships as standard with them. The strip itself and its installation are…
• 📖Can I Get a Custom Size Shower Base Made for My Space?Yes. Ella's Bubbles manufactures its own acrylic shower bases and will build a rectangular base to your length and width when none of the three standard sizes fits, with the drain placed left, right or center to your order. The standard footprints and the custom limits are summarized in What Sizes Do Ella Shower Bases and Shower Pans Come In? , and this page walks through how to tell whether your space needs a…
• 📖How Do You Build a Handicap Accessible Walk-In Shower at Home?A handicap accessible walk-in shower starts with the entry: choose a base that a wheelchair or walker can cross without a step, then size the wall panels and place the drain around your existing rough-in. Ella's Bubbles manufactures zero threshold and wheelchair accessible roll-in shower bases along with 98 inch wall panels, and the design-then-measure sequence in How do I build or install a walk-in shower at…
• 📖What grab bars does Ella offer for its walk-in tubs?The grab bars Ella's Bubbles lists on its walk-in tub spec sheets are a chrome stainless steel deck-mount bar that bolts through the tub deck, a wall-mount bar, and, on the Standard and Zen only, a U-shape deck and wall-mount bar. Which of these come with a given tub is set by the model, every included bar is chrome, and replacement interior bars and add-on security grab bars are available beyond what is in the…
• 📖What is a shower pan and what does it actually do?A shower pan, also called a shower base, is the waterproof floor of a shower: a one-piece molded tray with the slope, the threshold and the drain opening built in, so water runs to the drain instead of into the subfloor. Ella's Bubbles makes its own pans in finished acrylic, in three standard sizes and in custom rectangles, and they are ready to use once set, with no tile over the top. The pan arrives as the…
• 📖What is the difference between a walk-in shower and a shower stall?A walk-in shower describes how you get in: a shower with a low edge you step over rather than a tub wall to climb, such as Ella's three-inch step-in threshold base. A shower stall, sometimes called a stall shower, describes the enclosure itself: the base and walls sold as one complete unit, one-piece or multi-piece, that forms the shower compartment. The terms overlap, because an Ella stall with a low threshold…
• 📖How do you install and seal tongue and groove PVC shower wall tiles?Ella's grout-free tongue and groove PVC wall tiles are installed over a clean new or existing wall surface, one tile at a time: measure, score and snap the tile to size, apply adhesive to the back, run a thin bead of silicone at the joint, then set the tile and snap it into the one before it. The tiles acclimate in the bathroom for 24 hours first, they go onto an approved substrate, every seam in a wet area is…
• 📖What Is an SMC Shower Base and Is It Durable?SMC stands for sheet molding compound, and in the Ella line it names a family of molded shower products rather than one item: the SMC 1 inch low-profile reversible base, the SMC barrier-free linear-drain base, the SMC seamless showers, the SMC subway-tile-look wall kits, and the SMC niches and soap dishes. The two SMC bases differ mainly at the entry, since the low-profile base has a 1 inch lip you step over and…
• 📖PVC or Acrylic Panels vs Tile: Which Shower Wall Is Better?For a shower or walk-in tub wall, Ella's Bubbles grout-free PVC tiles and acrylic panels are glue-up systems with no grout lines to seal, and they can go straight over drywall or even over the tile that is already on the wall, while tile needs a rigid, absorbent substrate that mortar can bond to and a properly sealed joint at the base. Ella's published documents describe its own wall systems in detail but do not…
• 📖What Are Acrylic Shower Walls, and Are They Worth It?Acrylic shower walls are large, smooth wall panels with an acrylic bathing surface that glue to the wall in a few pieces instead of being built up from individual tiles, and Ella's Bubbles sells them as a 3-piece surround, a 6-piece kit, large individual panels, and as the AcrylX applied finish on its one-piece stalls. Whether they are worth it comes down to fit, finish, edge detail and upkeep rather than a single…
• 📖How Do You Fit a Folding Shower Screen on a Walk-In Tub?The folding shower screen mounts to the side wall beside your walk-in tub, on the wall side away from any extension panel, with its wall channel set level and at a height where the inward-angled rubber gasket brushes the tub deck lightly and evenly. Get those three things right, the side, the level and the gasket height, and the screen stays dry; the screen itself is described in What Is the 4-Fold Shower Screen…
• 📖What Is a Three-Piece Shower and How Is It Installed?A three-piece Ella shower is a shower stall that ships as separate sections rather than as one molded unit, which is what lets it pass through the finished doorways and hallways of an existing home. Installing it is a job for your licensed contractor: the sections are set in the alcove following the kit's installation manual, the drain that ships with the kit is connected to the house waste line, the valve and…
• 📖What Are the Standard Shower Base Sizes Ella's Bubbles Offers?Ella's Bubbles manufactures its own shower bases in three standard sizes: 30x60, 32x60 and 36x60 inches, each available with a left or right drain. All three share the same 60 inch length and differ only in width, and every one is a curb-less roll-in pan that a wheelchair can roll straight into. The full family of bases, walls and surrounds is introduced in Shower Bases and Wall Panels ; this page focuses on the…
• 📖How Do You Replace Old Shower Walls With New Panels?Old shower walls are replaced with Ella panels in one of two ways: cultured marble surround panels that are glued directly over the existing wall surface, including old tile, or acrylic wall panels that are sized for the shower footprint and paired with an Ella base. The right route depends on whether your base is staying and on the size of the finished opening, so start with the measuring steps in Will a Walk-In…
• 📖How do you build a custom shower pan or base?With an Ella's Bubbles shower, you do not build a custom shower pan in the bathroom. The factory molds a rectangular acrylic base to your length and width, with the drain placed left, right or center, so your part of the job is measuring the space, choosing a threshold style and confirming the order, as Can I Get a Custom Size Shower Base Made for My Space? explains. A local licensed contractor then sets the…
• 📖What is a shower dam and when do you need one?A shower dam is a flexible, collapsible rubber strip fixed across the open entry of a curb-less shower base so the stall holds water without a raised curb. You need one when the shower is a roll-in shower, because a wheelchair, walker or shower chair has to roll straight in with nothing to cross, and the dam flattens under the wheels and springs back once they pass. Ella ships the dam as standard equipment with…
• 📖Where should grab bars go in a shower or walk-in tub?In an Ella shower the grab bars go where the reinforced backing is built into the wall panels, fastened with the correct screws, and nowhere else. Around a walk-in tub, added bars belong on the walls, anchored into studs or solid in-wall backing, with horizontal bars 33 to 36 inches above the tub floor and a vertical bar near the door, and they are never drilled into the tub itself. The tub side of that guidance…
• 📖How do you install a shower wall panel kit from Ella's Bubbles?An Ella shower wall panel kit goes up in the same basic order whichever wall family you bought: set and water test the base or tub first, fit the glue-up flange at the wet edge, prepare a clean, dry, approved wall surface, cut each panel to fit, glue it to the wall, and seal every joint in the wet area with silicone. What changes between kits is the panel itself, because the cultured marble surrounds, the SMC…
• 📖Are do-it-yourself walk-in shower kits worth it for your bathroom?A do-it-yourself walk-in shower kit is worth it when you go in knowing what the kit does and what it leaves to a licensed trade. An Ella kit supplies the enclosure: the stall or base, the grab bars listed for that kit, and the drain, with wall panels built to a fixed footprint. It does not supply the valve, the trim, the shower head or the rough-in plumbing, and the wall arrives solid with no valve cutout, so the…
• 📖How Deep Is a Shower Pan and Does Depth Matter?On an Ella acrylic shower base, depth means the height of the step-in edge, not how much water the pan can hold. That height runs from flush with the floor on a barrier-free base to a low threshold that the published examples put at 2, 3 or 4 inches, and drainage comes from the slope molded into the floor rather than from depth. The standard footprints are compared in What are standard shower pan sizes and how…
• 📖What is a shower screen, and does a walk-in tub need one?A shower screen is a hinged glass panel that mounts to the wall beside a walk-in tub and keeps shower spray inside the tub instead of on the bathroom floor. On an Ella walk-in tub it is an accessory rather than standard equipment, so no tub needs one to work, but it is the piece to add when you shower in the tub and would rather have folding glass than a curtain. Ella's version is the four-panel folding screen…
• 📖What is a shower pan and what does it actually do?A shower pan is the molded floor of a shower: the tray you stand on that catches the water, slopes it to the drain and keeps it from running out into the room. Ella's Bubbles calls the same part a shower base, and shoppers also search for it as a shower receptor. Ella makes its pans in finished acrylic with the slope, threshold and drain molded in, in three standard sizes and in custom rectangles, as listed in…
• 📖Can shower pans be cut to size or ordered custom?Ella's Bubbles shower pans are built to size at the factory, so the answer to an odd space is a custom order rather than a saw. When none of the three standard sizes fits, Ella makes a rectangular acrylic base to your length and width, up to 44 inches wide by 80 inches long, with a left, right or center drain. Who Makes Custom Shower Pans and Bases for Accessible Showers? covers who builds these bases and how…
• 📖How do you install a sliding shower door on an Ella shower stall?A sliding shower door is fitted after the Ella shower stall has been assembled and sealed, and the door maker's instructions govern how its frame goes together. What is specific to an Ella stall is everything around those instructions: measuring the finished opening, screwing the track and side jambs into the wood-backed side walls, sealing every fastener and joint, and keeping every screw out of the threshold.…
• 📖What is the difference between a walk-in tub and a roll-in shower?The difference is at the entry and in what happens once you are inside. A roll-in shower is a curb-less base with a beveled entry as low as 3/4 inch that a wheelchair or shower chair rolls straight into, with a flexible dam holding the water in; a walk-in tub is a sealed enclosure you enter through a door, sit in on a molded seat, and fill for a soak of roughly 14 to 17 1/2 inches of water with therapies…
• 📖How do I seal shower wall panels to keep water out?Seal every joint water can reach with silicone: the seam between one panel and the next, the edge where the panels meet the tub deck or shower base, and any edge you cut on site. Ella's wall systems are glue-up panels that arrive with the surface already sealed, so keeping water out comes down to those seams and edges rather than to grout. The step-by-step method for the tongue and groove tiles, where a thin bead…
• 📖What is the standard size of a basic shower stall?There is no single standard size for a basic shower stall; Ella's Bubbles builds its basic one-piece stalls in four footprints, 42 by 42, 48 by 37, 60 by 33 and 60 by 36 inches, at 77 or 80 inches high, and offers three-piece and five-piece kits for remodels where a one-piece unit cannot reach the bathroom. Which size counts as standard for your project depends on the alcove, on whether the stall must pass through…
• 📖Which Ella Shower Pan Is Best for Wheelchair Accessibility?For a bather who uses a wheelchair, the best Ella shower pan is a barrier-free roll-in base: a curb-less acrylic pan that sits flush with the bathroom floor so the chair rolls straight in with no lip to cross. Ella's Bubbles makes it in three standard sizes, 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches, each with a left or right drain, and in custom rectangular sizes when the opening does not match a stock size. What…
• 📖What Is an Acrylic Shower Base and How Is It Used?An acrylic shower base, also called a shower pan, is the molded floor of a shower: a one-piece acrylic surface with the slope toward the drain, the entry threshold and the drain opening all formed in at the factory. Because it is a finished walking surface as shipped, your contractor sets it in place, connects the drain and finishes the walls around it, and nothing is laid on top. Can You Tile Over an Ella…
• 📖What Are Acrylic Shower Walls and How Do They Work?Acrylic shower walls are large molded panels, made of acrylic or of an applied acrylic finish over a reinforced fiberglass shell, that form the sides of a shower enclosure above the base. Ella's Bubbles offers them as single large panels and as three-piece wall systems alongside its acrylic shower bases, as What Products Does Ella's Bubbles Offer? outlines. This page explains what the panels are made of, the…
• 📖Which waterfall faucet is best for a walk-in bathtub?For an Ella walk-in tub, the waterfall faucet to consider is the Ella Waterfall Bathtub Faucet, a wall-mounted brass faucet with a 24 inch slider bar and an extendable four-setting hand shower, offered in matte black, chrome and brushed nickel. Ella offers one waterfall faucet, so the buying decision is not one waterfall brand against another but whether a wall-mounted waterfall suits your bathroom better than the…
• 📖What is a shower slide bar and how does it work?A shower slide bar is a vertical bar mounted on the wall beside a tub or shower, with a holder that slides up and down the bar and locks at the height you choose. You hang a hand shower in that holder, so the same hand shower can be parked high for a standing rinse or low for hands-free use while seated. On an Ella walk-in tub it is an accessory kit, a 24 inch bar with a 5 foot hose and a coupling kit, that works…
• 📖What Are the Standard Shower Base Sizes Ella's Bubbles Makes?Ella's Bubbles makes its own acrylic shower bases in three standard sizes, 30x60, 32x60 and 36x60 inches, each with a left or right drain, and it offers wheelchair accessible roll-in pans in the same three footprints along with made-to-order rectangular bases for spaces a standard size will not fit. The full lineup of bases, wall panels and surrounds is introduced in Shower Bases and Wall Panels . This page…
• 📖How Do I Use the Hand Shower in My Ella Walk-In Tub?Using the hand shower in an Ella walk-in tub takes three moves: start the water at the faucet, switch the diverter so the water goes to the hand shower instead of the spout, and pull the wand out on its 5 foot retractable hose. Every Ella fast-fill faucet set includes this extendable multi-function hand shower with five spray settings, so seated showering is built in from the day the tub is installed. Which…
• 📖What should I use to waterproof the walls of my shower?For an Ella shower, the walls are kept waterproof by three layers working together rather than by a single product: a finished wall surface, either factory-finished wall panels or tile, that comes down over a flexible glue-up flange bonded to the edge of the base with 100 percent silicone, and a bead of silicone at every joint. The flange is the piece most people have not seen before, and What is a shower flange…
• 📖Who installs Ella acrylic shower walls, and how do I find them?Ella's Bubbles does not install shower walls and does not send technicians, so the person who installs your acrylic shower walls is a local licensed plumber or contractor of your choosing. Ella's Bubbles supplies the wall panels, bases and accessories through your Ella dealer, and its technical support team is available at (800) 480-6850 to answer your contractor's questions about the unit while the job is under…
• 📖How Do I Install a Shower Wall Panel Kit From Ella's Bubbles?An Ella shower wall panel kit goes up only after the shower base or walk-in tub has been set, leveled and water tested, and after the glue up flange has been bonded to the edge of the fixture, because the panels must run down over that flange so water drains back into the base. From there the job is measuring each wall, trimming the panels to fit, gluing them to the wall and sealing every joint with silicone, all…
• 📖Can you add a shower head to an Ella walk-in tub?Yes, you can add a shower to an Ella walk-in tub. The Ella Shower Column Kit fits walk-in tubs with deck mounted faucets, connects to the Ella 2 piece or 5 piece fast fill faucet set, and gives you a large overhead rain shower plus a multi-function hand shower, with the faucet's diverter choosing one or the other. Ella ships the kit and a local licensed plumber fits it, and if spray on the bathroom floor is the…
• 📖Which bathroom accessibility upgrades deliver the most value in a remodel?The bathroom accessibility upgrade that delivers the most value is the one that changes how the bather gets into the water, because it decides whether the room works at all: a curbless roll-in shower base for a person who stays in a wheelchair or shower chair, or a seated walk-in tub for a person who can step through a door and sit. Grab bars, a hand shower and comfort options such as a heated seat add safety and…
• 📖How do you install or attach Ella shower wall panels and surrounds?Ella shower wall panels are put up by a local licensed contractor or plumber, not by Ella's Bubbles, and the attachment method depends on which wall line you bought. Ella's cultured marble surrounds glue directly over drywall, plaster, painted walls, Durock or even existing tile, and their factory-finished edges join seamlessly or can be trimmed for a custom fit. The acrylic and SMC kits are built for a specific…
• 📖What is a shower base, and why choose an acrylic one?A shower base, also called a shower pan, is the molded floor of a shower. It is the single piece that carries the drain opening, sets the threshold you step or roll over and slopes the water toward the drain, and the rest of the enclosure is built up from it. Ella's Bubbles makes its bases in finished acrylic, so the pan is the walking surface as shipped and needs nothing laid on top of it. Shower Bases and Wall…
• 📖What are acrylic shower walls, and how do they hold up?Acrylic shower walls are finished wall panels with a glossy sanitary acrylic surface that attach above a shower base to form the sides of the enclosure, taking the place of tile and grout. Ella's Bubbles makes them as a three-piece kit, one back panel 60 inches wide and two side panels 40 inches wide in a 98 or 105 inch height, in white, CNC and digital print finishes, and they hold up with nothing more than warm…
• 📖Where can I buy accessible shower pans and bases?Accessible shower pans and bases from Ella's Bubbles are ordered through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and you can review the current shower lines on the shower and accessories pages at ellasbubbles.com before you decide. Ella manufactures its own acrylic pans in three standard roll-in sizes and in custom rectangular sizes, with the drain placed left, right or center to your order, so buying one…
• 📖Where Should Grab Bars Be Installed in a Shower?Grab bars in a shower belong on the walls at the points where a person reaches for support: horizontal bars at hand height along the walls you lean on while standing, plus a vertical bar at the spot where you step in and out, with every bar fastened into studs or solid in-wall backing rather than drywall alone. Ella's guidance for wall-mounted bars follows ADA practice, with horizontal bars 33 to 36 inches above…
• 📖What Are the Standard Shower Base Sizes Ella Offers?Ella's Bubbles manufactures its own acrylic shower bases in three standard sizes, 30 by 60, 32 by 60 and 36 by 60 inches, each available with a left or right drain, and all three are curb-less roll-in pans. A space that none of those footprints fits is served by a custom rectangular base, made up to 44 inches wide by 80 inches long with the drain placed left, right or center. The walls and surrounds that pair with…
• 📖Where Can I Buy a Shower Base for a Bathroom Remodel?Ella's Bubbles manufactures its own shower bases, and you order one through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, in three standard sizes, in custom rectangular sizes, or in cultured marble. The base arrives as a finished piece that your contractor sets and connects, and it is often paired with a multi-piece Ella wall kit rather than bought on its own, as Shower Bases and Wall Panels describes. This…
• 📖How Do I Fix a 4-Fold Shower Screen That Leaks or Will Not Fold Flat?A 4-fold shower screen that leaks is almost always sitting at the wrong height, out of level, or too far out on the tub deck, not suffering from a bad gasket. A screen that will not fold flat against the wall usually has a hinge connection that has loosened, lost its plastic retainer insert or its spacer, or it has been mounted on a side with no wall to fold against. Both problems are checked with the screen in…
• 📖Does an Ella Shower Base Need a Mortar Bed to Keep Its Warranty?No. An Ella acrylic shower base is built to sit directly on a flat, sound subfloor or on a concrete floor, and Ella's installation guidance says not to set it in a mortar or mud bed at all, so there is no mortar requirement to meet. The low-threshold one-piece and three-piece shower stalls are likewise leveled on wedge shims rather than mortar, and the only Ella showers set in a mortar bed are the barrier-free…
• 📖Can the Flexible Shower Dam Be Cut to Fit a Shorter Opening?Yes. The Ella flexible shower dam is cut to length on site as a normal step of its installation, so a shorter entry is handled by measuring, marking and trimming the strip rather than by ordering a different part. As What Is a Collapsible Rubber Dam on a Roll-In Shower? explains, the dam is the self-adhesive rubber strip that comes standard with roll-in barrier-free bases, and the installer cuts the excess about…
• 📖Can SMC subway wall panels be cut to fit a shorter ceiling or window?Ella's published wall guidance treats the SMC subway kits, like every Ella wall family, as a wall system that you cut and fit to your space rather than a surround molded to one tub, and the SMC line is sold in three printed heights, so a lower ceiling is usually handled by ordering the right kit rather than by trimming a taller one. The published documents do not include an SMC-specific cutting procedure; the…
• 📖How do I add backing behind an acrylic shower wall for a seat?Backing for a wall-mounted shower seat goes in before the wall finish is complete: 2x6 backer boards are set horizontally between the studs at seat height, level and centered where the bracket will land, and fastened to the framing with structural screws. Ella's rule for every wall-mounted seat, bench and shelf is that it must anchor into studs or solid in-wall backing confirmed by a licensed contractor, and the…
• 📖What is the difference between the Ella Duo and Primo sliding shower doors?The Ella Duo is a framed two-panel sliding door with a bottom track, built for the 55 3/4 inch opening of Ella's 60 inch shower stalls and offered in chrome, brushed nickel or black. The Primo is Ella's thick-glass frameless slider with no bottom rail at all, published in 48 by 78 and 60 by 78 inch sizes with a standard-glass version at 60 by 72 inches, so it suits different openings and gives a different look at…
• 📖What if my existing shower drain does not line up with the Ella base?If your existing shower drain does not line up with the drain molded into the Ella base you want, you have three ways forward: have a licensed plumber relocate the drain line, choose a different Ella base whose molded drain position matches your line, or order a custom-size base with the drain placed to suit your plumbing. The drain opening on a given model cannot be moved on request, as Can I Choose a Left…
• 📖Will a Hardware Store Hand Shower Hose or Head Fit an Ella Faucet?The team asks that you not put a generic hardware store hand shower head on an Ella fast-fill faucet, because hoses and handsets are matched to your faucet set, and the same goes for the 5 foot hose that carries the head. Both parts are available as matched replacements through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and the wand can be swapped on its own without touching the hose, deck mount or faucet.…
• 📖Does the Ella Seat Pillow Riser Fit Every Walk-In Tub Model?The Ella seat pillow riser fits the Elite and most seated walk-in tubs, but the published guides do not list a confirmed fit for every single model, so the right riser is matched to your tub by model and serial number rather than assumed. The riser is a moderately soft foam cushion about 20 1/2 inches long by 13 inches wide by 3 1/2 inches high that holds to the molded seat with suction cups, and it comes as a…
• 📖How Do I Replace the Bottom Gasket on an Ella Glass Shower Door?How you replace the bottom gasket depends on which Ella glass door you have. On the 4-fold shower screen the bottom gasket is a replaceable rubber strip that slides into the channel along the bottom of the screen, is anchored with a knot at the wall end and end caps at the open end, and is trimmed to length, exactly as the installation video shows. The Primo 8mm frameless door has a low water retainer gasket…
• 📖Can you add a shower to a walk-in tub?Yes. Every Ella walk-in tub with the 5-piece fast-fill faucet already includes a pull-out hand shower for seated rinsing, and an overhead shower for standing or sitting can be added with a wall-mounted slide bar, the Ella rain shower column on the models where it is offered, or a wall or ceiling shower on its own valve fitted by a licensed plumber. Does a Walk-In Tub Come With a Shower Head? Riser, Column and…
• 📖What are the best shower wall inserts for a walk-in tub surround?The best shower wall insert for a walk-in tub surround is the one whose footprint matches your alcove and whose height fits between the tub rim and the ceiling, because Ella's wall kits are sized to specific alcoves rather than cut down on site. Ella's Bubbles offers acrylic kits in a marble-look 6-piece set and a glossy white 3-piece surround, SMC subway-tile-look panels, and cultured marble travertine surrounds…
• 📖What is a shower screen, and how is it different from a door?A shower screen is a set of hinged glass panels that mounts in a channel on the bathroom wall and rests on the deck of a walk-in tub to keep spray inside the tub while you use the hand shower or a rain shower head. It is not the tub's entry door, which is hinged to the tub and sealed against the water in the bathing well, and it is not a framed sliding shower door, which rides on rollers along a track. Where the…
• 📖Should I use a prefab shower pan or build a custom one?For an Ella shower the answer is a factory-molded acrylic pan, either one of the three standard sizes or a custom-size rectangle made to your measurements, because the base arrives with its slope, threshold and drain molded in and is the finished floor as shipped. Building a pan on site only comes into play when the footprint cannot be a rectangle, since Ella does not make angled or curved bases. Who makes custom…
• 📖How do you install a three-piece fiberglass shower unit?An Ella three-piece shower is installed as three separate sections that are dry-fitted first, set against sound, plumb walls over a level floor, cut where supply lines or a valve must pass through, and then fastened and sealed in the order given in the installation document packed with the unit. The walls behind it do not have to come down to the studs; as Installing the Freedom 3-Piece Shower Stall Over Existing…
• 📖What is a shower base, and what makes an acrylic one different?A shower base is the floor of a shower: the molded pan you stand on, the part that carries the drain and the threshold you step or roll over, and the platform the wall panels sit on. An acrylic shower base is one made from a finished acrylic shell with its slope, threshold and drain molded in, so it is the walking surface exactly as shipped and needs no tile, mortar or membrane on top. Ella's Bubbles manufactures…
• 📖Which Do-It-Yourself Walk-In Shower Kits Does Ella's Bubbles Offer?Ella's Bubbles builds its do-it-yourself walk-in shower lineup from three kinds of pieces: shower stall kits that ship with the stall, the grab bars listed for that kit and the drain; acrylic shower bases in three standard roll-in sizes and in custom rectangular sizes; and wall panel systems in acrylic, SMC and cultured marble that go over the room's existing surfaces. Every one of them leaves the shower valve…
• 📖Where Can I Buy Grab Bars for a Shower or Walk-In Tub?If you are buying an Ella walk-in tub or an Ella walk-in shower kit, you do not need to shop for grab bars separately. The bars specified for that model ship in the crate or carton, and they are part of the order you place through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. What Comes in the Box With an Ella Shower Kit, and What You Still Need to Buy lists the grab bar set among the shower carton contents…
• 📖What is a slide bar in a shower and how is it used?A slide bar in a shower is a wall-mounted vertical bar with a holder that slides up and down it, so a hand-held shower can be parked at any height and used hands-free. On an Ella walk-in tub the slide bar kit is a 24-inch bar with a sliding holder, a 5-foot hand shower hose and a coupling kit that seals the hand shower connection, and it gives the tub's pull-out hand shower a second home on the wall at standing or…
• 📖Which Ella walk-in tubs can be ordered with the waterfall faucet?The waterfall faucet is a listed option for the LayDown and HomeCare tubs. The LayDown 30x60 never ships with a factory faucet and needs a wall-mounted faucet of this kind, the LayDown 32x72 is faucet-ready and can take either a deck-mount Ella faucet or the wall-mounted waterfall, and the HomeCare 32x60 lists the waterfall as an option. Every other seated Ella tub normally ships with a deck-mounted 2-piece or…
• 📖How do I set up a Handyman Special tub for shower-style use?You set up a Handyman Special the same way as any Ella walk-in tub, with one planning difference: the door is never relied on to hold water. A Handyman Special is sold for shower-style use because its door leak is a manufacturing defect that cannot be repaired, so the bathroom is planned as a walk-in shower with a shower screen, the door is used only for stepping in and out, and a shower column kit can be added to…
• 📖Can the Liberty three-piece shower seat be on the left or right side?Yes. The Ella Liberty three-piece low-threshold shower comes in a left-seat version and a right-seat version, and the seat side is chosen when you order rather than decided by the installer. The two versions are identical except that the layout is mirrored, so one spec sheet covers both with the drawing flipped, as How to Get the Installation Guide, Spec Sheet and Manual for Your Ella Shower Wall Kit or…
• 📖Which end can the linear drain face on the reversible SMC shower base?The Ella SMC 1 inch low-profile reversible shower base is reversible for a left or right layout, so its linear drain can sit at the left end or the right end of the alcove depending on how you set the base. The exact drain location for either layout comes from the product rough-in specifications, and the published guide asks you to dry fit before you cut the floor. The full setting sequence is in Installing the…
• 📖Is the legacy ESM gel coat shower stall still available or replaced?Ella's published documents treat the ESM series as the legacy gel coat line, and the stalls that followed it are the fiberglass units finished in AcrylX with Armorcore reinforced walls that the July 2022 specification manual documents. The knowledge base does not print a discontinuation date for the ESM stalls, so ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 whether any ESM unit is still stocked before you…
• 📖Which Silicone or Adhesive Do Ella SMC and Acrylic Wall Kits Use?Ella's published wall guidance names 100 percent silicone as the product that bonds and seals the SMC subway panels and the glue-up tile flange, while the acrylic 3-panel and 6-panel kits go up with a glue-only method of silicone dots braced for 24 hours, and the tongue and groove PVC tiles take adhesive on the back plus a thin bead of silicone at every joint. No brand of silicone or panel adhesive is named in the…
• 📖Where Can I Buy Tub and Shower Combo Faucet Fixtures?The faucet and shower fixtures that turn an Ella walk-in tub into a tub and shower combo are chosen with the tub itself, through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. They are the 2-piece or 5-piece fast-fill faucet set, which includes an extendable multi-function hand shower, and the optional shower column kit that adds an overhead rain shower. Where can I buy a walk-in tub shower combo with…
• 📖Walk-in tub vs roll-in shower: which is better for my needs?Neither one is better for everyone, because the right choice follows the person who will bathe. A roll-in shower is the better fit when the bather stays seated in a wheelchair or shower chair and needs to roll straight in with nothing to cross, and a walk-in tub is the better fit when the bather can step through a low door, sit at chair height and wants to soak. What is a roll-in shower and who should get one?…
• 📖Should I Choose a Shower Slide Bar or a Fixed Shower Arm?The choice comes down to how you bathe. A slide bar holds the hand shower on the wall at any height you pick, so it serves a seated rinse and a standing rinse alike. A fixed shower arm keeps one shower head in one overhead position for people who shower standing. Many bathrooms end up with both, and Can I Add a Hand Shower Slide Bar or Rain Shower Column After My Tub Is Installed? explains how each one is added…
• 📖Can PVC Board or PVC Panels Be Used for Shower Walls?Yes. Ella's Bubbles offers PVC groutless shower tiles made for shower and bath enclosures. They fit together with a tongue and groove connection, glue over new or existing surfaces, and take a thin bead of silicone at every joint for a watertight seal. The full glue-up method is in Installing the SMC 12-Piece Wall Kit, Acrylic Tub Surrounds, the 3-Panel Kit, Tongue-and-Groove Wall Tiles and Palisade Vinyl Tiles .…
• 📖How Many Wall Tiles or Panels Come in an Ella Box or Kit?The answer depends on which Ella wall product you choose. Only the grout-free tiles are sold by the box, while the panel systems are sold as kits with a fixed number of pieces. The large gray marble panel tile comes in packs of 8 that cover about 21 square feet, the interlocking click tile is boxed to cover about 16 square feet per box, and the panel kits run from 3 pieces up to 12 pieces. The measuring method and…
• 📖How Do You Install Cultured Marble Shower Walls in a Bathroom?Ella's cultured marble shower walls are glue-up panels, so installation comes down to a short list of jobs: measure each wall, order the stock panel that is equal to or slightly larger, let the material acclimate, trim it with a masonry blade in a circular saw, glue it to a sound, clean and dry wall, and seal every seam and edge with silicone before the trim goes on. The panel sizes and the cutting method are…
• 📖How Do You Build a Custom Shower From Base to Walls?You build a custom Ella's Bubbles shower in a set order. Design it online, have a contractor measure the room, choose the base and its threshold, then add the wall system, the front and the accessories. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the components and a local licensed contractor installs them. The overall sequence is outlined in How do I build or install a walk-in shower at home? . This page goes deeper on the…
• 📖What Is an Acrylic Shower Base and How Does It Work?An acrylic shower base is the finished floor of the shower: one molded acrylic pan that arrives with its slope, threshold and drain molded in, so it is the walking surface as shipped and needs no tile on top. It works by carrying the water that lands on it down the molded slope to the drain, while the wall finish comes down over the edges of the base so water runs onto the pan rather than behind it. The base…
• 📖What Is a Stall Shower and How Does It Differ From Others?In the Ella lineup, a stall shower is a complete molded shower, base and walls together, that arrives either as a single molded unit or as sections assembled on site, with its grab bar set and its drain in the carton. What sets it apart from other ways to bathe is how it arrives and what it leaves to your plumber: the stall ships without a shower head, hand shower or valve, and the wall arrives without a valve…
• 📖How Do You Install a Folding Glass Shower Screen Over a Walk-In Tub?A folding glass shower screen mounts to the side wall beside the tub, not to the tub itself. Its wall channel is set level, at a height where the rubber gasket along the bottom of the glass brushes the tub deck lightly and evenly. The horizontal seal is then trimmed to length and finished with its end cap. The screen is described in What Is the 4-Fold Shower Screen on a Walk-In Tub? . This page covers the…
• 📖Are There Walk-In Tub and Shower Combinations Available for Seniors?Yes. An Ella walk-in tub can work as a tub and shower combination, because the fast-fill faucet sets include a hand shower and a shower column kit can be added to the tub deck for overhead showering. Ella's Bubbles also offers acrylic shower walls and shower bases for anyone who decides a separate shower suits them better, as outlined in What Products Does Ella's Bubbles Offer? . This page lays out each way to…
• 📖What is a slide bar in a shower and who needs one?A shower slide bar is a wall-mounted bar with a holder that slides up and down, so a hand shower can be parked at any height between seated level and standing level. The Ella slide bar kit is a 24-inch wall-mounted bar with a sliding holder, a 5-foot hand shower hose and a coupling kit, and it suits anyone who wants the hand shower within reach without holding it the whole time. It is a holder, not a support bar…
• 📖Is acrylic a good material for shower walls compared to tile?Yes, acrylic is a good shower wall material, especially where easy care and accessibility matter. Ella's acrylic walls are large molded panels with a smooth finished surface, reinforced behind so that grab bars and seats can be mounted anywhere on the wall. Tile is still possible on the walls above an Ella base, but it is site-built work that depends on your tile installer and on a correctly sealed joint where the…
• 📖What Is a Shower Stall, and How Is It Different From a Tub Shower?In the Ella line, a shower stall is a stand-alone showering enclosure. It is a molded unit with its own floor, walls and drain, and you step in and shower with no bathtub involved. A tub shower is a bathtub that also has a shower fitting, which for Ella means a walk-in tub equipped with a hand shower or the add-on shower column kit. What ships with a stall is listed in What Comes in the Box With an Ella Shower…
• 📖What Is an Acrylic Shower, and How Does It Compare to Tile?An acrylic shower is a shower built from finished acrylic parts. It has a molded acrylic base that serves as the floor and large acrylic wall panels above it, in place of a floor and walls built up piece by piece from tile and mortar. Ella's Bubbles makes both parts, and the acrylic surface you see on day one is the finished surface. That is also why tile never goes on top of the base, as Can You Tile Over an…
• 📖Where Can I Find a Sleek Wall-Mounted Bathtub Faucet for My Tub?Ella's Bubbles makes its own wall-mounted bathtub faucet, the Ella Waterfall Bathtub Faucet. It is a brass set with a 24 inch slider bar and a hand shower, offered in matte black, chrome and brushed nickel. You can find it through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and the wall work is described in The Waterfall Wall-Mount Faucet: Installation Overview, Slider Bar, Finishes and Fill Expectations .…
• 📖Can Ella Make L-Shaped, Neo-Angle, or Other Non-Rectangular Shower Bases?No. Every Ella's Bubbles shower base is a rectangle, so an L-shaped pan, a neo-angle corner pan, a curved front or any other non-rectangular footprint is not something the factory makes. What Ella does make is a custom rectangle built to your length and width for a three-wall alcove or a two-wall corner, as described in Who makes custom shower pans for odd bathroom layouts? , so the useful question for an angled…
• 📖What Color Are Ella Wall Panels, and Do They Match the Tub?Ella wall panels are white based. The molded shower stalls, the shower bases and their wall panels are offered in white only, and the acrylic wall kits come in Carrara White or a solid white gloss. There is no ceiling panel in any color, because Ella does not make one, as explained in Does Ella Offer a Dome, Ceiling Panel or Light for Its Showers? . The panels that actually arrive with a walk-in tub are its end…
• 📖Can the Ella Zen Be Ordered With the 5-Piece Faucet Instead of Single-Lever?The Ella Zen and Zen60 are published with one faucet, the 2-piece single-lever fast-fill set, offered in chrome or brushed nickel. Their spec sheet lists no 5-piece option, and the only optional item it prints is the heated seat and backrest. If separate hot and cold handles matter to you, the tub that pairs this same platform with the 5-piece set is the Ella Standard, as mapped out in Which Ella walk-in tub…
• 📖How Much Weight Can the Walk-In Tub Door and Grab Bar Hold?Ella stainless steel grab bars exceed the 250 pound minimum load called for by ADA and ANSI accessibility guidelines, so the grab bar is the part built to steady you as you step in. The door is different. Ella publishes no weight rating for it because it is not a support, and Ella's guidance is never to let anyone lean on the door. The bar figures are in Grab Bar Length, Diameter, Weight Rating and Wall Spacing .…
• 📖What is the difference between gel coat and AcrylX Ella shower finishes?Gel coat and AcrylX are two different surface layers, and both are laid over a fiberglass shell. Gel coat is the finish on Ella's legacy ESM series one-piece stalls and on the low-threshold gel coat multi-piece showers, and the documents for those units print a 3 year limited warranty. AcrylX is the long lasting applied acrylic finish on the current made-in-the-USA shower stalls, multi-piece kits and barrier-free…
• 📖What Is Armorcore Reinforcement on Ella Shower Stall Walls and Why Does It Matter?Armorcore is the name Ella's Bubbles uses for the reinforcement built into the walls of its AcrylX shower stalls and multi-piece shower kits. It sits behind the AcrylX acrylic surface on a fiberglass reinforced shell, and the product pages describe it as reinforced walls on all sides, which is what lets grab bars and seats anchor into the wall itself. The finish that goes over it is explained in What is AcrylX…
• 📖Do Ella glass shower doors come in frosted glass or non-chrome frame finishes?Ella's glass shower doors are published with clear tempered glass, and the framed Ella Duo sliding door is the one offered beyond chrome, in chrome, brushed nickel or black. No frosted glass shower door appears in Ella's published door listings. Frosted glass in the Ella lineup is found on walk-in tub doors instead. What is the difference between the Ella Duo and Primo sliding shower doors? compares the two…

Installation & Leveling124 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Who Installs My Walk-in Tub? Hiring a Licensed Contractor and How Ella Supports ThemWho installs my walk-in tub? A licensed, experienced local contractor of your choice. Ella's Bubbles manufactures walk-in tubs and never performs or charges for installation, and you are never required to purchase installation from anyone. Any licensed plumber and electrician can install an Ella tub by following our installation manuals, and our technical support team backs up you and your installer for the life…
• 📖Tile Flange, Caulking, and Finishing the Walls Around Your Walk-In TubA tile flange for a walk-in tub is not built into Ella tubs, which have a flat deck edge, so you add one at installation. To get a watertight finish where the tub meets the wall, glue a thin tile flange to the tub edge with 100% silicone before the tub is pushed into place, run your tile or wall panel down over the flange and onto the deck, and finish every joint with silicone caulk. Ella's Bubbles offers a…
• 📖Can the Tub Be Freestanding? Exposed Ends, Second End Panels, and Knee WallsCan an Ella walk-in tub be freestanding? Partly. Ella walk-in tubs are semi freestanding: every tub includes a finished front apron and one reversible end panel, and a second end panel is available so both ends can be exposed. What no Ella model offers is a cover for the long back side opposite the door, so the back of the tub must sit against a wall or against a knee wall your contractor builds. With that one…
• 📖Installing in Mobile Homes, Condos, Upper Floors, and on Concrete SlabsYes, a walk-in tub can be installed in a mobile home, in a condo or upper-floor unit, and on a concrete slab. Ella walk-in tubs go into all of these settings regularly. Each one adds one or two planning steps, but the tub itself is the same: it needs a route into the home, a level and adequately supported floor, a working drain and water supply, and dedicated GFCI-protected power. This article covers what is…
• 📖Installing It Yourself: What DIY Owners Must Do to Keep Support and WarrantyYes, you can install an Ella walk-in tub yourself. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the tub and does not perform installation, so every owner chooses who does the work, whether that is a contractor, a plumber you already trust, or you. The Lifetime Limited Warranty is a parts warranty no matter who installs, and a DIY walk-in tub installation does not change that. What does matter is that the installation is done…
• 📖Installing the 2-Piece and 5-Piece Fast-Fill Faucets and Hand ShowerFast-fill faucet installation on an Ella walk-in tub is a four-step job for the 5-piece set and simpler still for the 2-piece single-lever set. Your faucet ships with the tub and the deck is pre-drilled for it, but the supply lines are never connected when the tub leaves our facility, so your installer completes the mounting and connects the two included supply lines on site. This article gives the cut-out sizes…
• 📖Grab Bars: What Is Included, Installing the Deck-Mount Bar, and Add-On Wall BarsAre grab bars included with an Ella walk-in tub? Most models include a stainless steel grab bar in chrome finish, and many include both a deck-mount bar and a wall-mount bar positioned for entering, exiting, and standing up from the seat. A few models are different: the Petite and the Companion include a deck-mount grab bar only, and the Tub4Two and the LayDown tubs do not come with grab bars. The deck-mount bar…
• 📖Planning Service Access: Front Aprons, Access Panels, and Why You Must Not Insulate Around the TubPlanning service access for a walk-in tub is simple: every Ella walk-in tub is built so the pumps, heater, control boxes, and plumbing can be reached through the removable front apron access panels without pulling the tub out. The front apron typically has two access panels, and the end panel and extension panel come off as well. Whatever you build around the tub must keep that access open. Do not tile in front of…
• 📖Lowering the Tub: Below-Subfloor Drains, 3 Inch Thresholds, and What It Does to the WarrantyLowering a walk-in tub for a smaller step-in is possible on most Ella models, but it is a custom installation with a trade-off. Ella walk-in tubs leave the factory with the frame and threshold height preset so the drain piping passes under the tub and above the floor, which keeps the installation simple and keeps every part of the tub intact. The tub can be lowered by putting the drain below the subfloor and, on…
• 📖Every Installation Video in One Place: Delivery, Leveling, Drains, Electrical, Panels, Flange, Faucets and ScreensEvery Ella walk-in tub installation video is collected here in the order an installation actually happens. Start with "Installation Tips and Recommendations," which covers fit, inspection, drains, leveling, supply lines and electrical in one pass, then watch the stage-specific videos as you reach each step. Each entry has a one-line summary and a note on which videos have no written transcript yet. The written…
• 📖Common Installation Questions: Tile Order, Leveling Legs, Subfloor, Panels, Drain Size and the Outdoor TestThe most common walk-in tub installation questions have short answers: the tub goes in first, directly on the level subfloor, and the wall finish comes afterward so that tile or panels overlap the flange and deck. The leveling legs adjust only up to their limit screw, every foot must sit solidly on the floor, all panels come off before the tub is carried, and the tub should be filled and run before it is boxed in.…
• 📖Installing the Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow: Single Drain, Front Legs Screwed Down, the Push-Control Air Pipe, the Side-Panel Cut and the Economy Extension KitThe Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow share one platform inside Ella's lineup, and it installs a little differently from every other Ella walk-in tub. There is one 2 inch gravity drain instead of a dual drain, the front legs are screwed down to the subfloor, the push controls run on small air lines that must be tightened before the walls close, and the extension kit uses its own bracket set with a side…
• 📖Installing the HomeCare 32x60 Assisted-Bathing Tub: Faucet Spout Through the Deck, Tank Drain Tee, Supply Lines, Grey and Black Cords, and the Sensor Logic to TestInstalling the HomeCare 32x60 follows every universal Ella step, from leveling to the pre-installation water test to leaving service access, and then adds a handful of tasks that no other Ella tub has: a faucet spout that passes through the top deck, an 80 gallon fast-fill tank with its own drain, two power cords that go to GFCI-protected power, and a sensor-driven fill system that should be tested in front of the…
• 📖The Glue-Up Tile Flange Kit: What Is in the Box, Which Length to Choose, Which Colored Side Faces Out, and Whether It Goes On Before or After DrywallThe Ella glue-up tile flange is a flexible, reversible waterproof strip that bonds to the edge of your tub or shower base with neutral-cure silicone, and then your tile or wall panels overlap it so water cannot work its way behind the fixture. It comes in a 124 inch kit that suits most Ella walk-in tubs in a three-wall 60 inch alcove, longer strips for bigger perimeters, and a contractor bulk box. Because the…
• 📖What Is in the Crate: Loose Parts, Panels, Supply Lines, Drain Caps and Documents to Account for Before the Installer StartsBefore anyone declares a part missing, look inside the tub and under the frame. When your Ella walk-in tub is packed in Chicago, every small item, including drains, handles, hardware and accessories, is individually wrapped, boxed and placed inside the tub or under the frame before the tub is wrapped in plastic and bubble wrap and crated. The installation paperwork is attached to the tub itself. Most "missing"…
• 📖Before Your Installer Leaves: The 16 Checks Explained in Plain Language and Why Each One Protects Your WarrantyBefore your installer packs up, there is a checklist on the warranty activation form that they initial line by line, and every line exists because it prevents a specific leak, shock hazard or service headache we have seen before. This article explains the sixteen checks in plain language, tells you what you can watch and photograph during the handover, and what to do if any were skipped. Getting through the list…
• 📖Installing the Two-Seat Family, Part 1: Delivery, Toe Kick Plates, Water Test and Leveling (Tub4Two, Companion, Escape, Big4Two)This page walks through the first half of installing an Ella two-seat walk-in tub: what arrives, how to check and carry it, the water test, and how to level a long frame so the door seals. It comes from the Ella Two-Seat Walk-In Bathtubs Owner's Manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23), with crate sizes from the family spec sheets. Part 2 covers the drains, faucet, electrical, grab bar and walls. Which tubs this manual…
• 📖Installing the Two-Seat Family, Part 2: Drains, Dual Spout Faucet, Three Dedicated Lines, Grab Bar, Door Check and WallsThis page is the second half of installing an Ella two-seat walk-in tub, picking up once the tub is level and the door seals: the two 2 inch drains, the two-piece faucet and its cut-outs, the electrical lines a fully equipped two-seat tub needs, the deck-mount grab bar, the first fill and door check, and finishing the walls. It comes from the Ella Two-Seat Walk-In Bathtubs Owner's Manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23)…
• 📖Installing the LayDown Tubs, Part 1: Delivery, Placement, Leveling and the Glass Door (30x60 and 32x72)This page covers the first half of installing an Ella LayDown walk-in tub: the two sizes, what to measure before the crate arrives, how to inspect and carry the tub, the water test, leveling, and how the tempered glass door should sit once the tub is level. It comes from the Ella Lay-Down Walk-In Tubs 30" x 60" and 32" x 72" Owner's Manual (23 pages, dated 6/15/23), with printed dimensions from the LayDown60 and…
• 📖Installing the LayDown Tubs, Part 2: The Single 2 Inch Drain, Faucet by Size, Electrical, Therapy Controls and Wall FinishingThis page is the second half of installing an Ella LayDown walk-in tub: connecting the single 2 inch drain, which faucet applies to the size you ordered, the dedicated electrical line for each therapy system, the therapy controls, finishing the walls and fitting the optional glass shower screen. It comes from the Ella Lay-Down Walk-In Tubs 30" x 60" and 32" x 72" Owner's Manual (23 pages, dated 6/15/23), with…
• 📖Installing the Standard, Zen and Flow: The Owner's Manual Sequence Page by Page, With the Single Drain, Front Legs and Side Panel CutThis page follows the Ella Standard Acrylic Walk-In Bathtub Owner's Manual (24 pages, dated 3/22/23) in the manual's own order, from opening the crate to the operations pages. The Zen manual is the same document with a different cover, and the Ella Flow manual (dated 6/13/23) follows the same sequence with the differences called out below. The manual calls the platform "Ella Economy," and its single drain, front…
• 📖Installing the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Family, Part 1: Delivery, Moving, Water Test and Leveling (Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, Ultimate)This page is the first half of the installation sequence for the Ella tubs with a brushed stainless steel and tempered glass door that swings inward: the Ultimate, Deluxe, Royal, Elite and Petite. It comes from the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door Owner's Manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23) and covers delivery day, moving the tub safely, the water test the manual requires before the walls close, leveling, and the…
• 📖Installing the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Family, Part 2: Drains, Faucet, Electrical, Grab Bar, Extension Kit, Door Check and Wall FinishingThis page is the second half of the installation sequence for the stainless steel inward-swing door family: the Ultimate, Deluxe, Royal, Elite and Petite. It follows the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door Owner's Manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23) from a level, water-tested tub through the drain, the below-floor option, faucets, electrical, the deck mount grab bar, the extension kit, the door check and the wall, and…
• 📖Installing the Ella Ultra: The Owner's Manual Sequence From Crate to Finished WallThis page follows the Ella Ultra from the delivery truck to a finished wall, using the sequence in the Ultra owner's manual ("Ella Acrylic Walk In Bathtubs Owners Manual," 27 pages, dated 6/15/23), with dimensions and included parts confirmed against the Ultra spec sheet and brochure. What makes the Ultra install different The Ultra's door is an inward-swinging brushed aluminum frame with frosted tempered…
• 📖Installing the U-Shape Outward-Swing Family, Part 1: Delivery, Door Clearance, Water Test and Leveling (Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, Big4One)This page is the first half of the installation sequence for the Ella tubs with the outward-swinging U-shape door: the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak and Big4One. It follows the Outward-Swing Door Owner's Manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23), with door clearance figures taken from the Monaco and Mobile spec sheet drawings, and covers delivery, the floor space the door needs, the water test, and…
• 📖Installing the U-Shape Outward-Swing Family, Part 2: Drains, Faucet, Electrical, Grab Bar, the Capri and Monaco Extension Kit, Door Check and WallsThis page is the second half of the installation sequence for the outward-swinging U-shape door family: the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak and Big4One. It follows the Outward-Swing Door Owner's Manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23) from a level, water-tested tub, with drain and faucet details confirmed against the Capri and Front Entry spec sheets and the family brochure, and covers drains, the…
• 📖Installing the Transfer Family, Part 1: Delivery, Wheelchair Approach Space, Water Test and Leveling (Transfer26, 30, 32, 60, XXL)This page is the first half of the installation sequence for the Ella Transfer family, the wheelchair-accessible tubs with an L-shape door that swings outward: the Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL. It follows the Transfer family owner's manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23), with door and clearance figures from the Transfer26 and Transfer30 spec sheet drawings, and covers delivery, the…
• 📖Installing the Transfer Family, Part 2: Drains, Faucet, Electrical, Grab Bar, the Extension Kit Table, Door Check and WallsThis page is the second half of the installation sequence for the Ella Transfer family: the Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL. It follows the Transfer family owner's manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23), with drain, faucet, panel and jet details confirmed against the Transfer30 and TransferXXL spec sheets (dated 05/07/26) and the family brochure. It starts from a tub that is level and…
• 📖What Are Leveling Legs on a Walk-In Tub?Leveling legs on an Ella walk-in tub are the adjustable threaded legs on the tub frame, at least six per tub, that must all touch the floor and carry equal weight so the frame stays true and the door seals. Owners also call them leveling feet, adjustable legs or tub feet. Misleveling is the number one cause of door leaks and voids the warranty, so these legs deserve real care. How it works Each leg threads in…
• 📖What Is an Access Panel on a Walk-In Tub?An access panel on an Ella walk-in tub is one of the removable panels on the front apron, typically two per tub, that gives service access to the pumps, heater, control boxes and plumbing without pulling the tub out. Owners also call them apron panels, front panels or skirt panels. Whatever you build around the tub must keep these panels removable. How it works The front apron is attached with clips, screws…
• 📖What Is a Tile Flange on a Walk-In Tub?A tile flange is a thin waterproof strip glued to the edge of a walk-in tub with 100 percent silicone so the wall tile or wall panels can overlap it and shed water back into the tub instead of behind it. Ella walk-in tubs have a flat deck edge with no built-in lip, so the flange, also called a tiling flange, a glue-up flange or a flange band, is added at installation. It is the small detail that keeps a tiled…
• 📖What Is a Deck-Mount Grab Bar on a Walk-In Tub?A deck-mount grab bar is the chrome stainless steel grab bar that bolts through the tub deck on site, positioned for entering, exiting and standing up from the seat. It ships loose in its own kit, and it has one rule that protects your shell and your warranty: the large metal washer must go under the shell, because installing the bar without it can crack the acrylic and voids the warranty. How it works The kit…
• 📖What Is the Pre-Installation Water Test on a Walk-In Tub?The pre-installation water test, also called the pre-install fill test or leak test, is the required one hour check every Ella walk-in tub receives before the walls are closed up. The installer fills the tub 3 inches above the highest jet, lets it stand for 30 minutes, then runs every electrical component for another 30 minutes while inspecting all unions. Shipping vibration can loosen unions and air lines, and…
• 📖What Is a Knee Wall Behind a Walk-In Tub?A knee wall is a short, contractor-built wall that covers the long back side of a walk-in tub when the tub is placed away from a bathroom wall. Ella tubs are finished for front and end exposure only: every model includes a finished front apron and one reversible end panel, and a second end panel is available, but no Ella model has a factory cover or back panel for the side opposite the door. Wherever the back does…
• 📖Loose Air Lines Under the Rim: Hydro Breathers and the Microbubble Prime PortYes, those two capped lines are supposed to be there, and they are supposed to stay right where you found them. If you are looking under the rim on the side opposite the door and see two short air lines with caps on the ends, cable tied to the frame and not routed up through the deck, you are looking at the breathers for the hydro massage system. They are tied off at the factory, nothing needs to come up through…
• 📖Why Does the Pump Turn On as Soon as the Tub Is Plugged In?If the pump turns on as soon as the tub is plugged in, unplug it right away and leave it unplugged until the cause is found. A pump that runs without water above all the jets is permanently damaged, and that damage is not covered, so the first thing to check is where its cord is plugged in. On an Ella walk-in tub the pump cords plug into the control box, and the control box is what plugs into the dedicated GFCI…
• 📖There Are Extra Parts in the Crate I Cannot Place. What Are They?When there are extra parts in the crate that you cannot place, the good news is that almost everything loose in an Ella crate has a known home, and nothing needs to be drilled or improvised to find it. Extra leveling feet and brackets belong to the leveling legs and the extension panel shelf brackets, the wood around the base is crate material, and small hardware is packed inside the tub or under the frame on…
• 📖Why Doesn't the Extension Panel Attach on the Faucet Side?If the extension panel does not attach on the faucet side, it is almost always because the panel and its shelf brackets were built for the other end of the tub. Tubs shorter than 60 inches include one extension panel, left or right as specified on your order, mounted on stainless steel shelf brackets built into the frame at that end. On a Capri or Elite, brackets can be fitted to both ends only when that is…
• 📖Why Does My Tub's Front Panel Keep Popping Off?When the tub panel keeps popping off, the panel is rarely the problem. The removable front apron on an Ella walk-in tub carries two access panels held by clips, screws, velcro, tape or magnets depending on the model, so a magnetic panel that lifts away easily, or a panel with no screws at all, is normal on many models. What makes a panel refuse to stay put is a frame that is not sitting square, because the panel…
• 📖My Tub Has No Tile Lip. Which Flange Do I Use?If your tub has no tile lip, that is by design. Ella walk-in tubs have a flat deck edge, and the water barrier at the wall is a glue up tile flange added at installation. The manual calls for a rustproof, waterproof strip about 5 inches tall, glued to the tub edge with 100 percent silicone so it overlaps the edge by about 2 inches, with the tile or wall panels overlapping the flange and the deck and every joint…
• 📖Can I Stand the Tub on End to Get It Through the Door?Yes, an Ella walk-in tub can be stood on its end to get around a tight corner, and the team's advice is to tip it with the seat end, where the pumps are, facing down. What the tub cannot do is come apart: the access panels, end panel and apron all remove, but the frame and shell are one piece and cannot be separated. Most delivery day fit problems are solved by measuring the route properly and by taking the panels…
• 📖Why Does My Tub Leak at the Corners or Wall When Filled?When the tub leaks at the corners or wall when filled, and the door itself stays dry, you are almost always looking at a finishing gap rather than a defect in the tub. Ella tubs have a flat deck edge with no molded tile lip, so the tile flange must overlap the tub edge, the wall finish must overlap the flange, and every joint must be siliconed; if any of those layers is missing, splash water runs down the wall…
• 📖Can My Walk-In Tub Sit Freestanding With the Sides Exposed?Yes, your walk-in tub can sit freestanding with the sides exposed, with one rule to plan around. Any Ella tub fits a three wall alcove or stands free against one or two walls, and each exposed end is covered by a finished end panel: one reversible end panel comes with every tub and a second can be purchased for a second exposed end. What no model includes is a cover for the long back side opposite the door, so the…
• 📖The Bathroom Inspector's Checklist for a Walk-In Tub InstallationA bathroom inspector looking at a walk-in tub installation checks three separate things: that the electrical work is safe, that the plumbing is sound, and that the structure and finishes around the tub meet local code. Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs are built and tested to conform to the North American standards for hydromassage bathtubs, and the listing information an inspector wants is printed on a label inside the…
• 📖Walk-In Tub Weight and Floor Loading Explained: Tub, Water and Bather TogetherA walk-in tub places three loads on your bathroom floor at once: the tub itself, the water in it, and the bather. Ella's Bubbles owner's manuals put the requirement plainly: the subfloor must be level and able to support the total weight of the tub, the bather and the water, and it must meet local code. Most standard-size Ella tubs weigh 200 to 240 pounds empty and hold 65 to 107 gallons unoccupied, and water…
• 📖Printable Installer Handoff Test ChecklistPrint this page and tick each line with your installer before they leave. The lines come from the water test in the owner's manual and the 16 checks on the warranty activation form. The reasons behind each check are in what your installer should test before leaving . Before the walls close: the water test Required before the walls close; the full procedure is in the pre-installation water test . u2610…
• 📖Why the End Panel Brackets and Clips on a New Tub Look Rotated or CrookedNothing is wrong with your tub. The white brackets at the bottom of the tub and the clips for the end panel are turned sideways on purpose before the tub is crated, so they sit tucked in and protected during shipping. Before you fit the end panel, loosen them, rotate them out to their working position and tighten them again. It takes a wrench and a screwdriver, and it is a normal part of uncrating an Ella walk-in…
• 📖Gap Between the Apron and the Floor, or the Apron Will Not Sit Flush: Leveling Legs and Bracket AdjustmentA gap under the front apron, or an apron that will not sit flush against the tub, is fixed with two adjustments. Lower all of the leveling legs to bring the tub closer to the subfloor, then move the apron in or out on the brackets that hold it to the frame. The apron is a flexible cosmetic panel, its lip belongs under the acrylic edge of the tub, and repositioning it has no effect on the warranty or the operation…
• 📖How Do I Install the Heated Seat and Back Pads on My Walk-In Tub?The heated seat and back pads are thin surface heaters that bond directly to the outside of the acrylic shell with spray contact adhesive. Peel the brown backing paper off each pad, spray 3M Hi-Strength 90 contact adhesive on both the pad and the tub surface, wait a few minutes, then press the pad on and hold it until the glue starts to dry. Pay special attention to the corners and edges, because a pad that is…
• 📖Choosing the Drain Side for an Alcove or Slab Installation and Prebuilding the Drain LineFor an alcove or slab installation, order the drain side that gives your plumber a clear path to the drain connections through the front of the tub, and have the dual drain line built to the house drain before the tub is set in place. On every Ella walk-in tub the door and the drains sit on opposite sides, so choosing the drain side also fixes the door side. Confirm both on your invoice before you approve it, and…
• 📖Installing a Walk-In Tub in a Wet Room: Keeping the Electrical Compartment DryYes, an Ella walk-in tub can be installed in a wet room, and customers have done so. The point support raises first is the electrical equipment. The tub shell and its exterior panels are acrylic, and splash and humidity on the outside are not the concern. What must stay dry is the compartment behind the access panels, because that space holds the GFCI receptacle, the control boxes and the pump cords. Plan the…
• 📖How to Refit a Magnetic Access Panel That Will Not Seat in the CornersWhen the magnetic access panel will not go back on after you have removed it, the trick is the black plates along the apron opening. The upper part of the panel slides under those plates, and the corners are the last part to seat. Get the top edge of the panel under the plates before you press the corners in, and the magnets will catch. If the panel goes on but keeps popping off, the magnets are not making contact…
• 📖End Panel Too Long for the Opening: Trimming It to FitYes, if the end panel is longer than the opening between the finished wall and the front apron, trim it. Take the material off the edge that will sit against the wall or tile, and remove only enough for the panel to slide into place. The end panel is a cosmetic cover with no structural role. It is held by two screws at the bottom that fasten it to the mounting brackets, so trimming a fraction of an inch does not…
• 📖Can You Tile Over an Ella Acrylic Shower Base?No. The Ella acrylic shower base is a finished surface and is not made for tiling over. The base is the walking surface as shipped, with its slope, threshold and drain molded in, and tile, thinset or a waterproofing membrane should not be applied on top of it. If you want a tiled look in the room, plan it for the walls above the base, and talk with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before you order so…
• 📖Mounting Grab Bars on Ella Shower Walls: Reinforced Backing, Finding the Zones, and Which Screws to UseYes, grab bars can be mounted on the walls of an Ella shower stall. The walls are manufactured with reinforced backing, so a bar anchors into the wall itself without adding wood blocking behind it. The reinforced zones are shown on the Specification drawing published for your model, and that drawing, not trial holes, is how you find them. Screw and anchor questions for a bar from another supplier belong to that…
• 📖Can I Install a Walk-In Tub Inside My Shower Enclosure?Only if the tub is a soaking-only model. A jetted walk-in tub, whether hydro massage, air massage or a combination, has a pump, an in-line heater on packages that include one, and electrical connections that your installer must reach during installation and that must stay reachable for service. The walls and curb of a shower enclosure typically block that, so for a jetted tub we recommend placing it somewhere else…
• 📖Installation Documents for Your Contractor: Spec Sheets, Electrical Diagrams, Manuals and the Live Video SessionYour contractor can get every document needed to plan an Ella walk-in tub installation before the tub arrives. The team at (800) 480-6850 or a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support will send the spec sheet with the tub's actual dimensions, the electrical diagram for your therapy package and the installation and owner's manual as links by email. Your contractor is also welcome to join a live video session with the…
• 📖Hairline Lines Around a Hole Cut in the Tub Deck: Why They Appear and Why They Do Not SpreadFine crack-like lines that show up on the deck shortly after you cut a hole for a switch, push control or canister are a surface effect of the cut. Ella's technical support has seen these lines before and has never seen them extend. The surface will be fine. The flange of the control or fitting you are installing sits over the edge of the hole, so the lines are hidden once the part is mounted. What you are…
• 📖Lift Your Walk-In Tub by the Frame, Never by the Grab BarsThe grab bars on an Ella walk-in tub are there for the bather, not for moving the tub. When your installers lift, carry, tilt, or reposition the tub, they should grip the tubular frame beneath the shell and never the grab bars or handles. Lifting by the bars puts the full weight of the tub on fittings that were designed to steady a person, and it can damage the bars, their mounting points, and the acrylic deck…
• 📖Installing the Freedom 3-Piece Shower Stall Over Existing DrywallYes. The Ella Freedom 3-piece low-threshold shower stall can be installed over existing drywall. You do not need to strip the walls back to the studs to put it in. That makes it a practical choice when you are converting a finished room, such as a laundry room, into a shower room and want to keep the walls that are already there. Why the finished walls can stay The stall arrives as three separate sections that…
• 📖Does Ella Install the Tub? How to Get Connected With a Local Installer in Your AreaElla's Bubbles builds the walk-in tub, and installation is not included with it. Ella does not have installation crews and does not send technicians to your home. A local licensed plumber and electrician handle removing the old tub, making the plumbing and electrical connections, and setting the new tub. You are welcome to use any licensed installer you already trust. If you do not have one, the team can look up…
• 📖The Extension Panel: What Ships With Your Tub, Where It Installs, and When to Set It AsideWalk-in tubs shorter than 60 inches ship with one extension panel so the tub can fill the standard 60-inch alcove left behind by the bathtub it replaces. The panel is optional. It installs at either end of the tub, and if your tub already fits the space, or your installer closes the gap another way, the panel can simply be set aside. Nothing inside the tub depends on it, and the pumps and plumbing stay reachable…
• 📖Where to Find Installation Videos and Written Instructions for Your Walk-In TubElla's Bubbles publishes its installation videos on the Ella's Bubbles YouTube channel, and the written spec sheets, installation manuals and electrical component diagrams are available from each product page. The core set your installer should review is the Installation Tips and Recommendations video, the Electrical Setup Guide video, the Hot Water Supply Requirements video and the Easy Installation Overview…
• 📖Shower Stall Shims Are Not Included: What Size to Make and How to Level the BaseShim blocks are not included with Ella low-threshold shower stalls, including the 33 by 60 inch one-piece unit sold through home improvement retailers. You make your own. Each shim should be about 6 inches long, with the thick end 1 1/2 inches. The shims go under the base to bring it level, and the unit is then fastened to the studs as the instruction sheet describes. A mortar bed is not required for these…
• 📖Gap Between the Front Apron and the Floor: The Two Inch Toe Kick Panel and When to Trim ItYes, there is a trim piece for the space between the front panel of your Ella walk-in tub and the floor. Ella carries a toe kick panel, also called a trim piece filler, that is two inches wide and usually comes installed on the tub. If your tub was lowered during installation, the gap will be less than two inches and the panel has to be trimmed down to fit. If yours is missing, send support a photo so the…
• 📖How the Access Panels Attach and What the Suction Cup Tool Is ForThe access panels on current Ella walk-in tubs attach with magnets, and the hook-shaped suction cup packed with your tub is the tool for pulling those magnetic panels off. There are no clips to pry and no screws to back out. If you found the suction cup in the box and could not find it in the manual, it is not a plumbing part and it is not a pillow mount. It is simply a grip for lifting the panel away from the tub…
• 📖Can I Remove the Door to Get the Tub Into the Bathroom?Yes, the door on an Ella walk-in tub can be removed, but the technical support team does not recommend it as a way to get the tub through a tight doorway. If you do take it off, the hinge must stay attached to the tub, the door needs two people to handle safely, and a door that is not reinstalled correctly can leak. Most installers get the tub in with the door on, and that should be your first plan. Why the team…
• 📖The Front Apron on My New Tub Looks Bowed or Pulled Away: Why It Happens and How to Reseat ItA front apron that looks bowed, sagging or pulled away from the tub when you unwrap a new Ella walk-in tub is usually not damage. The aprons are flexible panels, and they bow downward while the tub is tightly wrapped for shipping protection. Once the wrapping is off, the apron can be adjusted and secured back into place, or simply removed so the bare tub is easier to carry into the bathroom and reattached after…
• 📖There Is an Open Hole in the Deck of My New Tub: That Is Where the Spout InstallsIf your new Ella walk-in tub arrived with an open hole in the deck and nothing mounted in it, nothing is missing. That hole is the mounting point for the water spout. Ella ships the tub with the spout uninstalled, so the opening on the deck is empty on purpose, and the spout is fitted by your installer during the faucet hookup. Once you unpack everything that shipped with the tub, you should find the spout among…
• 📖Which Screws to Use for a Grab Bar on the Tub, and Why You Must Pre-DrillTo mount a grab bar on the deck or rim of an Ella walk-in tub, use coarse-thread stainless steel screws approximately one inch long, and always pre-drill the holes before driving them. Pre-drilling is the one firm recommendation from the Ella support team, because driving a screw straight into the acrylic can crack the finish. Beyond the screw type, the length and the pilot holes, the team places no other…
• 📖Can I Remove the Interior Grab Bar, and Is There Anything to Cover the Holes?Yes, the interior grab bar on an Ella walk-in tub can be removed. The U-shape bar comes uninstalled, with its mounting holes pre-drilled in the deck, so it is fastened in place by your installer rather than molded into the tub. Removing it, or choosing not to install it, leaves those holes visible, and Ella does not offer a cap, plug or cover for them. Customers who want the holes hidden hire a local acrylic…
• 📖Cutting a Roll-In Shower Back Wall Panel to Route Supply Lines or Clear a ValveYes, the wall panels of the multi-piece gel coat roll-in showers can be cut on site to route water supply lines or to clear an existing valve, and installers do this regularly. The panels are made of wood and fiberglass with steel reinforcing rod, or rebar, running around the perimeter, so the job takes two kinds of blade: a jig saw or a fine-blade circular saw for the panel itself, and a reciprocating saw fitted…
• 📖Is the Ella Shower Base Solid Underneath, and Why Does It Rock?No. The underside of an Ella low-threshold shower base is not a flat solid slab. The floor is molded with a slight slope toward the drain, and a molded shim at the back brings the base level on a flat subfloor. That shape is why an uneven subfloor shows up as a base that rocks, and the fix is the site-cut wedges described in Shower Stall Shims Are Not Included: What Size to Make and How to Level the Base . How…
• 📖What Plumbing, Electrical and Space Does a Walk-In Tub Installation Need?Installing an Ella walk-in tub calls for three things: hot and cold supply lines and a house drain that a licensed plumber connects, a dedicated GFCI-protected electrical line for each pump or heater that a licensed electrician wires, and a space planned around the actual size on your model's spec sheet, most often the three-wall opening described in What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub? . Ella's…
• 📖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…
• 📖How is a walk-in tub installed in an existing bathroom?A walk-in tub goes into an existing bathroom in a set sequence: the tub is carried in with its removable panels off, set level on its own frame in the opening where the old tub sat, connected to the drain, the water supply and dedicated GFCI-protected power, water-tested, and only then closed in with tile and trim. Ella's Bubbles builds the tub but does not install it; a local licensed plumber or general…
• 📖How Do I Fix a Walk-In Tub That Is Not Level?A walk-in tub that is not level is fixed at its leveling legs, never at the door or the hinges. Ella tubs have at least six leveling legs, and each one must rest solidly on the floor with no gap beneath it; when a leg hangs free the shell bows, the door rubs the jamb and the seal can leak. The Proper Door Alignment video shows the correction, and Adjusting the Door Handle Lock Nut, and Why the Hinges Are Not the…
• 📖What is a shower flange and what does it do?A shower flange is a thin waterproof strip bonded to the edge of a shower base, or a tub, so the wall tile or wall panels can overlap it and send water back into the shower instead of behind the fixture. On Ella products the flange is not molded in; it is the flexible glue-up tile flange added at installation, and the same kit is used on shower bases and walk-in tubs. The tub version is explained in What Is a…
• 📖Can an Ella Walk-In Tub Be Installed in a Mobile Home?Yes. Ella walk-in tubs are installed in mobile homes, and the team points mobile home owners toward the compact models: the Front Entry and the Mobile for single-wide mobile homes, and compact tubs like the Flow for mobile homes and trailers. The two things to settle before ordering are whether the subfloor can carry the tub, the water and the bather together, which Walk-In Tub Weight and Floor Loading Explained…
• 📖Does Ella's Bubbles Install Walk-In Tubs, and How Do I Choose an Installer?Ella's Bubbles is the manufacturer of your walk-in tub and does not perform installations, so a licensed local contractor, plumber or electrician does the measuring and the installation work. You can hire your own licensed professional, or give the team your full installation address and ask it to check the installer network for someone near you. Either way, Ella's free lifetime technical support answers questions…
• 📖How do you install a walk-in tub and what is needed?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 any therapy systems, and a contractor or dealer crew can coordinate the whole job, as Who Installs a Walk-In Tub: a Plumber, an Electrician, or a Contractor? explains. Ella supplies the tub, the spec sheets, the electrical diagrams for your therapies…
• 📖Who installs a walk-in tub, and how do I find one?Ella's Bubbles manufactures walk-in tubs and does not install them, send technicians, or charge for installation. A local licensed plumber and electrician, often coordinated by a general contractor or the remodeler handling the bathroom, set the tub, connect the water and drain, and wire the pumps, and the same rule applies to every later job on the tub, from mounting the spout described in There Is an Open Hole…
• 📖Who can install a walk-in tub with built-in seating and grab bars?Any licensed, experienced local contractor can install an Ella walk-in tub, and most installations use a plumber for the water and drain connections and an electrician for the pump, heater and controls. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the tub but does not perform installations and does not send technicians, so the seat, the door and the grab bars that come with the tub are all set up by the installer you hire. The…
• 📖Who installs walk-in showers, and does Ella's Bubbles install them?A walk-in shower is installed by a local licensed contractor, with a plumber handling the valve and drain connections. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the shower and ships it nationwide, but it does not send technicians and does not perform installations; the team can help you get in touch with installers in your area and provides free technical support by phone and email while the work is done. Where can I buy an…
• 📖How do I tile over the tile flange on a walk-in tub?Tiling over the flange on an Ella walk-in tub is a three-stage job: bond the flexible glue-up flange to the flat deck edge with 100 percent silicone so it overlaps the edge, run the tile or wall panels down over the flange and onto the deck, then silicone every joint. Ella tubs have no molded tile lip, so the flange is the water barrier that sends splash water back into the tub rather than behind it. The kit, its…
• 📖Who installs walk-in tubs, and how do I find an installer?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…
• 📖What Is a Shower Flange and What Does It Do?A shower flange is a thin waterproof strip bonded to the top edge of a tub or shower base where it meets the wall, so the tile or wall panels can come down over it and shed water back into the fixture instead of behind the wall. Ella walk-in tubs and shower bases have a flat edge with no molded lip, so the flange is added at installation, and Ella's flexible glue-up kit does the job on a tub deck and on a shower…
• 📖Does a Walk-In Tub Need Professional Installation, and How Complex Is It?An Ella walk-in tub is installed by a licensed local plumber and electrician, not by Ella's Bubbles, and the work itself is ordinary trade work rather than anything unusual. The plumbing side is a faucet supply and a drain connection, and the electrical side is a set of dedicated GFCI protected circuits sized to the pumps and heater in your tub, which is the part that belongs with a licensed professional. Does…
• 📖How Do I Caulk and Seal a Walk-In Tub Against the Walls?Sealing a walk-in tub means running 100 percent silicone at every joint where the tub meets the walls and wherever a fixture passes through the deck, while keeping silicone off the door gasket entirely. Ella tubs have a flat deck edge with no molded tile lip, so a tile flange overlaps the tub edge, the wall finish overlaps the flange, and each of those lines is caulked as the final layer. If the tub is already…
• 📖How do I find a reputable walk-in tub installation company?Ella's Bubbles assembles and tests walk-in tubs in Chicago and ships them nationwide, but it does not install them and does not send technicians, so the installation company you hire is a local licensed contractor. That can be an Ella dealer that installs in its territory, an independent installer referred through Ella's installer network, or a licensed plumber and electrician you choose yourself; any licensed…
• 📖Who Installs an Ella Shower Pan or Shower Base?A local licensed contractor installs an Ella shower pan or base. Ella's Bubbles molds the base to size and ships it as a finished acrylic or cultured marble piece, and it does not send technicians or perform installations, so your contractor sets the base on the floor, connects it to the drain line and finishes the walls around it, as How do you build a custom shower pan or base? explains. Ella's part is to…
• 📖How do I install a one-piece Ella shower stall?A one-piece Ella low-threshold shower stall is installed by a local licensed plumber or contractor, and the job follows a fixed order: confirm the unit will fit through every opening on the way in, frame the alcove to the rough-in diagram, dry fit the stall, level the base on wedge shims, fasten it to the studs as the instruction sheet describes, connect the drain, mount the grab bars and seal the edges. Ella's…
• 📖Can I Move My Ella Walk-In Tub to a New House and Reinstall It?Yes, an Ella walk-in tub can be disconnected by a licensed plumber and electrician, moved, and reinstalled at another address, but relocating it ends the Lifetime Limited Warranty, which belongs to the first purchaser at the original installation address. What continues at the new home is free lifetime technical support and access to replacement parts matched to your serial number. The step-by-step Printable…
• 📖What If the End Panel Is Too Short and Leaves a Wall Gap?An end panel is not designed to reach the wall on its own, so a gap between the panel and the wall almost always means the tub has been pulled off the wall or the alcove is longer than the tub, not that the panel is short. The end panel is molded to cover the full end of the tub with a little overlap, and it adds no length; only the extension panel fills an alcove gap. Start by confirming where the tub actually…
• 📖How Do I Check That My Walk-In Tub Is Level After Installation?To check that a walk-in tub is level after installation, drain it, remove the front apron, set a level on the deck front to back and then side to side, and confirm that every leveling leg sits solidly on the floor with no gap, paying special attention to the center leg. The door is your second gauge: on a level tub it closes with a gentle push, meets the frame evenly all the way around, and stays dry through a…
• 📖Does Ella's Bubbles Recommend Local Installers or Contractors for Service?Yes. Ella's Bubbles does not have installation crews or service technicians of its own, but it keeps a nationwide network of partner dealers and independent installers, and the team will look up the partner closest to your installation address whether you need a tub installed or a repair done years later. You are never required to use that referral: any licensed local plumber and electrician can do the work…
• 📖Should I Unpack and Test-Fill My Walk-In Tub Before Installation Day?Yes, and the sooner the better. Ella's published shipping policy asks you to open the crate carefully, save all packaging material, and inspect the tub both visually and operationally within 48 hours of receipt, and that clock runs from the day the truck arrives, not from installation day. Filling the tub and running its systems before it is carried into the bathroom is exactly what the pre-installation water…
• 📖What Questions Should I Ask a Contractor Before Hiring Them to Install My Tub?Before you hire a contractor to install an Ella walk-in tub, ask five things: whether they are a licensed plumber and electrician who knows your local code, how they will confirm the tub fits your room and the path into it, how they will provide the dedicated GFCI protected circuits the tub needs, what labor warranty they will put in writing, and whether they will use Ella's free technical support and documents…
• 📖Can my contractor join the live video tour to check fit?Yes. Your contractor is welcome to join a live video session with the Ella's Bubbles team, so questions about fit, plumbing and wiring are answered directly by a specialist standing next to the tub in Chicago. Family members can join from separate devices, a one-tap video link is texted to your phone before the call, and the specialist can take seat and doorway measurements for you on camera. Before the call, ask…
• 📖Which end does the Ella Elite extension panel go on in a 60 inch alcove?The Ella Elite's 7 inch extension panel goes on whichever end of the tub you specified when the order was placed, left or right, because the stainless steel shelf brackets that carry it are built into the frame at that end. The panel is not tied to the faucet end or the headrest end by design; on the Elite, brackets can be fitted to both ends only when that is requested before the tub is built, so a panel that…
• 📖How Do the Two Front Access Panels on the Ella Ultimate Open for Service?The Ella Ultimate's two front access panels sit on the removable front apron on the same side as the door, and they come off from the front of the tub without moving it. Ella aprons attach with clips, screws, velcro tape or magnets depending on the model, so check yours first: a magnetic panel pulls gently away from the frame from one corner with no tools, while a panel with round white caps along its edge has…
• 📖How do you fill the alcove gap when installing the 45 inch Ella Mobile?Ella does not offer an extension panel for the Mobile, so when a 45 inch Mobile is set into a wider three-wall alcove, the remaining space is framed and finished by your installer rather than closed with a factory filler panel. The Mobile is designed for a 45 inch space or a corner, where its reversible end panel finishes the exposed end and there is no gap to fill. Extension panels and filler kits: fitting your…
• 📖How Do I Install a Second End Panel on a Freestanding Ella Tub?To install a second end panel on a freestanding Ella tub, you set the panel against the exposed end that the included panel does not cover and attach it with its two white screws, after the tub has been moved into place, leveled and water tested. The second panel is ordered through your Ella dealer, where you purchased the tub, or the team at (800) 480-6850, because end panels are cut for a specific model and door…
• 📖Does Ella Install Walk-In Tubs, and How Do I Choose an Installer?No. Ella's Bubbles manufactures walk-in tubs and does not install them, so a licensed local contractor, plumber or electrician does the measuring and the installation work. You can use your own installer or ask the team at (800) 480-6850 to check its installer network for a professional near your installation address, and either way Ella supports that person with free technical support by phone, email and video.…
• 📖How do you fit and install a walk-in shower base and walls?Fitting a walk-in shower starts with three measurements: the opening where the shower will sit, the height from the base to the ceiling, and the narrowest doorway or hallway on the path into the bathroom. From those figures you choose a base size and threshold, set the drain location before the base is built, and pick a wall system, and then a licensed local contractor sets the base and finishes the walls, because…
• 📖Who Installs a Shower Pan or Shower Base in My Bathroom?A local licensed contractor installs an Ella shower pan or base. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the base and ships it as a finished piece, and your contractor sets it on the floor, connects it to the drain line and finishes the walls around it. Ella does not perform installations or send technicians, so the person to line up before the base arrives is a plumber or remodeling contractor licensed in your area, as How…
• 📖What should I know before installing a walk-in bathtub?Before installing a walk-in bathtub, settle four things: the finished size of the opening and the delivery path, which side the door and the drains will fall on, who will do the work, and which choices are locked in when the tub is ordered rather than on installation day. Ella's Bubbles builds the tub and supports your installer for the life of the tub, but a licensed local plumber and electrician do the…
• 📖Can My Regular Plumber Install an Ella Walk-In Tub?Yes. Your regular plumber can install an Ella walk-in tub, and no specialist or Ella certification is required. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the tub and does not perform installation, so every owner chooses who does the work, and any licensed installer is fine, as Installing It Yourself: What DIY Owners Must Do to Keep Support and Warranty explains. The one part of the job that is not optional is the electrical…
• 📖How Do I Reach the Leveling Legs When the Apron Is On?You reach the leveling legs by taking the front apron off, because the legs sit behind it on the tub frame and there is no adjustment point on the outside of the panel. The apron is a removable cosmetic panel held by screws along its bottom edge, so it comes off an installed tub the same way it did on installation day and goes back on once every leg is carrying weight. What Are Leveling Legs on a Walk-In Tub?…
• 📖How Do I Uncrate and Move a Walk-In Tub Without Damaging It?Uncrate the tub, inspect it before the packaging leaves the site, then remove the front apron, every access panel and both end panels and carry the bare tub by its stainless steel frame, never by the plumbing, faucet, door or jets. Most standard-size single-seat Ella tubs weigh 200 to 240 pounds net and are a two-person carry once uncrated, while the crated tub is a heavier job and a staircase calls for extra…
• 📖How do I remove the access panels before moving an Ella walk-in tub?Before an Ella walk-in tub is moved or carried, every removable panel comes off: pull the magnetic access panels away from the apron from one corner, take the full front apron off by unscrewing the round white caps and the three screws along its bottom edge and releasing the three top clips, then remove the reversible end panel and, on tubs shorter than 60 inches, the extension panel. Once the panels are off, the…
• 📖How do I add a grab bar without cracking the tub acrylic?The grab bar that ships with an Ella walk-in tub bolts through holes the factory drilled before the tub left the plant, and the one thing that keeps the acrylic from cracking is the large metal washer that must sit under the shell on each bolt. Any extra bar belongs on the wall, anchored into the framing, never drilled through the tub. The kit and where it is packed are covered in What Is a Deck-Mount Grab Bar on…
• 📖How and When Should I Choose an Installer for My Ella Tub?Choose your installer before your tub order is finalized, and choose a licensed local contractor, because Ella's Bubbles manufactures the tub but never performs installations and does not send technicians. Any licensed plumber or electrician can install an Ella walk-in tub, no Ella certification is required, and the installer's license and insurance details go on the warranty activation form that both of you…
• 📖How do you install a walk-in tub step by step?An Ella walk-in tub goes in following a set order. First, settle the door and drain side before the order is confirmed. On delivery, inspect and test the tub, remove the panels and move it by the frame. Then level it on a prepared subfloor and connect the 2 inch drains and the water supply. A licensed electrician connects and tests the GFCI-protected circuits and the ground. Last, test everything before the walls…
• 📖What Companies Install Walk-In Tubs and How Do I Find One?Walk-in tubs are installed by licensed local companies: plumbers, electricians, remodeling contractors, and resellers that both sell and install the tubs. Ella's Bubbles builds the tub and backs it with parts and free technical support, but it does not perform installations or send technicians, so the company that sets your tub will always be a local one. Companies that want to sell and install Ella products apply…
• 📖How Do You Install a Tile Flange on a Tub or Shower Base?A tile flange is installed by bonding a flexible waterproof strip to the clean edge of the tub or shower base with 100 percent silicone, so the strip overlaps the fixture edge and rises up the wall, and then bringing the tile or wall panels down over it. The flange goes on after the fixture is leveled and water tested, and before any wall is finished. Choosing the right strip and length is covered in My Tub Has…
• 📖Should an Ella Walk-In Tub Sit on a Mortar Bed or Shims?Neither is the method Ella describes for its walk-in tubs. An Ella walk-in tub stands on its own adjustable leveling legs on a level subfloor, and the installer adjusts each leg until every foot sits securely on the floor. Mortar beds and wedge shims belong to the Ella shower line, where the rule changes by product, as laid out in Does an Ella Shower Base Need a Mortar Bed to Keep Its Warranty? . How an Ella…
• 📖Can an Ella End Panel or Extension Panel Be Trimmed to Fit?Yes, both panels can be trimmed on site, and both are designed with that in mind. The extension panel is the trimmable side panel that fills the gap between a shorter tub and a standard 60 inch alcove, and it is trimmed to the wall as the last step of the installation. The end panel can also be trimmed when it is slightly longer than the opening, always on the edge that sits against the wall, as covered step by…
• 📖What you need before installing your Ella walk-in tub: a planning checklistWalk-in tub installation requirements come down to a short list: a licensed electrician and an experienced plumber or contractor, one or more dedicated GFCI protected circuits, a sound and level subfloor rated for the tub plus water plus bather, a working house drain, and service access to the plumbing and electrical after the walls are finished. Every Ella walk-in tub arrives factory tested and factory leveled.…
• 📖Delivery day: inspecting, moving, and preparing your walk-in tub the right wayWalk-in tub delivery day comes down to three habits that protect you: inspect the crate before the driver leaves, keep the original packaging until the install is complete, and always remove the panels and aprons before the tub is moved. Freight claims require photos of any damage recorded on the shipper's delivery document with the driver's signature, and damage must be reported within 48 hours of receipt, so a…
• 📖Leveling your walk-in tub: why every leg must touch the floor before anything elseLeveling a walk-in tub is the number one thing that prevents door leaks, and it is the first thing to verify on any new install or any tub that has started leaking at the door. Every leveling leg must touch the floor and carry equal weight, with no gap under any leg. On the inward-swing acrylic family (Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60, Flow) and the HomeCare, the front legs must also be screwed into the subfloor.…
• 📖Extension panels and filler kits: fitting your walk-in tub into a 60 inch alcoveWalk-in tub extension panels, also called filler kits, are what let a 52 to 55 inch Ella tub fill a standard three-wall 60 inch alcove with a clean, finished look. Tubs shorter than 60 inches include one custom-size extension panel, with a few exceptions listed below, and 60 inch and longer tubs do not need one. The panel can be placed on the left or right side of the tub, can be trimmed for out-of-square alcoves…
• 📖The pre-installation water test: catch leaks before your walls are finishedThe pre-installation water test is a required one hour check done before the walls are closed up: fill the tub, let it stand, run every electrical component, and inspect every connection. It is the single best insurance against opening finished walls later. Shipping vibration can loosen unions and air lines, and the water test catches all of it while everything is still easy to reach. Watch: installation tips…
• 📖Installation choices that affect your warranty and how to keep coverage intactImproper installation can void your walk-in tub warranty, and every one of the installation choices that affect coverage is fully in your installer's control on install day. Your Ella walk-in tub carries a Lifetime Limited Warranty for the original purchaser at the original installation address. The short version: level the tub correctly, use a licensed electrician on dedicated GFCI circuits, install the grab bar…

Plumbing & Electrical78 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖What Size Water Heater Do I Need for My Walk-in Tub?What size water heater do I need for a walk-in tub? For most homes the answer is a 75 gallon or larger tank, because a walk-in tub holds more water than many standard bathtubs and you want it filled hot before you settle in. Ella's Bubbles recommends the maximum capacity water heater available for your house, anything less than 75 gallons is not recommended, and the largest models such as the ShaK and the Big4Two…
• 📖Which Cord Plugs Where: Identifying Control Boxes, Cords, and Air Tubes After InstallationWhich cord plugs where on an Ella walk-in tub is answered by the component diagram for your therapy package: every pump, heater and control box is labeled at the factory, each power cord goes to its own dedicated GFCI outlet inside the equipment compartment, and the thin air tubes run from the deck push buttons to the nipples on the control box. Behind the front apron you will find one or more control boxes, a…
• 📖Water Supply Lines, Shut-Off Valves, and Pipe Size for a Fast FillThe water supply lines for an Ella walk-in tub are included with the faucet: every Ella 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucet ships with two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided stainless steel supply lines, and the faucet and valve are piped for 3/4 inch all the way through. Shut-off valves are not included, so your plumber provides them and places them close to the tub where they are easy to reach. Your existing 1/2 inch…
• 📖Common Electrical Questions: 15 or 20 Amps, One Circuit or Two, GFCI at the Outlet or the Breaker, Cord Labels and DiagramsThe walk-in tub electrical requirements for an Ella tub come down to this: every tub with pumps runs on dedicated 20 amp, 120 volt, GFCI-protected circuits, and the number of circuits depends on the jetting package you chose. A 15 amp line is correct in only two cases: the Ella Flow, whose outlet is specified at 15 amps, and a soaking tub whose only electrical item is the heated seat and backrest. Everything else…
• 📖Connecting the 2 Inch Tub Drain to 1.5 Inch House Plumbing, and the Straight-Down Exit for the LayDown Brass DrainYes, an Ella walk-in tub connects to 1.5 inch house plumbing. Every Ella tub drain is 2 inches, which is larger than the 1.5 inch drain most homes were built with, and your plumber simply steps down with a standard 2 inch to 1.5 inch reducing fitting before the P-trap. You do not need two house connections for a dual-drain tub, you do not need a special pipe, and you never need a pump. The one model worth knowing…
• 📖Where to Put the Outlet: Seat-Side Placement, Cord Reach, the 20 Amp Receptacle, GFCI Under the Tub, and the Three Foot RuleElla walk-in tubs are plug-in, never hardwired. Every pump and heater runs on ordinary 120 volt household power, and each labeled line plugs into its own dedicated, GFCI-protected 20 amp outlet. The best place for that outlet is inside or directly behind the equipment compartment under the seat, so every factory cord reaches without an extension, and many installers put the GFCI at that outlet so it can be reset…
• 📖Common Plumbing Questions: One P-Trap or Two, Y Versus T, Center Drains, Drain to the Floor, Supply Threads and No Drain PumpThese are the plumbing questions installers and owners ask most often, answered in a sentence or two each, with a link to the article that goes deeper. The short version: Ella tubs use 2 inch gravity drains that go to the floor, one P-trap serving both drains is common, a Y fitting drains faster than a T, the supply connections are 3/4 inch female pipe thread with two braided lines included and no shut-off valves…
• 📖What Is Dual Drain Technology on a Walk-In Tub?Dual Drain Technology is Ella's gravity-driven drain system that pairs two oversized 2 inch floor drains, each on its own 4-port T-type drain body, so an average-size Ella walk-in tub empties in about 80 seconds under ideal house-drain conditions. Because you sit in the tub until it empties, drain speed is a comfort feature. How it works The industry-standard bathtub drain is a single 1.5 inch opening. Most…
• 📖What Is a 4-Port T-Type Drain on a Walk-In Tub?A 4-port T-type drain is the multi-port PVC drain body under an Ella walk-in tub that lets your installer connect the house drain from either side of the tub. It is connection hardware, not a count of drains: a T-type body sits beneath each 2 inch floor drain and offers 2 inch ports so the drain line can leave in whichever direction your plumbing needs. Any port that is not used is closed with an end cap that…
• 📖What Is a Thermostatic Control Valve (TCV) on a Walk-In Tub?A Thermostatic Control Valve, or TCV, is a deck-mounted anti-scald valve included with Ella thermostatic faucet packages. It blends hot and cold water to a set temperature before the water leaves the faucet, so the bath fills at a steady, safe temperature even if the hot or cold supply changes. How it works The TCV sits on the deck next to the faucet with its own control handle and governor. Hot and cold…
• 📖What Is the Overflow on a Walk-In Tub?The overflow on a walk-in tub is the opening at the drain opener that sets the maximum water level: water that rises above that line simply flows out through the drain, so the tub cannot be overfilled. On Ella Dual Drain tubs the deck dials that open and close the floor drains double as the overflow and as air vents, which is why the guidance is to fill to just below the center of the drain handles at most. How…
• 📖What Is a GFCI for a Walk-In Tub?A GFCI, short for ground fault circuit interrupter, is the ground-fault protection that every jetted Ella walk-in tub requires on its own dedicated 20A/120V circuit. Whether it lives in the outlet as a GFCI receptacle or in the panel as a GFCI breaker, its job is the same: watch the current flowing out to the tub and back, and cut power the moment any of it leaks to ground. With water, a bather and electric pumps…
• 📖What Is a Dedicated Circuit for a Walk-In Tub?A dedicated circuit is an electrical line that serves only the walk-in tub and is shared with no other appliance, light or outlet. Electricians also call it a dedicated line. Every Ella tub with pumps runs on one or more dedicated GFCI-protected 20A/120V circuits, and the number of lines follows the therapy package on your order rather than the model name. How it works Each pump, heater and control module on…
• 📖What Are the Supply Lines and Shut-Off Valves on a Walk-In Tub?Supply lines are the two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided stainless steel hoses, also called water supply hoses or faucet connectors, that carry hot and cold water from your home's plumbing to an Ella fast-fill faucet. They are included with every Ella 2-piece and 5-piece faucet set. They connect to shut-off valves, also called stop valves, which are not included and are supplied by your plumber and placed close to the…
• 📖What Is the Emergency Pull-Up Chain on a Walk-In Tub?The emergency pull-up chain, also called the emergency pull chain or safety chain, is the short chain attached to the drain plug on the single 2 inch gravity drain of the Ella Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow walk-in tubs. On these models the drain plug is a chain-operated removable plug, so the bather simply pulls the chain to open the drain by hand. How it works This family of inward-swing acrylic…
• 📖Where Does the Drain Sit for a Slab Installation?If you are asking where the drain sits for a slab install, the answer is on the side opposite the door. On every Ella walk-in tub the door and seat are on one side and the drains are on the other, as you face the tub: a right side door means left side drains, and a left side door means right side drains. On a slab the tub sits on top of the floor with its drain piping running under the frame, so the spot where…
• 📖Which Cord Plugs In Where on My Walk-In Tub?If you are asking which cord plugs where, the rule is simple: every pump, heater and control box on an Ella walk-in tub is labeled at the factory, each power cord goes to its own dedicated GFCI protected outlet, and the thin air hoses run from the deck push buttons to the nipples on the control box. The blue box by the motor is the master control box; it feeds the air pump, water pump, LED and heated seat from…
• 📖Why Did the Drain Elbow Crack and What Replaces It?If your drain elbow cracked and drips, the usual story is that the plastic 90 degree fitting under the tub was overtightened during installation and a hairline crack opened up later. The first thing to check is where the water actually appears: at the elbow body, at the union nut and gasket where the PVC meets the brass drain, or where the PVC elbow joins the ABS house line. A cracked elbow is a replacement part…
• 📖Why Doesn't the Overflow on My Tub Drain?When the overflow does not drain on an Ella walk-in tub, the usual explanation is that the tub has been filled higher than it was designed for, or that the house drain flows slowly. On dual drain Ella tubs the overflow protection is built into the drain dials: the easy turn handle that opens each floor drain also functions as overflow protection and an air vent, and the water runs into the drain body under the…
• 📖My House Drain Is 1.5 Inches. Will the 2 Inch Tub Drain Work?If my house drain is 1.5 inch, will the 2 inch tub drain work? Yes. Every Ella tub drain is 2 inches and gravity driven, and a 2 inch house main is recommended for the fastest emptying, but a standard T or Y fitting into a 1.5 inch house drain works. The first thing to understand is that the house drain size does not change how the tub connects: on dual drain models the two drains join under the tub into a single…
• 📖Why Does the GFCI Trip When the Jets Turn On?When the GFCI trips when the jets turn on, the tub is almost always telling you one of two things: the circuit is carrying more than it was sized for, or a component is leaking current to ground. The first thing to check is the wiring. Every Ella tub with pumps needs its own dedicated 20 amp, 120 volt GFCI protected line for each labeled cord, sharing nothing with any other appliance. Hydro plus air runs on one…
• 📖Why Does My Hot Water Run Out Before the Tub Is Full?If your hot water runs out before the tub is full, the house water heater is undersized for the bath you are drawing, and that is the first thing to check. Depending on the model, a walk-in tub takes roughly 55 to 75 gallons or more to fill once you are seated, and a 40 gallon tank simply does not hold that much hot water. Ella's Bubbles recommends a 75 gallon or larger tank, or a tankless unit rated around 11…
• 📖Why Is the Supply Line Leaking at the Nut?If the supply line is leaking at the nut, the fitting is usually either under tightened with the gasket not seated, or over tightened to the point that the gasket is damaged. The first thing to check is the gasket inside the nut. Feed line connections on an Ella faucet are made hand tight plus a quarter to half turn with the gasket seated, and going further crushes the gasket and starts a drip that no extra torque…
• 📖Why Does the Mixing Valve Cross Hot and Cold When the Tub Is Off?When the mixing valve mixes hot and cold when the tub is off, you have a crossover: hot and cold are meeting somewhere in the tub's plumbing and pressure from one side is pushing into the other, which is why the whole suite loses hot water until you isolate the tub. On an Ella tub the first place this happens is a worn or fouled thermostatic cartridge in the temperature control valve, fixed by cleaning or…
• 📖How Many GFCI Circuits Does My Walk-In Tub Need?How many GFCI circuits does the tub need? Count the labeled cords on your tub, because every one of them needs its own dedicated 20 amp, 120 volt GFCI protected circuit that shares nothing with any other appliance. One line covers hydro only, air only, or hydro plus air. Two lines cover hydro plus microbubble, hydro plus foot massage, and the heated seat variants. Three lines are needed on the ShaK, the Big4One…
• 📖NEC Article 680 and GFCI Dedicated-Circuit Rules Explained for a Walk-In TubThe National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) treats a jetted walk-in tub as a "hydromassage bathtub," and the rules for it live in Part VII of Article 680. Three requirements matter most: an individual branch circuit for the tub, a readily accessible GFCI protecting it, and equipment that stays accessible without damaging the house. Ella's published requirements say the same thing in installer language: dedicated…
• 📖Anti-Scald and Thermostatic Valve Standards for Walk-In Tubs: ASSE 1016, 1070 and the Ella TCVScald protection in a walk-in tub comes from two places: the standards plumbing inspectors reference, and the valve on your tub. Inspectors most often mention ASSE 1016, ASSE 1070 and ASSE 1017, along with the CPSC's guidance to set a water heater at 120 F. On an Ella walk-in tub, temperature control depends on the faucet configuration you ordered: tubs with an Ella thermostatic faucet package include a…
• 📖Drainage and Fill TimeElla's Bubbles walk-in tubs are built with two 2-inch gravity-driven drains, so most tubs empty in two minutes or less once connected to a proper 2-inch drain line, and the faucet system fills a tub with a capacity of around 60 gallons quickly thanks to a fill rate of about 16 gallons per minute. How Draining Works Every Ella's Bubbles tub uses two 2-inch drains rather than a single drain. Instead of relying on…
• 📖Can I Get an Electrical Diagram or Parts List for My Tub?Yes, the team will send the electrical diagram for your tub, and you can download it yourself as well. Every jetting configuration has its own electrical requirements, so the diagram is specific to the therapy package on your tub, such as hydro massage, air massage, microbubbles or a combination, rather than to the model name alone. On your model's page at ellasbubbles.com, the Therapy Options tab holds the…
• 📖Recommended Water Heater Size by Walk-In Tub ModelFor most Ella walk-in tubs, we recommend a tank water heater of at least 75 gallons, or a tankless water heater that delivers at least 11 gallons per minute. The larger two-seat and bariatric models call for more hot water: 80 gallons for the Tub4Two and Companion, and 100 gallons for the Big4One, Shak, Big4Two and Escape. These are the figures our support team gives homeowners and installers, and they apply…
• 📖What to Do When a Tub Power Cord Is Too Short to Reach the ReceptacleIf one of your walk-in tub's power cords will not reach the wall receptacle, bring the receptacle to the cord rather than stretching the cord. Ella support describes two options: have your licensed electrician run a flexible conduit line (a flex line) to a receptacle box mounted inside the tub compartment where the plug can reach it, or use a heavy-duty extension cord rated for the equipment. The flex-line…
• 📖Using an Ella Walk-In Tub With Well Water and a Septic SystemYes, an Ella walk-in tub works in a home with a private well and a septic system. The tub connects to your existing hot and cold supply lines and to your existing drain line the same way a conventional bathtub does, and nothing about it requires municipal water or sewer. The three things to plan for are enough hot water to fill the tub, water quality if your tub has a thermostatic faucet, and a drain connection…
• 📖Choosing a Shower Valve and Cutting the Valve and Shower-Head OpeningsElla does not supply or recommend a shower valve for its shower kits. You choose the valve, the trim and the shower head from the plumbing brand you prefer, your plumber roughs in the valve, and the openings for the valve and the shower-head arm are cut into the wall panel at the height you want during installation. The panels do not come pre-cut for a valve, so the layout is decided on site with your installer.…
• 📖Shower Drain Rough-In: How Far the Drain Sits From the Back Wall and Side WallThe drain rough-in for every Ella shower base is shown on the Specification drawing for that model, as the distance from the back wall and from the side wall to the center of the drain. Those distances change from model to model and with the drain position, so there is no single figure that fits every base. As two examples, one right-drain base lists the drain center 15 1/2 inches from the back wall and 9 1/2…
• 📖Can I Choose a Left, Right, or Center Drain on an Ella Shower?The drain position on an Ella shower is molded into the base at the factory and is fixed for each model. It is not an option you select when ordering. A stall or base built with a center drain is only available with a center drain, and a base molded with a left-hand drain is only available that way, with no center or right-hand alternative. If the drain in your floor does not line up with the model you want, the…
• 📖Drain Kit Compression Washer or Gasket Looks Missing: Where to Look FirstBefore you request a replacement, have your installer look at the drain pipe itself. The compression washer for the Ella drain kit ships already seated on the outside of the drain pipe, not loose in the hardware bag, so installers who lay out the loose parts sometimes report it missing when it is already in place. The rubber drain gasket ships the same way, pre-assembled over the fitting it seals against. Often…
• 📖Adding a Second Faucet to the Tub4Two: What Changes for Ordering and PlumbingYes, a second faucet can be added to the Tub4Two so each bather has a fill spout close at hand. The tub ships with one faucet as standard, so the second faucet has to be requested when you place your order through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. The change matters for installation: your plumber must tie both faucets into the hot and cold supply instead of one, so plan the rough-in before the tub…
• 📖Why the Door Drain on My Walk-In Tub Is Capped and Should Stay That WayIf your walk-in tub arrived with a short, capped stub where the installation manual shows a secondary door drain, nothing is missing and nothing needs to be connected. Ella's Bubbles eliminated the door drain on its walk-in tubs. Leave the stub capped, do not cut it open, and do not tie it into the main drain line. Your tub drains through the main floor drain and overflow exactly as the rest of the manual…
• 📖Will a 3-Inch Sewer Line Make My Walk-In Tub Drain Slower Than a 4-Inch Line?No. An Ella walk-in tub connected to a 3-inch sewer line drains about as fast as one connected to a 4-inch sewer line. The sewer main is not the limiting factor, because it is already much larger than the tub drain and the branch line that feed it. If your city only permits a 3-inch sewer line, you can install your Ella tub as planned and expect normal drain performance. Why the sewer line size does not matter…
• 📖Connecting the Dual Drains in a Tight Space and What the Drain Package IncludesElla walk-in tubs with Dual Drain Technology use two 2 inch four-port T-type PVC drains, and the owner's manual shows the drain connection both above the floor and below the floor. Because each drain body has more than one port, your plumber has a choice in which direction the pipe leaves the tub, and that flexibility is what makes tight installations work. The tub does not ship with P-traps or the tee, wye or…
• 📖Is the Flexible Drain Hose Still Available? The PVC Elbow That Replaced ItThe flexible drain hose is no longer supplied for Ella walk-in tubs, and neither is the older PVC p-trap drain connection. Both were replaced by a standard 90-degree PVC drain elbow with a gasket that connects to the brass drain under the tub. Your plumber then continues the drain line from that elbow in ordinary PVC to the house drain. Replacement elbows are available through the support team, and the LayDown…
• 📖What Voltage Does an Ella Walk-In Tub Need, and Can It Be Built for 220 to 240 Volts Abroad?Ella walk-in tubs are built for the North American standard of 120 volts at 60 Hz, with each pump, heater, and accessory on its own dedicated GFCI-protected circuit. If you live where the supply is 220 to 240 volts, the tub can be assembled for your local supply as a custom order that is confirmed on your order paperwork. Tell your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 the country of installation, and the…
• 📖How to Get Installation Instructions and Spec Sheets for Your Ella Fast-Fill FaucetYes, installation instructions and spec sheets for the Ella fast-fill faucet packages are available on request, and the team emails them so your plumber can review the work before delivery. The same is true for the shower column, the thermostatic temperature control valve and the wall-mounted faucet used with the 30 x 60 LayDown tub. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850, tell the team…
• 📖Where Is the Drain on My Walk-In Tub So I Can Rough In the Plumbing?Ella does not publish a single fixed rough-in point for the walk-in tub drain, because the drain end is set by the door side you order and the exact drain position can vary slightly from tub to tub. The drains always sit on the side opposite the door: a right-side door puts the drains on the left, and a left-side door puts them on the right, as you face the tub. The team recommends waiting until the tub is on site…
• 📖My Inspector Wants ASME A112.19.15 Certification for the Tub or Faucet: What Ella Can and Cannot ProvideElla walk-in tubs are not certified to ASME A112.19.15, and Ella does not issue an ASME certificate for the tub itself. That standard covers bathtubs and whirlpool bathtubs with doors made watertight by a pressure seal, and it is a published standard rather than a listing Ella has pursued. What Ella can provide is the tub's electrical safety listing, the current spec sheets, and documentation for the faucet. If…
• 📖T-Shaped Plug Does Not Fit the Outlet: The 20 Amp Plug on Your Walk-In Tub CordThe cord with one blade turned sideways is not a wrong part and nothing is missing. It is a 20 amp, 120 volt plug, often called a T-blade plug, and it is designed to plug into a 20 amp receptacle only. The correct fix is to have a licensed electrician confirm the outlet is on a 20 amp line and install a 20 amp GFCI receptacle, which is a standard item at any hardware store. Support has also pointed customers to a…
• 📖Where the Pet Spa Drain Is and Whether the Door Side Changes ItThe drain on the Ella Pet Spa is in the same location on every unit, whether you order a left-hinge or right-hinge door. Only the door swing changes with the hinge side. The 2-inch drain outlet sits between the bottom of the tub and the subfloor, so the drain line runs beneath the unit rather than out the back or side. Before your plumber cores concrete or cuts a floor, ask the support team for the drain location…
• 📖Does the Ella Faucet Meet ASSE 1014 Backflow Requirements for the Hand Shower?The Ella 5-piece fast-fill faucet spec sheet lists a backflow prevention valve among the faucet features, and the faucet manufacturer's component breakdown lists the backflow prevention device as a numbered part. Ella's Bubbles supplies that literature so a plumber or inspector can review it, and the plumbing inspector for your jurisdiction makes the final call on whether it satisfies the standard written into…
• 📖Draining to a Washing Machine Box or a Drain Higher Than the Tub: Why Gravity Drains Need a PumpElla walk-in tubs drain by gravity alone. There is no drain pump anywhere in the tub, so water can only flow downward from the drain outlets and can never climb to a connection that sits higher than those outlets. If the only drain available is a washing machine connection box or any other connection above the level of the tub's drain outlets, your plumber will need to add a pump to push the water up to it. Where…
• 📖How long does it take to fill a walk-in tub?Ella walk-in tubs fill after you are seated, so the time depends on how many gallons your model holds with a bather in it and on how quickly your home delivers hot water. The Ella faucet is capable of a fill rate of about 16 gallons per minute, and at that rate a tub with a capacity of around 60 gallons fills quickly rather than leaving you waiting before you can begin bathing, as Drainage and Fill Time…
• 📖What Are the Supply Lines on a Walk-In Tub Faucet?Supply lines are the flexible braided hoses under the tub deck that connect the faucet to the hot and cold water in your home. Both Ella fast-fill faucet sets ship with two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided supply lines, one for hot and one for cold, and a third line under the deck feeds the spout. The faucet those lines serve is described in What Is a Fast-Fill Faucet on a Walk-In Tub? . The lines under the deck Hot…
• 📖Does the Fast Dual Drain Overwhelm Standard Household Drain Piping?No. Ella's Dual Drain Technology is purely gravity driven with no pump anywhere in the system, so nothing pushes water into your house piping. The water falls through the tub's 2 inch drains and the house line accepts it at whatever rate its size and condition allow, which is why a dual drain speeds up the tub side but cannot fix a slow house line. How Fast Does a Walk-In Tub Drain? Dual Drain Technology…
• 📖How Fast Do Walk-In Tubs Drain and What Speeds It Up?An Ella walk-in tub connected to a proper 2-inch drain line typically empties in two minutes or less, and Ella's own field tests recorded a complete drain in 52 seconds. The tub drains by gravity through two independent 2-inch drains with no pump anywhere in the system, so the speed you see at home depends on how many drain ports are connected and on the size, condition and venting of your house drain. Drainage…
• 📖How much water does a walk-in tub actually use per bath?Most standard-size Ella walk-in tubs use 30 to 75 gallons of water per bath once you are seated, even though the same tubs hold 65 to 107 gallons with nobody in them. The figure you actually use is the smaller occupied number, because an Ella walk-in tub fills after you are seated and your body displaces part of the water. Every model's pair of figures is listed in How many gallons does each Ella walk-in tub…
• 📖How fast does a walk-in tub drain after a bath?An Ella walk-in tub drains by gravity through its 2-inch drains and typically empties in two minutes or less once it is connected to a proper 2-inch drain line. Ella's own field test of the dual drain system, shown in the video on this page, completed drainage in 52 seconds, though the speed in your home depends on the drain conditions and piping of the house. Drainage and Fill Time covers the drain and the…
• 📖What are supply lines on a walk-in tub or shower faucet?Supply lines are the two hoses that bring hot and cold water from your home's plumbing to the faucet on a walk-in tub or shower. On an Ella walk-in tub they are the two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided lines packed with every 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucet set, as described in What Is a Fast-Fill Faucet on a Walk-In Tub? . The faucet itself is mounted on the deck at the factory, but the lines are connected by…
• 📖Which tub filler faucet fills a large walk-in tub fastest?The fastest-filling faucet Ella offers is the 5-piece Fast-Fill set, designed for 18 GPM at 60 PSI under ideal in-home plumbing; the 2-piece Fast-Fill set is designed for 16 GPM under the same conditions. Either one fills a large tub only as fast as your home's water pressure, supply lines and water heater allow, which is why real-world fill times run 7 to 15 minutes across the lineup. How fast will my walk-in…
• 📖Can I Use My Own Faucet Instead of the Ella Fast-Fill Set?Yes. An Ella walk-in tub can be ordered without the Ella fast-fill faucet, and on a tub built that way your installer drills the deck for the fixture you supply and connects it on site. The trade-off is that the pull-out hand shower, the shower column kit and the matched replacement parts are all designed around the Ella 2-piece and 5-piece sets, as Installing the 2-Piece and 5-Piece Fast-Fill Faucets and Hand…
• 📖How Do I Adjust the Maximum Temperature on a Walk-In Tub Thermostatic Valve?The Thermostatic Control Valve, or TCV, on an Ella walk-in tub leaves the factory set at 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, and the handle on the deck turns down from that point whenever you want a cooler bath. Raising the maximum above the factory setting is an internal adjustment: the set screw cover comes off, the set screw is loosened with an Allen wrench, and the handle is reseated a quarter turn counterclockwise on…
• 📖How Do I Plumb the Drain and Water Supply for an Ella Pet Spa?The Ella Pet Spa drains through a 2 inch PVC drain glued to a 2 inch drain pipe, with a reducer to 1 1/2 inch permitted per the spec sheet, and it takes water through two 5 foot stainless steel braided supply lines with 3/4 inch IPS connectors. The drain outlet sits between the bottom of the tub and the subfloor, in the same place on every unit whichever door hinge side you order, so the drain line runs beneath…
• 📖Do I Need 3/4 Inch Supply Lines for the Ella Fast-Fill Faucet?No, 3/4 inch house lines are not required for an Ella fast-fill faucet, but they are what Ella recommends. Every Ella 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucet set ships with two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided stainless steel supply lines, and your existing 1/2 inch house lines will work, with 3/4 inch lines simply filling the tub faster. The lines themselves, and the shut-off valves they connect to, are introduced in…
• 📖What electrical circuits does the Ella ShaK need for all four therapies?The Ella ShaK with all four therapies, air massage, seat hydro massage, independent foot and calf hydro massage and the optional microbubble system, needs three dedicated 20 amp, 120 volt GFCI protected circuits, each serving the tub and nothing else. That count comes from the schematic Ella publishes for the ShaK and Big4One, the only single-seat diagram in the family that shows three wall outlets. How Many GFCI…
• 📖What electrical circuits does the Transfer32 three-system therapy package require?Every three-system therapy package that lists the Transfer32 on a published Ella schematic runs on two dedicated, GFCI-protected 20 amp, 120 volt lines, one for each of two wall outlets. The number of lines follows the therapy package on your order rather than the model name, as explained in What Is a Dedicated Circuit for a Walk-In Tub? . Below you will find which three-system packages the Transfer32 can carry…
• 📖Does a walk-in tub drain need its own vent or air admittance valve?No. An Ella walk-in tub does not need a special vent of its own. Its drains connect to the house drain the way a conventional bathtub does, and it is that house line that must flow freely and be trapped and vented to local code by your licensed plumber. Whether an air admittance valve is an acceptable way to vent that trap is a local code question that your plumber and inspector decide, not something the tub…
• 📖What water pressure does a walk-in tub need to fill quickly?Ella fast-fill faucets are rated at 60 PSI: the 2-piece set is designed for 16 gallons per minute and the 5-piece set for 18 gallons per minute at that pressure under ideal in-home plumbing. Ella publishes no flow curve for lower pressures, so a home below 60 PSI should expect a slower fill rather than a failed one, and in real homes a fill runs about 7 to 15 minutes depending on the size of the tub and your…
• 📖How do I set the maximum hot water limit stop on the Ella TCV?The maximum temperature on an Ella Thermostatic Control Valve is set by a spring-loaded locking pin inside the control handle that rests against a locking collar, and you change it by removing the set screw cover, loosening the set screw with an Allen wrench, and re-seating the handle on the brass fitting at the position you want. The valve leaves the factory set at 100.4 F, and Ella's published guidance is that…
• 📖Which Walk-In Tubs Have Anti-Scald Valves and Temperature Controls?No Ella walk-in tub model includes an anti-scald valve by default. The anti-scald device on an Ella tub is the Thermostatic Control Valve, or TCV, and it arrives with the Ella thermostatic faucet package rather than with a particular model, so two tubs of the same model can differ depending on the faucet chosen at order time. Ella offers the deck-mounted TCV on most of its acrylic walk-in tub line, and the Elite…
• 📖Which Side Is the Drain On Relative to the Door Hinge?On an Ella walk-in tub the drains are always at the end opposite the door. Stand where you will step in, facing the tub: if the door and seat are on your right, the drains, faucet and water supply are on your left, and if the door is on your left the drains are on your right. The hinge is not the reference point, because Ella names the configuration by the side the door and seat occupy, as Which Side Is a Left…
• 📖How Many Gallons Does the LayDown 30x60 Hold When Occupied?There is no published occupied capacity for the LayDown 30x60. The water capacity field on its current spec sheet is blank, and the LayDown60 is one of three Ella models, with the Monaco and the Mobile, whose gallon figures are not printed on the current sheets, so no number should be quoted from older materials. Check the live product page or ask the team at ellasbubbles.com/support and (800) 480-6850 for the…
• 📖How does the Ella Elite drain work and how fast does it empty?The Ella Elite drains by gravity rather than by a pump. Its current spec sheet lists two 2 inch 4-port PVC drains, each with its own overflow and its own stainless steel opener with an extended chrome handle, and the Elite product video describes the pair as an independently operated dual 2 inch drain built for fast and efficient drainage. Connected to a proper 2 inch drain line, an Ella walk-in tub typically…
• 📖Does a tankless water heater work with an Ella walk-in tub?Yes. A tankless water heater works with an Ella walk-in tub as long as it can keep pace with the fast-fill faucet, and the guidance our support team gives homeowners and installers is a tankless unit rated for at least 11 gallons per minute. The tank sizes for each model sit alongside that figure in Recommended Water Heater Size by Walk-In Tub Model , and this page explains why the flow rating is the whole…
• 📖Which Bathtub Faucets Offer Quick-Fill Flow Rates for Walk-In Tubs?Ella's Bubbles offers two quick-fill bathtub faucets for walk-in tubs, both under the Ella Fast-Fill name: the 5-piece deck-mount set rated up to 18 GPM at 60 PSI, and the 2-piece single-lever set rated up to 16 GPM at 60 PSI, each measured under ideal in-home plumbing conditions. Those ratings describe the most the faucet can deliver, and your home's water pressure, supply lines and water heater decide how close…
• 📖What Is a Thermostatic Control Valve and Why Does a Tub Need One?A thermostatic control valve, or TCV, is a mixing valve that blends the hot and cold water supplies to the temperature you set on a dial and holds it there. The tub fills at a steady temperature instead of whatever two separate handles happen to be set to. Ella walk-in tubs ordered with an Ella thermostatic faucet package include a built-in Ella TCV, and other faucet configurations do not. If your tub has one and…
• 📖How Many 20 Amp Circuits Does the Ella Monaco Walk-In Tub Need?The Ella Monaco needs one or two dedicated 20 amp, 120 volt GFCI protected circuits, and the number depends on the therapy package on your order, not on the Monaco name or its size. A Monaco with hydro only or with air plus hydro runs on one line, and adding microbubble, independent foot massage or a heated seat brings it to two. The rule for the whole Ella line is in How Many GFCI Circuits Does My Walk-In Tub…
• 📖Can I Use My Own Faucet Instead of the Ella Fast-Fill Faucet?Yes, a faucet that is not an Ella faucet can be used with an Ella walk-in tub. The published warranty already plans for that case: a non-Ella brand faucet carries only its own manufacturer's warranty instead of Ella's lifetime parts coverage. On one model, the LayDown60, a customer-supplied faucet is the only way the tub is ever plumbed. Whether a particular faucet suits your tub is a decision for you and your…
• 📖Why Does the Ella Flow Use a 15 Amp GFCI Outlet, Not 20?The Ella Flow uses a 15 amp GFCI outlet because that is the requirement printed on its spec sheet: one dedicated 110/120V 60Hz electrical line with a 15AMP GFCI standard three-prong outlet. It is the only pump-equipped Ella tub published that way, and most other models call for 20 amp. The spec sheet states the requirement without printing a reason, so the right approach is to plan around the published figure and…
• 📖Electrical requirements by model: dedicated GFCI circuits for your walk-in tubThe electrical requirements by model for Ella walk-in tubs are simple to state: every tub with pumps needs its own dedicated GFCI-protected 20A/120V circuit or circuits, installed by a licensed electrician, and the number of circuits follows the therapy package rather than the model name. The tub can never share a circuit with any other appliance. The Flow is the one Ella tub specified at 15A, and a soaking tub…
• 📖Plumbing and drain configurations: connecting your walk-in tub to the house drainConnecting your walk-in tub to the house drain is straightforward on an Ella tub because most models use our dual drain system: two oversized 2 inch drains, each ending in a 4-port T-type PVC fitting, giving your installer four 2 inch ports to work with. You can connect all four ports to the house main for maximum drain speed, or connect one side and cap the unused ports with the included end caps. The connection…

Door & Seal68 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Which Door Does My Ella Tub Have? S-Shape, U-Shape, L-Shape, and Stainless Steel Doors by ModelWhich door does my Ella tub have? Ella's Bubbles builds five distinct walk-in tub door styles, and the quickest way to identify yours is by model: the Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, Ultimate, Companion, and Escape have the stainless steel inward-swing door; the Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60, and Flow have the S-shape inward acrylic door; the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, Big4One, Tub4Two…
• 📖Planning Floor Space for the Outward-Swing Door: The 165 Degree Swing EnvelopeOutward-swing door clearance is the floor space in front of the tub that the door needs to open, and on the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, and Big4One walk-in tubs that door swings through a 165 degree arc. These models all use Ella's outward-swing U-shape door, a plastic composite and tempered glass door secured by a 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism, so the floor space in front of the tub…
• 📖Operating and Caring for the LayDown Tempered Glass DoorThe LayDown tempered glass door is an inward-swing door: you swing it into the tub, step in over the low threshold, close it while standing with the handle on the inside, rotate the locking handle fully, and drain the tub completely before opening it again. The LayDown60 (30 inches by 60 inches) and LayDown72 (32 inches by 72 inches) are Ella's full-length lay-down walk-in tubs, and both use the same elegant door…
• 📖Cracked, Damaged, or Sagging Door: Adjustment and Replacement OptionsA cracked, damaged, or sagging walk-in tub door can almost always be resolved without replacing the whole door. A door that sags or droops at the latch side is usually a leveling or hinge issue, a worn seal gasket is a separate replaceable part, and a door with a visible crack is replaced as a matched part once the team has your model and serial number. A walk-in tub door leads a hard life: it is opened and closed…
• 📖Why the Door Will Not Open Until the Tub Drains, and Can It Open Accidentally?If your walk-in tub door will not open right after a bath, that is the tub working exactly as designed. Every Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub manual gives the same instruction: never open the door until the tub is completely drained. On inward-swing models the water itself holds the door shut, and on outward-swing models the gear-and-shaft latches keep the door sealed until you rotate the handle fully back to the open…
• 📖L-Shape Transfer Door Pins Do Not Line Up or the Striker Plate Is Loose: Pin Adjustment and ReplacementWhen the transfer door pins do not line up, or the striker plate on your Transfer tub is loose, the fix is usually simple. The L-shape outward-swing door on Ella's Bubbles Transfer tubs is held shut by a two-latch gear-and-shaft lock: turning the handle drives two tapered pins out of the door and into the striker on the tub frame, and with the handle fully locked each pin should extend about 1 1/2 inches. When one…
• 📖Common Questions About Walk-In Tub Door SealsThe most common walk-in tub door seal questions have simple answers: the seal on an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub is a silicone gasket that compresses when the door is locked, it is covered by the Lifetime Limited Warranty, it has no scheduled replacement interval, and it needs only two things from you, a clean surface and a door left slightly open whenever the tub is not in use. Most reports of a "bad seal" turn out…
• 📖Video Guide: Installing a Replacement Door Seal, Including the LayDown Glass DoorInstalling a replacement door seal on an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub is a hand-tool job: adhesive remover to help the gasket slide, a plastic spatula to seat it, and diagonal cutters for a few relief cuts at the curves. The LayDown glass door uses its own seal and has its own support video, but the working principles are the same: the gasket must sit fully in its channel along the whole loop, the ends must finish…
• 📖Every Ella Door Video in One Place: Seals, Handles, Latches, Alignment and Replacement by Door FamilyThis page collects every Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub door video in one place, grouped by door family and ordered from routine maintenance to adjustment to replacement. Each entry says what the video shows and when to watch it. A few clips are unlisted support videos that the team sends by link; they are marked so you can confirm the link still works before relying on it. The article linked with each entry owns the…
• 📖Adjusting the Door Handle Lock Nut, and Why the Hinges Are Not the Fix for a Door That Is Hard to CloseAdjusting the door handle lock nut is the fix for most handle complaints on an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub. The chrome handle is held by a lock nut behind the front apron, and the Chrome Door Handle Adjustment video shows how to loosen it to reduce handle tension or tighten it to increase tension. A door that has become hard to close, rubs the jamb, or sits low after someone leaned on it is a different problem, and…
• 📖What Is a Striker Plate on a Walk-In Tub Door?A striker plate, also called the strike plate or keeper, is the plate on the tub frame that the door's tapered locking pins press into when the handle is turned, giving the door gasket a firm, even surface to compress against. On Ella Transfer tubs with the L-shape outward-swing door, the striker is what the two-latch lock engages, and it is the reason the seal is just as tight when the tub is empty as when it is…
• 📖What Is an S-Shape Inward-Swing Door on a Walk-In Tub?The S-shape inward-swing door is the acrylic door on Ella's Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow walk-in tubs. It is also called the inward acrylic door or simply the S-shape door, and its handle sits inside the tub. You step in through the opening, stay standing, and swing the door closed toward you before you sit down. Because it opens into the tub, it needs no floor clearance in front of the tub, which is…
• 📖What Is a U-Shape Outward-Swing Door on a Walk-In Tub?The U-shape outward-swing door, often called the outswing door or the U-shape door, is the door on Ella's Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, Big4One, Tub4Two and Big4Two. It is built from white plastic composite with a tempered glass panel, swings outward through a 165 degree arc, and is secured by a 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism. Because the door opens away from the tub, you walk straight in…
• 📖What Is an L-Shape Transfer Door on a Walk-In Tub?The L-shape transfer door, also called the wheelchair transfer door or the L-shape outward-swing door, is the aluminum door on Ella's Transfer family. It swings outward through 172 degrees and, because of its L shape, exposes the full side of the tub. That lets a bather slide across from a wheelchair directly onto the seat instead of stepping over a wall, and it is why the Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32…
• 📖What Is the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door on a Walk-In Tub?The stainless steel inward-swing door is the brushed stainless door with a frosted tempered glass panel found on Ella's Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, Ultimate, Companion and Escape. It is also called the removable stainless door, the stainless glass door or the U-shaped stainless door, after the shape of its frame. It swings into the tub, locks with an interior chrome handle, and can be removed so you can clean…
• 📖What Is a Gear-and-Shaft Latch (2-Latch and 3-Latch) on a Walk-In Tub?The gear-and-shaft latch is the locking system on Ella's outward-swing doors. Turning the door handle drives gears on a shaft that push tapered locking pins into the frame, compressing the door seal evenly all the way around. It is often described by its pin count: a 3-latch door has three pins, and a 2-latch door has two. Ella's door comparison graphic contrasts both with the industry-standard single-latch…
• 📖What Is the Door Seal on a Walk-In Tub?The door seal on a walk-in tub, also called the door gasket, is the soft silicone strip around the door opening. When you close and lock the door, the gasket compresses against the frame into a watertight seal. It needs two things: a clean surface to press against, and a rest when the tub is idle, so leave the door open or unlocked whenever the tub is not in use. How it works The seal works together with door…
• 📖Why Does My Tub Door Still Leak After I Caulked the Seal?If your tub door still leaks after you caulked the seal, the caulk was never the fix, and the real cause is usually simple. A walk-in tub door stays watertight when the silicone gasket sits fully in its channel and the door closes square onto a level tub. Silicone spread across the sealing face of the gasket adds no sealing power; it holds the gasket away from the frame, traps grit, and stops the door from…
• 📖Can My Walk-In Tub Door Be Changed to Swing the Other Way?The short answer is no: a walk-in tub door cannot be changed to swing the other way once the tub is built. Swing direction is a factory build choice built into the shell, the door frame and the latch mechanism, so an installer cannot reverse it in the field and a new door or panel does not change it. What you can choose is the model and the hand. Every Ella walk-in tub except the Front Entry is built in a…
• 📖Is It Normal for Water to Sit in the Door Frame After Draining?Yes, a little water sitting in the door frame after draining is normal. When you open an outward-swing door after a bath, water on the inside face of the door, in the gasket and on the sill runs down the frame and threshold, sometimes into the latch openings in the jamb, and may leave a few drops on the bath mat. That is drainage, not a leak. The difference is timing: water on the door and frame after the tub is…
• 📖Why Does My Walk-In Tub Door Leak at the Bottom?When a walk-in tub door leaks at the bottom, the cause is almost always the tub sitting slightly out of level rather than a bad door. The first thing to check is the leveling legs: every leg must touch the floor with no gap. A tub that is bowed even a little pulls the door frame out of shape, so the seal cannot close watertight and water escapes along the bottom edge, at the side of the door, or at the door frame.…
• 📖Why Does the Door Gasket Pop Out Every Time I Shut the Door?If the door gasket pops out at the top every time the door is shut, the gasket is not fully seated in its channel. The seal on an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub is a silicone gasket that presses into a groove running all the way around the door. It is held by its fit in that channel rather than by adhesive. When a section sits on top of the groove instead of inside it, closing the door pushes it out. The first thing…
• 📖Why Is My Walk-In Tub Door So Hard to Close?A walk-in tub door that is very hard to close, rubs the jamb, or has to be shut hard is usually telling you the tub is bowed down in the middle rather than that the door itself is faulty. When the center of the tub sags, the door frame narrows and the door drags on the jamb or bends the seal as it shuts. The first thing to check is the center leveling leg: extending it lifts the middle of the tub, opens the door…
• 📖Why Is the Locking Handle on My Tub Door Too Tight to Move?When the locking handle is too tight to move, the tension on the handle mechanism is set higher than it needs to be, and the fix is an adjustment rather than a repair. The chrome handle on the stainless steel inward swing door is held by a lock nut behind the front apron, under a small protective cap. Loosening that nut reduces the handle tension and tightening it increases tension. The first thing to check…
• 📖Why Won't My Walk-In Tub Door Open After My Bath?If your walk-in tub door will not open after your bath, the tub is doing exactly what it is designed to do. On an inward swing door, the weight of the water presses the door against its seal, so the door is held shut by water pressure and opens only once the tub is completely drained. On outward swing doors, the gear and shaft latches keep the door sealed until the handle is rotated fully back to the open…
• 📖Can Someone Open the Walk-In Tub Door While It Is Full and Flood the House?Whether someone can open the walk-in tub door while it is full depends on which way the door swings. An inward swing door is held shut by the water pressure of a full tub, so even if a bather grabs the handle and lifts it, the door cannot be pulled open against the weight of the water. An outward swing door works differently: it relies on a gear and shaft latch mechanism with tapered pins driven into the jamb, and…
• 📖Why Is There a Gap on One Side of My Walk-In Tub Door?A gap on one side of a walk-in tub door, where the door meets the seal evenly on one edge but stands away from the sealing surface on the other, almost always means the shell has bowed and shifted the door frame. The first thing to check is leveling: every leveling leg must bear weight equally, and a leg that is floating or carrying less than the others twists the frame just enough to open a gap on one side. This…
• 📖Why Don't the Pins on My L-Shape Transfer Door Line Up?When the L shape transfer door pins do not line up, the door is usually telling you one of two things: the tub has gone slightly out of level and moved the whole door frame, or one of the two latch pins has shifted inside the door. The L shape door on the Transfer family closes with a 2 latch gear and shaft mechanism. Turning the handle clockwise drives two tapered pins out of the door edge into the striker on the…
• 📖Replacing the Door Handle Mechanism Inside the Door: Seal, Glass and the 5mm Hex KeyIf your door handle spins freely, pulled off in your hand, or the door leaks because the latch mechanism behind the handle has broken, the team ships a replacement handle and mounting assembly after confirming the part from your photos, and sends a video showing how it mounts to your door. On doors where the mechanism sits inside the door frame, the job means lifting out the seal and glass, loosening the broken…
• 📖Cracks Spreading Along the Door Near the Hinges or Latches: When a Replacement Door Is the AnswerYes, a cracked door can be replaced, and support will arrange a replacement door once they have seen photos of the damage and of the front of the tub. Small cracks that spread along the door near the hinges and the latch points often trace back to weight on the door, usually someone leaning on it or pushing on it to stand up, rather than to a defect in the door. Send photos first. The first thing support will ask…
• 📖Door Handle Loose, Wobbly or Hard to Turn: Tightening the Bolt Under the Cap and Adjusting the Lock NutIf the door handle on your Ella walk-in tub feels loose or wobbly, the fix is usually one bolt hidden under the round cap on the face of the handle. Unthread the cap by hand and tighten the bolt underneath. If the entire handle assembly shifts rather than just the lever, remove the handle and snug the 5mm bolt in the center of the mounting assembly. And if the handle has become very hard to rotate into the locked…
• 📖Bent or Loose Door Hinge: Diagnosis, Tightening, and ReplacementA tub door that opens easily but needs a hard pull or push to close, and that hangs visibly out of level when open, almost always has a bent hinge rather than a worn seal. A bent hinge is a replacement part, available through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and a hinge that has simply come loose after the door was removed can usually be tightened once the nut behind the tub wall is found. A new…
• 📖Ordering a Complete Replacement Door: What It Includes, What the Team Needs, and How It InstallsYes, a complete replacement door is available for Ella walk-in tubs, and it arrives as a full assembly with the gasket and the door handle already included. To order one, the team needs your serial number, your hinge side and, for a warranty check, a copy of your purchase receipt. If the door is covered under the parts warranty it ships under the warranty. Otherwise the team takes the order by phone or order form.…
• 📖Found a Small Soft Rubber Piece in the Tub? It Is the Door Latch BumperA small, soft rubber piece found loose in the bottom of an Ella walk-in tub is almost always the door latch bumper. It slides onto the door latch and goes back on by hand with no glue. It is not part of the microbubble port, the drain, or any pump or jet. Customers often assume the piece came out of a therapy port because that is the only opening they can see, but the bumper simply works its way off the latch and…
• 📖Water Drips Through the Striker Plate Pin Hole: Is a Part Missing?If a small amount of water drips through the open hole under the door striker plate, where the locking pin seats, no part is missing from your tub. Ella walk-in tubs are not equipped with a drain for the striker plate opening, so a little water that collects in the door track can pass through that hole to the floor beneath the tub. Support does not treat this as a missing part or a defect, and a licensed plumber…
• 📖Water Trapped Inside the Door Seal Tube: How to Remove ItWater that collects inside the hollow rubber door seal is easy to remove with a shop vacuum. Place the suction nozzle over each open end of the seal tube and run the vacuum for a few seconds, and it will pull the trapped moisture out. The seal on an Ella walk-in tub is a hollow tube, and when the door is shut the ends of that tube are exposed, so a little bath water can work its way inside. Water inside the tube…
• 📖Water Leaking From the Door Handle Screws: Reseal the Screws Before Replacing the Door SealWater weeping from the screws on the door handle is fixed by removing those screws, resealing them with silicone and reinstalling them. Ella's technical support recommends doing this first and testing the tub before ordering a new door seal, because a leak at the handle screws is a sealing problem at the screw holes rather than a gasket problem. Why the handle screws can leak The handle screws pass through the…
• 📖Door Still Leaks at the Hinge After Resetting the Hinges: Remove the Door and Reseal Behind the Bottom HingeIf your door keeps leaking from the hinge area even after you have reset the hinges, the water is getting in behind the hinge and through its bolts rather than past the door seal. The fix from Ella's technical support is to slide the door off, remove the laminate plate at the bottom hinge, reseal behind the hinge and around the bolts, and seal the heads of the bolts with silicone where they attach to the hinge.…
• 📖Replacing a Leaking Door Seal: Torn Seal or Door Alignment, Warranty Coverage, and How the Seal ShipsA door seal that leaks is most often torn, and a replacement seal is a warranty part supplied without charge to the original owner at the original installation address once the claim is verified. Before a seal is sent, the team will want to rule out a door that is simply out of alignment, because a door that is not closing squarely leaks the same way a torn seal does. Once the seal is on its way it ships as a…
• 📖Why the Tub Door Is a Slightly Different White Than the Tub ShellIf the door on your Ella walk-in tub looks like a slightly different shade of white than the tub itself, that is expected and not a sign of a problem. On the U-shape outward-swing tubs, the door frame is made from a different material than the glossy white acrylic shell, and two different materials cannot take on exactly the same white. The factory matches the door color as closely as the materials allow, and the…
• 📖Do walk-in tub doors leak, and how are they sealed?A properly installed and level Ella walk-in tub door does not leak. Every Ella door, inward-swing or outward-swing, closes against a soft silicone gasket that compresses against the frame into a watertight seal when the door is latched, and your installer confirms that seal with a 20 minute fill as part of the warranty activation checklist. When water does show up at the door, the cause is almost always leveling…
• 📖How do outward-swinging walk-in tub doors work on Ella tubs?An outward-swinging walk-in tub door opens away from the tub into the bathroom, so you step across the low threshold with nothing passing your knees or feet on the way in or out. On Ella's Bubbles tubs the outward door comes in two styles, the U-shape door and the L-shape door, each locked by a gear and shaft mechanism with more than one latch that compresses a watertight gasket when the handle is turned. The…
• 📖Do walk-in tub doors leak, and how is that prevented?Walk-in tub doors are built not to leak. Every Ella door, inward-swing or outward-swing, closes against a soft silicone gasket that compresses into a watertight seal when the door is locked, and your installer confirms that seal with a 20 minute fill test as part of the warranty activation checklist. When water does appear at a door, the most common cause is a tub that is no longer level, not a failed gasket.…
• 📖Does the Ella Lounger Walk-In Tub Door Leak Over Time?The Ella Lounger's outward-swing door is built to seal tight. It closes on a three-latch gear and shaft locking mechanism that Ella describes as giving a tight, leak-proof seal, and the door and the door seal are covered parts under the Lifetime Limited Warranty for the original owner. The door and width details for this model are compared in Lounger Versus Transfer60: A Side-by-Side Comparison From the Spec…
• 📖Do Walk-In Tubs Leak and How Is the Door Sealed?A level, correctly installed Ella walk-in tub does not leak. The door is pulled tight against its seal by a latch mechanism, and when water does reach the floor the cause is almost always correctable: a leg that is not carrying weight, a hand shower mounted on the wall without the leak kit, or a worn latch piece. Leveling comes before every other adjustment, as How Do I Fix a Walk-In Tub That Is Not Level?…
• 📖Do Walk-In Bathtubs Leak Through the Door Seal?A walk-in tub that is level, aligned and locked correctly does not leak through its door. Every Ella walk-in tub door closes against a soft silicone gasket that compresses into a watertight seal, and inward-swing doors get extra help from the water itself, which presses the door into the seal as the tub fills. When water does appear at the door, the cause is far more often leveling or a sealing point at the…
• 📖Do walk-in tubs leak around the door, and what stops it?A level, correctly installed Ella walk-in tub does not leak at the door. Every Ella door, inward-swing or outward-swing, closes against a soft silicone gasket that compresses into a watertight seal when the door is latched, and your installer confirms that seal with a 20 minute fill as part of the warranty activation checklist. When water does show up at the door later, the gasket is rarely the cause. As What Is…
• 📖Does the Ella walk-in tub door leak once it is filled?No. An Ella walk-in tub door is built to stay dry once the tub is filled, and every tub is fill-tested to prove it before the walls are closed: the installer fills the tub 3 inches above the highest jet, lets the water stand for 30 minutes, then runs every electrical component for another 30 minutes while checking for moisture. On the outward-swing U-shape tubs such as the Lounger, the door closes on a three-latch…
• 📖Which Silicone Should I Use to Reseat a Walk-In Tub Door Gasket?Ella does not name a brand or grade of silicone for the door gasket. The published guidance calls for a thin bead of silicone sealant, which the knowledge base describes as a hardware-store item, placed into the gasket channel only when a seal that has come loose or been damaged is being put back in. It never goes on the sealing face of the gasket, because the seal is held by its fit in the channel and closes…
• 📖How do I water test my walk-in tub door after adjusting it?To water test your walk-in tub door after adjusting it, wipe the seal clean, close and latch the door while standing, fill the tub above the door handle, and let the water stand while you inspect the outside of the door, the frame and the floor for any moisture. It is the same fill check every Ella walk-in tub receives before the walls are closed, described in What Is the Pre-Installation Water Test on a Walk-In…
• 📖How Do You Remove and Reinstall the Elite Stainless Door for Cleaning?Yes, the brushed stainless steel door on the Ella Elite is built to come off, and Ella's own product video describes the doors as easily removable for cleaning. The door lifts off its hinge once it is opened, the hinge itself stays bolted to the tub, and the door goes back onto the same hinge before the next bath. The handling rules that apply to taking any Ella door off are in Can I Remove the Door to Get the…
• 📖Do Walk-In Tub Doors Leak Through the Seal Over Time?Walk-in tub doors are not supposed to leak, and on an Ella tub a door that starts dripping after months or years of use is almost never a worn-out seal. The usual causes are residue or grit on the gasket, a seal that has sat compressed, a tub that has drifted out of level, or a latch that no longer pulls the door tight, and each one is correctable without a new door. Start with the seal itself, using the routine…
• 📖How Reliable and Durable Is a Walk-In Tub Glass Door?The glass in an Ella walk-in tub door is tempered glass held in a rigid frame, and the door's reliability comes from that frame, its latches and its seal rather than from the glass itself. On the inward-swing family the frame is brushed stainless steel and the weight of the bath water presses the door shut, while on the outward-swing family the frame is a high-impact composite locked by a three-latch gear and…
• 📖Which Silicone Should I Use to Reseat a Walk-In Tub Door Gasket?Ella does not name a brand or grade of silicone for the door gasket. The door seal maintenance video calls for a thin bead of silicone, and the handle screw guide describes silicone sealant as an ordinary hardware-store item, so any silicone sealant sold for that purpose is what the team means. What matters far more than the product is where the bead goes and whether you need one at all: most gaskets that come…
• 📖Can the Ella Capri outward door be moved to the other side after installation?No. The door side on an Ella Capri is set at the factory and cannot be reversed after delivery, and that holds whether the tub is still in the crate or already plumbed into your alcove. The Capri is built in a left-hand and a right-hand version, the hinge and the three-latch gear and shaft lock are built into the shell on the ordered side, and the drains sit at the opposite end, so moving the door would mean a…
• 📖How Do I Adjust the Door Latch So the Door Seals Without Forcing?There is no separate latch screw to turn on an Ella walk-in tub door. The door seals without forcing when the tub is level on every leg, the handle lock nut is set so the handle moves smoothly yet still holds the door firmly against the seal, and the seal itself is clean and in shape. If you have to force the handle, loosen the lock nut behind the front apron a little at a time; if the handle moves easily but the…
• 📖How Do I Reinstall and Realign the Stainless Steel Door After Removing It?The stainless steel inward-swing door goes back onto the same hinge it was lifted from. The alignment comes from that hinge, which is why the hinge stays bolted to the tub the whole time. Use two people to set the door back on the hinge, and match it against the photos you took before removal. Then latch it and test it with a fill above the door seal before you rely on it. The removal side of the job is covered…
• 📖How Do I Adjust the LayDown60 Glass Door When It No Longer Seals Tight?There is no separate latch screw to turn on an Ella walk-in tub door, and that includes the tempered glass door on the LayDown60. A door that no longer seals tight is brought back by working through three things in order: the tub is level on every leveling leg, the seal and jamb are clean and in shape, and the chrome locking handle is rotated fully so the door compresses evenly onto its seal. Everyday use of the…
• 📖Can an Outward-Swing Walk-In Tub Door Open Before the Water Drains?Yes, it can, and that is exactly why the rule matters. An outward-swing door is not held shut by the water in the tub. It is held by gear and shaft latches, and those latches release when the handle is rotated fully back to the open position. Every Ella's Bubbles manual gives the same instruction: never open the door until the tub is completely empty. If your door seems stuck at the end of a bath, start with Why…
• 📖How to Open and Close the Inward-Swing Acrylic Door on Standard, Zen, and Flow TubsThe inward-swing acrylic door on the Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60, and Flow walk-in tubs works the same way on every model: you open the door toward the seat, step in over the low threshold, close the door while standing, and fill the tub. As the water rises, water pressure presses the door into its seal, so the door actually seals tighter the fuller the tub gets. The one habit to remember: never open the door…
• 📖Using Your Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door: Opening, Closing, and Handle AdjustmentThe stainless steel inward-swing door on the Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, and Ultimate walk-in tubs opens inward toward the seat, closes with a chrome locking handle on the inside of the tub, and is held shut by the water itself once the tub fills. The same inward-swing design, in a brushed aluminum frame with frosted tempered glass, is used on the Ultra, and the Companion and Escape two-seat tubs use an inward…
• 📖How the Outward-Swing U-Shape Door Works: Closing, Locking, and Handle CareThe outward-swing U-shape door on the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, and Big4One walk-in tubs, and on the Big4Two two-seat tub, closes with a gentle push and locks with a full 180 degree turn of the handle. The door is made of industrial-strength white PVC composite with a tempered glass cover, and behind the glass sits our proprietary 3-latch gear and shaft locking mechanism: rotating the…
• 📖Operating the L-Shape Transfer Door: Front Handle, Closing, and Wheelchair EntryThe L-shape Transfer door on every tub in our wheelchair Transfer family, the Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60, and TransferXXL, is an extra-wide outward-swing door with the handle mounted on the front of the door, right where it is easiest to reach from a wheelchair. Turn the handle clockwise to close and lock, counter-clockwise to open. The door opens a full 172 degrees, and a proprietary 2-latch…
• 📖Door latch or handle trouble: correct handle installation, alignment, and replacementsWalk-in tub door latch or handle trouble usually has one of two causes: the handle was installed in the wrong orientation on the latch mechanism, or the tub is slightly out of level so the door no longer meets the frame squarely. If your door handle feels loose, will not rotate into the locked position, or the door does not pull tight against the seal, both causes are correctable at home, and replacement latch…
• 📖My Door Rubs the Frame When It Closes: Fixing Tub Bow with the Leveling LegsIf your walk-in tub door rubs the frame or jamb as it closes, the most common reason is that the tub has bowed slightly downward in the middle because the leveling legs are not all carrying equal weight. The fix is usually simple: raise the center of the tub by extending the center leveling leg until the door frame opens up and the door swings clear. A rubbing door is worth correcting promptly, because a door that…
• 📖Caring for Your Door Seal: Cleaning, Reseating, and Replacing the GasketCaring for your walk-in tub door seal comes down to three habits: keep it clean, keep the door open when the tub is not in use, and reseat or replace the gasket the correct way if it ever comes loose. Your door seal is a silicone gasket seated in a channel around the door, and it is covered by our Lifetime Limited Warranty along with the door itself. It has no scheduled replacement interval and normally stays…
• 📖Door seal or gasket looks worn, loose, or leaks: care, repair, and replacementThe walk-in tub door gasket is the flexible silicone seal that makes your door watertight, and it responds very well to simple care. A door gasket that looks worn, loose, or leaks is often just dirty, compressed from shipping, or unseated from its channel, and each of those has a quick fix at home. When a gasket truly is damaged, it is a replaceable part: open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your…
• 📖Water at the Door: What to Check First and Why You Should Never Lean on the DoorA walk-in tub door leak almost always traces back to one of a short list of causes, and the number one cause by far is leveling: if even one leveling leg is not carrying its share of the weight, the frame flexes, the door goes slightly out of alignment, and water finds the gap. Before anything else, check the legs, then work down the checklist below. Most door leaks are resolved at home without a service visit…

Troubleshooting & Repairs141 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Pump or Massage System Not Working: Connections, Relay Switch, and What to Check FirstIf your walk-in tub pump is not working and the jets or massage system will not turn on, please do not assume the pump has failed. In most of the cases the technical support team sees, the cause is a loose connection, a tripped outlet, or a small air lock in the control line, and all of these are things you can check yourself in a few minutes. Ella walk-in tubs use pneumatic push controls, which means the button…
• 📖How to Reset Your Walk-In Tub Control Box Step by StepTo reset your walk-in tub control box, disconnect the main power, label and unplug every air tube and electrical connection, restore power, hold the config button until the green LED cycles through one, two, three and four blinks, then reconnect everything and test each function. The control box is the electronic brain of your Ella walk-in tub: it receives the air signals from your deck controls and powers the…
• 📖Adjusting Jet Pressure, Foot Jet Nozzles, and a Stiff Intensity Control DialAdjusting jet pressure on an Ella walk-in tub takes three simple controls: the intensity control dial on the deck sets the overall strength of the hydro massage, each foot jet nozzle can be opened, reduced or closed by hand, and a dial that feels stiff is usually freed in a few minutes by clearing excess silicone. Every Ella tub with hydro massage has the dial, so if the jets feel too strong, too weak or the dial…
• 📖Hand Shower Hose and Sprayer Head Replacement, and Water Behind the Tub Near the Hand ShowerIf the hand shower hose on your Ella walk-in tub has kinked, split or torn, or the sprayer head has snapped off or leaks, the fix is a matched replacement part rather than a service call. This guide covers how the hose and head come apart, what the team needs in order to identify the right part, how the replacement ships, and what to do if you see water below or behind the tub near the hand shower. How the hose…
• 📖Tub Drains Slowly, Will Not Drain, or Loses Water: What to CheckIf your walk-in tub drains slowly, will not drain at all, or loses water while you bathe, the cause is almost always one of three things: a drain handle that is not turned all the way open (or closed), a house drain that cannot carry water away as fast as the tub releases it, or a stopper that is not sealing because its locking nut or height needs adjustment. Ella's Dual Drain Technology is gravity driven, so…
• 📖Breaker or GFCI Keeps Tripping: Circuit Sizing, Component Loads, and When to Stop Using the TubA breaker or GFCI that keeps tripping when your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub runs is almost always telling you one of two things: the circuit is carrying more than it was sized for, or a component is leaking current to ground. The first is a sizing question your electrician solves by adding the dedicated 20A, 120V GFCI line your package requires. The second is a safety signal: if a GFCI trips and will not reset…
• 📖Microbubble System Not Working: Buzzing, No Cloudiness, Big Bubbles, and the Pressure TankWhen the microbubble system is not working on your Ella's Bubbles tub, the fastest way to sort it out is to follow the path the system itself uses: the Micro push control sends an air signal to a relay switch in the control box, the relay powers a 1 HP water pump, the pump pushes water through the microbubble pressure tank, and the supersaturated water returns through a single port in the tub, turning the water…
• 📖Water Comes Out of the Wrong Outlet or Will Not Switch Back: Diverter Valves, a Stuck 2-Piece Button and ReplacementsWhen water comes out of the wrong outlet, keeps coming from the hand shower after you switch the diverter back, or the diverter button on a 2-piece faucet stays pressed down, the fix is usually a reset rather than a repair: turn the water off and back on with the handle, or relieve the air lock in the hand-shower hose. When a diverter valve really has failed, Ella's Bubbles supplies the complete valve, matched to…
• 📖Leak at the Drain Elbow or Drain Pipe: Overtightening, Standard PVC Fittings and Replacement AssembliesA leak at the drain elbow under an Ella walk-in tub usually traces back to the elbow being overtightened when the tub was installed, and the repair is a replacement elbow fitted without the same mistake. The drain pipes themselves are standard 1 1/2 inch PVC, so a plumber can cut and re-join them with ordinary couplings, and complete drain assemblies are available when more than the elbow is damaged. This article…
• 📖Blue Control Box Has No Power Light, or the Air Pump Runs Constantly: Diagnosis, Replacement and Returning the Old BoxIf the blue control box shows no power light even though the wall outlet tests fine, and the pumps come on when you plug them straight into that outlet, the control box itself is the most likely cause. The same is true when the air pump runs the whole time the tub has power. In both cases the remedy is a replacement box, which Ella's Bubbles tests and configures before it ships, together with a return label so the…
• 📖Water Under or Behind the Tub: Finding the Source at Unions, Air Fittings, the Hand Shower, Drain Elbow and Supply LinesWater under the tub or behind it while the door stays dry almost always comes from one of a handful of connections: a union at the pump or heater, the hand shower receptacle on a tub where the sprayer was mounted to the wall without the barrel extension, the gasket under a push button, the drain elbow, a supply line, or the base of the faucet. The way to find it is to dry everything, then add one source at a time.…
• 📖Shower Column Drips After Shutoff, Deck Hole Size, Connector Rods and Replacement Column SectionsA shower column that drips after shutoff is releasing water that was still under pressure inside the column pipe, and it is normal: the rain head is simply the lowest open path for that leftover water. It cannot be stopped at the source, but it can be minimized by leaving the column diverter pointing down to the hand shower when the tub is not in use. This article also answers the practical questions that come up…
• 📖Every Repair Video in One Place: Drains, Faucets, TCV, Buttons, Control Boxes, Touchpads, Doors and OzoneEvery Ella walk-in tub repair video published for owners and their contractors is listed here in one place, sorted by symptom, so you can go straight to the one that matches what your tub is doing. Each row names the video and the knowledge base article that explains the topic in full. All of the videos below are public on the Ella's Bubbles YouTube channel, most of them in the Tech Support playlist. Three of the…
• 📖5-Piece Faucet: Water Keeps Flowing With the Valve Off, Low Pressure, Handle Replacements and Finish OptionsIf water keeps flowing from the tub filler with the hot or cold valve turned off on the Ella 5-piece fast-fill faucet, the valve is not sealing and Ella's Bubbles supplies a replacement after a quick photo check. The hot and cold valves are simple pass-through valves: open one and it lets through whatever is in the supply line, close it and the flow should stop completely. That same simplicity answers the…
• 📖Hand Shower Leaks at the Head or Deck: Hose Orientation, the Blue Check Valve, Washers and a Loose Mount BaseMost hand shower leaks on an Ella walk-in tub, whether at the sprayer head or at the deck, trace to one of three things: the hose installed backwards, a missing check valve or washer at the sprayer head, or a mount base that has worked loose on the deck. All three are easy to check from the top of the tub, and Ella's Bubbles supplies the hose, the head and the base when one is actually needed. This article walks…
• 📖Nothing Works After a Storm or Power Outage: Breaker, GFCI Under the Tub, the Control Box, and Why Motors Have No Reset ButtonWhen a storm or power outage leaves your Ella walk-in tub completely silent, the cause is almost always upstream of the tub itself: a tripped breaker at the panel, a tripped GFCI (which is often mounted under the tub behind the access panel), or a control box that lost power. Work through those three in order before assuming anything is broken. Pump motors do not have a reset button, so there is nothing to press…
• 📖HomeCare 32x60 Troubleshooting: Tank Will Not Fill, Will Not Inject, Drains on Its Own, and What the Keypad Lights MeanThe HomeCare 32x60 fills the tub from an 80 gallon internal tank that is pre-filled at a preset temperature, and almost every "it will not fill" or "it will not inject" call comes down to the tank's built-in logic rather than a broken part. The Fill button that sends water into the tub only works while the tank level is above the mid sensor; tank filling and tub injection can never run at the same time, so…
• 📖Two-Seat Tub: Only One Side Massages, One Heated Seat Is Cold, or One Foot Well Has No JetsOn an Ella two-seat tub (Companion, Escape, Tub4Two, or Big4Two), each seat has its own foot hydro pump, its own intensity dial, and, if you ordered heated seats, its own heater box and keypad. So when one side loses its foot massage or one seat stays cold while the other warms up, the problem is on that side's pump, dial, relay, cord, or circuit, not in the digital controller you share between the seats. The…
• 📖Troubleshooting Start Here: Match Your Symptom to the First Check and the Right ArticleWhen something on your Ella walk-in tub stops working, start with the one check that solves that symptom most often, then follow the link for the full fix. The table below is built from the questions the support team answers every day. Three rules protect your tub while you check: never run a water pump unless the water is above the jets, never lean or put weight on the door, and if you smell anything burning…
• 📖What Is the Control Box on a Walk-In Tub?The control box on an Ella walk-in tub is the blue electronic box mounted under the tub, behind the front access panel. Owners often call it the blue box. It receives the air signals sent by the push buttons or the digital keypad and switches power to the pumps, the in-line heater and the lights. Tubs with a heated seat use a master control box. When several functions act up at once, a reset often clears the…
• 📖Water Inside the Air Blower: The Check Valve in the Air ManifoldFinding water inside the air blower is rare on an Ella walk-in tub, because the air massage system gives bath water no easy path back to the motor. The air manifold sits on the back side of the tub at the very top, above the water line, and a check valve at the manifold lets air flow out to the jets while blocking water from flowing back. When a blower does fill with water, one of two things happened: a check…
• 📖Why Won't My Walk-In Tub Drain?If your walk-in tub will not drain, drains very slowly, or the water just sits with the drain open, the first thing to check is whether the stopper is actually lifting. Ella drains are gravity driven with no pump, and an average size tub empties in about 80 seconds under ideal house plumbing, so when a dual drain tub takes 54 minutes to drain, or a Capri drained fine two months ago and now nothing moves, either…
• 📖Why Won't the Drain Open When I Turn the Handle?When the drain will not open when you turn the handle, or the drain will not stay open unless you hold the knob, the stainless steel cable that links the handle to the stopper has almost always come off its armature or broken, and it can be fixed without removing the tub. The cable runs inside a black sleeve from the vent assembly under the handle to a small connection box on the drain, and both ends are reached…
• 📖Why Does My Tub Leak Only When I Let the Water Out?If your tub leaks only when you let the water out and stays dry while you bathe, the leak is in the drain path: the drain gasket, the drain elbow or the union fittings under the tub. Water that appears under the tub when you let the water out is good news in one way, because it rules out the door, the shell and the supply lines and narrows the search to a handful of joints behind the front access panel. The first…
• 📖Why Are My Drain Handles Loose and How Do I Tighten Them?If your drain handles are loose, or the right drain handle is looser than the left, the fix is usually a small allen screw and a lock nut, and it takes a few minutes. Each chrome handle is held to its stem by an allen screw and sits on a vent assembly that passes through the tub deck, secured underneath by a retaining ring and lock nut; the drain cable attaches beneath that. A handle that wobbles but still lifts…
• 📖What Should I Do If I Pushed the Drain Stopper Down by Hand and Now It Won't Open?If you pushed the drain stopper down and now it will not open, the push most likely forced the drain stem off its armature or broke the cable, and the recovery is done through the drain connection box behind the front access panel rather than at the stopper. Ella stoppers are operated only by the handle and cable: turning the handle pulls a stainless steel cable that swings an armature inside a small box on the…
• 📖Why Did the Jets on My Walk-In Tub Stop Working?When the jets on your walk-in tub stop working, and there is no sound and no water when you press the water button, the cause is usually power or a loose air signal hose rather than a failed pump, and the first thing to check is the GFCI outlet serving the tub. Ella push buttons are pneumatic: the chrome button sends a puff of air down a thin tube to a relay in the control box, and the relay switches the hydro…
• 📖Why Do My Air Jets Not Work Even Though the Auto Purge Still Runs?If your air jets stopped working but the purge still runs, the blower and its power are alive, so the fault is almost always the push button air hose or the control box input rather than a burned out air compressor. The auto purge is the control box firing the blower on its own after a bath, which proves the blower spins and the circuit is live. When the air button does nothing during a bath but the blowout after…
• 📖Why Did My Foot Jets Stop Working?If your foot jets stopped working while the upper jets, air and light still run, the most likely cause on an Independent Foot package is a tripped circuit or GFCI feeding the second pump, and the first thing to check is that outlet. Independent foot massage runs on its own pump, its own button and its own circuit, so the seat jets can be perfect while the foot and calf jets sit silent. That is also why the foot…
• 📖Why Won't the Air or Pump Shut Off, and Is Flipping the Breaker Okay?If the air will not shut off and you had to flip the breaker, you did exactly the right thing. Cutting power at the breaker is the correct interim step whenever a pump or blower keeps running on its own, and it protects the pump: a pump that runs with no water above the jets is permanently damaged, and that damage is not covered. Once the tub is safe, the cause is usually a push button stuck down from an air lock…
• 📖Why Do the Little Air Hoses Keep Falling Off My Tub Controls?When the little air hoses keep falling off the controls, the fix is usually a firmer connection at each end, and when a hose is too short or has lost its grip, the answer is a replacement hose rather than a stretch. Ella push buttons are pneumatic: pressing the chrome button sends a puff of air down a small tube to a relay in the blue control box, so a hose that pops off means the signal never arrives and that…
• 📖Why Does My Tub Button Only Work When I Press Very Hard?When a button only works with very hard pressure, the button is telling you that its air signal is not reaching the control box cleanly. Ella push controls are pneumatic, and a gentle palm press should be all it takes to send a puff of air down the small tube to the relay in the box. Please do not push hard or deep to compensate, because that can damage the mechanism. The causes are diagnosed in a set order…
• 📖Why Won't the Air and Water Jets Run at the Same Time?If the air and water will not run at the same time on your Ella walk-in tub, something has been crossed at the control box, because Ella builds each massage system with its own pump so every therapy can run together. The most common reason is two air hoses on the wrong nipples: each push button's hose must go to its own labeled port, and when the water and air hoses are swapped, one button ends up triggering the…
• 📖Why Do None of the Buttons Work Even Though the Tub Has Power?When none of the buttons work but the tub has power, look at the blue control box behind the front access panel, because every deck button and every pump passes through it. The box has a small green power LED beside its power inlet. If the outlet is live and that light is dark, the box or its cord is not passing power. If the light is lit and nothing responds, the box has likely lost its configuration, and the…
• 📖Why Does Nothing on My Tub Work After a Storm or Power Outage?When nothing works after a storm, the cause is almost always upstream of the tub itself, and you work through it in a fixed sequence: the house breaker first, then the GFCI outlet under the tub, then the control box. A storm or outage often trips the dedicated GFCI protection, and because that GFCI is frequently an outlet behind the front access panel rather than at your electrical panel, flipping the breaker back…
• 📖Why Isn't My Digital Control Pad Lighting Up?If your digital control pad is not lighting up, the pad has lost its connection to power, because the backlight on the digital touchpad stays on whenever the control box has power. A completely dark pad therefore points at the display cable or the master control box rather than the pad's icons, and the first thing to check is the green power LED on the control box behind the front access panel. If that light is…
• 📖Why Are My Walk-In Tub Jets So Weak?When the jets are weak on an Ella walk-in tub, the cause is usually not the pump. Three things account for nearly every weak-jet call: the intensity dial turned down, a pump inlet cover clogged with hair or debris, and mineral scale or residue in the jet faces and lines. The first thing to check is the chrome intensity dial on the deck. Turning it up introduces more air into the jet stream for a stronger flow, and…
• 📖Why Does My Walk-In Tub Make a Buzzing or Hissing Noise?If your walk-in tub makes a loud buzzing noise now and then, a light humming noise after use, or a faint hiss from the motor or hose, the sound is almost always one of the tub's normal working systems: the ozone generator that hums alongside the hydro pump, the moderate hum of the water pump itself, the relay clicking when you press a button, or the Auto Purge, which is a rush of air about 20 minutes after the air…
• 📖Why Isn't My Microbubble System Making Bubbles?When the microbubble is not making bubbles, follow the path the system uses: the Micro push button sends an air signal to a relay in the control box, the relay powers the water pump, the pump pushes water through the microbubble pressure tank, and the supersaturated water returns through a single port in the tub, turning the bath from clear to cloudy white. The first thing to check is that your tub actually has…
• 📖Why Won't My Tub Stop Purging?If your tub will not stop purging, first compare what you are seeing with a normal purge: the Auto Purge runs once, about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off, for 120 seconds, and then stops on its own. A blower that keeps running past that, or a purge cycle that comes on twice in the same hour, is not the purge at all; it is the control box failing to shut the air pump off. The first thing to do is cut…
• 📖Why Is My Tub's Temperature Control Stuck or Not Changing the Water Temperature?When the temperature control is stuck and will not turn, or the knob turns but the temperature does not change, the cause is almost always a thermostatic control valve cartridge fouled by calcium, iron or other particles in the water. A TCV that only gives cold water, only hot water, or stays stuck on lukewarm no matter where the handle sits is the same problem from a different angle. The first thing to check is…
• 📖Why Is There No Hot Water at the Tub When the Sinks Have Hot Water?When there is no hot water at the tub but the sinks have hot water, the problem is between the house line and the spout, not in the water heater: a hot supply shutoff under the tub that is not fully open, or on thermostatic faucets, a cartridge fouled by minerals that is blocking the hot side. The first thing to check is both shutoff valves behind the access panel. Once those are confirmed wide open, the faucet…
• 📖Why Does My Walk-In Tub Fill So Slowly?If your tub fills very slowly, the faucet is rarely the reason. Ella fast fill faucets are designed for unrestricted flow, up to 16 gallons per minute on the 2-piece set and 18 gallons per minute on the 5-piece set at 60 PSI with ideal plumbing, so a slow fill points at the house side: water pressure, supply line size, a shutoff that is not fully open, or a thermostatic valve whose intake screens have clogged with…
• 📖Why Does My Tub Faucet Drip Constantly and How Do I Fix It?If your faucet drips constantly, the hot water will not shut off completely, or a handle slips past the point where it used to close, the cause is a worn cartridge inside the valve, and it is a part you can change from the top of the faucet with a few hand tools. Close the shutoff valves under the tub first so the drip stops while you sort out the part. On a brand new installation, a leak on first use can also be…
• 📖Why Won't the Diverter Switch to the Hand Shower?When the diverter will not switch to the shower, or water comes out of the spout and the shower at the same time, start with the two quick fixes before assuming a part has failed: turn the water fully off with the handle and back on again, and on the 2-piece faucet, relieve the air lock that makes the diverter button stick in. If water still flows from two outlets at once, or the diverter will not hold its…
• 📖Why Does Water Leak Where the Hand Shower Goes Through the Deck?When water leaks where the hand shower goes through the deck, the usual reason is that the hand shower was lifted up to a wall mount without the barrel extension kit. Water runs back down the hose, into the sprayer base, and through the deck insert hole into the space behind the tub, where it shows up as drips under the tub or as a stain on the ceiling below. If the sprayer hangs on the wall or lies on the deck…
• 📖Why Does My Hand Shower Have No Pressure?If your hand shower has no pressure while the tub spout fills normally, the water supply itself is fine and the restriction is somewhere between the diverter and the sprayer face. On an Ella walk-in tub the hand shower is a standard handsprayer with five flow settings and a flow limit of 1.9 gallons per minute, so it will never match the fast-fill spout, but it should give a firm, even spray. The first thing to…
• 📖Why Is Water Leaking Underneath My Walk-In Tub?Water leaking underneath the tub while the door stays dry almost always comes from one connection, not from the shell, and the job is to find which one. The usual suspects, in the order the team checks them, are the unions at the pump and in-line heater, the air jet fittings, the drain elbow, and the faucet supply connections above. Open the access panel, dry everything, and lay dry paper towels under each of…
• 📖Who Can Come Out and Fix My Walk-In Tub?If you need someone to come out and fix your tub, here is how support on an Ella walk-in tub works. Ella's Bubbles is the manufacturer, and its Lifetime Limited Warranty is a parts warranty, so it does not send its own service technicians to your home. Instead, Technical Support troubleshoots with you by phone and live video to determine which part needs exchanging, ships that part to you at no charge once the…
• 📖Why Won't My Chromatherapy Light Turn On?When the chromatherapy light will not turn on, the first thing to check is how the button is being used, because the LED has three behaviors that are easy to mistake for a fault. One press starts the cycling colors, repeated single presses lock one solid color, and pressing and holding for about two seconds turns the light off. A light stuck on yellow or red is usually just locked on that color, and a light that…
• 📖Fixing a Leak at the Microbubble Tank Fitting With the Repair KitA leak at the fitting where the water line joins the microbubble tank can be repaired with a small kit from Ella's Bubbles rather than a new tank. The kit contains a 3/4 inch PVC coupling or elbow, a tin of PVC cleaner, a tin of PVC-ABS cement and a tin of extra strength PVC cement, and the repair is a clean, coat, hold and cure job for a local plumber. If the crack is in the short arm that projects from the tank…
• 📖Drain Lever Stuck in the Open Position: Adding a Screw Stop So It Does Not Happen AgainWhen the drain handle on an Ella walk-in tub sticks in the open position, or turns one way but will not turn back, the brass lever inside the overflow assembly has travelled past its normal stop and jammed. The fix is simple and permanent: move the brass piece back toward the copper overflow pipe, then drill a small self-tapping screw at the point the support team marks on your photos so the lever cannot travel…
• 📖Replacing the Air Check Valve and the Hoses and Pipes That Connect to ItIf water is spraying from a small hose under your walk-in tub, or the air line behind the tub has come apart, the air check valve is the first part to look at. It is a replaceable part. The valve, the hoses and pipes that connect to it, a replacement manifold and PVC cement can all ship under your parts warranty once the support team has confirmed the problem, and the team sends photos or instructions with the…
• 📖How to Adjust the Throw of the Diverter HandleIf the diverter handle on your Ella faucet hits the spout, does not travel far enough to send water to the hand shower, or sits at an awkward angle, you can adjust its throw with a 2mm hex key. The handle is held on the diverter by a small lock screw hidden under a silver cap. Loosening that screw lets you lift the handle off and reseat it at a better angle, so it swings freely between the spout and the hand…
• 📖Is It Safe to Cap or Plug a Water Jet I Do Not Use?Yes, it is safe to cap or plug a water jet on your Ella walk-in tub. Owners ask about this when a jet is not wanted, most often the bidet jets in the seat, or when a single jet sits at a spot that is not comfortable for them. There are two ways to go about it, and the right one depends on which jets you want to block and how much access you have to the underside of the tub. Option one: block the bidet jets with…
• 📖One Push Button Does Nothing While the Others Work: The Breaker Check and the Hose Swap TestWhen one push button does nothing while the other buttons work, the fault is in one of three places: that button's circuit, the air hose between the button and the blue control box, or the pump itself. Check the breaker and GFCI for that circuit first, then use the hose swap test at the control box to tell the button side from the pump side. No special tools are needed, and the results tell the team exactly which…
• 📖Air Pump Whines or Stopped Working: Tests Before Replacement and How a New Pump ShipsAn air pump that whines or stops responding is diagnosed with a few simple tests under the access panel, and the answers decide what the team ships. A high-pitched whine can be air escaping from a loose connection at the pump, which is tightened rather than replaced. A pump that does nothing when plugged straight into the wall is the problem itself and is replaced. Ella ships the part after verification under the…
• 📖LED Chromatherapy Light Will Not Come On: Checks by Control Type Before You Contact SupportIf the LED chromatherapy light on your walk-in tub will not come on, the cause is usually a loose plug, an air hose that has lost its connection, or a control box that needs a reset, and you can check all three yourself in a few minutes. The light is wired differently depending on the tub model and the therapy package, so the steps below are grouped by the kind of light button your tub has. Have your model and…
• 📖Pump or Blower Will Not Start When You Press the Button: Releasing an Air Lock at the Blue Control BoxIf you press the button and the pump or blower does nothing, the most common cause is an air lock in the small hose that runs from the push button to the blue control box, and it takes about a minute to clear. Each push button works by sending a puff of air down a hose to an air switch on the box. If the pressure inside that hose drifts away from ambient, the switch can no longer feel the push and the pump never…
• 📖Hairline Crack or Small Dent in the Tub Finish: Why It Is Usually Cosmetic and How to Touch It UpA hairline crack in the gel coat or acrylic finish of your Ella walk-in tub, or a small indentation in the base, is almost always cosmetic. The finish sits on top of fiberglass reinforcement that carries the structure and holds the water, so a crack that stays in the surface layer is not a path for a leak. The support team can confirm this from a few photos, and a small mark can be blended with an appliance epoxy…
• 📖Heated Seat and Back Not Warming Up: Checking the Control Box LED and the Button ProngsWhen the heated seat and back on your Ella walk-in tub stop warming up, the cause is usually in the wiring rather than a failed heating pad. Start by removing the magnetic access panel and finding the blue control box under the tub. Its green power indicator LED should be lit. If it is, check that both wires are firmly plugged in at the box and at the back of the heat button, then move the small display wire to…
• 📖MicroBubble Pump Will Not Run: Dedicated 20-Amp Circuit, Air Hose, Fan Screw and Breather CapIf the MicroBubble system on your Ella walk-in tub has gone quiet, work through four checks in order. Confirm the micro pump is getting power on its own independent 20-amp circuit, confirm the small air hose from the button is connected to the nipple on the back of the pump, turn the flat-head screw in the center of the pump fan to jump-start the motor, and pull the cap off the breather behind the seat. These are…
• 📖Hand Shower Hose Leaks or Will Not Attach at the Faucet: Replacing the Brass Connector RodIf the hand shower hose on your Ella faucet leaks where it meets the faucet, or will not thread on at all, you usually do not need a whole new faucet. The hose attaches to a short brass rod that screws into the underside of the faucet body, and the most common cause is a stripped thread on that rod. Ella ships a replacement rod as a part under the limited lifetime parts warranty, and your local plumber swaps it…
• 📖How the Cable-Operated Drain Works and What to Check When It Will Not OpenThe drain on an Ella walk-in tub is opened and closed from the deck. Turning the drain handle operates a cable that runs down to the drain body and raises or lowers the stopper, so you never reach into the water or press the stopper by foot. When the drain will not open, the fault is nearly always the handle, the set screw that holds it, or the cable. The small lever at the drain body is rarely the problem. The…
• 📖How Do I Adjust the Drain Cable Tension When the Drain Will Not Open or Close Fully?If your drain does not lift all the way open or does not settle fully closed, the drain cable tension is often the reason, and it can be adjusted without replacing anything. The adjustment is made at the brass connector inside the drain handle, where the cable meets the steel lever. Loosening the cable is a matter of removing one small screw, unhooking the lever, and rotating the brass connector one full turn. The…
• 📖How to Remove and Reattach the Front Apron on Your Walk-In TubThe front apron comes off with a screwdriver and no special tools. Pull off the magnetic access panels first, unscrew the round white caps along the bottom edge, remove the three screws underneath them, then pull the apron down and away from the lip of the tub to release the three clips along the top. Wear gloves, because the inside edges of the plastic apron can be very sharp. Reattaching is the reverse: seat the…
• 📖Why Is the Water From My Walk-In Tub Rusty or Brown?Rusty or brown water coming out of your walk-in tub is almost never created by the tub itself. The tub's own water path is short, about five feet of stainless steel supply line, and stainless steel does not rust. Discolored water comes from the house side, most often an aging water heater or the water coming into the home. Compare with another fixture first, then have a licensed plumber check the heater and the…
• 📖Where Does the Pull-Out Hand Shower Hose Connect Under the Deck?When the pull-out hand shower hose has been disconnected, it reconnects to the hose outlet on the underside of the faucet diverter and then runs up through the hand shower holder on the tub deck. On a three-handle fast-fill faucet the diverter is the middle handle, the one that switches water from the spout to the sprayer. The hose has two different ends. The end with a plain hex nut threads onto the diverter…
• 📖Overflow Fitting Drips Heavily When the Tub Drains: What to CheckA heavy drip from the compression fitting where the overflow flex line joins the drain tee, showing only while the tub drains, usually means the flex line is not seated straight and round in that fitting. One cause seen on support calls is a line that was cut short during installation behind the plastic support bracket that holds it against the shell, so it makes a sharp bend right at the fitting and the…
• 📖Why Does the Faucet Drip for a While After I Shut It Off?A drip from the tub faucet or hand shower for a short while after you shut the water off is normal. When the handles close, the water still sitting in the spout, in the lines between the valves and the spout, and in the hand shower hose has nowhere to go but out, and it drains into the tub a little at a time. Staff describe it as roughly a cup of water. It stops on its own once the lines are empty. A drip that…
• 📖Pump Shuts Off After a Few Minutes Without Tripping the Breaker: The 20-Minute Timer, Overheating, and Isolating Each PumpIf the massage system switches itself off after about 20 minutes of running, that is the control box's automatic 20-minute shutoff and it is normal. If a pump stops after only a few minutes, the green power light on the control box stays lit, and neither the GFCI nor the house breaker trips, the most likely cause is one of the pumps overheating and shutting down. The fix starts by running each pump by itself to…
• 📖Air Line Leaking Under the Tub: Cut Out the Hole and Rejoin With a CouplingIf a tube under your tub has a hole and water bubbles or drips from it when the air system runs, the fix is usually simple. Cut the line at the damaged spot and rejoin the two ends with a coupling. If the tubing has gone brittle, replace that run instead. Ella ships replacement tubing and fittings under the lifetime parts warranty, and your installer or a local licensed plumber does the work. Start by sending a…
• 📖Hydro Pump Only Hums After a Repair: Why an Empty Tub Shows NothingA hydro pump that hums in an empty tub is not broken, and it is not supposed to push air. The hydro system moves water, so with nothing in the tub all you get is the sound of the motor turning. You only see action once the tub is filled above the highest hydro jets. Keep any dry test to a moment, because a hydro pump that runs without water can burn out. Water, not air Ella tubs can have two separate massage…
• 📖Why Water Runs Over the Back of the Tub When the Jets Are OnWhen water climbs over the back deck of your walk-in tub as soon as the jets come on, the cause is almost always the fill level. Filling all the way to the overflow and then adding jet pressure pushes the surface up and over the rear deck, where it runs down behind the tub and can find its way to the gap around the door frame. Fill the tub only far enough to cover the highest jets, turn the intensity down, and…
• 📖Burning or Hot Plastic Smell From Your Walk-In Tub: Isolating the Pump or Control BoxA hot plastic or hot rubber smell from a walk-in tub usually points to an electrical short in the control box or in one of the pumps, and switching off the breaker was the right thing to do. Once someone is with you, the way to find the faulty part is to restore power, run a cycle while watching for the smell, and then plug the pumps into the control box one at a time to see which one brings the smell back. When…
• 📖Hand Sprayer Runs Hot but the Tub Spout Is Only Lukewarm: What to CheckWhen the hand sprayer delivers hot water but the tub spout runs only lukewarm, hot water is clearly reaching the faucet, so the supply shutoffs are not the problem. The difference is created after the water leaves the hot valve. The team looks at three things: whether anything was added between the hot valve and the diverter, whether the diverter itself is at fault, and whether your water heater can keep up with…
• 📖Control Box Configure Button: How Many Blinks, the One-Blink Reset, and the In-Line Heater BoxTo reset your walk-in tub control box, disconnect the main power supply, restore it, wait for the green LED to settle on steady green, then press and hold the small red configure button only until the LED blinks once and let go. The light goes out, blinks one more time and returns to steady green, and the box is correctly programmed. Do not keep the button held through two or three blinks. Holding it longer sets…
• 📖Shower Repair Work Order Created but the Technician Never CalledIf a repair work order was opened for your Ella shower unit but the assigned service partner has not called, the phone number in the acknowledgment does not work, or the technician came once and never returned, contact Ella with the work order number and the team will escalate it. Ella does not send technicians for walk-in tubs. Molded shower units are different, because they are repaired in the home under the…
• 📖Water in the Lines or the Crate of a New Walk-In Tub Is Normal: Every Tub Is Water-Tested Before It ShipsSome water in the pipes, in the bottom of the crate, or on the floor when you unbox a new Ella walk-in tub is normal and is not a sign of damage. Every tub is filled and run before it ships to verify that every plumbing connection is intact and working, and the tubs are slightly overfilled during that test to be sure. Water left behind in the jet lines, the drain body, and even inside a glass door simply drains…
• 📖Fixing a Leak at the Plug on the Hydro Return ElbowA leak at the plug on the hydro return elbow is fixed by resealing the plug: clean the old silicone out of the hole, apply fresh 100 percent silicone, and let it cure for a full 24 hours before filling the tub. It is a small job for your plumber, and there are two plugged holes on the elbow, so it is worth resealing both while the area is open. Where the hydro return elbow is The hydro return elbow is the PVC…
• 📖Why Does the Inside of My New Fill Spout Look Discolored or Oxidized?If the inside of your new fill spout looks dark, mottled, or oxidized, you are looking at the natural color of rough brass, and it is not a defect. Ella fill spouts are made of brass, and the unfinished interior surface simply shows what brass looks like before it is polished or plated. This is true even when the spout has never left its original shrink wrap inside the hardware box, so there is no need to replace…
• 📖Is the Gray Ring Inside My Hand Shower Holder Broken?The gray ring inside the hand shower holder on your Ella walk-in tub is a rubber insert, and it is manufactured with a zig-zag cut. It can look broken or split the first time you notice it, but that cut is how the part is made and assembled, and it is completely normal. You do not need a replacement, and there is nothing to glue, tighten, or reseat. What the gray insert is The holder on the tub deck is the…
• 📖Why Are There Two Crimped Pieces of Tubing on the Air Manifold Under My Tub?The two short pieces of crimped tubing on the air manifold under your Ella walk-in tub are there on purpose. They plug the two extra ports on the manifold that your tub does not use. Because the crimped stubs are the correct connection size for those ports, neither the manifold nor the tubing should leak, and there is nothing you need to fix, cap, or replace. What the air manifold does The air massage system…
• 📖A Terminal Screw on the Electrical Connection Bar Was Loose and Sparked: Is the Tub Still Safe?A terminal screw that is not fully tightened on the tub's electrical connection bar can arc under load, and the heat from that arcing can melt some of the surrounding plastic. This is a connection problem rather than a fault in the pump, heater or controls. Once the screw is properly tightened and the bar itself is in good condition, electricity flows properly and safely and the tub can be used normally. If the…
• 📖The Hydro Pump Came Loose From the Frame in Shipping: How to Re-Bolt ItIf the hydro pump has come loose from the tub frame during shipping, your installer can secure it by re-bolting it to the frame with the original nuts, bolts and lock washers. The lines connected to the pump are flexible, so the pump can be shifted back into position and bolted down without cutting or re-plumbing anything. It can take some force to line the pump up again. Once the pump is tight and the flex lines…
• 📖Is It Normal to See Water Sitting Just Below the Drain Plug After Draining?Yes. Seeing a small amount of water sitting just below the drain plug after the tub has emptied is completely normal. Every bathtub drain, including the gravity drain on an Ella walk-in tub, is designed to hold a little water in the drain trap area. That water forms a seal that keeps sewer gases and unpleasant smells from coming back up through the plumbing. It is not a leak and not a defect. As long as the tub…
• 📖Cracked or Damaged Shower Stall: How the Warranty Work Order and Surface Repair Visit WorkA crack, chip, air pocket, or thin spot on the base, wall, or soap dish of an Ella shower stall is handled through a warranty work order. Ella files the claim with the shower manufacturer's warranty department, which assigns a work order to a local service partner. That partner sends a surface repair technician to inspect the unit and repair the defect where possible. Repairable defects on an installed unit are…
• 📖Shower Unit Arrived Damaged or Missing Hardware: What Gets Repaired, Replaced or ReorderedIf your shower base or three-piece shower unit arrives with a cracked base, a hole through a wall panel, a gap in the factory glue line, or hardware missing from the pallet, do not install it. Photograph everything, keep all of the packaging, and report the damage within 48 hours of receipt so a freight claim can be opened. Missing loose items such as the drain kit, grab bars or a fold-down seat are shipped to you…
• 📖Cracks or Stress Marks in the Acrylic Finish: How a Local Refinisher Repair Is ArrangedIn many cases, yes. A crack or stress mark in the acrylic finish of an Ella walk-in tub can often be repaired in place by a local acrylic refinishing company, so the tub does not need to be replaced. The support team starts with photos of the damage, and when a finish repair is the right route, the team helps locate an acrylic repair technician in your area and sends that company the job details. Ella does not…
• 📖Heated Seat Not Warming Up: What to Check First and Which Parts Support ShipsIf the heated seat and backrest never warm up, start with the indicator on the heater button. The red light should come on when the heater control button is pressed. If the light is on and the seat still feels cold, give it time and check the heating pads themselves before assuming a failure, because the warmth has to travel through thick acrylic. If the light never comes on, the cause is usually in the button…
• 📖Drain Plug Will Not Open or Drains Slowly: Checking the Set Screw and the StemWhen an Ella drain plug will not lift, only works when the water is shallow, or lets the tub drain slowly, the cause is usually one of three things: the adjusting screw on the plug is set too long or too short, the stem under the plug has broken or unscrewed, or hair and debris have packed the drain opening. Each can be checked from inside the tub, and none requires a service call. If a part turns out to be…
• 📖Frame, Base or Front Lip Looks Bent or Out of Line: How Technical Support Evaluates ItIf the frame, base or front lip of your tub looks bent, twisted or out of line, do not judge it by eye and do not start cutting into the bathroom. Send clear photos to Ella's technical support, and they will tell you whether what you are seeing is cosmetic, a shipping mark, a packaging effect or a real structural problem. Every tub is water-tested and electrically tested before it ships, so many reports turn out…
• 📖In-Line Heater Light Stays Off and the Water Cools: How to Check It and Get a ReplacementThe in-line heater on an Ella hydro massage tub switches on by itself whenever the hydro pump runs, and a red indicator light shows that it is heating. There is no reset button. If power is reaching the tub and the hydro pump runs but the light never comes on, or it lights for a few seconds and goes dark while the pump keeps running, the heater has failed and is replaced as a part under the lifetime parts…
• 📖Air Jets Work but the Hydro Jets Will Not Turn On: What to CheckWhen the air massage runs normally but the hydro jets will not start, the fault is on the hydro side of the system: power to the pump circuit, the push control that starts the pump, or the pump itself. The air blower and the hydro pump are separate systems, so one can run while the other sits silent. Work through the checks below before anything is replaced. A second GFCI or a loose line has solved this more than…
• 📖How to Reseal a Leaking Hydro Pump Intake on a Walk-In TubA drip from the hydro pump intake on the underside of the tub is fixed by cleaning the fitting and resealing it with 100 percent silicone, not by replacing the pump. Ella's technical support sends photo instructions for this repair, and the steps below follow them. It is a job for your installer or a local licensed plumber, and the tub must sit unused while the silicone cures. Owners who have followed the…
• 📖Tub Fills Only Scalding or Only Cold and Will Not Mix to WarmWhen the water from your tub's faucet is either scalding or icy and no handle position gives you warm water, and your tub has an Ella thermostatic faucet package, the usual cause is the thermostatic control valve (TCV) rather than a plumbing mistake. The cartridge inside the TCV collects calcium, iron and debris from the supply water, and once it is fouled it can no longer blend hot and cold. The fix is to clean…
• 📖Some Jets Work but Others Never Have: Jet Adjustment, Pump Power, and When Ella Ships a ReplacementIf a few jets on your Ella walk-in tub have never worked while the rest run normally, the cause is usually one of three things: a directional jet that is turned closed, a pump or air line that is not feeding that group of jets, or a defective jet, fitting or pump that Ella replaces under the lifetime parts warranty. Start with the quick checks below, then send your proof of purchase, serial number and photos of…
• 📖GFCI Trips Only When the Air or Hydro Pump Starts: Test the GFCI First, Then Look for Water Under the TubWhen the GFCI trips the instant you press the air button or the hydro button, but the other functions run fine, Ella technical support starts with the simplest possibility: the GFCI device itself is faulty. Have an electrician test it and, if there is any doubt, replace it, because a GFCI is quick to swap. If a new GFCI still trips on that one function, the next place to look is under the tub for water reaching…
• 📖My Shower Wall Panels Do Not Fit the Installed Base. What Can Be Done?When shower wall panels will not line up with a base that is already installed, the cause can be a base that is not level, alcove walls that are not plumb, alignment pins that are crooked or missing, or panels that warped in storage. The fix starts with photos. Send them to the team, the warranty department reviews them, and if the unit cannot be corrected on site a complete replacement shower is shipped and you…
• 📖Cold Water Reaches the Tub but Will Not Come Out of the Faucet: Unlocking the TCV Check ValveIf cold water is reaching your walk-in tub but the faucet delivers only hot water, the usual cause is the check valve at the cold-water inlet of the thermostatic control valve (TCV). This small one-way valve sits in the housing of the thermostatic valve right where the cold-water supply line connects, and it can stick in the locked position or become blocked by sediment. A local licensed plumber can usually free…
• 📖Air Jets Leaking Under the Tub: What a Local Plumber Can Fix and Which Parts Ella SendsYes, a local licensed plumber can reseal or replace leaking air jets on an installed Ella walk-in tub, and Ella ships the parts needed under the parts warranty: air jet gaskets, silicone, replacement air jets, and quick-connect elbows where the leak is at the fitting. Ella does not send technicians, so the labor is done by your plumber while support supplies the parts and technical guidance. Send photos of the…
• 📖Shower Wall Reinforced Backing Is Not Where the Drawing Shows: Verifying It and Getting a Replacement PanelIf the reinforced backing inside your Ella shower wall panel is not where the production drawing shows, open a ticket with photos and your serial number before mounting any grab bar. The team compares your panel to the production drawing, on which every reinforced area is shaded. When the backing is present but sits farther from the front edge than the drawing calls for, the team can arrange a replacement panel…
• 📖Faucet Cartridge Burst and Spraying Water: Shutting It Down and Getting Replacement Hot and Cold ValvesIf a faucet cartridge on your Ella tub has burst and water is spraying from the valve, shut off the water supply to the tub first, then open a ticket with photos of the failed part and your serial number. Ella replaces both the hot and cold valves as a set under the lifetime parts warranty once the photos are received, ships them with a tracking number, and can expedite the shipment when the tub cannot be used. A…
• 📖Leak Under the Tub Only When Water Reaches the Top Jets: Re-Securing the Air ManifoldIf your walk-in tub stays dry while it fills and then begins dripping underneath the moment the water reaches the top row of jets, the air manifold has very likely dropped below its correct position. The manifold is the small distribution block that feeds the air lines, and it belongs at the very highest point under the deck so water cannot back into it. When the ties holding it work loose and it sags, water…
• 📖Hinged Glass Screen Door Out of Line With the Frame: Adjusting the HingesA hinged glass door on an Ella shower screen is aligned by loosening the hinge screws on the glass panel side of the hinge, moving the door into line with the frame, and tightening the screws back down. If the problem is a gap between two doors rather than a door that is out of line, the adjusting set screw on the hinge nearest the door changes that gap. Neither adjustment requires removing the screen from the…
• 📖Ozone (O3) Button Does Nothing: Checking the Relay Click, the Air Tube, and Swapping Relays to TestWhen the ozone (O3) button on your Ella walk-in tub does nothing, the first check is to listen for the click of the relay switch on the control box as you press the button. A click means the relay is switching. No click means the clear air tube from the button is not plugged firmly at the relay. Swapping the LED and O3 air tubes at the control box is a quick test that shows whether the relay itself works, and Ella…
• 📖Loud Noise From the Pump or Heater Area: What to Send Support and Why Ella Works Through Your InstallerIf your walk-in tub is making a loud noise from the pump or heater area, Ella's technical support diagnoses it remotely from a short video of the noise and a phone call with your installer or plumber while they are at the tub. Ella does not have field service technicians and does not send anyone to your home. Any part that turns out to be faulty ships to you under the parts warranty, and a local licensed plumber…
• 📖Someone Stepped on the Open Drain Plug, Do I Need a Whole New Drain Kit?Usually not. When someone steps on an open drain plug in an Ella walk-in tub, the part that bends or breaks is normally the small brass drain lever inside the drain body, and that lever is replaced on its own. The cable very rarely breaks on this style of drain, and the complete drain assembly is reserved for installed tubs where the cable connection cannot be reached. The three parts and how each one is replaced…
• 📖My Shower Has Finish Flaws, a Crack at the Flange, or Sections That Do Not Line Up: What to DoIf your Ella shower arrived with a finish flaw, a chip or crack where a section meets the wall flange, or sections that will not line up, stop before you install or modify anything and photograph the problem. Manufacturing defects are reviewed under the published warranty terms, and replacement sections or a replacement unit ship after the team reviews your photos. Damage that happened in transit is handled as a…
• 📖Why Is My Ella Petite Walk-In Tub Leaking and How Do I Fix It?An Ella Petite leaks for the same handful of reasons as any Ella walk-in tub, and the fix depends on where the water first appears: at the door handle screws, at a plug on the hydro return elbow, at an air jet gasket under the tub, or at a drain fitting. A staged fill test tells you which one you have before any parts are ordered. Water at or just below the door handle is a sealing problem at the screw holes…
• 📖What Should I Do If My Walk-In Tub Buttons Stopped Working?When your walk-in tub buttons stop working, first sort out whether the whole tub is dead or only one function, because the two point to different parts. Ella push buttons are pneumatic: each press sends a puff of air down a small hose to the blue control box, which switches the pump or light, so a dead button usually means a lost air signal or lost power rather than a broken button. The step-by-step version of the…
• 📖How Do I Fix a Cracked, Loose or Damaged Shower Wall Panel?The right repair depends on what is wrong with the panel. A crack, chip, air pocket or thin spot in the surface of an installed Ella shower wall is repaired on site under a warranty work order, the process laid out in Cracked or Damaged Shower Stall: How the Warranty Work Order and Surface Repair Visit Work . A wall that is broken beyond surface repair is replaced with a panel matched to your unit through…
• 📖How Do I Adjust or Replace the Magnets on My Tub Access Panel?The magnets on an Ella access panel can be adjusted so they actually touch the panel face, or reinforced with additional magnets behind the panel, and either fix is done on site by your installer or a handy person with a screwdriver. A magnet or bracket that is cracked or missing is a small part that ships under the parts warranty. Before you adjust anything, though, confirm the tub is level and the panel is going…
• 📖Water on the Floor After a Bath: Door Leak or Drain Leak?Tell the two apart by when the water appears and where it sits. A door leak runs from the door frame, sill or bottom edge while the tub is full, on the door side of the tub. A plumbing problem shows up as water under the frame or on the floor on the opposite side, where the drains are. A little water on the tub floor below the drain plug, a damp sill after an outward door opens, or a few drops through the striker…
• 📖How Do I Tell If My Walk-In Tub Ozone Generator Stopped Working?An ozone generator that is working gives three signs: a light hum from under the deck, a faint hiss of air being drawn through the small check valve on top of the unit, and a slight clean scent when the hydro jets run. If those signs have disappeared, or the hum has turned into a rattle, the unit may have stopped, and the way to know for sure is to check it against when it is supposed to run on your therapy…
• 📖Why Does My Walk-In Tub Smell Like Ozone or Chlorine During Hydro Massage?The smell is ozone, not chlorine. Every Ella tub with hydro jets has a small ozone generator that releases natural ozone into the water system whenever the hydro pump runs, and ozone has a clean, slightly metallic scent that is easy to mistake for chlorine. It is normal, it means the sanitation system is doing its job, and it clears quickly with the bathroom fan. The same odor is covered from the metallic angle…
• 📖Why Does My Walk-In Tub Still Smell Musty After the Vinegar Flush?A musty smell that survives one vinegar flush usually means the flush loosened residue inside the pump lines without carrying all of it out, and the answer is to repeat the flush until the drained water runs clear. If the smell continues after repeated flushes, the next checks are the pump inlet cover, what goes into the bath water, whether the tub sat unused for a while, and whether the ozone generator still has…
• 📖Can Ella's Bubbles Diagnose My Walk-In Tub Problem Over Live Video?Yes. Free lifetime technical support on an Ella walk-in tub includes live video, and Technical Support uses it, along with phone calls and photos, to troubleshoot with you, determine which part needs exchanging, and ship that part under the parts warranty for a local licensed plumber or electrician to fit. To arrange a session, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your serial…
• 📖What Repair Instructions and Videos Does Ella Give an Installer for Warranty Fixes?When a part ships under the Lifetime Limited Warranty, it arrives with directions for fitting it, and the person doing the work can also receive the owner's manual, the electrical diagram for that tub and therapy package, step-by-step photo instructions for specific repairs, links to Ella repair videos, and a live phone or video call with Technical Support while they are on site. Ella's Bubbles does not send…
• 📖Why Won't My Ella Digital Touchpad Respond When I Press a Button?When an Ella digital touchpad does not respond, the first thing to check is how the icon is being touched, because the touchpad starts a system with a single touch and stops it with a two second hold, and a few therapies are not on the touchpad at all. If the gestures are right, confirm the tub has power at the breaker and the GFCI outlet, and then look at the plug behind the pad and its cable to the master…
• 📖Why Does My Ella Thermostatic Faucet Only Run Lukewarm Water?When an Ella thermostatic faucet only runs lukewarm water no matter where you set the dial, the usual cause is the thermostatic control valve (TCV) cartridge fouled by calcium, iron or sediment, so it can no longer blend the full hot supply into the mix. A valve stuck on lukewarm is the same fouled-cartridge problem described in Why Is My Tub's Temperature Control Stuck or Not Changing the Water Temperature?…
• 📖Why is my Ella walk-in tub draining slower than it should?An Ella walk-in tub drains by gravity through two 2-inch drains and typically empties in two minutes or less once it is connected to a proper 2-inch drain line, so a tub that takes noticeably longer is almost always being held back on the house side of the drain: a drain that is not fully open, only one of the two drains in use, an undersized or clogged branch line, poor venting, or a house drain that sits too…
• 📖How Do I Remove and Reattach the Magnetic Access Panels on the Ella Ultra?The magnetic access panels on the Ella Ultra come off with a straight pull and go back on with a straight push. Press the hook-shaped suction cup that shipped with your tub flat against the panel, pull the panel straight out until the magnets release, and later line the panel up with the frame and press until the magnets grab all the way around. There are no screws to back out and no clips to pry. How the Access…
• 📖Can a cracked or faded gel coat Ella tub be repaired or refinished?Yes, a cracked finish on an Ella walk-in tub can usually be repaired without replacing the tub, and a faded surface is far less likely than you might expect, because every current Ella walk-in tub has a solid acrylic bathing surface rather than a sprayed gel coat one. A hairline crack that stays in the finish is almost always cosmetic and can be blended with an appliance epoxy touch-up, as explained in Hairline…
• 📖How do I repair a chip or scratch in a gel coat Ella shower?A chip or scratch in a gel coat Ella shower is almost always a cosmetic mark in the finish layer rather than a leak path, because the gel coat sits on top of the fiberglass that carries the structure and holds the water. The repair route is the same one Ella publishes for a hairline crack or small dent in the tub finish : photograph the damage with something for scale, send the photos through…
• 📖Why does a deck push button do nothing on my walk-in tub?A deck push button that does nothing is almost always an air-signal problem rather than an electrical one. Each chrome button sends a small puff of air down a slim tube to a relay inside the control box, and if that tube is loose at either end the relay never clicks and the pump or light never starts. Before you open anything, make sure the tub is filled above the highest jets, because a hydro button pressed on an…
• 📖How Do I Fix a Leaking Union Gasket at the Pump or Heater?A union at the pump or in-line heater that keeps weeping after it has been tightened almost always has an over-tightened or displaced O-ring, and the fix is to take the union apart, re-seat the O-ring and reassemble it by hand rather than to keep turning the nut. In most cases nothing has to be replaced. This page gives the step-by-step routine for that job, how to confirm the union really is the source before you…
• 📖Why Is the Air Blower Loud and Can I Keep It Off?The air blower on an Ella walk-in tub is loud because it is a working air pump, and air pumps are not silent; the burst that startles most bathers is the Auto Purge, which starts about 20 minutes after the air massage is switched off and runs for 120 seconds. That purge is fully automatic and cannot be stopped or delayed, but the blower itself only runs when its button is pressed, and the purge is normal and…
• 📖Why Did My Walk-In Tub Jets Shut Off in the Middle of a Bath?Jets that stop on their own in the middle of a bath almost always trace to one of four things: a second touch on a push control, a tripped GFCI, a loose air hose behind the button, or the blue control box under the tub. The first two take seconds to check and fix, so work through them before you open a ticket. If the jets keep cutting out, or a control will not stop or start its function, the layout of the deck…
• 📖What size Allen wrench removes the handles on an Ella walk-in tub faucet?A 3 mm Allen wrench removes the handles on both Ella fast-fill faucets. On the 2-piece single-lever faucet the Allen bolt sits under a decorative bolt cover on top of the spout handle, and on the 5-piece faucet each red or blue handle has its own Allen bolt under its colored cap. If you are going past the handle to change a cartridge, the 5-piece set also needs a 17 mm socket wrench, and the full sequence for both…
• 📖Where are the two hydro pumps on the Transfer60 and how do you reach them?The Transfer60 has two separate hydro pumps rather than one pump and a diverter: pump one drives the seat jets and pump two drives the foot and calf jets, and each pump has its own intensity dial. Both pumps, together with the control box and the in-line water heater, are reached through the removable front apron, which the spec sheet lists with two access panels. No published Transfer60 document prints a left or…
• 📖Why is my Ella walk-in tub draining slower than it should?An Ella walk-in tub drains by gravity through two 2-inch drains, and once it is connected to a proper 2-inch drain line it typically empties in two minutes or less. When a tub takes noticeably longer, the cause is almost never the tub: the most frequent reason a new tub drains slowly is an old, clogged or poorly vented house drain, followed by how many drain ports were connected and how the branch line was run.…
• 📖Why Is Water Pooling Behind My Walk-In Tub Near the Hand Shower?Water pooling behind a walk-in tub near the hand shower almost always means the pull-out hand shower has been lifted to a wall mount without the leak elimination kit, so water runs down the hose, collects in the hand shower base and drops through the deck insert hole into the space behind the tub. The fix is the 5 foot extension hose with a stainless steel barrel connector described in What Is a Barrel Extension…
• 📖How Do I Repair a Crack or Scratch in an AcrylX Shower Wall?A crack, chip, air pocket or thin spot in an AcrylX shower wall is handled through a warranty work order rather than with caulk or a filler, and a repairable defect on an installed unit is repaired on site by a surface repair specialist instead of being replaced. A light scratch that does not catch a fingernail is a cosmetic mark you can deal with yourself. The work order route is explained in Cracked or Damaged…
• 📖What Happens to an Ella Walk-In Tub During a Power Outage?During a power outage an Ella walk-in tub still drains and still lets you out, because the drains work by gravity alone and the door is operated by hand. What stops is the powered equipment: the hydro pump, the air blower, the control box and anything else on the tub's dedicated circuit. Once electricity returns, most tubs need the dedicated breaker and the GFCI outlet in the equipment compartment reset before the…
• 📖Why does my Ella walk-in tub take longer than 80 seconds to drain?The 80 second figure is a best case, not a promise for every bathroom. Ella drains are gravity driven, and under ideal house plumbing an average size tub drains in about 80 seconds, while the everyday expectation is two minutes or less once the tub is connected to a proper 2-inch drain line, as Drainage and Fill Time explains. If your tub takes much longer than that, the usual reasons are a drain handle that is…
• 📖Why Does a Deck Push Button Do Nothing on My Walk-In Tub?A deck push button that does nothing is almost always an air signal problem, not an electrical fault at the button. Each chrome button sends a puff of air down a slim hose to the control box. A dead button usually means a hose has slipped off or a GFCI has tripped on that function's circuit. Less often, the pump or relay behind it is the cause. When only one button is affected, the fastest way to pin it down is…
• 📖My drain will not open or close: replacing the drain cable and adjusting drain heightIf your drain handle turns but the drain no longer opens or closes, the drain cable that connects the handle to the drain has most likely come loose or broken, and replacing the drain cable is the fix. The stainless steel cable is a replaceable part, the repair is done from the tub deck and the drain connection box behind the front access panel, and no special plumbing work is required. Replacement cables are…
• 📖Temperature Control Valve (TCV) Stuck or Not Mixing: Cleaning the Cartridge and Replacing the ValveIf your thermostatic control valve (TCV) is stuck, hard to turn, only lets cold water through, or no longer mixes hot and cold correctly, the usual cause is mineral buildup on the cartridge and intake screens. Calcium, iron and sediment in the water supply collect inside the valve over time. A careful cartridge cleaning often restores full function. When it does not, the fix is a complete replacement valve…
• 📖Touchpad or push button controls not responding: checks, repair, and replacementWhen the touchpad or push button controls are not responding on your Ella walk-in tub, the fix is usually simple. Ella tubs come with either on and off push controls or a digital touchpad on the deck. Push buttons work on air pressure, so a loose air tube or a small air lock is the most common cause, and a digital touchpad that has failed can be replaced as a part without replacing any pumps. Both procedures are…
• 📖Faucet drips or the handle feels stiff: replacing your faucet cartridge step by stepA faucet that drips when it is off, or a lever that has become stiff or rough to operate, almost always needs a faucet cartridge replacement rather than a new faucet. Ella 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucets use serviceable cartridges (a 40 mm high-flow cartridge in the 2-piece design), and both faucet families are built so the cartridge can be swapped from the deck with basic hand tools: a 3 mm Allen wrench for…

Replacement Parts91 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖End Panels, Extension Panels, and Aprons: Getting the Right Replacement PanelA replacement end panel or extension panel for your Ella walk-in tub is ordered through Technical Support with your model, serial number and door side, because panels are cut for a specific model and a specific end. Every Ella tub ships with one reversible end panel, tubs shorter than 60 inches also include an extension panel for a standard 60 inch alcove, and the removable front apron carries the access panels…
• 📖Drain Plugs, Plug Stems, Drain Gaskets and Hair Catchers: Adjusting, Replacing and Keeping Them Out of the DrainThe drain plugs on an Ella walk-in tub sit on adjustable stems, which is what lets you set the plug height for a clean seal and the fastest drain, and it is also why a stem can drop down the drain if it is loosened too far or the lock nut is not tightened. Drain plugs, plug stems and gaskets are all supplied by Ella's Bubbles, matched from a photo and your serial number, and a simple third-party hair catcher fits…
• 📖Push-Button Air Hoses: Which Port on the Blue Box, Reconnecting a Hose That Pops Off, Red Hoses, Sealing and Replacing a ButtonThe push-button air hoses on an Ella walk-in tub connect each chrome button to a labeled port on the blue control box: the Water button goes to Pump #1 Airswitch, the Air button to Blower/Pump #2 Airswitch, and the Light button to the Light Airswitch. The buttons are pneumatic, so pressing one sends a puff of air down a small hose to a relay in the box, and the relay switches the pump or light. That is why a…
• 📖Is My Tub an Ella? Identifying the Brand and Model From Labels, Doors and Faucets Before Ordering PartsIs my tub an Ella? One photo of the outside of the tub showing the door and faucet usually answers it, and the serial label behind the access panel next to the door settles it. Ella's Bubbles replacement parts are made for Ella walk-in tubs, so the first thing Technical Support does on any parts request is confirm that the tub is an Ella and learn where it was purchased. That check takes one photo and one or two…
• 📖Replacing an Older TCV: 1/2 Inch vs 3/4 Inch Supply Inputs, the Hidden Deck-Plate Screw, the Governor Button and What Is SuppliedWhen an older thermostatic control valve (TCV) stops mixing properly, Ella's Bubbles supplies the complete TCV replacement valve assembly rather than a cartridge on its own, and the current valve uses 3/4 inch supply connections. If your original TCV has 1/2 inch supply lines, the new valve will fit once you add 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch NPT adapters. The chrome deck plate that covers the valve is held by four visible…
• 📖Replacement Parts for Glass Shower Screens and Doors: Gaskets, Glass Panels, Silicone Protectors and How Doors ShipReplacement parts for Ella's Bubbles glass shower screens and doors, including glass panels, bottom gaskets, end caps, chrome knobs and screw caps, are available through Technical Support, and a complete replacement door can be shipped when the damage is beyond individual parts. Support has never seen a tempered panel crack on its own, so photos of the damage are requested with every panel request. This article…
• 📖Common Questions About Replacement Parts: Parts Lists, Diagrams, Photos, Addresses and Old-Part ReturnsReplacement parts for Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs are handled by Technical Support, not through a catalog or a listing on the website. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850, describe the problem, attach a few photos, and the team confirms the exact part for your tub's faucet set and door family before anything ships. This article answers the questions we hear most often about that…
• 📖Parts and Support for Older or Discontinued Ella Tubs: Legacy TCVs, Faucets, Doors, Drains and ControllersYes, parts for older or discontinued Ella tubs are still available, and Ella's Bubbles still supports tubs that were installed years ago. Technical support is offered for the life of the tub, and the published parts warranty is a lifetime limited warranty for the original purchaser at the original installation address. For an older model the team either has the legacy part on hand or identifies the current…
• 📖Air Jet Covers, Jet Faces, Tubing and Connectors: What Can Be Replaced and What Cannot Be Added LaterAir jet covers, hydro jet faces, air tubing and the connectors that join them are all available as replacement parts for Ella walk-in tubs, matched to your serial number by Technical Support. What cannot be supplied is a new therapy: the jets in an Ella tub are built in at the factory, so air jets cannot be added to a tub that was purchased with hydro jets only, and jets cannot be added in new positions. This…
• 📖Who Services an Installed Ella Tub? Parts From Ella, Labor From a Local Pro, and What to Do When the Installer or Dealer Is GoneWho repairs an Ella walk-in tub after installation? Ella's Bubbles does not send technicians into the field. Instead, the support team diagnoses the problem with you by phone, photos and live video, ships the part under the lifetime parts warranty once the defect is verified, and a licensed local plumber, electrician or handyman performs the labor. If your installer or dealer is no longer reachable, the team will…
• 📖Reading Your Invoice and Label: Model Names, SKU Suffixes, Legacy Model Numbers and Common Part Codes ExplainedThe codes on your invoice or tub label point back to one of three things: the tub model, the side the door and drain sit on, or an add-on that shipped with the tub. Today's tubs are named by family and size (Elite 30x52, Transfer60 30x60), older paperwork may show a numeric or letter code, and part codes such as HSB or 5P-FFF describe accessories. This guide decodes the codes the support team sees most often. If…
• 📖What Is a Drain Cable on a Walk-In Tub?A drain cable is the stainless steel cable, running inside a protective black plastic sleeve, that links the chrome drain handle on the tub deck to the armature inside the drain connection box under the tub, raising and lowering the drain stopper when you turn the handle. It is a replaceable part serviced from the deck and the front access panel without any special plumbing work. How it works Turning the chrome…
• 📖How Do I Get a Replacement Door Seal for My Walk-In Tub?If you need a replacement door seal for your walk in tub, the good news is that the seal is a replaceable part on every Ella tub, and it is matched to your exact model and door type rather than supplied as a generic length or profile. The first thing to check is whether the seal actually needs replacing: a seal that looks flattened, sticks, or has lifted out of its channel can often be restored by squeezing it…
• 📖What Do I Do If My Walk-In Tub Door Handle Broke Off?When a walk-in tub door handle broke off or fell off so the door cannot close, it is nearly always the handle assembly or its locking bolt rather than the door itself, and a replacement handle is a matched part for your model. The first thing to check is whether the handle simply came off its latch mechanism: on outward swing doors the handle sits on tabs over the latch mechanism and is held by a single locking…
• 📖Why Did the Plastic Door Latch Crack and Why Won't the Door Seal Now?If the plastic door latch cracked and the door will not seal, the latch receiver has stopped holding the handle in its locked position, so the door can no longer be pulled tight against the seal. This is a known wear point and it is fixed with a replacement latch assembly, not a new door. The first thing to check is whether the crack is in the hard plastic receiver block or the silicone cover that sits over it…
• 📖Can I Get a New Door If My Tub Door Cracked at the Bottom?If your tub door cracked at the bottom, a replacement door is arranged as a matched part once the team has your model and serial number, and availability depends on the model and whether it is discontinued. The first thing to check is whether the crack is in the door itself or in a separate part such as the latch receiver, the seal, or the plastic around the locking pin, because those are replaced on their own…
• 📖What If a Piece of My Drain Stopper Went Down the Drain?When a drain stopper piece went down the drain, it is almost always the height adjusting stem, which unthreads completely if it is loosened too far or if its lock nut was never tightened after an adjustment. The first thing to do is reach into the drain and retrieve it: with the plug out, the stem can usually be pulled back up with your fingers, a thin flat screwdriver, or a dull butter knife. If it cannot be…
• 📖Why Do the Rubber Gaskets on My Drain Plugs Keep Coming Off?If the rubber gaskets on the drain plugs keep coming off, the gasket has often stretched, hardened, or been dislodged by a plug that is set too high or too low, so it no longer sits snug in its groove. The first thing to check is the plug height and the lock nut: a stopper that does not close fully lets the gasket flex with every use, and the same stopper is the usual reason a tub slowly loses water during a bath.…
• 📖What Do I Do If a Push Button Fell Through Into the Tub?If a push button fell through into the tub, the lock nut that holds the button from below has come loose or the plastic base has broken, so the button dropped out of its hole in the shell. There is nothing electrical in the button itself. Ella push buttons are pneumatic: a bellows under the button sends a puff of air through a small hose to a nipple on the blue control box, and a relay in the box switches the pump…
• 📖How Do I Replace a Cracked, Leaking Hand Shower Hose?If your hand shower hose is cracked and leaking, the hose is replaced on its own; the wand and the deck base are separate parts, so you do not need a new faucet set. The first thing to check is where the leak is coming from, because a drip at the head is often a worn washer or a missing check valve rather than the hose, while a split in the braided hose or a rupture near the connector means a new hose. Replacement…
• 📖Why Does My Hand Shower Head Spray Out the Side and Can I Replace Just the Head?When your hand shower head sprays out the side, squeals at some settings, or has broken off at the plastic threads, the good news is that the head is its own part. On the Ella fast-fill faucets the handset threads onto the end of the 5 foot hose, so you can replace just the wand and leave the hose, the deck mount and the faucet exactly where they are. The first thing to check is the joint between the head and the…
• 📖Why Does My Faucet Handle Keep Falling Off?If your faucet handle keeps falling off, the fastener that holds it to the cartridge stem has loosened or gone missing, and that is a small stock part rather than a faucet problem. On the Ella 2-piece faucet the lever is held by an Allen bolt hidden under a decorative bolt cover, and on the 5-piece faucet each red or blue handle is held by an Allen bolt under its colored cap. The first thing to check is whether…
• 📖Rats Chewed the Tubing Under My Tub. Can It Be Replaced?Yes. If rats chewed the tubing under the tub, or the tubes have simply become brittle and are breaking, the air tubing and the connectors that join it are replaceable parts. The lines run in the space behind the front apron, so the first thing to do is remove the access panels on the apron and look at what you have: the small hoses that carry the air signal from the push buttons to the control box, the larger…
• 📖Why Are the Caps on My Jets Falling Off and Can I Replace Them?When the caps for the jets are falling off, the jet face has usually unscrewed from its threaded body, or the jet nut behind the jet that holds the assembly tight has loosened. Both are quick to check from inside the tub, and caps, faces and complete jet assemblies are available as parts. The first thing to do is look at the cap that came off: a hydro jet face has a center nozzle and threads back into its housing…
• 📖Does Ella's Bubbles Sell Replacement Parts for Walk-In Tubs?Yes, replacement parts for Ella walk-in tubs are available, and technical support continues for the life of the tub. Every part is matched to your tub from its model and serial number and ordered through your Ella dealer, where you purchased, or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support and (800) 480-6850. There is no public parts list or catalog, because Ella tubs span several door families and many years, and a part…
• 📖My Tub Is a Different Brand. Will Ella's Bubbles Parts Fit?If your tub is a different brand, Ella's Bubbles parts will not fit it, and the honest answer to "this isn't an Ella tub, can you help" is that your manufacturer is the right place to go. Ella supplies parts only for Ella walk-in tubs. Seals, hoses, jets, pumps and manuals differ between makers, so a Safe Step door seal, an American Standard shower hose, an Aston or Jacuzzi walk-in gasket, Premier Care air jets or…
• 📖Are Parts Still Available for My Older Ella Tub?Yes, in most cases parts are still available for your older Ella tub, and technical support continues for the life of the tub. If you are asking "do you still have parts for my older tub," the first thing to do is photograph the serial label on the inside of the removable panel next to the door, because the serial tells the team when the tub was built and which parts are compatible. Legacy requests, including the…
• 📖Where Do I Get the White Screw Caps and Trim for the Front Panel?If you need the white screw caps for the front panel, lost a couple of the white capped screws, or the trim is missing, these are small stock parts and the team sends them with your order details or model. On the Standard and Zen platform the two front access panels are held with screws under screw caps, and on other models the apron attaches with clips, velcro tape or magnets, so the first thing to check is how…
• 📖Replacement Interior Grab Bars: Matching the Hole Spacing on Your TubElla's Bubbles can supply a replacement interior grab bar, and the key to getting one that fits is the distance between the two mounting holes already drilled in your tub. Send the support team a photo of the grab bar mounts with a tape measure laid across them, showing the center-to-center distance, and they will offer the closest span available. When the exact spacing is not in stock, a slightly wider bar can…
• 📖Microbubble Nozzle Sprays From the Side or the Trim Ring Fell Off: Getting a ReplacementIf water is shooting out of the side of your microbubble nozzle instead of streaming from the front, the support team's answer is a replacement nozzle, and it is a part the team ships to you. The same goes for the chrome trim ring around the microbubble jet if it has come loose or gone down the drain. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and serial number, a photo of the nozzle and a short…
• 📖How Do I Replace a Broken Push Button and Its Air Hose?A push button that has cracked, stuck or dropped through its hole is replaced as a stock part, and fitting the new one is a simple job for a handyman, plumber or your original installer. Tell the team which button failed and where the part should ship, the replacement arrives with air hose, and the install comes down to removing the old button, setting the new one in silicone, and routing the hose back to the…
• 📖Broken Drain Lever, Drain Cable or Full Drain Assembly: Which Part You Need and How It Is ReplacedIf your drain plug drops back down instead of staying up, or a small brass piece came out of the drain opening, the drain lever inside the drain body is usually the damaged part, not the cable. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model, serial number and photos, and the team will confirm whether you need the lever, the drain cable or the complete drain assembly, then ship the correct part. Ella…
• 📖Removing and Replacing an Air Jet: 3mm Hex Key, Clearing Debris and Resealing the ElbowAn air jet unscrews from inside the tub with a 3mm hex key inserted into the center hole of the jet, and most of the time that is the only tool the job needs. A clogged jet is often cleared by removing it and running the air pump for a few minutes, a damaged jet top screws straight onto the existing elbow, and only a damaged elbow underneath calls for cutting the air line and resealing with silicone. The team…
• 📖Replacing Your Walk-In Tub Faucet Set, Valves or Hand MixerYes, a replacement faucet is available for your Ella walk-in tub, whether you need the whole set, just the hot and cold valves, the spout, or the hand mixer line. The first thing the support team will ask is which part is actually failing, because in many cases only one piece needs to change. Some older faucet models are no longer offered, and the 5-Piece Fast Fill faucet is the replacement set Ella supplies for…
• 📖Replacement Hot and Cold Faucet Supply Lines: Sizes, Threads and Where to Get ThemYes, replacement supply lines are available for your Ella walk-in tub faucet. Ella's supply lines come in two sizes, 3/4-inch and 1/2-inch. Current fast-fill faucets use the 3/4-inch line, which the team normally has on hand. Older faucets used 1/2-inch NPT lines, which are not always available from Ella. Those are standard fittings you can pick up at a hardware store, or you can use a 3/4-inch line with a…
• 📖Replacing a Drain Handle or Overflow Plate: The 2.5mm Set Screw, the Chain Ring and the Updated HandleA replacement drain handle for an Ella walk-in tub is a simple part to fit. The handle slips onto the brass mounting on the drain assembly and is held by a single set screw that takes a 2.5mm Allen key. If your tub has the older style of handle, the current handle is compatible with your existing drain assembly, so nothing else needs to change. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 will confirm the…
• 📖How Do I Get a Replacement Access Panel for My Walk-In Tub?Yes. Replacement access panels are available for Ella walk-in tubs, and each one is prepared to match your model, your door side, and any heater button opening your tub needs. To start a request, open a ticket with a photo of the damaged panel, a photo of the apron with the panel removed, and your invoice number. Once the team confirms the details, the panel ships and you receive a tracking number so you or your…
• 📖Where Can the Digital Control Be Mounted and How Is It Installed?The digital control installation instructions are the same for every Ella tub model, so the guide the team sends applies to your tub whichever side the door is on. The control can be mounted in the deck where two push buttons currently sit, or in another spot on the tub, and the team can send photos of the placement options for your model. Mounting it in the deck means removing two push buttons, cutting an opening…
• 📖Hydro Pump Not Pushing Water: How a Replacement Water Pump Is Matched and ShippedIf your hydro jets have stopped pushing water and your plumber has concluded the water pump has failed, the replacement comes from Ella's Bubbles as a part. Ella does not send technicians, so the new pump ships to you and a local licensed plumber or electrician installs it. Before anything ships, the team asks a few questions and requests photos of the existing pump so the replacement is an exact match, and the…
• 📖Damaged Hydro Jet Hoses, PVC Lines and Jet Fittings: What Can Be ReplacedYes, the hoses and lines feeding your hydro jets can be replaced, and so can the jets themselves. Send the team clear photos of each damaged section and they will identify the tubing type, tell you what to splice in, and ship the parts you need. When damage sits right next to a water jet, it is often easier to clear the old hose out of the jet body than to replace the jet, and the team will help you decide which…
• 📖Ordering a Replacement Front Apron: Fit, Freight Shipping and TrackingA replacement front apron for your Ella walk-in tub is available through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. Because the apron is a large, rigid panel, it travels by freight carrier rather than by parcel. Ella's Bubbles does not set or control freight rates, so the shipping for a replacement apron reflects what the carriers charge to move a piece that size to your address, and support looks for the…
• 📖Missing or Worn Faucet Hose Washer? How to Get a Matching ReplacementYes. If a washer for your faucet supply hose, hand shower hose or deck-mount grab bar is missing or worn, the support team can send just the washer you need. Washers come in more than one style, so the team will ask for a photo of the other washers on the same part to match it exactly before it ships. Send the photo with your model and serial number and the team takes it from there. Why the team asks for a photo…
• 📖Missing or Discarded Toe Kick Panel: Confirming It Shipped and Ordering a ReplacementThe toe kick panel ships with the tub, and the team keeps photos of tubs taken before they leave the factory, so a reported missing panel can be checked against those pictures. If the panel was thrown out during a renovation or never turned up after installation, a replacement can be ordered as a purchased part. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your model, size and shipping…
• 📖Unused Towel Bar or Hand Shower Holes on the Deck: Are Plugs Available?Ella does not offer plugs for the towel bar holes or the hand shower hole on the tub deck. If your installation leaves the towel bar holes unused, the practical fix is a cosmetic cover such as a sticker or a similar small cover from a hardware store. The hand shower hole is different. If you are connecting the hand shower hose to a wall mount, the Leak Elimination Kit is the part the team recommends for that deck…
• 📖Leaking Diverter or Thermostatic Control Valve: Identifying Your Faucet and Ordering the Right ReplacementIf a diverter handle on your Ella walk-in tub drips, runs while the tub is not filling, or will not shut off, the fix is a replacement diverter valve. If a thermostatic faucet no longer delivers hot water or will not hold its set temperature, the fix is a replacement thermostatic control valve (TCV). Ella tubs have shipped with more than one faucet style, so before a part is ordered the team asks for a photo of…
• 📖Is the Replacement Air Blower the Right One for My Tub? How to Confirm the MatchIf a replacement air blower has arrived and it does not look like the one already under your tub, do not connect it yet. The blower is matched to the tub model, so the support team confirms the part against your model and serial number before anyone installs it. Photos of the old blower and the new one, showing the fitting where the air pipe joins, let the team settle the question quickly. What the air blower…
• 📖Replacing Drain Elbows, Nuts, Gaskets, Drain Covers and Plunger Parts on a Walk-In TubYes, Ella supplies replacement drain components for its walk-in tubs. That includes the drain elbow, the threaded nuts and gaskets that join the drain body to the piping, the drop-in drain cover or plug, the seat that a cable-driven plunger drops into and, when the inside of the drain is damaged, the complete drain assembly. To get the right part the first time, open a ticket with photos of the tub label and of…
• 📖Replacing a Broken Front Apron or Its Plastic Mounting Brackets on a Walk-In TubYes, both the front apron and the small plastic brackets that hold it can be replaced. If a few brackets snapped during a tight installation, count how many broke and send a photo, and the team sends replacements. If the apron itself is cracked, the whole panel is replaceable after you send photos of the damage and of the tub label, and it ships by UPS to the address you give. The apron is held by only three…
• 📖A Jet Nozzle Broke Off: Why Some Jets Are Directional and Others Fixed, and How to Get the Right ReplacementYes, a broken or cracked jet can be replaced. Send a clear photo of the damaged jet, a photo of a neighboring intact jet and your serial number through ellasbubbles.com/support, and the team identifies the exact part and, after verification, ships it under the lifetime parts warranty. If two tubs of the same model do not carry identical jets, that is not a mistake. Jets and related parts are upgraded over time, so…
• 📖Ordering a Replacement Drain Cable or Full Drain Assembly for Your Walk-In TubYes, you can order just the drain cable for an Ella walk-in tub. The cable is stocked as its own part, and a complete drain assembly is also available when more than the cable has failed. The same drain assembly fits either drain position, so there is no separate left-hand or right-hand version. To arrange a replacement, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your tub's model number, and the…
• 📖Replacement Extension Panels Come With Their Mounting Arms, and Why the Panel Must Never Be Glued OnYes. The acrylic extension panel for Ella walk-in tubs is available as a replacement part, and it ships with the two metal mounting arms that bolt to the tub frame and hold the panel in place. You do not need to order the arms separately. Order it through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your model and serial number so the correct panel for your tub is sent. If your installer glued the original…
• 📖Buying a Fast-Fill Faucet Set or Valve Body on Its Own: Specs, Finishes and Deck Hole SizeYes. The complete Ella Fast-Fill faucet set is available on its own as a replacement, and the valve body is also sold by itself when only the hot or cold side of the faucet has failed. Both are ordered through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your model and serial number. The 5-piece set includes the hot and cold handles, the spout, the diverter and the pull-out hand shower, flows up to 18…
• 📖Faucet Supply Hose Leaking Under the Deck: Access, Identification and ReplacementIf the flexible supply line under your tub deck has split or is dripping where it feeds the spout or the hand shower, you do not need a new faucet. The hose is a replacement part, and Ella faucet parts are covered under the lifetime parts warranty. Send photos of the leak and your serial number through ellasbubbles.com/support, and the matching hose ships to you. You reach the hose by removing the small magnetic…
• 📖How to Order a Replacement Part for Your Ella Walk-In TubTo order a replacement part for your Ella walk-in tub, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and ask for technical support. The technical support team identifies the exact part from your model, your serial number and a photo of the piece you need, then arranges the replacement. Parts covered by the lifetime limited parts warranty ship at no charge once the claim is verified, and the same…
• 📖Overnight or Express Shipping for a Replacement PartYes, a replacement part can be sent by an express or overnight service when your plumber or installer is scheduled and you cannot wait for ground delivery. Warranty replacement parts normally ship by ground at no charge, and the express service is an added cost that you pay before the part leaves. The team confirms the charge with you, arranges payment, and once it is settled the part ships and tracking is emailed…
• 📖Touch-Up Paint for an Ella Bathroom Vanity with Chips or Uneven SpotsYes. Ella's Bubbles stocks matching touch-up paint for its bathroom vanities, including the black/espresso finish, and ships it by UPS with a tracking number. If your vanity has small chips or uneven spots in the finish, whether from shipping, installation or everyday use, ask for the touch-up paint in your vanity color rather than trying to match it at a paint store. This is a different situation from the acrylic…
• 📖Ordering a Replacement Electronic Keypad for Your Walk-In TubA replacement electronic keypad is ordered through Ella's Bubbles support with your serial number and a photo of the control box, so the correct keypad is matched to your tub. Electronic controls are among the parts covered by the Lifetime Limited Warranty, parts only, and support verifies the claim before a keypad ships. Support tests the new keypad before it goes out, and a local licensed electrician or your…
• 📖Replacement Door Hinges for Ella Bathroom Vanities: How the Team Matches ThemYes. Ella's Bubbles keeps replacement door hinges for many of its bathroom vanity models, and the team matches them by vanity model and size rather than by a generic hinge type. Tell the team which vanity you have, send a clear photo of a hinge that is still on the door, and they check stock and ship the matching hinges. If the hinge cup on your door does not match what is on hand, the team asks for a photo first…
• 📖Peeling Ella Logo or Control Labels Inside the Tub: Getting Replacement DecalsYes, replacement decals are available. If the large Ella logo inside the door, the small on and off labels beside the drain knobs, or the icons on a digital control panel are peeling or wearing off, open a ticket with tech support. The team orders the matching replacement label for your tub and sends it to you. Peeling labels are cosmetic and do not change how the controls or drains work, so you can keep bathing…
• 📖Ordering a Replacement Wall Panel for an Ella ShowerReplacement wall panels for Ella showers, including the left or right end wall of a one-piece or multi-piece unit, are arranged through Ella's Bubbles support. Open a ticket with the shower model, which wall you need, photos of the damage and a copy of your purchase receipt. The team confirms where the shower was purchased, identifies the correct panel for your unit and arranges the shipment. Wall panels travel by…
• 📖Cracked Leveling Foot or Kinked Hose on a New Tub Before Installation: How to Get ReplacementsYes. If you uncrate your new Ella walk-in tub and find a cracked leveling foot, a kinked hose or another damaged part, Ella ships the replacement under the lifetime parts warranty so your plumber can install the tub correctly. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with clear photos of the damaged part, your model and serial number, and your purchase details, and the support team will verify the issue and ship…
• 📖Replacing a Failed Thermostatic Control Valve: Cleaning First, Cartridge Versus Whole Valve, and How to OrderA replacement thermostatic control valve or cartridge is often available for Ella tubs that shipped with a thermostatic faucet package. Whether you need only the cartridge or the complete valve depends on which generation of faucet your tub has, so the team confirms the exact part and its current availability from a photo before anything is ordered. Replacement parts are ordered by phone with a credit card and a…
• 📖Ordering a Replacement Air, Hydro or Microbubble Pump: What to Send So the Right One ShipsA failed air blower, hydro pump or microbubble pump is replaced as a part, and the quickest way to get the right one is to send photos of the pump and its label together with your tub model and serial number. Ella has upgraded several pumps over the years, so the team matches the replacement to what is physically under your tub rather than to the model name alone. Verified warranty parts ship at no charge for the…
• 📖Replacement Air Jets, Quick-Connect Elbows and Air TubingYes. Air jets are stocked as replacement parts, along with the black 90-degree quick-connect elbows that attach to them and the clear air jet tubing, which is sold by the foot. To order, tell the team how many jets you need, send a photo of the part, and provide your model and serial number, a shipping address and payment details. Parts typically ship by FedEx and a tracking number is emailed to you. If a jet…
• 📖Ordering a Complete Drain and Overflow Assembly and How It Is ReplacedA complete drain and overflow assembly for an Ella walk-in tub can be ordered from the support team as a replacement part. Send a photo of your existing drain and your tub model and serial number through ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850. The team confirms the matching assembly, and for the original owner the part ships under the lifetime parts warranty after verification. The drain body sits beneath…
• 📖Replacement Parts for Discontinued Ella Sliding Shower Doors Sold Through RetailersYes, in many cases. Ella still supplies hardware for the framed and frameless sliding shower doors that were sold through home improvement retailers, but those door lines have been discontinued for distribution through Ella, so every request is checked against the parts that remain in the warehouse. Small pieces such as plastic clips and bracket extensions can often be located in remaining stock, while other parts…
• 📖Handles, Cartridges and Hoses for the Huntington Brass Faucet on Older Ella TubsThe Roman tub filler Ella distributed on older walk-in tubs was the Huntington Brass model HB9937-C, and Ella did not carry alternative handle styles or replacement cartridges for it. If you want fluted or vandal-resistant handles, new hot or cold cartridges, or stems for that faucet, contact Huntington Brass directly and give them the faucet model. Ella's technical support can help you confirm which faucet is on…
• 📖Broken Vanity Drawers, Doors or Cabinet: How to Get a ReplacementIf a drawer, door, handle or the cabinet body of your Ella vanity arrived broken, a replacement can be arranged. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with clear photos of the damage and a short description of exactly which piece needs replacing. Once the team confirms that a matching part is available in your finish and you confirm your shipping address, the replacement ships and you receive the tracking…
• 📖I Received the Wrong Replacement Part. What Should I Do?If the replacement part that arrived is not the part you asked for, let support know right away with photos. Support checks the shipment against your original request, and once the correct part is identified it ships by UPS or FedEx with a new tracking number. You do not submit a new request, and support tells you whether the incorrect part needs to go back. How to report a mix-up Photograph the part you…
• 📖Dealers and Installers: Ordering Spare Parts to Keep on HandDealers, installers and service companies that keep Ella parts on the truck can request a batch of spares through support without opening a separate ticket for every item. Send the parts list with quantities, the tub models and sizes they fit, and the ship-to address. Support confirms what is in stock, packs the order and ships it by FedEx or UPS, overnight when you ask for it, and replies with tracking. Parts…
• 📖Missing or Broken End Panel Clips and Mounting Blocks: How to Get ReplacementsIf the mounting blocks or clips that hold your end panel, extension panel or access panel are missing, broken or never arrived on the tub, Ella ships replacements by FedEx or UPS with tracking. On a registered tub within the parts warranty the hardware ships at no charge once support verifies the request. In other cases support tells you whether any charge applies before anything ships. Which hardware you are…
• 📖The Air Tube Fitting on My Hydro Pump Snapped Off. What Part Do I Need?The small plastic fitting where the air tube enters the hydro pump is part of the hydro air switch, and the whole air switch is the replacement part. The push button on the tub deck sends a puff of air down a thin tube to this switch, which turns the pump on and off. When the fitting on the switch snaps, the air escapes and the button stops working even though the pump itself is fine. The team can identify the…
• 📖Chrome Jet Trim or Drain Plugs Corroding Despite Regular Cleaning: Causes and ReplacementsCorrosion or pitting on the chrome jet trim, air jets or drain plugs of an Ella walk-in tub is not common, and when support sees it the cause is almost always hard water minerals or an abrasive cleaner rather than a defect in the part. The affected chrome pieces are replaceable: the center jet nozzles, the air jets and the drain plugs can all be swapped without removing the tub. Send photos of the corroded parts…
• 📖Door Hinge Pins Sliding Out or a Missing Hinge Cap: Getting the Right ReplacementIf a hinge pin on your walk-in tub door or bath screen keeps working its way out, or a decorative hinge cap has gone missing, the fix is a replacement part. Send the support team a few clear photos of the hinge, and they will identify the correct headed hinge pin or cap, locate it, and ship it to you with tracking. Until the new pin is in place, treat the door with care, because a pin that drops out completely can…
• 📖Hand Shower Holder Loose, Detached, or Broken: Tightening the Base Nut or Replacing the Sprayer BaseThe small holder that the pull-out hand shower rests in is called the Hand-Held Sprayer Base, and it is a replaceable part. If the base has come loose or lifted off the deck, it almost always means the nut that secures it from underneath has unscrewed, and the fix is to reach under the deck and tighten that nut. If the base itself has cracked or snapped, send a photo to the support team and they will identify the…
• 📖How Do I Get a Replacement Heated Seat or Back Pad for My Walk-In Tub?A replacement heated seat pad or back pad is available through Ella's Bubbles support. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your model and serial number, tell the team which pad has stopped warming, and confirm where it should ship. The team confirms your tub model, ships the pad by parcel carrier, and emails you the tracking number. Your installer or a local licensed electrician…
• 📖Where Can I Find a Replacement Walk-In Tub Door Handle?A replacement door handle for an Ella walk-in tub is a matched part for your model and door style, and it is ordered through your Ella dealer, where you purchased, or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850. Before you order, check whether the handle has simply worked loose from its latch mechanism, because a loose handle can often be reseated and tightened at home. If the handle is cracked or its…
• 📖Can I Still Order a Replacement Door Latch or Older Handle?Yes. Door latches and door handles are handled as individual replacement parts matched to your model, door side and handle style, and Ella has used more than one handle design over the years, so older styles are matched the same way as current ones. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your model, serial number and a photo of the handle and latch, following How to Order a…
• 📖How Do I Install a Replacement Ozone Generator on My Walk-In Tub?Installing a replacement ozone generator on an Ella walk-in tub is the disconnect procedure run in reverse: switch off the tub's GFCI breaker, remove the access panel, separate the old unit from the T connection that joins the hydro pump and the ozone generator, plug the new unit's cord into that same T, and restore the T between the control box and the hydro pump. The disconnect steps, and the video that shows…
• 📖What Should I Do When My Walk-In Tub TCV Fails After the Warranty?If the thermostatic control valve (TCV) on your Ella walk-in tub fails after its one-year limited warranty has ended, a complete replacement valve assembly is available as a paid part through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and a licensed plumber fits it. Before ordering, have the cartridge cleaned, because mineral buildup on the cartridge and intake screens is the usual reason a TCV sticks or…
• 📖How Do I Clean or Replace the Thermostatic Faucet Cartridge?Cleaning or replacing the cartridge in an Ella thermostatic faucet is a job for a local licensed plumber: shut off both supplies, remove the control handle, cover plate, escutcheon and collar, unscrew the cartridge, clean its intake screens and base of calcification, and reassemble without over torquing, or fit a new cartridge if cleaning does not restore mixing. Cleaning always comes first, because a fouled…
• 📖Which Replacement Parts Fit a Legacy Ella S-Class 3052 or 3060 Tub?There is no published list of current Ella parts that fit an S-Class 3052 or 3060, so every replacement is matched to your tub by the team from its serial number and your photos. What the published sources do settle is which part families the S-Class used, which of them have a current equivalent or a standard plumbing substitute, and which must be identified before anything is ordered. S-Class 3052, 3060 and…
• 📖Can I Switch My Walk-In Tub From a 2-Piece to a 5-Piece Faucet?Yes. The 5-Piece Fast Fill faucet is the set Ella supplies as the replacement for older faucet models, and it is fitted to an existing tub through the deck plate that is already there, so a 2-piece set can be changed over after the tub is installed. The team sends the version sized for your existing deck plate, your plumber makes the connections, and in many cases only the handles and valves actually change.…
• 📖How Do I Remove, Clean or Replace a Hydro Jet Nozzle?A hydro jet face on an Ella walk-in tub is serviced from inside the tub, with no need to move the tub or remove a pump. The center nozzle is a valve you turn to open, reduce or close that jet, and the whole face unscrews from its threaded housing once the butterfly handles behind it are loosened. To refit it, line the half-cut opening of the face up with the hole in the housing where the water comes out, thread it…
• 📖How Long Does a Replacement Part Take to Ship From Ella's Bubbles?Ella's Bubbles does not publish a standard shipping time for replacement parts, and the team confirms timing for each specific request instead of quoting a general date. What is published is the sequence a part goes through: the team confirms your model and serial number, matches the part, verifies whether it ships under the warranty, and sends it by parcel carrier with a tracking number emailed to you, as walked…
• 📖Can My Local Plumber Order Ella Replacement Parts on My Behalf?Yes, a plumber or installer who is handling the repair can work with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 to get the right part, and a dealer can open a warranty claim on your behalf. What matters is whose tub it is: the part is matched from your model and serial number, coverage is verified against the original purchaser at the original installation address, and a verified warranty part ships to the…
• 📖Which Ella Walk-In Tub Parts Can I Buy at a Hardware Store?Only a small set of Ella walk-in tub parts are generic hardware-store items: the 1/2-inch NPT supply lines used on older faucets, the 3/4-inch to 1/2-inch reducer or NPT adapter that joins old and new sizes, shut-off valves, and everything in the drain run past the PVC elbow. Door handles, hinge pins and caps, the PVC drain elbow itself and the 3/4-inch supply lines on current fast-fill faucets are matched parts…
• 📖Can I Swap a Fixed Hydro Jet for a Directional Jet?Ella does not publish a fixed-to-directional jet swap as an option. Replacement hydro jets are matched from photos to the jet your tub was built with, and because Ella upgrades jets and related parts over time, a part from one style does not necessarily fit the other even on two tubs of the same model. Before asking about a swap, check whether the jet you believe is fixed is actually a directional jet turned…
• 📖Headrest and pillow suction cups: attaching them securely and getting replacementsElla bath pillows, headrests, wall cushions and seat risers attach with pillow suction cups, so no drilling or adhesive is ever needed on your tub, and the cups themselves are simple wear items that the team replaces from a photo. A cup holds only on a clean, flat, smooth surface, which is why a pillow that keeps sliding is nearly always a placement or cleaning issue rather than a defect. This article covers how…
• 📖Where to find your walk-in tub model and serial numbersYour walk-in tub model and serial numbers live in two places. The serial number is on a label behind the magnetic access panel next to the door, on the inside of that removable panel, and it typically begins with the letter M. Your model name, SKU and UPC are on your proposal, invoice or order confirmation, and the model name also heads its product page at ellasbubbles.com. Pull the magnetic panel gently away from…
• 📖How to order replacement parts for your Ella walk-in tubTo order replacement parts for your Ella walk-in tub, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with a description of the problem, photos of the part, your tub serial number, where the tub was purchased, and your contact and shipping details. Our technical support team identifies the exact compatible part from your serial number and arranges shipment. For parts covered under warranty, the…

Maintenance & Cleaning62 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Before Your First Bath: The Initial Vinegar Flush and First-Use ChecklistBefore your first bath in a new walk-in tub, run a quick vinegar flush of the pump circulation system: 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, filled 1 inch above the highest jets, run for 10 minutes, then drained. It only takes about fifteen minutes from start to finish, and it clears out any residue left over from manufacturing, shipping, and installation so your first soak is fresh and clean. This article…
• 📖Disconnecting or Servicing the Ozone Generator on Your Walk-in TubDisconnecting the ozone generator on an Ella walk-in tub is a simple unplug-and-secure job: turn off power at the GFCI breaker, open the access panel, separate the T connection between the hydro pump and the ozone generator, tie the ozone cord to the frame, and plug the hydro pump straight into the control box. The ozone sterilization system is a chemical-free helper that sanitizes the water lines automatically…
• 📖Scratches, Scuffs, or Discoloration on the Acrylic: Surface Care and Touch-Up KitsAcrylic surface care for a walk-in tub is mostly prevention: light scratches, scuffs, and dull spots on the high-gloss acrylic polish out at home with a fine automotive polishing compound, stubborn marks come off with denatured alcohol, and anything deeper has a clear path through our support team. Ella's Bubbles does not sell a standalone touch-up kit, and abrasive cleaners are the one thing that will permanently…
• 📖Hard Water and Your Tub: Protecting the TCV with an Inline Filter and Preventing Mineral DamageHard water and your walk-in tub's Thermostatic Control Valve (TCV) do not mix well, and the fix is simple: have your plumber fit an inline filter or mesh screen on the supply lines feeding the tub, clean it periodically, and keep up the monthly vinegar flush. The TCV blends hot and cold water to your set temperature, and its cartridge relies on smooth internal passages and clean intake screens. Calcium, iron and…
• 📖Black Flakes, Brown Slime, or Debris Coming From the Jets: Cleaning Steps That WorkBlack flakes from the jets, brown slime, or floating specks that appear only when the jets or microbubble system are running almost always come from residue inside the plumbing lines, not from the tub shell. The fix that works is the published Ella's Bubbles vinegar flush, done exactly as written and repeated if needed, together with a clean pump inlet cover and a few habits that keep the lines from building up…
• 📖Cleaning the Glass Shower Screen, Stainless Door, and Chrome FixturesCleaning the glass shower screen, the brushed stainless steel inward-swing door, and the chrome fixtures on an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub takes the gentlest method: a soft, lint-free cloth and warm soapy water, followed by a rinse with clean water. The screen should never see alcohol, petroleum-based liquids, or strong chemical cleaners. The stainless steel door is designed to be removed so you can reach behind…
• 📖My Tub Looks Pink, Yellow or Stained: What Is Published, What to Try and What to Send the TeamIf your white Ella tub looks pink, yellow or stained, here is what Ella's Bubbles publishes, what you can safely try at home, and what to send the team so they can help. Ella walk-in tubs are white, the acrylic has its color dispersed through the whole sheet rather than on the surface, and the finish is non-porous and resistant to fading. Mineral spotting and marks from construction or use can be removed with…
• 📖Every Cleaning and Sanitation Video in One PlaceEvery walk-in tub cleaning video from Ella's Bubbles is gathered here: the routine wipe-down and monthly flush, the first-use cleanout, door seal care, the ozone sterilization system, the auto-purge on the air system, and cleaning the thermostatic control valve (TCV) cartridge and screens. This page lists every one of them in the order you are likely to need them, names the article that covers each topic in depth…
• 📖Caring for Ella Showers: AcrylX Stalls, Gel Coat Units, SMC Bases, Niches, Teak Seats and the Flexible DamCaring for an Ella shower base, stall or accessory comes down to one rule that appears in every published Ella care document: no abrasives. Shower stalls and tub-showers are cleaned with warm water and liquid detergent, protected with a coat of automotive paste wax every six months (never on the textured floor), and restored with automotive polishing compound if they dull. Gel coat low-threshold showers are…
• 📖Pet Spa Owner's Guide: Carrying, Drain Backnut, Never Step on an Open Drain, GFCI, Indoor Use and CleaningThe Ella Pet Spa owner's guide comes down to a handful of habits: carry the Microbubble Therapy Pet Spa by its stainless steel frame with the panels removed, make sure the drain backnut is tight, never step on an open drain, run it only on a dedicated 120 volt 20 amp GFCI circuit, keep it indoors, and keep water above the jets before any pump runs. This guide collects those rules from the Pet Spa owner's manual…
• 📖Common Maintenance Questions: Flush Frequency, Bleach, Hair Catchers, Chrome Spots, Humming and an Unused TubMost everyday walk-in tub maintenance questions have short, reassuring answers. The vinegar flush is done once a month and once before the first bath, always with the same recipe. Bleach and abrasive cleaners stay off the acrylic. Ella's Bubbles does not make a hair catcher, but a common silicone drain protector fits. Spots on chrome usually trace back to Epsom salt or bath salts. A light hum with nothing switched…
• 📖Your First Week With a New Ella Walk-In Tub: A Ten-Item Owner Checklist From Activation to the First FlushCongratulations on your new Ella walk-in tub. The first week comes down to ten quick tasks: confirm the installer's water test and 16-point checklist, photograph the serial label, activate your warranty, run the one-time vinegar flush, test the GFCI, learn the button order and the fill rule, and settle into a few habits that keep the tub trouble-free for years. The Ten-Item Checklist Confirm the installer…
• 📖What Is the Vinegar Flush on a Walk-In Tub?The vinegar flush is Ella's canonical way of cleaning the jet lines inside a walk-in tub. You mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the pumps for 10 minutes, then drain. Owners also call it the jet flush, the system flush or the vinegar clean, and the same recipe is used before the first bath and once a month after that. How it…
• 📖What Is the Pump Inlet Cover on a Walk-In Tub?The pump inlet cover is the suction cover inside your walk-in tub where the hydro massage pump draws water in before pushing it back out through the jets. Owners also call it the suction cover, the pump intake or the intake grate. Because every drop that feeds the jets passes through it, hair and debris collect on it, and clearing and wiping it each month is part of Ella's routine maintenance. How it works…
• 📖Can I Use Epsom Salts, Bath Bombs or Bubble Bath in My Walk-In Tub?Yes to Epsom salts, with two simple habits, and no to bath bombs. Epsom salts will not harm the jetting system as long as they are fully dissolved; the best practice is to enjoy the hydro, air or microbubble therapy first and add the salts for the soak afterward. Bath bombs are the one product we ask you to skip in any jetted Ella tub. The first thing to check is whether the jets will be running, because…
• 📖How Do I Clean the Jet Lines on My Walk-In Tub?To clean the jet lines on your walk-in tub there is one recipe and one schedule: mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain. Do it once before the first bath and then once a month. The first thing to check is that you are following that exact recipe, because a flush with too little vinegar or too short a…
• 📖How Do I Start Using a Walk-In Tub That Sat Unused for Years?When a walk-in tub has sat unused for years, you restart it with the same vinegar flush every new tub gets before its first bath: mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain. Before pressing any button, check the GFCI, the green LED on the blue control box, and the air hoses behind the push buttons. Whether…
• 📖My Door Seal Is Sticky. What Can I Clean or Lubricate It With?If your door seal is sticky and hard to close, the good news is that you do not need a lubricant at all. A sticky or tacky gasket almost always means residue has built up on the seal or in the door frame, or the seal has been sitting compressed with the door latched. The first thing to check is simple: wipe the seal and the frame with a common household cleaner, and if the gasket still feels tacky or looks…
• 📖Why Does Hard Water Keep Ruining My Temperature Valve?When hard water keeps destroying the temperature valve, the part that is actually suffering is the cartridge inside the Thermostatic Control Valve (TCV). Calcium, iron and fine particles in the supply settle on the cartridge and its intake screens, and the valve starts to stick or stops blending properly. The first thing to check is whether there is an inline filter or mesh on the water supply feeding the valve.…
• 📖Why Do Black Flakes or Slime Come Out of My Tub Jets?When black flakes come out of the jets, or brown slime forms every time you run them, what you are seeing is buildup being loosened from inside the pump lines. It is almost always body oils, soap film and bath product residue that has collected in the plumbing, and it is one of the easiest things to fix. The first thing to do is run the vinegar flush: mix 2 cups white vinegar with 2 cups water, fill the tub to 1…
• 📖Why Does My White Walk-In Tub Look Pink, Yellow or Stained?If your tub looks pink, has a mauve cast, or seems to be turning yellow, the first thing to do is take clear photos in daylight and send them in. Every current Ella walk-in tub is white, and off-white appears only on occasional clearance listings, so a tint is not a color option and is always something to look at rather than something to live with. A pink or yellow appearance is usually one of three things: a film…
• 📖Why Are There Rust Spots on My Tub's Stainless Threshold or Drain?Rust spots on the tub threshold, or spotting on the chrome and stainless trim, are usually surface deposits rather than the metal itself failing, and the first thing to check is what is left sitting on those surfaces after a bath. Epsom salts and bath salts are the most common culprit: salt water that dries on chrome or stainless leaves spots that look very much like rust. Wiping the chrome and stainless dry after…
• 📖There Is a Scratch in the Acrylic. Is There a Touch Up Kit?If there is a scratch in the acrylic and you are wondering whether there is a touch up kit, the answer depends on how deep it is. Fine scratches and dull spots come out with a fine grade automotive polishing compound and a soft cloth, with no kit needed. A chip, gouge or deep scratch that catches a fingernail is a different matter. Ella's Bubbles does not carry a touch up kit; for a small nick the team typically…
• 📖How Do I Get Sticker Glue, Caulk or Silicone Off the Tub?Wondering how to get sticker glue off the tub, or how to clean up caulk a contractor left on the acrylic? For the tub shell, stubborn residue comes off with denatured alcohol on a soft cloth, which lifts adhesive and silicone smears without harming the finish. For an Ella acrylic shower, such as a three-piece unit being recaulked at its seams, the team's recommendation is rubbing alcohol, and it is the only…
• 📖What Can I Safely Clean My Walk-In Tub With?If you are asking what you can clean the tub with, the everyday answer is mild dish soap, or a 1 to 1 mix of white vinegar and water, on a soft, non abrasive cloth. That handles nearly all routine cleaning of the acrylic shell. The first thing to check is what you have been using so far, because the two things that hurt an acrylic tub are abrasives and harsh chemicals. For the times you want something stronger…
• 📖Printable Monthly Maintenance Checklist for a Walk-In TubThis printable monthly maintenance checklist covers everything your Ella walk-in tub asks of you in a month: the pump inlet cover, the 10-minute vinegar flush, the door seal, the TCV filter where fitted, a GFCI test, and a gentle clean of surfaces, glass and chrome. Print it and tick the boxes once a month. The full routine lives in our month-by-month maintenance guide . Print and tick once a month The air…
• 📖Printable Vacation and Seasonal Shutdown Checklist for a Walk-In TubElla's Bubbles does not publish a seasonal shutdown or winterizing procedure for walk-in tubs, so this checklist keeps to the habits that are published: clean the tub, drain it, leave the door open so the seal is not compressed, and run the standard vinegar flush before the first bath when you return. Water and power decisions belong with your plumber and electrician, and if the home will go unheated, open a…
• 📖Chrome Trim Peeling on Walk-In Tub Jets: Why a Touch-Up Pen Beats Replacing the FittingsIf the chrome trim around your hydro jets is peeling, flaking or coming off, the recommended fix is a liquid chrome touch-up pen rather than a new set of jet fittings. Replacing the chrome jet fittings is difficult and could lead to leaks, so a touch-up pen is the better option. It refreshes the finish without disturbing the plumbing under the tub. Why we do not recommend replacing the jet trim The chrome face…
• 📖Which Cleaners Are Safe on Your Walk-In Tub and Where to Find the Pump Inlet CoverThe safest everyday cleaners for an Ella walk-in tub are ordinary Formula 409 or Dawn dish detergent. Both are safe on the acrylic shell, the chrome fixtures and the stainless steel parts. The one rule that matters most is never to use an abrasive on the acrylic, which rules out scouring pads and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pads. Pair that gentle cleaning with the monthly vinegar flush, and if your tub has hydro…
• 📖How to Remove Water Spots and Stains From the Chrome Jet TrimWater spots and dull marks on the chrome trim of your jets are almost always mineral deposits left behind as bath water dries, not rust, and they usually come off with a microfiber cloth and a little dish soap. If a spot stays put after that, a chrome polish made for plated fixtures brings the shine back, and the white plastic inner portion of the larger jets can be unscrewed so you can reach the trim more easily.…
• 📖Is Bubble Bath, Bath Bombs or Bath Oil OK in a Jetted Walk-In Tub? What the Jets Can and Cannot HandleBubble bath, bath bombs, scented bath salts and bath oils are not recommended in a jetted walk-in tub, because the oils, dyes and solids they leave behind travel into the pumps and jets and are hard to flush back out. Plain Epsom salts are the exception, as long as they are fully dissolved before they go in, and everyday soaps, shampoos and body wash are always fine. If you have a soaking-only tub with no pumps…
• 📖The Shower Floor Looks Dull or Dirty Compared to the Walls: How to Clean ItWhen the floor of an Ella shower stall looks dull or dirty while the walls still look bright, start with the cleaning method the stall manufacturer specifies and the Ella support team passes along: Soft Scrub applied with a cloth on the walls, and Soft Scrub worked in with a brush on the floor. The floor is the surface that calls for a brush, because a cloth alone does not lift the buildup that settles there. If…
• 📖Greenish-Brown Discoloration Around the Jets and Seat: Hard Water, Not a Shell DefectA greenish-brown tint or ring that shows up around the jets, across the tub floor, or on the seat after only a few baths is almost always residue left behind by hard or well water, not a defect in the acrylic shell. The team sees this pattern often, and the answer is the same each time: clear what has already built up with the vinegar flush, then treat the water itself with a softener so the minerals stop settling…
• 📖Soaking Walk-In Tub vs Jetted Tub: Which Is Easier to Maintain?A soaking walk-in tub is the easiest Ella tub to care for. It has no jets, pumps or therapy lines, so there is no monthly vinegar flush, and bath salts and oils simply rinse away with the drain. A jetted tub adds hydro and air lines that need regular flushing. The full definition of the soaker configuration is in What Is a Soaking Walk-In Tub? . What is different under the tub Every Ella therapy system is built…
• 📖How Do I Clean and Maintain My Walk-In Tub?To clean a walk-in tub, wipe the acrylic about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner, and once a month run the vinegar flush and clear the pump inlet cover. The flush is 2 cups of white vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water, added to a tub filled to 1 inch above the highest jets, run for 10 minutes and then drained, as explained in How Do I Clean the Jet Lines on My Walk-In Tub? . Between flushes, the tub's…
• 📖Can I use essential oils in a walk-in tub with jets?Not in the bath water. On a jetted Ella walk-in tub, essential oils should never be poured straight into the water, because oils can get stuck in the jet and air pumps, foul the lines and damage the motors, and that kind of damage is not a warranty matter. The right way to enjoy oils is the optional aromatherapy canister , a small chamber plumbed into the jet system that holds a few drops of oil so the scent…
• 📖How do you clean a walk-in tub, its jets and its door?Cleaning a walk-in tub comes down to three routines: wipe the acrylic, door and seal about twice a month with a mild non-abrasive cleaner such as Dawn dish detergent or Formula 409, run the vinegar flush through the jets once a month, and clear the pump inlet cover in the same session. Between flushes the tub's own ozone sterilization and Auto Purge keep the lines fresh, so there is no need to flush after every…
• 📖How do you clean a walk-in tub and its jets properly?Cleaning an Ella walk-in tub properly comes down to four habits: wipe the acrylic shell about twice a month with a non-abrasive cleaner, run the vinegar flush through the jet lines once a month, clear the pump inlet cover in that same session, and wipe the door seal and leave the door open between baths. A soaking tub with no jets skips the flush and the inlet cover, as Soaking Walk-In Tub vs Jetted Tub: Which Is…
• 📖Can You Use a Bath Bomb in a Jetted Walk-In Tub?Bath bombs are the one bath product Ella's Bubbles asks you to leave out of any jetted walk-in tub. Their oils, dye, glitter, confetti and floral material travel through the intake into the pump and the jet lines, where they can clog the jets and affect the tub mechanics over time. The full product-by-product list, including the Epsom salt routine, is in Can I use Epsom salts, bath bombs, bubble bath, or oils in…
• 📖What should I use to clean, sanitize and whiten my walk-in tub?For the acrylic shell of an Ella walk-in tub, use mild dish soap or a 1 to 1 mix of white vinegar and water on a soft cloth. For the jet lines, run the monthly vinegar flush, and for sanitizing, an Ella tub needs no chemicals at all, because it fills with fresh water for every bath and drains completely afterward, with an ozone generator sanitizing the lines on hydro massage tubs. The ring or film that makes a…
• 📖Can Epsom Salt Damage a Walk-In Tub, Its Jets or Its Chrome?Plain Epsom salt does not damage an Ella walk-in tub's pumps, in-line heater or jets as long as it is fully dissolved before it goes into the water, and it is the one bath additive Ella approves for use in a jetted tub. The damage owners actually see from Epsom salt is on the chrome and stainless trim: salt water that dries on the drain, threshold, jet covers or faucet leaves spots that look like rust and can eat…
• 📖How do I clean a walk-in tub and its jets properly?To clean a walk-in tub properly, work in three layers: wipe the acrylic shell and the door seal with a non-abrasive cleaner, clear hair and debris from the pump inlet cover each month, and flush the jet lines once a month with vinegar. The flush is simple: combine 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain.…
• 📖Does the Monthly Vinegar Flush Clean the Air Massage Lines Too?Yes. The monthly vinegar flush cleans the air massage lines as well as the hydro jet lines. The air and hydro systems on an Ella walk-in tub are fully plumbed, and when you fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets and run it for 10 minutes with the systems on, the vinegar and water mixture circulates through every jet, including the air jets and the microbubble lines on tubs that have them. The recipe is the…
• 📖Can I Use a Magic Eraser on My Walk-In Tub Acrylic?No. A Magic Eraser, or any melamine sponge, is an abrasive, and abrasives are the one thing that permanently scratches and dulls the glossy acrylic on an Ella walk-in tub. Ella's cleaning guidance names Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pads alongside scouring pads and scouring powders as products to keep off the shell, and scouring damage is excluded from the finish warranty. Routine cleaning needs nothing stronger than…
• 📖Can I Remove the Jet Nozzles on My Walk-In Tub to Clean Them?Yes, within limits. On the larger hydro jets the white plastic inner portion unscrews and lifts out of the tub so you can clean the chrome trim and the inside of the jet body, and a foot jet can be taken out from inside the tub and refitted, as Ella's jet adjustment video shows. Air jets stay in place, because removing an air jet lets air escape from the system. The space behind the jets is the pump plumbing, and…
• 📖How Do I Re-Caulk the Seams on an Ella AcrylX Shower Wall Kit?To re-caulk the seams on an Ella AcrylX shower wall kit, strip the old silicone from the panel-to-base and panel-to-panel seams with rubbing alcohol, the only product Ella recommends for removing old silicone from those seams, then rinse, dry and lay a fresh bead. The removal method is described in How Do I Get Sticker Glue, Caulk or Silicone Off the Tub? . The same caulk also closes the small hole at the edge of…
• 📖What causes cracks in walk-in tub acrylic and how do I prevent them?Cracks in a walk-in tub's acrylic surface are uncommon on an Ella tub, and when they do appear they are almost always fine stress marks in the finish around a hardware mounting point rather than a break through the shell. The most common spot is the finish around a grab bar, where pressure at the bolted mounting points can show up over time as fine cracks or whitening. Prevention comes down to how the shell is…
• 📖How do I remove mineral build-up inside a 2-piece faucet diverter?On an older 2-piece Ella fast-fill faucet, a diverter button that sticks or moves stiffly is usually mineral build-up inside the valve rather than a failed part. The fix Ella technical support suggests is to remove the escutcheon, take out the entire diverter valve, soak it in rubbing alcohol or a descaler such as CLR to dissolve the residue, and reinstall it. Before you pick up a tool, rule out an air lock, which…
• 📖How Do I Clean the Air Jet Bubble Lines in My Walk-In Tub?The air jet bubble lines in an Ella walk-in tub are cleaned with the same vinegar flush the hydro lines get: mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain. You run it once before the first bath and once a month after that, and the air system also clears itself between baths with an automatic Auto Purge that…
• 📖Can I Use a Store-Bought Jetted Tub Cleaner Instead of Vinegar?Yes, with one confirmed product. Ella's technical support has confirmed that Nutra-Max, a cleaner made for jetted tubs, is safe for an Ella walk-in tub and can be used to cleanse and disinfect the hydro massage system in place of the vinegar and water mixture, and it will not harm the tub. Vinegar remains the standard routine explained in What Is the Vinegar Flush on a Walk-In Tub? , bleach is not part of Ella's…
• 📖How Do I Polish a Dulled or Scratched Acrylic Walk-In Tub?Light scratches and dull areas on the acrylic of an Ella walk-in tub are polished out with a fine grade automotive polishing compound such as Turtle Wax, worked in small circles on a soft cloth, with the residue wiped off afterward. It works because the white on an Ella shell runs all the way through the acrylic sheet rather than sitting on top as a finish layer, so a dulled spot can be brought back rather than…
• 📖How Do I Run the One-Time Vinegar Flush on a New Ella Walk-In Tub?Run the one-time vinegar flush after the installer has finished and before anyone takes a bath: mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, close both drains, fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes and drain it completely. It is the same recipe Ella publishes for the monthly flush, so the first one simply starts the routine. The full explanation of the…
• 📖Can You Use Epsom Salts in an Air Jetted Walk-In Tub?Yes. Plain Epsom salts can be used in an Ella walk-in tub with air massage, and Ella's guidance is that they will not harm the jetting system as long as they are fully dissolved. The best practice for an air tub is simple: enjoy the air massage first, switch it off, then add the dissolved salts for a still soak, drain right away and rinse the chrome. The full product-by-product list is in Can I use Epsom salts…
• 📖How Do You Clean the Air Bubble Lines in a Jetted Walk-In Tub?You clean the air bubble lines in an Ella jetted walk-in tub with a simple white vinegar flush, and the tub handles much of the day-to-day work by itself. Combine 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, fill the tub with water to one inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain. The same flush is done once before the first bath and about once a month after that, as…
• 📖How Do You Drain a Hydro Massage Walk-In Tub and Clear the Jets?To drain a hydro massage walk-in tub, stop the hydro jets with one press of the hydro button, open the drain, and let the bath water leave through the floor drain. The water jets do not need to be purged by hand. Ozone sanitizes the hydro lines whenever the jets run, the monthly vinegar flush cleans them, and if your tub also has air massage, the automatic cycle explained in What Is Auto Purge on a Walk-In Tub?…
• 📖How do I run the one-time vinegar flush on a new Ella walk-in tub?To run the first flush on a new Ella walk-in tub, mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, close the drains, fill the tub to 1 inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain completely. You do this once before your very first bath, and the same recipe becomes your monthly flush. The Printable First Bath Checklist for a New Walk-In Tub lists it as a tick-box item.…
• 📖How to clean and maintain your Ella walk-in tub, month by monthCleaning and maintaining your Ella walk-in tub month by month is easier than most people expect. The jetted systems are fully plumbed, so you do not need to flush them after every bath. Your routine comes down to three habits: a one-time vinegar flush before your very first bath, a simple monthly flush with 2 cups of white vinegar and 2 cups of water, and regular wipe-downs with a gentle, non-abrasive cleaner.…
• 📖Which cleaners are safe for my walk-in tub, and which chemicals should I avoid?The safe cleaners for a walk-in tub are gentle, non abrasive household bathroom cleaners: Dawn dish detergent, Simple Green, Tilex, Pine-Sol, Clorox Fraganzia, and the other products on the printed Ella cleaning instructions, applied with a soft cloth. The acrylic surface keeps its glossy white finish for many years as long as abrasive products, bleach, and harsh chemical corrosives never touch it. Below is the…
• 📖Can I use Epsom salts, bath bombs, bubble bath, or oils in my walk-in tub?Yes, you can use Epsom salts in a walk-in tub, along with regular soaps, shampoos, and bubble bath, with a few simple rules. Epsom salts will not harm the jetting system as long as you dissolve them first, enjoy them for the soak after the jets are finished, drain right away, and rinse the chrome. Bath bombs are the one product we ask you to avoid, because their dyes, glitter, and floral bits can clog the jets.…
• 📖What is ozone sanitation, and is the light humming noise from my tub normal?Ozone sanitation is a built-in hygiene feature on Ella jetted walk-in tubs, and the light humming noise it makes is completely normal. Whenever you run the hydro massage, an ozone generator releases natural ozone into the water system to eliminate mold and bacteria and to prevent mildew and odor from developing. It runs completely automatically, starts and stops with the hydro pump, and the only sign you may…
• 📖Why did my tub turn on by itself? Understanding the Auto-Purge air cleaning cycleIf your walk-in tub turned on by itself a little while after your bath, or even while you are still relaxing in the water, that is the Auto-Purge feature, and it is completely normal. On tubs with the three speed air massage, about 20 minutes after you turn the air massage pump off the air system starts automatically and runs for 120 seconds (2 minutes), blowing air through its lines to clear out the water that…
• 📖Caring for your walk-in tub door seal so it stays watertight for yearsWalk-in tub door seal care comes down to two easy habits: keep the seal and door frame clean, and leave the door slightly open whenever the tub is not in use. Your door seal is designed to stay watertight for many years, and residue buildup and constant compression are the two things that shorten its life. Both are fully in your control. Watch: proper door seal maintenance Chapters in this video…

Therapies & Operation155 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Can I Shower in a Walk-In Tub? Hand Showers, Shower Columns, and ScreensCan you shower in a walk-in tub? Yes, you can absolutely shower in an Ella walk-in tub. Every Ella fast fill faucet set includes an extendable, multi function hand shower, so seated showering is built in from day one. If you would like a full standing or seated shower with an overhead rain shower head, our optional Shower Column Kit adds one to any walk-in tub equipped with an Ella 2-piece or 5-piece deck mount…
• 📖Infusion Microbubble Therapy: What It Does and Which Tubs Offer ItInfusion Microbubble Therapy is one of Ella's most popular therapy options. With one touch of a button, the system fills your bath with billions of tiny oxygen rich bubbles, each smaller than 50 microns, that soften and exfoliate the skin and turn the water a beautiful cloudy white. It is a skin therapy rather than a massage, and customers with dry or sensitive skin choose it most often. This article explains what…
• 📖Light Chromatherapy: Using the LED Colors and Fixing a Light That Will Not Turn OnLight chromatherapy on an Ella walk-in tub is a multi colored LED inside the tub that cycles through a soothing range of colors, adding a relaxing visual dimension to your bath. Press the light button once to start the cycle, keep pressing to hold a color you like, and press and hold for two seconds to turn it off. It works the same way whether your tub has the easy touch push buttons or the digital touchpad. This…
• 📖Independent Foot Massage: A Foot Spa Without Filling the Whole TubIndependent foot massage is one of the most loved therapy options on Ella walk-in tubs, because it gives you a genuine foot spa without filling the whole tub. Fill just the foot well to just below the seat and just above the calf jets, press the foot massage button, and a relaxing therapeutic foot massage is only minutes away. It runs on its own dedicated pump with its own intensity dial, so it never borrows power…
• 📖Push Button Controls vs the Digital Touchpad: Operating Every Deck ControlElla walk-in tubs come with a choice of deck controls: on and off push button controls, or the digital touchpad. Both operate the same therapy systems, they just do it a little differently. With push controls, the air button cycles high, medium, low, off and the water button starts and stops the hydro pump; on the digital touchpad, the air bubble icon starts the air massage, plus and minus set the intensity, and a…
• 📖The Thermostatic Control Valve (Anti-Scald): Which Faucets Have It, Its Setting, and Water-Heater AdviceWhether your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub has an anti-scald thermostatic control valve (TCV) depends on the faucet configuration you ordered. Tubs equipped with an Ella thermostatic faucet package include a deck-mounted Thermostatic Control Valve that blends hot and cold water to a set temperature before it leaves the faucet, factory-set at 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Tubs ordered with the dual-lever 5-piece fast-fill…
• 📖How Much Water Before Turning On the Jets: Fill Levels for Hydro, Air, Foot, and MicrobubbleHow much water should be in a walk-in tub before you turn on the jets? Before you switch on any pump in your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub, the water must cover every jet that pump serves. For a full-body hydro massage, fill until the water is 1 to 2 inches above the highest hydro jets (Ella's official operation video uses 2 inches). For air massage, all air jets must be under water, which means a full-tub fill. For…
• 📖How to Take a Bath in Your Walk-In Tub: The Sequence From Stepping In to Stepping OutHow do you take a bath in a walk-in tub? You sit inside your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub with the door closed and locked while it fills, while you bathe and while it drains. The order never changes: step in, sit, close and lock the door, close the drain or drains, fill until the water is above the jets, run your therapies, turn them off, open the drains, wait until the tub is completely empty, then open the door…
• 📖Adding Infusion Microbubble Therapy to a Conventional Bathtub: The Universal Installation Kit and the NuWhirl Install GuidesYes, microbubble therapy can be added to a regular bathtub. Ella's Bubbles offers the Infusion Microbubble Therapy Universal Installation Kit, a microbubble retrofit kit designed for standard conventional tubs with a small installation footprint. The pump, pressure tank and plumbing mount behind or beneath the tub, so the installer needs access to that space, and Ella's site says the kit is installed by a licensed…
• 📖Every Therapy and Control Video in One Place: Air, Hydro, Foot Massage, Microbubble, Heated Seat, Lights and ControlsLooking for the walk-in tub therapy and control videos in one place? Ella's Bubbles has published a short video for nearly every therapy and control on its walk-in tubs, and this page lists them all with one line on what each shows, so you can find the air speeds, the hydro dial, the foot massage, microbubbles, the heated seat, the lights and the control panels quickly. Three of them are embedded below, and every…
• 📖Common Questions About Operating Your Walk-In TubMost questions about operating a walk-in tub have short, verified answers, and this page collects the common questions about operating your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub in one place. The essentials: the water button runs the hydro jets, the air button steps through three speeds starting at high, the light button runs the LED and turns off with a two second hold, the water must be 2 inches above the highest jets…
• 📖Common Questions About Ella Hydrogen Therapy: PPB and PPM, How It Is Generated, Which Tubs Can Have It and the Test VideoElla hydrogen therapy is a generator and pump installed under the molded seat of the tub, fed from a distilled water tank, that injects molecular hydrogen into the bath water through a single jet below seat level at the push of a button. Ella's published page states that the water reaches 1500 ppb of hydrogen by the time the tub fills to the drain overflow and may rise to 2000 ppb during an extended bath of 15 to…
• 📖Bidet Jets and Where the Air Jets Sit: Upper, Lower and Bidet Positions by FamilyBidet jets on an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub are air jets, not water jets. They belong to the three-speed air massage system, sit at the base of the seat where they help bathers clean hard-to-reach places, and run whenever the air massage runs, at whichever speed you have chosen. They have no switch of their own. This page explains the three air jet positions on each tub family, which tubs have bidet jets, how the…
• 📖Will I Get Cold While the Tub Fills or Drains? The Most Common Question, Answered on VideoWill I get cold while the tub fills or drains? No, not in the way people fear. It is the question Ella's Bubbles hears most often about walk-in tubs: whether you will sit shivering while the tub fills and again while it drains. The short answer from Ella's own video is that the tub is designed around exactly that worry: fast-fill faucets shorten the wait, the glossy acrylic shell holds heat, the in-line water…
• 📖The Aromatherapy Canister: How It Works, What Goes In It, How It Is Plumbed and Which Tubs Can Have ItThe aromatherapy option on an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub is a small canister plumbed into the jet system, with a chrome twist cap sitting flush on the tub deck. You twist the cap open, add a scent cartridge or your chosen bath scent or essential oil, twist it closed, and the water circulating through the jets picks up the aroma and carries it into the bath. It is a NuWhirl system, it is an option rather than a…
• 📖Warm-Water Bathing Guidelines: Temperature, Duration, Arthritis, Circulation and Skin (Not Medical Advice)How warm and how long should a walk-in tub bath be? Many Ella's Bubbles customers bathe for relief from arthritis, sore joints, circulation concerns or dry skin, and the warm-water bathing guidelines Ella publishes are consistent: keep the water warm rather than hot (never above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), soak for about 20 minutes when the goal is easing muscles and joints, keep it to 10 minutes or less for dry or…
• 📖Hums, Clicks, Whooshes and Buzzes: The Sounds an Ella Walk-In Tub Makes and Which Ones Are NormalMost of the sounds an Ella walk-in tub makes are simply the sound of the tub doing its job: a moderate hum from a water pump, a rush of air from the blower, a light hum from the ozone generator, a click at the relay when you press a button, and a burst of air about 20 minutes after you switch the air massage off. This guide walks through each one so you can tell a normal working sound from the few that mean it is…
• 📖What Comes With Each Therapy Package: Pumps, In-Line Heater, Ozone, Auto Purge, LED, Dials, Pressure Tank and Controls at a GlanceThe tub itself stays the same whichever therapy package you choose. What changes is the equipment installed underneath it: which pumps, whether the in-line heater and ozone generator are included, whether the LED light comes along, how many intensity dials sit on the deck, and which controls you press. This cheat sheet lays all of that out package by package so you can see at a glance what each one includes before…
• 📖Common Questions About Choosing Therapies: Hydro or Air for Muscle Tension, Foot Massage Versus Microbubble, Fewer Jets, and Whether Ozone Is a TherapyChoosing a therapy package comes down to a few practical questions: do you want a firm, targeted massage or a gentle one, do you care more about your feet or your skin, and how much equipment do you want under the tub? Below are the ten questions people ask most often when deciding, each with a short answer and a pointer to a fuller article. None of this is medical advice; if you are bathing for a health reason…
• 📖Therapy System Schematics Index: Every Published Component Diagram, Which Models It Lists, and How Many Dedicated Lines It ShowsThis page indexes every therapy system component diagram (the one-page "schematics") Ella's Bubbles publishes for its walk-in tubs: the 21 schematic PDFs linked from product pages, the Air + Hydro component diagram in the specifications folder, and ten more diagrams in the same schematics folder. For each you will find the package printed, the models or door families listed, how many dedicated lines it shows, and…
• 📖What the Hydro Massage Schematic Shows: One Pump, the In-Line Heater in the Jet Loop, Ozone and One Dedicated LineThis page explains the Hydro Therapeutic Massage component diagram, the one-page schematic Ella's Bubbles publishes for the hydro-only therapy package. It is drawn from the 2023/03 upload hydromassagepdf_compressed.pdf (revision 01-16-26) and its older 2021/10 sibling hydrotherapy-massage-system-schematics.pdf (revision 10-16-23). You will learn which tubs the diagram lists, what its three numbered components are…
• 📖What the Standard, Flow and Zen Hydro Schematics Show: Hydro Only, and Hydro With the Heated Seat and OzoneThis page explains the two component diagrams Ella's Bubbles publishes for the hydro massage package on the Standard, Flow and Zen: hydro-stand-flow.pdf (Hydro Therapeutic Massage, revision 10-16-23) and hydro-Heat-stand-flow.pdf (Hydro Therapeutic Massage + Heated Seat & Back + Ozone, revision 12-23-25), both in the /walk-in-tub/schematics/ folder. It also covers a third file, lay-down-hydro-heat.pdf, whose…
• 📖What the Soaking + Heated Seat & Back Schematic Shows: Three Components, No Pumps, and the Only 15 Amp CalloutThis page explains hydro-heat.pdf, the component diagram in the /walk-in-tub/schematics/ folder that shows the Soaking + Heated Seat & Back configuration (revision 05-06-24). It is the one schematic in the set with no pump on it, and the only one that prints 15 AMP. You will learn why the file name is misleading, what its three components are, how the keypad, heater box and pads connect, and why nothing on…
• 📖What the LayDown Air Massage Schematic Shows: Push Control, Control Box, Blower, and the Heated Seat VariantThis page explains the Air Therapeutic Massage component diagram for LayDown tubs, published as air-massage-system.pdf in the 2021/11 uploads (revision 10-16-23), and its heated seat companion lay-down-air-heat.pdf in the /walk-in-tub/schematics/ folder (revision 12-30-25). You will learn what the two components on the plain air diagram are, how the signal runs from the push control to the jets, why Auto Purge is…
• 📖What the LayDown Microbubble Schematic Shows: Air Switch, Relay, Water Pump, Pressure Tank and One JetThis page explains the Micro Bubble Therapy System component diagram for LayDown tubs, Micro_Lay-down.pdf in the /walk-in-tub/schematics/ folder (revision 7-13-23), and its heated seat companion lay-down-micro-heat.pdf (Microbubble Therapy + Heated Seat & Back, revision 01-16-26). You will learn what the single component on the plain diagram contains, how the chain runs from the push control through the relay…
• 📖What the Air + Hydro Component Diagram Shows: Blower, Hydro Pump, Control Box Loads, Heater, Ozone and LED on One Dedicated LineThis page walks through the Air + Hydro Therapeutic Massage component diagram, the one-page drawing that many Ella walk-in tub product pages link to under their specifications. It comes from the official document air-hydro.pdf, revision dated 01-16-26, which is printed as "Available With: Stainless Steel, Outward Door." The diagram linked from many product pages The drawing is a system schematic rather than a…
• 📖What the Air + Hydro Digital Controller and Heated Seat Schematics Show: Three Variants for the Lounger, Stainless and Outward Door TubsThis page explains three closely related Ella's Bubbles schematics: the Air + Hydro Therapeutic Massage Component Diagram With Digital Controller (air-hydro-digital.pdf), the Air + Hydro Therapeutic Massage + Heated Seat & Back Component Diagram With Digital Controller (air-hydro-digital-heat.pdf), and the push-control Air + Hydro Therapeutic Massage + Heated Seat & Back Component Diagram…
• 📖What the Front Entry Air + Hydro Schematic Shows: Five Components on One Dedicated LineThis page explains the Air + Hydro Therapeutic Massage component diagram printed specifically for the Ella Front Entry walk-in tub. It comes from the official schematic air-hydro-front-entry.pdf, revision dated 02-05-26, which prints "Available With: Front Entry." We also pull the matching numbers from the Front Entry spec sheet so you can see how the diagram's five components line up with the jets, pumps, and…
• 📖What the Front Entry Hydro + Microbubble Schematic Shows: Why This Package Needs Two Dedicated LinesThis page explains the Hydro Therapeutic Massage + Microbubble Therapy component diagram drawn for the Ella Front Entry walk-in tub, and in particular why this package is wired to two dedicated electrical lines. It comes from the official schematic hydro-microbubble-front-entry.pdf, revision dated 02-04-26, which prints "Available With: Front Entry." We also reference the Front Entry spec sheet for the pump and…
• 📖What the Hydro + Microbubble Schematic Shows: Two Pumps, a Pressure Tank, an LED Control Box and Two Dedicated Lines (Stainless and Outward Door Tubs)This page explains the Hydro Therapeutic Massage + Microbubble Therapy component diagram published for Ella's stainless steel inward-swing door and outward-swing door walk-in tubs. It comes from the official schematic hydromicrobubblepdf_compressed.pdf, revision dated 01-16-26, which prints "Available With: Stainless Steel, Outward Door." The drawing shows two pumps, a pressure tank, an in-line heater, an ozone…
• 📖What the Air + Hydro + Micro Schematic Shows: Digital Controller, Blower, Seat Hydro Pump, Pressure Tank and Two Dedicated LinesThis page explains the Air + Hydro Therapeutic Massage + Microbubble Therapy component diagram, the schematic for Ella's triple therapy package. It comes from the official document Air+Hydro+Micro.pdf, revision dated 01-16-26, which prints "Available On: Stainless Steel, Outward Door." The drawing shows a digital controller running the air blower and the seat hydro pump, a separate push button for the microbubble…
• 📖What the Shak and Big4One Digital Schematic Shows: Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble on Three Dedicated LinesThis page explains the therapy schematic titled Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble Therapy with Digital Controller, the component diagram Ella's Bubbles publishes for the Shak and Big4One walk-in tubs. It is the only single-seat diagram in the schematic family that calls for three dedicated wall outlets, so it answers most of the electrical questions that come up when one of these large tubs is planned…
• 📖What the Full Push-Control Package Schematic Shows: Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble + Heated Seat and Back (Transfer60, TransferXXL, Ultimate)This page explains the therapy schematic titled Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot Therapeutic Massage + Microbubble Therapy + Heated Seat & Back, the push-control version of the fullest single-seat package Ella's Bubbles offers. The diagram is published for the Transfer60, TransferXXL and Ultimate walk-in tubs and appears in two uploads on ellasbubbles.com, both carrying the revision date 08-01-26. Below you will find…
• 📖What the Full Digital Controller Package Schematic Shows: Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble + Heated Seat and Back (Transfer60, TransferXXL, Ultimate)This page explains the therapy schematic titled Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble Therapy + Heated Seat & Back with Digital Controller, published by Ella's Bubbles for the Transfer60, TransferXXL and Ultimate walk-in tubs. It is the fullest single-seat equipment stack drawn on one sheet, and it is the digital-controller counterpart to the push-control diagram of the same package. The information below is…
• 📖What the Two-Seat Full Package Schematic Shows: Two Foot Pumps, Two HSB Boxes and Three Dedicated Lines (Companion, Escape, Tub4Two, Big4Two)This page explains the schematic titled 2 Seats Walk-in Tub, Air + Hydro Therapeutic Massage + Hydro Foot + Microbubble Therapy + Heated Seat & Back with Digital Controller, the diagram Ella's Bubbles publishes for its two-seat walk-in tubs. It is the only two-seat diagram in the set, and it shows two foot pumps, two heat keypads and two HSB boxes, one per side, on three dedicated lines. The details below come…
• 📖What the Hydro + Hydro Foot Schematic Shows: Two Hydro Pumps, Two Dials, the Heater in the Foot Loop and Two Dedicated LinesThis page walks through the Hydro + Hydro Foot Therapeutic Massage component diagram, the one-page schematic Ella's Bubbles publishes as Hydro-Independent-Hydro-Foot-Massage-System-Schematics_compressed.pdf (revision 01-16-26). It is the diagram for tubs that carry two hydro pumps, one for the seat jets and one for the foot jets, with no air massage system. If your tub was ordered with the Hydro + Hydro…
• 📖What the Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble Schematic Shows: Two Hydro Pumps Plus the Pressure Tank on Two Dedicated LinesThis page explains the Hydro + Hydro Foot Therapeutic Massage + Microbubble Therapy + Ozone component diagram, published by Ella's Bubbles as Hydro+Hydro+Micro.pdf (revision 01-16-26). It is the schematic for tubs that combine two hydro pumps, one for the seat jets and one for the foot jets, with the Infusion Microbubbles system and its pressure tank, but no air massage pump. If your order was written as Hydro +…
• 📖What the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot Schematic Shows: Three Systems, Push Controls, Load 1 and Load 2 (Royal, Monaco, Elite, Capri, Shak, Transfer60, Transfer32, TransferXXL)This page explains the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot Therapeutic Massage component diagram, the schematic Ella's Bubbles publishes for tubs that combine an air massage pump with two independent hydro pumps and push-button controls. The current copy is Air-Hydro-Independent-Foot-Massage-System.pdf in the 2024/06 uploads folder (revision 01-08-26), and the same drawing is also served as airhydro-hydro.pdf in the…
• 📖What the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Heated Seat & Back Schematic Shows: The Master Box, Heat Keypad and Surface Heater PadsThis page explains the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot Therapeutic Massage + Heated Seat & Back component diagram, the schematic Ella's Bubbles publishes for tubs that pair the three-pump massage package with electric surface heater pads under the seat and backrest. The primary copy is air-hydro-hydro-heat.pdf in the walk-in-tub schematics folder (revision 01-16-26), and an earlier copy is served as…
• 📖What the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot Digital Controller Schematic Shows (Companion, Escape, Tub4Two, Big4Two, Shak, Big4One, Transfer60, TransferXXL)This page explains the Air + Hydro Therapeutic Massage + Hydro Foot Component Diagram With Digital Controller, published by Ella's Bubbles as air-hydro-hydro-digital.pdf in the walk-in-tub schematics folder (revision 10-16-23). It is the schematic for tubs that combine an air massage pump with two independent hydro pumps and use a digital controller, rather than plain push buttons, for the air and seat hydro…
• 📖What the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble Schematic Shows (Transfer60, TransferXXL, Ultimate)This page explains the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot Therapeutic Massage + Microbubble Therapy component diagram, published by Ella's Bubbles as air-hydro-hydrofoot-microbubble-therapy.pdf in the walk-in-tub schematics folder (revision 01-08-26). It is one of the most complete of Ella's therapy schematics: an air massage pump, two independent hydro pumps, and the Infusion Microbubbles system with its pressure vessel…
• 📖What Is H2 Hydrogen Therapy on a Walk-In Tub?H2 hydrogen therapy on an Ella walk-in tub is a hydrogen generator and pump installed under the molded seat, fed from a distilled water tank, that infuses the bath with molecular hydrogen as micro and nano bubbles through a single jet below seat level. Owners also call it a hydrogen bath, hydrogen water therapy or the H2 system. On the Standard60 it is packaged together with microbubbles as the H2 and…
• 📖What Is Chromatherapy (LED Light) on a Walk-In Tub?Chromatherapy on an Ella walk-in tub is a multi-colored LED light inside the tub that cycles through eight soothing colors, adding a relaxing visual dimension to your bath. Owners also call it the LED light, light therapy or the mood light. Press the light button once to start the cycle, keep pressing to hold a color you like, and press and hold for two seconds to turn it off. How it works The LED sits inside…
• 📖What Is an Aromatherapy Canister on a Walk-In Tub?An aromatherapy canister on an Ella walk-in tub is an optional NuWhirl canister teed into the jet plumbing beneath the deck, topped by a chrome twist cap sitting flush on the tub deck. You add a scent cartridge or a few drops of essential oil, and the water circulating through the jets carries the aroma into the bath. Owners also call it the aromatherapy option or the scent canister. How it works The system…
• 📖What Is Auto Purge on a Walk-In Tub?Auto Purge is the self-cleaning cycle on Ella air massage systems. About 20 minutes after you turn the air massage off, the air pump starts on its own and runs for 120 seconds to blow leftover water out of the air lines. Owners sometimes call it the auto-purge cycle, the self-purge, the air dry cycle or "the tub turning on by itself," and it is completely normal. How it works After an air bath, a little water…
• 📖What Is an In-Line Water Heater on a Walk-In Tub?An in-line water heater is the heater plumbed into the hydro massage loop under an Ella walk-in tub. It maintains, but does not raise, your bath temperature while the hydro pump is running. Sometimes called the inline heater, the hydro heater or the water heater on the jets, it is part of every hydro massage package and works quietly in the background so you stay warm through a long soak. How it works You fill…
• 📖What Is Ozone Sterilization on a Walk-In Tub?Ozone sterilization is a built-in ozone generator on Ella hydro massage tubs that releases natural ozone into the water system whenever the hydro pump runs, eliminating mold and bacteria and preventing mildew and odor from developing in the lines. Also called ozone sanitation, the ozonator or the ozone sanitizer, it is a hygiene feature rather than a therapy, and it needs nothing from you. How it works The…
• 📖What Is Infusion Microbubble Therapy on a Walk-In Tub?Infusion Microbubble Therapy is a skin therapy option on Ella walk-in tubs that fills the bath with billions of oxygen-rich bubbles smaller than 50 microns from a single port, turning the water cloudy white and softening and exfoliating the skin. It is a skin treatment rather than a massage, popular with people who have dry or sensitive skin. How it works The system uses its own dedicated 1 HP water pump…
• 📖What Are Hydro Massage Jets on a Walk-In Tub?Hydro massage jets, also called hydrotherapy jets, water jets or whirlpool jets, are the water jets in an Ella walk-in tub that are fed by a pump recirculating your bath water. They deliver a deep, targeted massage to the back, hips, legs and feet, with the strength set by the intensity dial on the deck. The gentler air massage system is covered in hydro massage vs air massage . How it works When you press…
• 📖What Are Air Massage Jets on a Walk-In Tub?Air massage jets are the small brass jets set into the seat, the base of the seat and the footwell floor of an Ella walk-in tub. Fed by a three-speed blower, they deliver a gentle, effervescent full-body bubble massage. You will also hear them called air jets or bubble jets; together they make up the air massage system, the softer counterpart to hydro massage . How it works Pressing the Air button sends a…
• 📖What Are Bidet Jets on a Walk-In Tub?Bidet jets on an Ella walk-in tub are air jets positioned at the base of the seat to help with personal hygiene in places that are hard to reach. Sometimes called hygiene jets or bidet air jets, they belong to the three-speed air massage system, run at whatever speed you have chosen, and have no switch of their own. They are air, not water: the air blower drives them and the Auto Purge cycle clears them after…
• 📖What Is Independent Foot Massage on a Walk-In Tub?Independent foot massage is a therapy option on Ella walk-in tubs that gives the foot and calf jets their own dedicated hydro pump and their own intensity dial. Because the foot jets no longer depend on the seat jets, you can fill only the footwell and enjoy a foot spa without filling the whole tub. Ella also calls it the Hydro Foot package, and the full story is in Independent Foot Massage: A Foot Spa Without…
• 📖What Is a Heated Seat and Backrest on a Walk-In Tub?The heated seat and backrest is an optional 4A radiant surface heating system built into the seat and backrest of an Ella walk-in tub. Controlled by its own small keypad, it warms the surfaces you sit and lean against so the tub feels cozy while it fills and after it drains, and it shuts itself off after 20 minutes. Owners also call it the seat heater or, from the invoice code, the HSB. It is completely separate…
• 📖What Is the Intensity Control Dial on a Walk-In Tub?The intensity control dial is the chrome dial on the deck of every Ella hydro massage tub that lets you make the water jets stronger or gentler. You may also hear it called the jet intensity dial, the hydro intensity control or simply the air control. That last name fits best, because the dial works by adding or removing air in the jet stream rather than by changing anything electrical. It is an air control on a…
• 📖What Are Push Controls (Easy-Touch Buttons) on a Walk-In Tub?Push controls, also called easy-touch buttons, on and off push buttons or pneumatic deck buttons, are the chrome buttons on the deck of an Ella walk-in tub that start and stop the pumps and the light. Each button sends a small puff of air through a slim tube to a relay inside the control box, so there is no electricity at the button itself. A gentle press with the palm of your hand is all they need. Chrome push…
• 📖What Is the Digital Controller (Touchpad) on a Walk-In Tub?The digital controller, also called the digital touchpad, digital control panel or keypad, is Ella's alternative to chrome push buttons for running the therapy systems on a walk-in tub. Instead of pneumatic buttons it uses a flat panel on the deck: a bubble icon starts the air massage, plus and minus keys set the speed, and holding the icon for two seconds stops it. The therapy systems underneath are the same as…
• 📖What Is the Water Line Before Running the Jets on a Walk-In Tub?The water line before running the jets, sometimes called the fill line, the waterline or the minimum jet water level, is the amount of water each pump in your Ella walk-in tub needs before you switch it on. For hydro massage it is 1 to 2 inches above the highest hydro jet; Ella's operation video uses 2 inches. For air massage every air jet must be submerged, and for a foot-only session with independent foot…
• 📖What Is a Therapy Package on a Walk-In Tub?A therapy package, sometimes called the jetting package or massage package, is the set of pumps and systems installed under an Ella walk-in tub at order time. The choices are Soaking, Hydro Massage, Air Massage, Air plus Hydro, Hydro plus Independent Foot Massage, Hydro plus Microbubble, and triple combinations on certain models. The package decides the jet count, the deck controls, whether the LED light and…
• 📖Why Did My Walk-In Tub Turn On by Itself?If your tub turned on by itself a little while after the bath, or the air came on by itself after you got out, you are almost certainly hearing the Auto Purge, and it is completely normal. On every Ella tub with the air massage package, about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off the air system starts on its own, runs for 120 seconds to blow leftover water out of the air lines, and then stops. It cannot be…
• 📖Why Did the Auto Purge Come On While I Was Filling the Tub?If the auto purge came on while you were filling the tub, or it blows a cool mist for two minutes before your wife is done washing, the cause is nearly always the timer. The Auto Purge on air massage tubs starts about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off and runs for 120 seconds, and it does that whether the tub is full, empty or still filling. Running the air for a moment before the bath, perhaps to test…
• 📖Why Isn't the Auto Purge Running on My Tub?If the auto purge is not running on your tub, the first thing to check is whether your tub has the air massage package at all. The Auto Purge exists only on tubs with the three speed air massage; it blows leftover water out of the air lines about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off and runs for 120 seconds. A hydro only tub such as the Zen has no air lines to purge, so it never cycles, and that is by…
• 📖Why Does My Air Massage Stay on One Speed?If the air stays on one speed, the first thing to check is the press sequence, because the three speed air massage does not ramp up the way many people expect. Press the air button once for high, twice for medium, three times for low, and a fourth time to turn the air off. So the very first press gives you the strongest setting, and each following press steps down. Owners who assume the first press is low often…
• 📖What Do I Do If My Walk-In Tub Jets Are Too Strong?If your jets are too strong, or the back jets push you forward, the first thing to reach for is the intensity dial on the deck. Every hydro tub has one, and turning it down removes air from the jet stream for a gentler flow, all the way down to where the massage is barely noticeable. For the air massage, the fix is the press sequence: the first press is high, the second is medium and the third is low, so pressing…
• 📖Why Doesn't the Water Stay Hot and Why Do the Jets Blow Cold?If the water does not stay hot and the jets blow cold, the first thing to check is what the in line heater is designed to do. It maintains the temperature of the hot water you filled with; it does not heat a cold fill, and it runs only while the hydro pump is running. So the tub does not heat the water on its own. Your home water heater sets the starting temperature, and the in line heater holds it steady during…
• 📖Why Isn't My Heated Seat Working?If your heated seat is not working, the first thing to check is the timer. The heated seat and back switches itself off after 20 minutes, so a seat that was warm and then went cool has not failed; press the button again to restart it. Press the heated seat button once to start and again to stop, and for the best result turn it on 10 to 15 minutes before entering the tub. If the seat has never warmed at all, the…
• 📖How Do I Turn the Jets Off in an Emergency?If you need to turn the jets off in an emergency, use the same controls that started them: each function has its own on and off control on the deck, and none of them needs a sequence to stop. Hydro massage is one press on and one press off. Air massage cycles high, medium and low, and the fourth press turns it off. The chromatherapy light turns off with a two second hold. The in line heater has no switch of its…
• 📖What Does This Button on My Walk-In Tub Do?If you are wondering what a button on your walk-in tub does, you are in good company, because some Transfer and legacy tubs ship with unlabeled push buttons and that is normal. Here is the quick key: Water is the hydro pump, Air is the three speed air massage, Micro is the microbubble system, Light is the LED chromatherapy, and the button with a flame on it is the heated seat. The plain knob with no label on a…
• 📖Why Is the Water in My Walk-In Tub Too Hot?When the water in your walk-in tub is too hot, the answer depends on which faucet package your tub was built with. Tubs ordered with an Ella thermostatic faucet package include a Thermostatic Control Valve, or TCV, that blends hot and cold to a set temperature. If your tub has a TCV and the water still runs hotter than the setting, the usual cause is a fouled cartridge, and the fix is to clean or replace it and…
• 📖How Does the Aromatherapy Option on My Tub Work?If you are asking how the aromatherapy option works, here is the simple version: it is a canister built into the tub's plumbing, a four part assembly that lets you insert and replace scents or essential oils so the fragrance is carried into the bath while the tub runs. It is an ordered option rather than a standard feature, so the first thing to check is whether the canister was part of your order. Oils are never…
• 📖Why Is There a Metallic Smell When the Jets Run?A faint metallic smell when the jets run on a hydro tub is almost always the ozone sanitation system doing its job, and it is normal. Ozone is not a therapy; it sanitizes the hydro jet lines against mold and scum, it runs automatically whenever the hydro pump runs, and it exists only on tubs with hydro jets. The small generator also makes a light hum or hiss on its own, which is expected. The first thing to check…
• 📖How Do I Use Only the Foot Massage Without Filling the Whole Tub?Whether you can use only the foot massage without filling the whole tub depends on one thing: whether your therapy package includes Independent Foot Massage. Packages with that option put the foot jets on their own pump and their own button, so the foot spa runs with only the footwell filled, to just below the seat and just above the calf jets. Without that package the upper jets share the pump with the foot jets…
• 📖Why Does Only One Side of My Two Seat Tub Massage?When only one side of your two seat tub massages, the good news is that the problem is almost always local to that side rather than a failure of the whole tub. On a two seat tub the digital controller runs the air massage, the seat hydro and the LED for both seats, but each side has its own foot hydro pump and dial, and its own heated seat box and keypad. So a dead foot well or a cold seat is diagnosed on that…
• 📖I Did Not Receive an Owner's Manual for My Walk-In Tub. Where Do I Get One?If you did not receive an owner's manual with your walk-in tub, or the paperwork went missing during installation, the team can send everything that ships with the tub as email attachments: the owner's manual, the spec sheet and the cleaning and care instructions for your model. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your model or serial number, and the right documents follow. This…
• 📖Can I Add Air Jets, a Heater or a Heated Seat to My Tub Later?Wondering whether you can add air jets, a heater or a heated seat to your tub later? The short answer is that therapy systems are factory builds and cannot be added after the tub is made, while a heated seat is an option chosen at order time on any standard order. Air jets cannot be added to a hydro only tub, because each therapy package comes with its own dedicated pump, plumbing and switches built into the…
• 📖Multiple Sclerosis, Heat Sensitivity and Walk-In Tub BathingIf you or someone you care for lives with multiple sclerosis (MS), a walk-in tub bath plan starts with water temperature, because many people with MS notice that their symptoms are temporarily worse when they are exposed to heat. An Ella walk-in tub gives you several ways to keep a bath comfortably warm rather than hot: you set the fill temperature at the faucet, the thermostatic control valve on tubs that have…
• 📖Arthritis and Operating a Walk-In Tub With Limited Grip: Handles, Buttons, Drains and Warm WaterMany Ella's Bubbles customers with arthritis choose a walk-in tub, and the everyday controls on an Ella tub can be operated without a strong grip: the door handle tension can be eased with a lock nut adjustment, the drain openers are turn handles that need only a light hand, the faucet uses lever handles, the push controls respond to a gentle palm press, and every hydro tub has an intensity dial that softens the…
• 📖Diabetes, Foot Care and Walk-In Tub Bathing: Temperature, Foot Jets and Checking AfterwardDiabetes changes one thing about a walk-in tub bath before anything else: if the feet have reduced sensation, they cannot be trusted to judge water temperature, so the water is checked with a thermometer, or held at a set temperature by the thermostatic control valve, rather than tested by stepping in. From there an Ella walk-in tub offers helpful options for foot care, including adjustable foot jets, an intensity…
• 📖Dialysis Access Sites, Open Wounds and When Not to Bathe in a Walk-In TubIf you are on dialysis, have a catheter or other access site, or are healing an open wound, the honest answer to "can I soak in my walk-in tub?" is that your dialysis team or wound clinic decides, not this page and not the tub. What Ella's Bubbles can tell you is exactly what the tub's features do so you can follow the clinic's instructions faithfully: ozone sanitation and the monthly vinegar flush keep the tub's…
• 📖Walk-In Tub Water Temperature by Condition: A Reference Table (Not Medical Advice)Ella's Bubbles publishes exactly one water temperature ceiling for walk-in tub bathing: 100.4 F. Ella's owner manuals state that water in excess of 100.4 F may be harmful to your health, and the thermostatic control valve on tubs that have one leaves the factory set at that figure. Below that ceiling, the published guidance varies by what the bather is trying to achieve, from about 92 to 100 F for easing joints…
• 📖Hydrotherapy, Heart Conditions and Blood Pressure: The Published CautionsEvery Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub manual asks bathers with heart conditions, those taking medication and anyone who is pregnant to consult a physician before bathing in warm water, and that is the extent of Ella's published guidance on the subject. What Ella can add is a clear description of the tub's features so you and your cardiologist can make the decision together: what Ella's own bathing articles say about…
• 📖A Caregiver-Assisted Bathing Routine in a Walk-In Tub, Step by StepA caregiver-assisted bath in an Ella walk-in tub follows the same order as any Ella bath, with the caregiver handling the door, the drains, the water and the controls. The order never changes: get the room and the bather ready, seat the bather with the door closed and locked, close the drains, fill to the right level, run the therapies gently, turn them off, open the drains, wait until the tub is completely empty…
• 📖Transfer Techniques by Walk-In Tub Door Type: What Each Door Allows a Caregiver to DoThe door on a walk-in tub decides how a caregiver can move a bather into the seat. Ella builds inward-swing doors that need no floor space in front but ask the bather to step in and stand while the door closes past their knees, outward-swing U-shape doors that open away from the tub so nobody has to step around a door, the outward L-shape Transfer door that opens the whole side of the tub for a lateral wheelchair…
• 📖Bathing Someone With Limited Mobility in a Walk-In Tub: Features That Help and Habits That Keep It SafeBathing someone with limited mobility in an Ella walk-in tub works best when the tub's features are matched to how the person actually moves and the caregiver keeps a few steady habits. The features: a chair-height seat, a threshold of about 3 1/2 to 7 inches depending on model and drain installation, grab bars on most models, a 5 foot hand shower, doors that open inward or outward, and on tubs with independent…
• 📖Dementia and the Walk-In Tub: Building a Calm, Predictable Bathing RoutineFor a person living with dementia, a good bath is a predictable one: the same time of day, the same order of steps, the same warm seat, and no surprises. An Ella walk-in tub helps with that in ways a caregiver can lean on. The door cannot be opened against a full tub on inward-swing models and stays latched on outward-swing models until the handle is turned fully back, so the bath cannot be cut short by a reach…
• 📖Parkinson's Disease and Walk-In Tub Bathing: Seat, Door, Controls and TimingParkinson's disease changes how a person moves, and a walk-in tub can be chosen and set up to respect those changes: an outward-swing door that needs no knee clearance and no stepping backward, a chair-height seat with grab bars on both sides of the movement, a seat belt accessory for a bather who slides, controls that work with a gentle palm press or a touch, and a thermostatic control valve, where fitted, that…
• 📖Bathing After a Hip or Knee Replacement in a Walk-In Tub: What the Tub Offers and What the Surgeon DecidesAfter a hip or knee replacement, the surgeon sets the rules for bathing: when the incision may be submerged, which hip precautions apply, how far the person may bend, and when jets against the joint are welcome. What an Ella walk-in tub offers within those rules is concrete: a step-in threshold that runs from about 3 1/2 to 7 inches instead of the 18 to 22 inch wall of a standard bathtub, a chair-height molded…
• 📖Bathing a Child in a Walk-In Tub: Pediatric Considerations and the Published RulesCan a child bathe in a walk-in tub? Only with an adult within arm's reach for the entire bath, and only when the child's pediatrician or therapist agrees it is appropriate. Ella's Bubbles does not make a child-specific walk-in tub; every published rule was written for an adult seat and an adult bather, and those rules protect a small bather too: sit fully in the seat, never lie in the footwell, keep the water warm…
• 📖Bariatric Bathing in a Walk-In Tub: Fit, Doors, Floor Loading and Caregiver HelpIs there a bariatric walk-in tub, and what is the weight limit? Ella's Bubbles does not publish a bather weight limit for any of its walk-in tubs. Every acrylic shell sits on a rustproof stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs that carries the load to the floor, so the practical question is fit: seat width, interior length and soaking depth against the bather's seated measurements. Three models are…
• 📖Printable First Bath Checklist for a New Walk-In TubWhat should you do before the very first bath in a new walk-in tub? Run the one-time vinegar flush, check the door seal and the GFCI, then take the bath in the published order: step in, sit, lock the door, close both drains, fill above the highest jets, run the therapies, turn them off, drain completely, then open the door. Print this page and tick the boxes as you go. Print and tick: before the first fill…
• 📖Printable Caregiver Bath-Time Checklist for a Walk-In TubWhat should a caregiver do, in order, when bathing someone in a walk-in tub? Set up the room, warm the seat, check the water before the bather feels it, keep the bather seated with a belt where the care team requires one, stay in the room for the whole bath, and never open the door until the tub is empty. Those follow the Ella owner's manual rules, which require a caregiver in attendance at all times, with an…
• 📖Walk-In Tub Therapy Options and FeaturesElla walk-in tubs are available with five jetting and therapy options, soaker, hydro, air plus hydro, hydro plus micro bubbles, and hydro plus independent foot massage, along with features like heated seating, ozone sterilization, and LED chromotherapy lighting. All tubs are made from acrylic and use push-button controls rather than electronic touch panels. The Five Therapy Options Every Ella walk-in tub can be…
• 📖Why Does the Digital Display Stay Lit and Can I Turn It Off?The digital display on your Ella walk-in tub stays lit whenever the tub has power, and there is no button on the control pad that turns the backlight off. This is normal and it is not a sign of a fault. If the glow bothers you, a licensed electrician can add a switch on the tub circuit so you can cut power to the tub when it is not in use. Why the display is always on The digital control pad is powered whenever…
• 📖Hydro Massage vs Air Massage vs Microbubble: What Each System Does and How They CombineHydro massage and air massage are two different systems. Hydro massage uses a water pump to draw water from the tub and push it back through jets aimed at your back, calves and feet, which gives the strong, traditional jetted-tub feeling. Air massage uses an air pump to push air through small jets in the seat and the tub floor, producing a gentler bubbling sensation. Microbubble is a third feature that is a…
• 📖Foot Massage Jets Not Working? Fill Level and Shared-Pump Foot Jets ExplainedIf your tub has hydro massage, it has foot jets in the footwell, and they are almost certainly working. On a standard hydro package the foot jets share one pump with the jets behind your back and sides, so nothing comes out of the footwell until the tub is filled above the highest hydro jets. Fill to that line, press the hydro button, and the foot jets run together with the rest. How to tell whether your tub has…
• 📖Why Does My Walk-In Tub Ozone Generator Run All the Time, and Can I Turn It Off?If your walk-in tub ozone generator seems to run all the time, that is normal on a hydro-only tub: the ozone generator is powered whenever the tub has power, so it runs around the clock even when nobody is bathing. On an air plus hydro (dual massage) tub it is switched so that it runs only while the hydro pump is running. Either way it is automatic, draws very little power and needs nothing from you. This guide…
• 📖Does My Ella Tub Include an In-Line Heater? Hydro, Air-Only, Soaker and Clearance UnitsAn in-line water heater is part of Ella's hydro massage systems, and it is not included on soaking-only or air-only tubs. Whether a particular tub, including a clearance unit, has one depends on the therapy package it was built with rather than on the model name alone. The quickest way to know for sure is to check the therapy configuration on your order paperwork or the model's spec sheet, or to ask your Ella…
• 📖Can You Use Bubble Bath or Shampoo With the Jets Running? Managing Foam in a Jetted Walk-In TubYes, bubble bath, shampoo and body wash can be used in a jetted walk-in tub, even while the hydro or air jets are running. The one thing to expect is foam: jets whip soap into far more suds than a standard bathtub, so a normal capful of bubble bath or a full lather of shampoo can climb the walls quickly. Use a fraction of the usual amount, watch the foam level, and rinse the tub afterward so residue does not build…
• 📖How Does a Walk-In Tub Compare to a Hot Tub?The biggest difference is the water. A hot tub holds the same water for an extended period and relies on chemicals, filtration and a pump that cycles around the clock to keep that water safe. An Ella walk-in tub fills with fresh, clean water for every bath and drains completely afterward, so there is nothing to sanitize, balance or test, and the pumps run only while you are in the tub. Fresh water every bath, no…
• 📖Does the Ella Fast-Fill Faucet Hold a Set Water Temperature Automatically?Not on its own. The standard 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill sets mix hot and cold by hand, and only a tub ordered with the thermostatic faucet package includes a thermostatic control valve that holds a set temperature. The two standard sets, their finishes and which tubs ship with which are covered in Ella Fast-Fill Faucets: 2-Piece vs 5-Piece, Finishes, and the Waterfall Option . This page explains how you set…
• 📖Is There a Time Limit on How Long the Microbubble Pump Runs?No. The microbubble pump on an Ella walk-in tub has no time limit and no automatic shutoff. It keeps running for as long as you leave it switched on, and it stops only when you press the control to turn it off. Ella technical support confirms it will run for an hour or so if that is what you want. This is different from the air massage system, which has a built-in Auto Purge cycle that runs on its own after your…
• 📖Digital Keypad or Push Buttons: Which Therapies It Controls and Which Is Easier to UseThe digital keypad is available only on tubs ordered with a combination of jetting systems, such as air plus hydro. It cannot be fitted to a hydro-only tub. Even on a fully loaded tub the keypad does not control everything: microbubble therapy and the independent hydro foot massage keep their own push buttons, and the warehouse confirms which functions stay on buttons before the build begins. For bathers with…
• 📖Why Does the Air Massage Blow Cold Air? There Is No Heating ElementThe air massage system on an Ella walk-in tub does not produce warmed air and has no heating element inside the air pump. The pump motor warms up as it runs and eventually pushes warmer air, but it draws its supply from the space under the tub, so a cold floor or an unheated space beneath the tub means cooler air at the jets. This is normal operation, not a fault. How the air pump works The air pump is a blower…
• 📖Can One Walk-In Tub Have Air, Hydro, Microbubble and Foot Massage Together?Yes, on the largest frames. Each massage system on an Ella walk-in tub runs on its own pump under the seat, so all four systems (air, back hydro, independent foot hydro and microbubble) fit only where there is room for four pumps: the Big4One, the ShaK and the two-seat tubs, with the TransferXXL by special order. Compact 52 inch tubs take two systems and mid-size frames take three. The full menu by model is in…
• 📖Can the Chromatherapy LED Light Be Left Off a Walk-In Tub Order?On the tubs that include it, the chromatherapy LED light is part of the therapy package rather than a separate add-on, and it is installed at the factory with its own control box and transformer, so it is not something that gets dropped from an order. If you would rather not use it, press and hold the light button for two seconds and it stays off. What the light is, how it works and which models offer it are…
• 📖Can I Use My Jetted Ella Walk-In Tub as a Plain Soaking Tub With the Jets Off?Yes. Every therapy system on an Ella walk-in tub is switched on by its own push control, and nothing runs until you press it. Fill the tub, leave the controls alone, and you have a plain soaking tub. Turn the jets on for the sessions when you want them and leave them off when you do not. There is no setting to change and no bypass to install. How the push controls work Ella's jetted tubs use push controls on…
• 📖How Does a Walk-In Tub Work and How Do You Use It?A walk-in tub works in a fixed order: you step in through the door, close and seal it, sit down, and then fill the tub; when the bath is over you drain it completely and open the door to step out. On an Ella tub the faucet fills at about 16 gallons per minute and the tub drains by gravity through 2 inch drains, so the wait at each end is short, as explained in Drainage and Fill Time . The door, the therapies, the…
• 📖What Is a Bubble Tub and How Does Air Massage Work?A bubble tub is the everyday name for a walk-in tub with an air massage system. An air pump pushes air through fully plumbed lines to air jets in the seat and between the legs, and the air rises through the bath water as a blanket of bubbles that you control with one push button. Ella also offers a second kind of bubble, the Infusion microbubble therapy, which turns the water cloudy with billions of tiny bubbles…
• 📖Are Ella Walk-In Tub Controls Clearly Labeled and Easy to Use?Yes. Ella's push controls on the tub deck are labeled by function, with an "Air" button for the air massage, a "Water" button for the hydro jets, a "Light" button for the chromatherapy light and a dial for jet intensity, and the digital touchpad uses an air bubble icon, a hydro button and plus and minus keys. The Transfer brochure callout diagram explained shows where each of these sits on the deck of the…
• 📖Can I Stop the Air Blower Turning On After My Bath?No. The blast of air that starts on its own after a bath is the Auto Purge, and it cannot be stopped, skipped or delayed: it begins automatically about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off, runs for 120 seconds to blow the residual water out of the air lines, and then shuts off by itself. It is normal even when it starts while the bather is still in the tub, and it only points to a problem when the blower…
• 📖Do Walk-In Tubs Have Heaters to Keep the Water Warm?Yes. Every Ella walk-in tub with hydro massage includes an in-line water heater, but its job is to hold your bath at temperature while the hydro pump runs, not to heat the water in the first place. Your home's water heater does all the work of filling the tub hot, which is why What Size Water Heater Do I Need for My Walk-in Tub? is the page to read alongside this one. What the in-line heater does The in-line…
• 📖Do Walk-In Tubs Come With Hydrotherapy Jets and Massage Features?Yes. Every Ella walk-in tub is ordered with one of five therapy packages, and four of the five include jets: hydro massage, air massage combined with hydro jets, hydro massage with microbubbles, and hydro massage with an independent foot massage. Only the soaker option has no jets. The full menu of packages and add-on features is in Walk-In Tub Therapy Options and Features ; this page explains what each kind of…
• 📖What type of walk-in tub is best for back pain relief?The best walk-in tub for back pain is one equipped with hydro massage, because the water-powered jets aimed at the back deliver the deep, targeted massage that Ella's massage guide suggests for muscle and back pain. Air massage is a much lighter bubbling soak, and microbubble is a skin treatment rather than a massage, so neither is the first choice when a sore back is the reason you are shopping. The three systems…
• 📖What is a hydrogen bath and is it good for skin?A hydrogen bath on an Ella walk-in tub is a normal warm bath into which a built-in generator infuses molecular hydrogen gas as micro and nano bubbles, started with one press of the H2 button. The generator and its pump sit under the molded seat and are fed from a small tank of distilled water, and by the time the tub fills to the drain overflow the bath water carries 1500 PPB of dissolved hydrogen, which is 1.5…
• 📖How Do You Use a Walk-In Bathtub Step by Step?You use a walk-in bathtub in a set order: open the door, step over the low threshold, sit on the built-in seat, close the door, and only then fill the tub. When the bath is over, open the drain, wait for the water to leave, then open the door and step out. The sequence exists because the door is part of the tub wall and has to stay closed while there is water inside, which is the key point behind the…
• 📖What is a therapeutic bath in a walk-in tub?A therapeutic bath, in an Ella walk-in tub, is a bath taken with one or more of the tub's therapeutic massage systems running: air massage, hydro massage, independent foot massage or microbubbles, often with the heated seat and the chromatherapy light alongside. Ella's own component diagrams label these packages Air Therapeutic Massage and Hydro Therapeutic Massage, and Which Therapy Combinations Fit Which Tub…
• 📖Which Ella walk-in tub has the strongest jet massage pressure?Ella does not publish a pressure ranking for its jetted tubs, and the tub with the biggest pump is not automatically the one with the strongest massage. Ella fits the hydro pump to the tub family: the standard hydro pump on the single-seat tubs, a larger pump on the two-seat tubs and the largest pump, called the Hercules, on the Big4Two, with each pump chosen for the volume of water and the number of jets it has…
• 📖Which Ella walk-in tub package is best for you and what does it include?The best walk-in tub package is the one whose equipment matches the way you bathe, because the tub shell stays the same whichever package you choose and only the pumps, heater, light and controls underneath change. Ella builds every tub with one of the packages listed in What Comes With Each Therapy Package: Pumps, In-Line Heater, Ozone, Auto Purge, LED, Dials, Pressure Tank and Controls at a Glance : Soaking…
• 📖What is a hydro tub and how does hydro massage work?A hydro tub is a walk-in tub fitted with a hydro massage package: a water pump under the tub draws bath water in, pushes it through an in-line heater and sends it back out through adjustable jets in the seat, back, feet and calves. You control the feel with a chrome intensity dial on the deck, which adds or removes air in the jet stream. The heater is the part most owners ask about, and What Is an In-Line Water…
• 📖Do You Have to Sit in a Walk-In Tub While It Fills?Yes. On an Ella walk-in tub you step in first, close and lock the door, sit down on the molded seat, and only then turn on the water, and you stay seated until the tub has drained completely before you open the door again. The whole routine from the threshold to stepping out is in How to Take a Bath in Your Walk-In Tub: The Sequence From Stepping In to Stepping Out . This page explains why that order can never…
• 📖How do you get out of a walk-in tub safely after your bath?You get out of a walk-in tub in the reverse of the order you got in: open the drain, stay seated until the water has left, then open the door, stand up with the grab bar, and step out over the low threshold. The door is part of the tub wall and has to stay closed for as long as there is water inside, so the drain always comes before the door. The complete sequence from entry to exit is in How Do You Use a Walk-In…
• 📖How do you fill a walk-in tub after you get in?You fill an Ella walk-in tub from the inside: step into the dry tub, sit fully in the seat, close and lock the door, close the drain completely, set the temperature, then run the faucet until the water is above the highest jets and never above the center of the drain handle. The bath ends the same way in reverse, with the tub drained completely before the door is opened. The full sequence is printed as tick boxes…
• 📖What Is an Air Bath Tub and How Do Air Jets Work?An air bath tub, sometimes called a bubble tub or a bubbler tub, is a bathtub with a blower that pushes air through small jets in the seat and floor, so the water fills with soft, effervescent bubbles around your body. On an Ella walk-in tub this is the air massage system, and What Are Air Massage Jets on a Walk-In Tub? describes the jets themselves. This page explains how the system works from the button press…
• 📖Which Ella walk-in tubs offer quick fill, auto heat and programmable cycles?Quick fill, heat that holds while you bathe, and automatic cycles are all part of the Ella walk-in tub line, but they belong to the faucet set and the therapy package rather than to one particular model. Every Ella fast-fill faucet set fills the tub from your home water supply, every hydro massage package includes an in-line water heater that maintains the bath temperature while the jets run, and the air massage…
• 📖What is a hydrotherapy tub with built-in spa jets?A hydrotherapy tub is a bathtub with water jets built into its walls and fed by a pump that recirculates your own bath water, so the tub delivers a massage instead of simply holding water. On an Ella walk-in tub those are the hydro massage jets explained in What Are Hydro Massage Jets on a Walk-In Tub? , and they arrive as part of a therapy package on most models in the line, from the hydro-only Standard, Zen and…
• 📖How high should you fill a walk-in bathtub before your bath?Fill a walk-in tub until the water is above the highest jets and never above the center of the drain handle. You are seated inside with the door closed and locked while it fills, so you watch the level rise around you and shut the faucet exactly where you want it, above the jets but comfortably below the drain handle. How do you fill a walk-in tub after you get in? prints the complete sequence; this page…
• 📖Does Auto Purge Run if the Tub Is Off at the GFCI Breaker?No. Auto Purge needs electricity to run, so once the tub's dedicated GFCI breakers are switched off at the panel, the air pump cannot start and the purge cycle does not happen. As long as the tub has power, an air massage tub will run its 120 second purge about 20 minutes after the air was switched off, which is why How Do I Turn the Jets Off in an Emergency? reminds you to expect it once the emergency is over.…
• 📖What Temperature Does the In-Line Heater Hold, and Can I Adjust It?The in-line heater on an Ella walk-in tub does not hold a fixed, factory-set temperature. It maintains whatever temperature you filled the tub with, and it runs only while the hydro pump is running, so there is no heater thermostat, dial or button to adjust. You set your bath temperature at the faucet as the tub fills, and the heater then offsets the natural cooling of the water during your hydro massage, as…
• 📖Can each bather in an Ella two-seat tub control their own therapies?Partly, and the split is the same on every Ella two-seat tub (Companion, Escape, Tub4Two and Big4Two). Each bather has their own foot hydro massage, driven by a separate pump with its own on/off button and intensity dial for each side, and with the heated seat option each seat has its own heater box and keypad. The air massage, the seat and back hydro jets and the LED chromatherapy light run from one digital…
• 📖How Long Does the Ella HomeCare Tank Take to Reheat Between Baths?The Ella HomeCare tank does not run a separate reheat cycle between baths. Its 80 gallon tank refills in about 11 minutes under ideal or normal plumbing conditions, and because the water enters through thermostatic mixing valves at the temperature the caregiver preset, the tank is ready for the next bath as soon as the refill stops on its own. What Is the HomeCare Transfer Bathtub? introduces the tub itself…
• 📖Can I upgrade my Ella walk-in tub from push buttons to a digital touchpad?Yes, on a tub with a combination of jetting systems. Ella's team can send a digital control matched to the blue control box on your tub, and it mounts in the deck where two push buttons currently sit, as Where Can the Digital Control Be Mounted and How Is It Installed? explains. The limit is your therapy package: the keypad is offered only on tubs with a combination of jetting systems such as air plus hydro, so…
• 📖How long does Auto Purge run after a bath and can I change it?Auto Purge runs for 120 seconds, and it starts on its own about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off. Neither figure can be changed: there is no button for the purge, no timer setting, and no way to shorten it, delay it or turn it off, so the practical answer is to let it finish and plan your bath around it. What the cycle is for is explained in What Is Auto Purge on a Walk-In Tub? ; this page covers the…
• 📖How does a walk-in tub work from door to drain?A walk-in tub works by putting the door in the tub wall. You step over a low threshold, sit on a built-in seat, close and latch the door, and only then fill the tub; when the bath is over you drain the water first, then open the door and step out. Ella pairs that sequence with fast-fill faucets, gravity-driven 2 inch drains and, on therapy models, an in-line heater that keeps the water warm while the jets run.…
• 📖Do Walk-In Tubs Come With Massage Jets and Hydrotherapy Included?Not automatically. On an Ella walk-in tub the massage jets belong to the therapy package chosen when the tub is ordered: most models can be built as a soaker with no jets, with hydro massage, or with hydro and air massage together, while the Standard and Standard60 ship only as hydro tubs with 18 jets. Because the jets and their lines are molded into the shell at the factory, the package cannot be changed after…
• 📖What is an air bath tub and how does the air massage feel?An air bath tub is a walk-in tub whose massage comes from air rather than water. A dedicated air pump pushes air into the bath through air jets in the shell, so the water moves gently around your whole body instead of being driven at you in streams. The feel is lighter and more enveloping than the deep, targeted push of the water jets described in What Are Hydro Massage Jets on a Walk-In Tub? , and Ella describes…
• 📖Can I run only the foot jets on the Transfer60 walk-in tub?Yes, as long as your Transfer60 was built with a Hydro Independent Foot Massage package. That package gives the 6 foot jets their own hydro pump, their own push button and their own intensity dial, so you can fill just the footwell and run the foot jets while the 16 seat jets stay dry and off. On a Transfer60 ordered with the single-pump Hydro Massage package, one 7 amp pump feeds all 22 jets, so the foot jets…
• 📖Does each seat in the Big4Two have its own therapy controls?Partly. Every Big4Two seat has its own jets, and the published two-seat schematic gives each side its own foot hydro pump with its own intensity dial and its own heated seat keypad, but the main therapy controls are shared. One digital controller runs the air massage, the seat hydro massage and the LED light for both bathers, and one intensity dial sets the seat jet strength for the whole tub. What the Two-Seat…
• 📖What Does Each Icon on the Ella Digital Touchpad Mean and Do?The Ella digital touchpad has a short set of icons, and each one runs a single therapy: the air bubble icon starts the air massage, the plus and minus keys set its intensity, the hydro button starts and stops the hydro jets, and the light button runs the LED chromatherapy. On tubs built with them, the panel also turns the foot jet pump on and off and runs the heated seat. Every gesture is demonstrated on both…
• 📖How long does the auto purge run and can I change it?The Auto Purge on an Ella air massage tub starts on its own about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off, runs for 120 seconds, and then stops by itself. There is no setting, button or timer adjustment for it, so the delay and the run time cannot be shortened, pushed back or cancelled. What the cycle is for is explained in What Is Auto Purge on a Walk-In Tub? , and this page covers the exact timing, what…
• 📖What Is Air Massage Therapy in a Walk-In Tub and How Does It Work?Air massage is the walk-in tub therapy that uses a three-speed blower to push air through jets built into the tub, so the bath fills with moving bubbles around your seat, hips and feet. On an Ella tub it is chosen at order time as part of a therapy package, explained in What Is a Therapy Package on a Walk-In Tub? , either on its own or paired with hydro massage. It always comes with Auto Purge, which dries the…
• 📖How Do You Make a Hydrogen Bath and What Does It Do?You make a hydrogen bath by infusing bath water with molecular hydrogen gas, and on an Ella walk-in tub that takes one press of a button. A hydrogen generator and pump under the molded seat, fed from a tank of distilled water, inject hydrogen into the bath as micro and nano bubbles through a single jet below seat level, and the water reaches 1500 PPB of hydrogen by the time the tub fills to the drain overflow.…
• 📖Do you have to sit in a walk-in tub while it fills?Yes. In an Ella walk-in tub you step into the dry tub, sit on the built-in seat, close and lock the door, and only then turn on the water, so you are seated inside for the whole fill. The door is part of the tub wall and it only seals once it is closed and locked, which is why the water always comes after you. How high should you fill a walk-in bathtub before your bath? covers the two water-level limits, and…
• 📖How Do I Adjust or Close Individual Hydro Jets on My Walk-In Tub?On an Ella walk-in tub you adjust the hydro jets in two places. The intensity dial on the deck sets the strength of the whole hydro massage, and each foot jet has a center nozzle that works as a valve, so you can open it, reduce it or shut it off by hand. Air jets cannot be closed one by one, and Ella's published guidance describes adjusting flow and strength rather than aiming a jet. The full procedure is in…
• 📖Can I Use Bath Salts or Oils With Infusion Microbubble Therapy?Yes to bath salts and Epsom salts, as long as they are fully dissolved and you enjoy your Infusion Microbubble Therapy first, then add the salts for the still soak afterward. Bath oils, bath beads and fragrance oils are discouraged in any Ella tub with a therapy system, and bath bombs are the one product we ask you to skip. The everyday routine is in Can I Use Epsom Salts, Bath Bombs or Bubble Bath in My Walk-In…
• 📖How Do I Get Out of My Walk-In Tub Quickly Before It Finishes Draining?A walk-in tub holds its water behind the door seal, so the door stays closed and latched until the tub has emptied, and the quickest way out is to make the drain as fast as it can be. On an Ella walk-in tub that means opening both 2-inch gravity drains as soon as your bath is over. A tub connected to a proper 2-inch drain line typically empties in two minutes or less, as explained in Drainage and Fill Time . Why…
• 📖Can I Run Only the Foot Jets on the Transfer60 Without the Seat Jets?Yes, you can run only the foot jets on the Transfer60 when the tub was built with one of its Independent Foot Massage packages. Those packages give the foot and calf jets their own hydro pump, their own button and their own intensity dial, so the seat jets stay off while your feet get the full massage. The general routine for any Ella tub is in How Do I Use Only the Foot Massage Without Filling the Whole Tub?…
• 📖Can Hydro or Air Jets Be Added to an Ella Soaking Tub Later?No. Hydro jets, air jets and the microbubble system cannot be added to an Ella soaking tub after it is built. Every Ella therapy system is built into the shell at the factory, and a soaker is molded without jet openings with nothing installed under the tub. The wider list of what can and cannot be changed after the sale is in Can I Add Air Jets, a Heater or a Heated Seat to My Tub Later? , and this page looks…
• 📖Can I Upgrade My Ella Walk-In Tub From Push Buttons to a Digital Touchpad?In many cases yes, an Ella walk-in tub with push buttons can be fitted with a digital touchpad, but only if the tub has the right therapy package and a compatible control box. The digital control is available only on tubs with a combination of jetting systems, such as air plus hydro, and each control is matched to the control box on the tub. The physical work is described in Where Can the Digital Control Be…
• 📖How Long Does Auto Purge Run After a Bath, and Can I Change It?The Auto Purge on an Ella air massage tub runs for 120 seconds, which is two minutes, and it starts on its own about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off. The timing is fixed. There is no button for the purge, it cannot be stopped partway, and there is no way to retime it. What Is Auto Purge on a Walk-In Tub? explains the feature itself. This page is about the clock: how long, when, what restarts the…
• 📖Does an Ella Hydrogen Bath Need Distilled Water, and Is It Safe?No, the bath itself does not need distilled water. You fill the tub with ordinary warm water from your faucet, and distilled water goes only into the small blue tank that feeds the hydrogen generator under the molded seat. What the generator adds to your bath is molecular hydrogen gas in micro and nano bubbles, and every Ella hydrogen tub is individually tested before it ships. Our article What is a hydrogen bath…
• 📖Hydro massage vs air massage: what each system does and how to use the controlsHydro massage vs air massage: Ella walk-in tubs offer two different massage systems, and they work in very different ways. The hydro massage system uses a water pump to recirculate your bath water through strategically placed water jets, giving you a deep, targeted massage for the back, hips, legs, and feet. The air massage system uses a separate three speed air blower to push air through many small jets in the…
• 📖My walk-in tub turned on by itself: the air massage Auto-Purge is normalIf your walk-in tub turned on by itself about 20 minutes after your bath, what you heard was the air massage Auto-Purge, and it is completely normal. About 20 minutes after you turn the air massage pump off, the system automatically turns the air pump back on and runs it for 120 seconds to blow leftover water and moisture out of the air lines. It starts on its own, it cannot be interrupted, and it shuts itself off…
• 📖Does the in-line water heater warm up my bath? What it does and does not doDoes the in-line water heater warm up my bath? No. The in-line water heater on Ella hydro massage tubs is designed to maintain your bath temperature, not to raise it. You fill the tub with comfortably hot water from the faucet, and then, whenever the hydro massage pump is running, the in-line heater keeps that water at a consistent, comfortable temperature so you stay warm through your whole soak. It will not warm…
• 📖H2 microbubble therapy on the Standard60: setup, distilled water, and what to expectThe H2 and Microbubbles System on the Ella Standard60 combines two therapies in one package: infusion microbubble therapy, which fills the bath with billions of tiny skin softening bubbles, and hydrogen therapy, which infuses the water with dissolved molecular hydrogen. On the Standard60, the system uses a 1 HP, 10A pump with a pressure vessel and agitator valve, and the hydrogen concentration reaches 1500 PPB…
• 📖How the optional heated seat and backrest works, and why it turns off after 20 minutesThe optional heated seat and backrest warms the surfaces you sit and lean against, so the tub feels cozy from the moment you step in, while the water is filling, and even after the bath drains. It is a 4A radiant surface heating system built into the seat and backrest, completely separate from the in-line water heater that works with the hydro jets. Press its button once to turn it on, press again to turn it off…
• 📖How fast will my walk-in tub fill? Fast-fill faucet expectations and operationHow fast will a walk-in tub fill? In real homes, walk-in tub fill time ranges from 7 to 15 minutes depending on the size of the tub and the configuration of your water supply lines. Ella's fast-fill faucets are designed to fill your tub as quickly as your home's plumbing allows: the 2-piece set is designed for 16 GPM and the 5-piece set for 18 GPM, both measured at 60 PSI under ideal in-home plumbing conditions.…

Ordering, Shipping & Delivery140 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Financing Your Walk-In Tub: How to Apply and What to ExpectYes, walk-in tub financing is available for Ella's Bubbles tubs, and applying is simple. The current financing partners are listed at ellasbubbles.com/financing/ , where you can apply directly and, in most cases, receive a rate decision in seconds. If you would rather not apply online, your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 will gladly walk through the application with you. Approval, rates and terms…
• 📖Will Medicare, Insurance, or the VA Pay for My Walk-In Tub?In most cases, no: Medicare, insurance and the VA do not pay for a walk-in tub directly, and Ella's Bubbles does not bill Medicare, Medicaid, insurance companies or the VA. Original Medicare generally does not cover walk-in tubs because they are not classed as durable medical equipment. That said, some customers have obtained partial reimbursement through a Medicaid waiver, a private insurer or a VA home…
• 📖Veteran and Senior Discounts, Promotions, and the Lowest Price Match GuaranteeElla's Bubbles offers a veteran discount, a senior citizen discount, periodic promotions, and a Lowest Price Match Guarantee. Any discount is applied to your specific order at the time of purchase, and amounts change, so specific figures are not published here. This article explains what each program is and how to make sure you receive everything you qualify for. For the details that apply to the tub you have…
• 📖Ordering From Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, or InternationallyYes, Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs can be ordered from Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, US territories and internationally. Canadian purchases go through our partner, Walk-In Tubs Canada; Alaska, Hawaii and the territories ship by freight with higher rates for hard-to-reach destinations; and worldwide orders are shipped from Chicago with customs, duties and taxes the customer's responsibility. Every Ella tub is built to UL…
• 📖Can I See a Walk-In Tub in Person? Showroom Visits and Live Video ToursAbsolutely. You can see a walk-in tub in person at the Ella's Bubbles showroom in Chicago, where every model is on display and you are welcome to sit in the tubs, or you can schedule a live video showroom tour and see your tub up close from anywhere in the country. Ella's Bubbles has been in business since 2005 and holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and the team is proud to show you exactly what…
• 📖How Ella Pricing Works: What the Web Price Includes and What Changes ItThe cost of a walk-in tub from Ella's Bubbles is really the sum of several separate decisions: the model, the therapy package, the options layered on top, shipping to your address, and installation by your contractor. Understanding each one makes it much easier to compare configurations and to read a proposal from your Ella dealer or the team. This guide explains each component and what moves it up or down. It…
• 📖How Shipping Is Quoted: Weight, Distance, Liftgate Delivery, and Accessory ShippingWalk-in tub freight delivery works like this: every Ella's Bubbles tub ships fully assembled by LTL freight from the Chicago facility, the carrier calls ahead to schedule a delivery window, and the crate is lowered by liftgate to your curb or driveway. Shipping is quoted separately for your delivery address rather than being part of the tub configuration, because crate size, weight, distance and destination type…
• 📖What Installation Involves, How Long It Takes, and What Drives the CostWalk-in tub installation cost is set by the licensed local contractor who does the work, not by Ella's Bubbles. Ella's Bubbles is the manufacturer: it builds, tests and ships the tub but does not perform installation and never charges for it. Installation is done by a licensed, experienced contractor, either one you hire yourself or one referred from Ella's nationwide installer network, and that contractor prices…
• 📖Clearance and Warehouse Tubs: What Is Different, What Is Final, and What Warranty AppliesClearance walk-in tubs and warehouse tubs are real Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs, fully functional in nearly every case, that carry a minor cosmetic imperfection in the acrylic, a small scratch, or a blemish that keeps them out of regular stock. They are listed individually by serial number on the clearance page at ellasbubbles.com/walk-in-tub/clearance-sale-discount/ , each with its own description, photos, and…
• 📖Buying Through Home Depot, Amazon, or Menards vs Direct From EllaWhere you purchased your Ella walk-in tub decides who handles the order itself: delivery scheduling, tracking, items missing or damaged on arrival, and returns belong to the seller named on your receipt. Warranty, technical support, manuals, installation guidance and replacement parts come from Ella's Bubbles no matter where the tub was bought. Ella's Bubbles builds and tests every tub in Chicago, and the same…
• 📖Becoming an Ella Dealer, Joining the Installer Network, and Contractor PricingBecoming an Ella dealer, joining the installer network, or qualifying for contractor pricing each starts with an application on ellasbubbles.com. Ella's Bubbles works with three kinds of trade partners: dealers who sell and often install Ella tubs in their territory, independent installers who receive customer referrals from Ella's network, and contractors who buy tubs for their own clients' projects. Each has its…
• 📖Placing Your Order: Online Checkout, Proposals, Phone Orders, and Fixing Cart ErrorsWhether you are working with an Ella dealer or with the Ella team, a walk-in tub order follows the same shape: a written proposal for the exact tub, an order confirmation once the order is placed, and a shipment notice with tracking once it leaves Chicago. This guide explains what each document contains and what to have ready so nothing has to be re-quoted. What to have ready The model and, if you know…
• 📖Where Is My Replacement Part? Tracking, What Support Can See, Faster Options, PO Boxes and CanadaReplacement parts ship by parcel carrier from the Ella's Bubbles warehouse in Chicago, and the replacement part tracking number is emailed to you as soon as the shipping label is created, often together with a link to the how-to video for that part. If you have not received tracking, reply on your existing ticket or call (800) 480-6850 with your order or ticket number and the team will resend it. This article…
• 📖Common Buying Questions and Who Answers Them: Cost, Configurations, Availability, Timing, Retailers and PromotionsThe most common walk-in tub buying questions, about cost, configurations, availability and timing, all have the same friendly answer: talk with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support. Because every Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub is assembled and tested to order around the model, size, door and therapy package you choose, the people who can see your exact…
• 📖Ordering Parts as a Dealer, Plumbing Wholesaler or Contractor: Purchase Orders, Documentation and Installer SupportYes, dealers, plumbing wholesalers and contractors can order replacement parts from Ella's Bubbles with a purchase order, and the team works directly with your installer on the job. Send the PO through a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850; the team confirms the part, returns an order form, and ships from the Chicago warehouse to your shop or straight to the homeowner. This article covers…
• 📖Bought Through Home Depot, Menards, Amazon or Another Retailer? How Support, Parts and Warranty WorkYes. If you bought your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub or shower through Home Depot, Menards, Amazon or another retail partner, you receive the same Lifetime Limited Warranty and the same lifetime technical support as every other Ella owner. Ella's Bubbles products are sold through dealers, retailers and partners, and a tub sold by a retailer is the same tub assembled, jetted and tested in Chicago. The only thing that…
• 📖How to Reach Ella's Bubbles Support: Hours, Location, the Ticket Form, the Phone Line, Live Chat and What to Have ReadyThere are two public ways to reach Ella's Bubbles support: call (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support . The phone line is answered Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Central time, from Chicago, and anyone on the line can help you or route you to the right person. The ticket form is open around the clock, and the team works new tickets in order once the office opens. This article…
• 📖Video Tour: How Your Tub Is Assembled, Tested, Packed and Shipped From ChicagoYes, every Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub is inspected, assembled to your order, leak-tested, run through its pumps and mechanical systems, cleaned, wrapped and crated in Chicago before it ships. This video tour of how Ella builds, tests and packs your tub takes you onto the production floor to show the quality-control process, the packaging that protects a hand-built tub in transit, and the company behind it. Each…
• 📖Does a Walk-In Tub Add Value to Your Home?Whether a walk-in tub adds value to your home depends on who is buying it. If you sell your home with the walk-in tub in place and the buyer has needs a walk-in tub helps with, such as limited mobility, a plan to age in place, or a family member who bathes with assistance, the tub can add real value to your home for that buyer. For a buyer with no such needs, it is simply a well-built bathtub, so it is best to…
• 📖Booking a Live Video Tour of the Chicago Facility: How It Works, Which Apps Work, and What to Do If the Link Never ArrivesA live video tour is a real-time video call with an Ella's Bubbles specialist who walks you through the Chicago showroom and production facility, where up to 28 walk-in tub models are on the floor. You book a 30-minute slot on the scheduling calendar at ellasbubbles.com/walk-in-tub/schedule-showroom-tour/ or by calling (800) 480-6850, a one-tap video link is texted to your phone before the call, and the…
• 📖Seeing an Ella Tub Near You: The South Florida Mobile Showroom, Dealer Display Units, and Why Most Owners Choose From VideoThe only permanent Ella's Bubbles showroom is in Chicago. Every tub is assembled, jetted and tested to order there, so dealers and retail stores do not keep Ella tubs on their floors, and there is no stocked display in Houston, Phoenix, Seattle or most other cities. There are three ways to see a tub anyway: the mobile showroom that visits homes between West Palm Beach and Miami by appointment, a small number of…
• 📖Sales Tax, Customs Duties and Brokerage on a Walk-In Tub Order: What Decides Them and Where They AppearWhether sales tax appears on a walk-in tub order depends on the seller's tax obligations and the state the tub ships to, not on the tub itself. The published terms at ellasbubbles.com/terms/ state that "Sales tax will be added to the price of purchases as deemed required by us," and every seller applies its own rules the same way, so the invoice from where you purchased is the document that shows whether tax was…
• 📖Brochures and Catalogs: The Six Digital Brochures, What Each One Covers, Known Misprints, and How to Get a CopyThere is no single Ella's Bubbles catalog. Instead there are six digital brochures, one per tub family, and each one is a free PDF you can download from the product pages or have emailed to you by the team at (800) 480-6850 or through ellasbubbles.com/support. Brochures give you photos, a feature overview and nominal sizes; for exact dimensions, weights, capacities and electrical figures, the spec sheet is the…
• 📖Picking Up in Chicago: Arranging Pickup of a Tub, a Replacement Part, or a Returned Shower Unit at the Roosevelt Road FacilityYes, you can pick up in Chicago. Tubs, and when available replacement parts and returned shower units, are collected at the warehouse and production facility at 2700 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Central. Pickup is arranged in advance through where you purchased or with the team at (800) 480-6850, so the order is tested, packed and waiting when you arrive. Do not go to the…
• 📖In Stock, Built to Order, Preorder and Backorder: What Those Words Mean for a Walk-In Tub OrderEvery Ella walk-in tub is assembled, jetted and tested to order in Chicago, so "in stock" means the shell and components for your exact configuration are on hand and assembly can begin right away, not that a finished tub is sitting on a shelf ready to load. "Preorder" and "backorder" mean that configuration is scheduled for a later production run. Stock is tracked per model, door side, therapy package and color…
• 📖What Are Shipping Size and Shipping Weight on a Walk-In Tub?Shipping size and shipping weight are the crated dimensions and crated weight of a walk-in tub, printed on every Ella spec sheet alongside the tub's own size and net weight. Because Ella tubs ship fully assembled inside a crate or reinforced container, the crate has to clear every doorway, hallway, staircase and turn on the route into the bathroom. That makes the shipping size, not the tub size, the number to…
• 📖What Is the Shipping Crate on a Walk-In Tub Order?The shipping crate is the wooden crate or reinforced corrugated container that protects a fully assembled Ella walk-in tub in transit. It rides on a custom skid with support layers under every tub foot and is designed to take the scuffs of shipping so the tub inside does not. Keep the crate and all packaging until installation is complete. Inside the container the tub is wrapped in plastic and bubble wrap…
• 📖What Is Curbside Delivery with Liftgate for a Walk-In Tub?Curbside delivery with liftgate is the standard LTL freight delivery for an Ella walk-in tub. Your tub travels on a pallet inside a crate, the truck's liftgate lowers the crate to street level, and the driver brings it to your curb or driveway. That is where the carrier's job ends: moving the crate inside, up the steps and into the bathroom is the customer's or installer's job. People also call this curbside…
• 📖What Is a Bill of Lading (BOL) on a Walk-In Tub Delivery?A bill of lading, often shortened to BOL and sometimes called the delivery receipt or the shipper's delivery document, is the freight paperwork you sign at the curb when your walk-in tub arrives. It records what the carrier handed over and the condition it was in. Damage written on the bill of lading and signed by the driver is what makes a freight claim valid, so those few minutes with a pen at the curb are the…
• 📖What Is the Freight Damage 48-Hour Window on a Walk-In Tub Delivery?The freight damage 48-hour window is the published period, 48 hours after receipt of your shipment, in which any damage or missing parts must be reported. It covers obvious crate damage as well as concealed damage discovered during a visual and operational inspection. Owners also call it the damage claim window, the reporting deadline or the 48-hour rule, and it comes straight from the shipping policy at…
• 📖What Is a Clearance Walk-In Tub?A clearance walk-in tub, also called a warehouse tub or clearance unit, is a specific, individually listed Ella tub that carries a minor cosmetic imperfection, sits in overstock, or was built to a configuration that did not match an order. Each one is identified by its serial number in the listing name and is offered exactly as described, never modified. The listings live at…
• 📖What Do Built to Order, In Stock and Preorder Mean?Built to order means every Ella walk-in tub is assembled, jetted and tested for a specific order in Chicago. Within that, in stock means the shell and components for your exact configuration are on hand so assembly can begin right away, and preorder (or backorder) means that configuration is scheduled for a later production run. None of the three words means a finished tub is sitting on a shelf; each tub still…
• 📖Parts Are Missing From the Crate. What Do I Do?When parts are missing from the crate, they are usually not missing at all. Every small item, from drain handles and grab bar hardware to supply lines and the hand shower hose, is individually wrapped, boxed and placed inside the tub or under the frame before the tub is crated. The first thing to check is inside the tub itself: the manual and small instruction packs travel in a white envelope on top of the wrap…
• 📖My Walk-In Tub Arrived Damaged. What Should I Do?If your tub arrived damaged, the first thing to do is document it before anything else happens: photograph the crate and the damage, write the damage on the carrier's delivery document with the driver's signature, and report it within 48 hours of receipt. Most freight damage turns out to be a panel, a bracket, a towel bar or another replaceable piece, and that piece is replaced rather than the whole unit. Damage…
• 📖Where Is My Replacement Part?If you are asking where is my replacement part, the first thing to check is your email for the tracking number, because it is sent as soon as the shipping label is created. Replacement parts ship by parcel carrier from the Chicago warehouse, and once the carrier has the package, the tracking page shows the same information the team can see. If no tracking has arrived, the part has most likely not shipped yet…
• 📖The Wrong Drain Side Was Shipped. How Do I Return It?If the wrong drain side was shipped, the first thing to check is whether it is actually wrong, because on an Ella walk-in tub the side is named as you face the tub, ready to step in, and a right-hand door always means left-hand drains. Some "wrong side" tubs are exactly what was ordered, and the plumbing can usually run under the frame to a house drain on either side. If the configuration truly does not match your…
• 📖I Left Reviews but Cannot Claim the Free Accessory. What Now?If you left reviews but cannot claim the free accessory, the usual culprit is one of two things: the warranty activation is not on file yet, or the claim form is refusing the screenshots. The program checks for a received warranty activation before it accepts a claim, and owners report that the upload area rejects some phone screenshots, allows only one attachment, or returns a "file area is required" message even…
• 📖My Order Has Not Arrived and Nobody Called. What Should I Do?When my order hasn't arrived and nobody called is the situation, the first thing to check is the phone number on your order, because walk-in tubs travel by LTL freight and the carrier calls that number to schedule a delivery window before the truck comes out. A missed call from an unfamiliar number, a full voicemail box, or a typo in the number on the order are the most common reasons a delivery goes quiet. The…
• 📖Who Actually Helps Pay for a Walk-In Tub and Who Does Not: An Honest OverviewThe honest answer is that no program simply hands you a walk-in tub, and Ella's Bubbles does not bill Medicare, Medicaid, insurance companies or the VA. Ella's Bubbles is a manufacturer, not a medical provider, so customers who pursue assistance purchase first and seek reimbursement afterward, on their own. Some customers receive partial reimbursement and others do not, and the outcome always belongs to the…
• 📖Original Medicare and Walk-In Tubs: What Part B Durable Medical Equipment Coverage MeansOriginal Medicare generally does not cover a walk-in tub. Medicare Part B pays for medically necessary durable medical equipment that a doctor orders for use in the home, and a walk-in tub is not classed as durable medical equipment, so it sits outside that benefit together with other bathroom remodels and home modifications. Ella's Bubbles does not bill Medicare, and a doctor's prescription, while useful for…
• 📖Medicare Advantage Plans, Supplemental Benefits and Bathroom Safety EquipmentA Medicare Advantage plan may help with bathroom safety equipment, but only if your particular plan offers that supplemental benefit this year, and only on the plan's own terms. Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare, they must cover everything Original Medicare covers, and many add extra benefits that Original Medicare does not. The Centers for Medicare and…
• 📖Medicaid HCBS Waivers and Home Accessibility Modifications: How the Programs WorkMedicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers are state programs, run under federal waiver authority, that pay for supports in a person's own home so they can avoid moving to a nursing facility, and many of them include a service called environmental accessibility adaptations or home modifications. A walk-in tub can be considered under that service in some states, but each state writes its own waiver…
• 📖The VA HISA Grant and Walk-In Tubs: What the Program Is and How Veterans ApplyHISA stands for Home Improvements and Structural Alterations, a VA health care benefit that provides medically necessary improvements and structural alterations to a veteran's primary residence, administered through the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service at VA medical centers. Some Ella customers have used HISA toward their walk-in tub, but Ella's Bubbles is not partnered with the VA and does not process VA…
• 📖VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Home Adaptation (SHA) Grants ExplainedThe VA's Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grants help veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities buy, build or change a home so they can live more independently, and a related Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA) grant applies when the veteran is living temporarily in a family member's home. They are administered by the Veterans Benefits…
• 📖VA Community Care and Walk-In Tubs: Why a Tub Purchase Is Not a Community Care ClaimVA community care is a way for eligible veterans to receive health care from community providers outside VA when VA cannot provide the care itself, and it is arranged through a VA referral and authorization. It pays for medical services, not for a bathtub, so a walk-in tub purchase is not something you file as a community care claim. The good news is that the VA does have separate programs written for home changes…
• 📖The IRS Medical Expense Deduction for a Medically Necessary Walk-In Tub: What Publication 502 SaysIRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, is the document that explains when a home improvement made for medical reasons can be counted as a medical expense on a federal income tax return. Under its capital expense rules, the cost of special equipment installed in a home, or of improvements to the home, can be a medical expense when the main purpose is medical care, reduced by any increase the improvement…
• 📖State Assistive Technology Programs and Area Agencies on Aging: Local Help for Bathroom AccessibilityTwo kinds of local, publicly funded agencies help people figure out bathroom accessibility before they buy anything: the state Assistive Technology Act program, which lets you see, borrow and compare devices and can point you to financing help, and your Area Agency on Aging, which coordinates services for older adults under the Older Americans Act. Neither one sells walk-in tubs, and neither one is connected to…
• 📖USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants: Rural Help for Removing Bathroom HazardsThe USDA Rural Development Section 504 Home Repair program, formally the Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants program, provides loans to very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas to repair, improve or modernize their homes, and grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. A bathroom where an older person cannot bathe safely can be that kind of hazard, which is…
• 📖Printable Delivery Day Checklist for a Walk-In TubPrint this page and keep it by the door on delivery day. Your walk-in tub arrives fully assembled on a freight truck, and a few minutes of inspection while the driver is there, followed by a careful unpack, protect your ability to claim any damage. The rule to remember: report any damage or missing parts within 48 hours of receipt, and save all packaging. This is the tick-box version; the full walkthrough, with…
• 📖Shipping, Sales Tax, and Pickup for Your Walk-In Tub OrderShipping cost for your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub is calculated based on your delivery location, and sales tax is only added to orders shipping within Illinois. If you're near Chicago, pickup directly from the manufacturing facility is also an option, and every tub is assembled and tested before it leaves the building. For the most current cost and timing details on your specific order, reach out to your Ella…
• 📖Ella's Bubbles Dealer ProgramElla's Bubbles runs a dealer program for businesses that want to offer its walk-in tubs, shower bases, and related bathing products to their own customers. Businesses apply through the "Become a Dealer" section of the Ella's Bubbles website, and approved dealers gain access to wholesale pricing along with brochures, showroom resources, and trade show support designed to help them present the product line. How to…
• 📖Why Is My Credit Card Being Declined When Placing An Order?If your card is declined or shows an error while you're completing an order, the issue is almost always on the bank's side rather than a problem with your order itself. Banks routinely flag purchases for fraud review, enforce daily spending limits, or run into delays after a merger, and any of these can stop a charge from going through even when your card is in good standing. Common Reasons A Card May Not Go…
• 📖Getting Ella's Bubbles Tub Information by Email or TextElla's Bubbles shares product details, photos, specifications, and diagrams by email, and can text that same information to your phone if you don't have an email address on hand. Printed brochures and booklets are not mailed out, so email or text is the way to see photos and specifications for any tub you're considering. What's Included in Your Information When you reach out for details, you can expect an email…
• 📖Becoming an Ella's Bubbles Dealer or InstallerBusinesses interested in becoming an Ella's Bubbles dealer or installer can start by completing a dealer application, which covers details like the number of installers on staff and the types of installations performed. Once the application is submitted, Ella's Bubbles can follow up with pricing information and set up login access to the dealer portal. What the Dealer Application Covers The dealer application…
• 📖Ordering a Replacement Part by Order Form or PhoneYou can order a replacement part for your Ella walk-in tub through the support team, and you do not need a saved card to do it. The team confirms the exact part, takes your shipping address, works out the shipping options and emails you a short order form. You fill in your payment details, send the form back, and the part is packed and shipped. If you would rather not put card details in writing, call (800)…
• 📖I Found a Loose Screw or Small Part in the Crate. Where Does It Go?Finding a stray screw in the bottom of the crate is a common moment of worry, and the good news is that it is usually not a sign that something came off the tub. In most cases the loose piece is the small set screw for the faucet handles, which you tighten when you mount the handles during installation. Less often it is a pump mounting piece that comes packaged with the pumps but is not used on Ella tubs, and that…
• 📖How Do I Track My Walk-In Tub Freight Shipment, and What If It Stalls?Your walk-in tub, whether it is your original order or a replacement tub, ships from Chicago by LTL (less-than-truckload) freight, and the tracking number is emailed to you once the carrier has picked it up. Use that number on the carrier's own website. The freight carrier calls to schedule a delivery time before the truck arrives. If the tracking stops updating, shows a reroute, or a number does not return…
• 📖My Tub Was Supposed to Have an LED Light or Heated Seat, but There Is No SwitchElla installs a control button or switch only when the matching feature is built into the tub, so a missing switch almost always means the feature was not on the order placed with Ella. Support resolves this by pulling your order and reviewing photos of the tub in your bathroom against what was built. If a dealer or installer quoted a feature that never made it onto the order placed with Ella, the difference is…
• 📖Is There a Deadline to Install My Walk-In Tub After Delivery?There is no deadline to install an Ella walk-in tub after it arrives. You can take delivery well before your plumber is ready, which is common with new builds and phased remodels, and the tub is covered once it is installed and the warranty is activated. The one clock that does run starts at delivery: any freight damage must be reported within 48 hours of receipt. The only other date to keep in mind is the 30-day…
• 📖How Ordering a Walk-In Tub Works When Your Contractor Is Involved: Spec Sheet, Fit Check, Door Side and DeliveryOnce you have a model in mind, the process runs in a simple order. You receive the spec sheet for that tub, your contractor confirms the tub fits your bathroom and tells you which door side to order, the configuration is confirmed with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, your order is placed, and the tub is assembled, tested and shipped. Ella's Bubbles is the manufacturer and does not install tubs, so…
• 📖The Tub That Arrived Is a Different Model or Is Missing an Option I OrderedIf the tub that arrived does not look like what you ordered, or an option such as the LED light or heated seat is not there, stop before installation and confirm the unit against your order. Every unit carries a model tag, and the serial label sits behind the magnetic access panel next to the door. The team pulls your order and serial number, compares the tag and photos of the tub deck against what was ordered…
• 📖Will Ella Sell, Appraise or Help Me Resell a Used or Uninstalled Walk-In Tub?No. Ella's Bubbles does not list, broker or resell a customer's walk-in tub, does not take a commission to find a buyer, and does not put a resale value on a tub, even when the tub is brand new and still in its packaging. When customers or contractors ask, staff point them to an online marketplace such as Facebook Marketplace, where local buyers can see the tub and arrange pickup. What support can do is help you…
• 📖Can Ella Hold My Tub at the Warehouse Until My Bathroom Is Ready?Yes. Once your order is placed and paid, Ella's Bubbles can hold your tub at its dock at no charge and ship it when your bathroom is ready, your contractor is scheduled, or the weather allows delivery. The hold is for a limited window that is confirmed for your specific order, so tell your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 your expected timing when you order. Why customers ask for a hold The most common…
• 📖Will Someone Come to My Home for an Estimate?No. Ella's Bubbles does not send anyone to your home to measure the bathroom, inspect the plumbing, or write up an estimate. The right model is chosen during a phone conversation, and a written proposal covering the tub, its specifications, and delivery to your address is prepared from that call. Measuring the space and confirming that your existing plumbing and electrical service will work is the job of the…
• 📖Deposits and Partial Payments on a Walk-In Tub OrderElla's Bubbles does not take deposits or partial payments on a walk-in tub order. The confirmation invoice is paid in full, and the tub is assembled and tested to order once payment is complete. If you are waiting on funds, you can still place the order now. You receive a confirmation invoice to review, you respond to it when your money is available, and placing the order secures the unit so the configuration you…
• 📖Does Ella's Bubbles Have a Showroom in Canada Where I Can See Tubs?No. Ella's Bubbles is a Chicago-based manufacturer with no showroom in Canada, and Canadian purchases are handled through its partner, Walk-In Tubs Canada. In place of a showroom, the team offers live video calls from the Chicago manufacturing facility to show the models and how each therapy works. How each ordering path works, including Alaska, Hawaii and worldwide shipping, is in Ordering From Canada, Alaska…
• 📖Dealer Payment Terms and Accepted Payment Methods for Walk-In Tub OrdersElla's Bubbles does not offer net terms, open account billing or deferred payment to dealers, contractors or resellers. Every walk-in tub order is prepaid in full, and the unit goes into production only after the invoice has been paid. Payment is accepted by wire transfer or ACH, or by credit card through a signed credit card authorization form. Credit card payments carry a card processing fee, which is stated on…
• 📖Is There a Fee for Paying by Credit Card on a Walk-In Tub Order?Yes. When an invoice from Ella's Bubbles is paid by credit card, a card processing fee is added to the invoice total. The fee is stated on the invoice before you approve it, so there is no surprise after the charge is run. Paying by wire transfer or ACH carries no Ella processing fee. How the fee appears on your invoice When Ella prepares your confirmation invoice, it notes the card processing charge that…
• 📖Preparing a Returned Walk-In Tub for Carrier Pickup: Packing, the Return Bill of Lading and Why a Driver May Refuse ItWhen a walk-in tub is returned to Ella's Bubbles, the crated tub must be waiting at the curb, in the driveway or in an open garage on the pickup day, and you must have the return Bill of Lading that Ella emails you printed in three copies. Freight drivers do not enter the home, so a tub sitting inside the front door will be refused even if it is only a few feet from the street. Ella schedules the pickup only after…
• 📖Where Are Ella Walk-In Tubs Made, and What Is the Country of Origin for Customs?Ella walk-in tub shells are manufactured in China and then assembled, jetted and water-tested to order at Ella's Bubbles in Chicago, Illinois, where every tub ships from. For customs purposes the country of origin declared on the shipping paperwork is China. Whether duty applies depends on where the tub is going and how each item is classified, and any duty, tax or brokerage at the destination is the buyer's…
• 📖Can I Change the Shipping Address or Consignee Name After Placing My Order?Yes. If the shipping address on your order is wrong or has changed, contact where you purchased or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your order number and the corrected details. The order is updated and a corrected invoice or receipt is sent back for you to confirm. Corrections are simplest before the tub ships. Once the tub is with the carrier, Ella sends the carrier a corrected Bill of Lading, and the change then…
• 📖Can Two Orders Ship Together on One Freight Shipment?Yes, two orders can usually be combined into a single freight shipment, as long as you are willing to wait until the later order is ready. Freight is billed on the actual weight and destination of what ships, so sending two tubs, or a tub and shower items, on one freight run lowers the overall shipping expense compared with two separate deliveries. Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 for the…
• 📖How to Get a Copy of Your Invoice or Paid ReceiptIf you need a copy of your invoice or a receipt showing your order as paid, ask for it and it will be emailed to you. Request the copy from where you purchased. Your Ella dealer can obtain a copy of the invoice from Ella if they need it, and you can also open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your order number and the team will send the receipt tied to your order. Why you might need…
• 📖Paying for Your Order by Check or Wire TransferYes. An invoice from Ella's Bubbles for a walk-in tub order can be paid by mailed check. Make the check payable to Ella's Bubbles, LLC for the full amount shown on the invoice and mail it to the office address printed on that invoice. Your order is held until the check has arrived and cleared, and only then is the tub released to production. If you would rather not wait on the mail, a wire transfer is also…
• 📖Shipping Your Tub to Your Plumber or Installer Instead of Your HomeYes. If a curbside freight delivery at your home is not practical, Ella's Bubbles can ship your walk-in tub directly to your plumber's or installer's business address instead. Give the team that address, a contact name and a phone number the carrier can call, and the tub is invoiced and shipped there rather than to your home. This is a common arrangement for communities that restrict truck deliveries and for…
• 📖White Glove and Inside Delivery Options for a Walk-In Tub OrderElla's Bubbles does not offer white glove delivery. Every walk-in tub ships with curbside delivery with liftgate service, which means the freight carrier lowers the crate to the ground at the curb and moving it from there is up to you and your installer. If you need the crate carried past the curb, into a garage, onto a patio or into a room, inside delivery can often be arranged as an added carrier service for an…
• 📖The Carrier Missed or Cancelled My Return Pickup: How to RescheduleIf the carrier missed or cancelled the pickup of your return unit, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your order number. Support will give you the carrier's phone number and the pickup reference number so you can reschedule directly with the carrier, or support can contact the carrier and confirm a new date with you. Keep the unit packed, secured to its pallet and protected until…
• 📖The Crate Label Does Not List the Microbubble Option I OrderedYou very likely received the right tub. The label on the shipping crate shows only the base therapy system, such as Air + Hydro or Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot. Microbubble is an accessory that is installed on the tub before it ships, and Ella does not print it on the crate label. It appears on the packing slip that travels with your order. Unbox the tub, inspect it, and compare it with your packing slip and order…
• 📖My Building Requires a Certificate of Insurance for the Tub DeliverySupport can request this for you. If your condominium or apartment building requires a certificate of insurance from the delivery carrier before it will allow a freight delivery, contact support as soon as you know the requirement. Ella ships walk-in tubs by freight through a freight provider, and support passes your building's request to that provider, who requests the certificate from the carrier and forwards it…
• 📖Can My Shower Base Ship Now If the Wall Panels Are Back-Ordered?Yes. When the wall panels on your shower order are temporarily out of stock, the base can ship on its own so your contractor can set it, and the wall panels follow once they are back in stock. Ask for a split shipment through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support, and the team will arrange it for your order. How a split shipment works Shower bases and wall…
• 📖Paying Your Walk-In Tub Invoice by Wire TransferYes, you can pay your walk-in tub invoice by wire transfer. Ask the team at (800) 480-6850, or where you purchased, to set it up. You will first receive your invoice so you can confirm every line is correct, and then the official wire transfer instructions as a separate document. Use only the bank details printed on that document when you give the payment order to your bank. How a wire payment works Tell the…
• 📖Dealer Purchase Orders: Invoice Confirmation and Payment Before Your Tub Goes to ProductionWhen a dealer sends a purchase order, the order desk replies with an invoice and asks the dealer to confirm that every detail is correct. The order is not released to production, and nothing ships, until that written confirmation and payment are both received. Replying promptly with the confirmation wording and the payment method keeps the order moving without extra back and forth. From purchase order to…
• 📖Shipping a Walk-In Tub Overseas: What the Team Needs, Freight Forwarder Pickup, and Warranty Parts AbroadYes. Ella's Bubbles ships walk-in tubs to destinations outside the United States and Canada, and every tub is assembled and tested in Chicago before it is packed for the trip. Because freight is arranged for each destination individually, the team at (800) 480-6850 needs your complete delivery address and a working phone number before shipping options for your order can be confirmed. The general process for…
• 📖Tub Arrived Without a Headrest, Grab Bar or Other Accessory? Check the Invoice and the Pallet FirstWhen a tub arrives without a headrest, grab bar or other accessory, the item is usually either not part of the order or still packed on the pallet in a spot you have not opened. Check your invoice first, then look in the parts box, the bubble-wrapped bundles tucked under the tub and the recesses inside the tub. If the item is truly missing, support compares your report against the packing-station photos taken…
• 📖Dealer Showroom and Trade Show Display ProgramsYes. Approved Ella dealers can put a working Ella walk-in tub on their showroom floor or at a trade show through two dedicated programs, the Showroom Display Program and the Trade Show Display Program. The Showroom Display Program provides a full working display tub under the Dealer Display Agreement, which sets out the display terms for dealers. The Trade Show Display Program supplies a display tub for an event…
• 📖Adding the Ella Catalog and Shower Builder to Your Dealer WebsiteDealers and contractors in the Ella network can add the Ella product catalog, the shower builder and the walk-in tub catalog to their own website through EllaSync, a simple embed provided by the web support team. The team supplies the embed for each page type, and either your developer pastes it into an HTML block or the web support team helps with the setup. Share the address of your website and the page where…
• 📖Canceling a Walk-In Tub Order Before or After It ShipsTo cancel an order, contact the team right away through ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, or contact where you purchased if you ordered through a dealer or retailer. Have your order number ready. The first thing the team checks is whether your tub has left the warehouse. If it has not shipped, the order is canceled and you receive a receipt confirming the cancellation. If it has already shipped, the team…
• 📖Adding a Panel, Faucet, or Option to an Order You Already PlacedYes. As long as your order has not shipped, an end panel, extension panel, faucet, heated seat, headrest, therapy option, or even another tub can be added to an order you have already placed. Contact where you purchased or the team at (800) 480-6850, reference your invoice number, and say exactly what you want added. The team updates the invoice and sends it to you to confirm, and once the added items are…
• 📖Dealer Orders: Using Your Own Freight Carrier and Bill of LadingYes. Dealers and trade buyers can move an Ella order on their own freight carrier. When the order desk replies to your purchase order, it includes Ella's shipping charge for the order along with the option to use your own carrier instead. If you choose your own carrier, you send Ella a bill of lading, and Ella provides everything the carrier needs: the pick-up location, the shipping dimensions of the crate, the…
• 📖Why Ella Needs a Working Phone Number Before Your Walk-In Tub ShipsYour walk-in tub travels by freight truck, and the carrier must call the delivery contact to set a delivery appointment before the truck comes out. That is why Ella's Bubbles confirms a valid, working US phone number on every order before the tub is released to ship. The same rule applies when you ordered through a retailer such as a home improvement store, because Ella's Bubbles builds and ships the tub as the…
• 📖Can My Walk-In Tub Ship to the Freight Terminal for Pickup Instead of My Home?Yes. Instead of residential curbside delivery, your walk-in tub or shower order can be shipped to the freight carrier's terminal closest to you, and you or your contractor pick it up there. Tell your Ella dealer or the team when you place the order or before the invoice is finalized, and Ella's Bubbles will update the ship-to on the invoice to the terminal, confirm your payment details, and release the order.…
• 📖Can Ella Deliver My Tub on a Specific Day? Choosing a Ship Date Versus Guaranteeing DeliveryYou can choose the day your tub leaves Ella, but no one can promise the day it arrives at your door. Ella schedules the freight carrier pickup on the weekday you request, and from that point the carrier controls the transit and the delivery appointment. If your builder or installer is only available on certain days, the dependable plan is to order early, let the tub be built and tested ahead of time, pick a ship…
• 📖Why an Organization's Address Can Still Be Classified as a Residential Freight DeliveryFreight carriers decide whether a delivery is residential or commercial by how their truck can reach and unload at the site, not by the name on the building. A housing authority, a small business, or another organization located on a residential street or at a limited-access site is treated as a residential delivery, and the residential classification applies even though an organization is the buyer. Ella's…
• 📖Do You Need Liftgate Service, and Can Shipping Be Recalculated Without It?Liftgate service is needed whenever there is no loading dock or forklift at the delivery address, which is the case for nearly every home delivery. If your delivery point is a commercial location with a dock, or you have a forklift or another safe way to take the crate off the trailer, tell your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before your order is finalized and the shipping charge can be recalculated…
• 📖My Tub Shipped but the Carrier Cannot Locate It. What Happens Now?If your walk-in tub shipped but the carrier can no longer say where it is, Ella's Bubbles opens a trace on your behalf. Support sends the carrier the bill of lading and photos of the crated tub so the terminals along the route can run a dock check. If the freight still cannot be found, the warehouse prepares a replacement tub and ships it with new tracking, so you are not left waiting on the carrier's…
• 📖My Shower Was Approved for Replacement: How the Replacement Order Works and How to Check Its StatusOnce Ella confirms that a defective shower cannot be repaired, the replacement is handled as a new order placed with the shower factory, with a warranty credit applied so the replacement unit is supplied under the warranty terms. The factory provides an estimated ship date, support relays it to you, and tracking follows once the unit leaves. Because the replacement is built and shipped like a new order, Ella does…
• 📖Paying by Credit Card Over the Phone and How Your Card Details Are ProtectedYes. Major credit cards are accepted for payment on your order and for replacement parts, and the payment is taken over the phone rather than through email. The team writes the card details down during the call, hands them to the person who processes payments, and that paper is shredded as soon as the charge goes through. Card numbers are not kept in Ella's customer database, which is exactly why the phone method…
• 📖Missed Freight Delivery: Redelivery Charges and How to RescheduleWhen the freight carrier arrives inside the scheduled appointment window and nobody is there to receive the tub, the carrier records a failed delivery and bills a redelivery charge for the second attempt. Because that charge comes from the carrier, Ella's Bubbles passes it on to the customer, and the carrier will not make another attempt until the charge is approved. The team contacts you, confirms how you want to…
• 📖Can Ella Ship a Walk-In Tub or Shower Base to Canada, and Are There Installers There?Yes, Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs ship to Canada regularly, and there are many happy Ella owners across the country. Two things work differently north of the border. Shower bases are not shipped to Canada because they are fragile and easily damaged during shipment. And Ella has no representatives or installers of its own in Canada, so installation is done by a local licensed contractor, and the team can help you…
• 📖Four-Fold Shower Screen on Backorder: How the Rest of Your Order Ships and How the Screen FollowsThe four-fold glass shower screen is stocked in limited quantities and goes on backorder from time to time. When the screen is out of stock at the moment you order, the rest of your order can be confirmed and shipped now and the screen sent separately once the next shipment arrives, so a backordered screen does not hold up a tub. The screen is logged as a pre-order and is prioritized when stock lands. Your Ella…
• 📖Dealer Orders Shipped Straight to the Customer: Drop Shipping and What Paperwork Travels With the TubYes, a dealer order can ship directly to the end customer's home instead of to the dealer's warehouse. The order form has separate billing and shipping sections, so the dealer enters its own billing details and the customer's name, address, phone number and preferred delivery option as the consignee. The only document that travels with the tub is a packing slip listing the contents, and it shows no pricing. The…
• 📖My Home Depot or Retailer Order Arrived Damaged, Will Ella Replace It?No. On an order placed through Home Depot or another retailer, Ella does not ship replacements or just the damaged piece. The retailer handles the return, you place a new order for the correct product, and Ella expedites the new order once it appears in its system. That is different from an order placed with Ella or an Ella dealer, where a freight damage claim puts it right; that process is in My order arrived…
• 📖Can I Order a Walk-In Tub Before My Funds Are Available?Yes. You can place your walk-in tub order now and respond to the confirmation invoice when your money arrives. Ella's Bubbles does not take deposits or partial payments, so the invoice is paid in full before the tub is assembled and tested, but placing the order early secures the configuration you chose. The canonical guide, Deposits and Partial Payments on a Walk-In Tub Order , covers the payment rules in full.…
• 📖Where can I buy an Ella walk-in tub near me?Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs and walk-in showers are ordered through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and because every tub is assembled in Chicago and shipped nationwide, you do not need a store near you to get one. Each tub is built and tested to your configuration once the model, door side, therapy package, faucet and accessories are confirmed, as Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs: A General Overview…
• 📖Is Ella's Bubbles a legitimate walk-in tub company?Yes. Ella's Bubbles is a family-owned and family-run walk-in tub manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois, in business since 2005 and holding an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Every tub is assembled, jetted and tested to order at the Chicago production facility, every model is on display in the Chicago showroom, and the company ships nationwide. The facility, the testing process and the company…
• 📖Where Can I Buy an Ella Walk-In Tub or Shower?Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs and walk-in showers are purchased through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and they ship nationwide, so where you live does not limit which model you can receive. Ella's Bubbles is the manufacturer, and the tubs are assembled in America at the company's facility in Chicago. A description of the company and its product line is in Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs: A General…
• 📖Which Stores or Dealers Carry Ella Walk-In Tubs Near Me?Ella walk-in tubs reach your home through the Ella dealer network, and every tub is assembled, jetted and tested to order in Chicago, so home improvement stores and dealers do not keep Ella tubs stocked on their floors. The quickest way to learn which dealer serves your area, and which models that dealer carries, is to call (800) 480-6850 with your zip code. Seeing an Ella Tub Near You: The South Florida Mobile…
• 📖Where Can I Buy a Complete Ella Walk-In Shower Kit?Ella walk-in shower kits are purchased through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and Ella ships its walk-in showers nationwide, so customers across the country can receive one. Before you order, know what complete means: the kit ships with the shower stall, the grab bar set listed for that kit and the drain, while the shower valve, trim, shower head and any hand shower are chosen and bought…
• 📖Does Ella's Bubbles Deliver Walk-In Tubs to West Virginia?Yes. Ella's Bubbles ships its walk-in tubs and walk-in showers nationwide, so a home in West Virginia can receive an Ella tub just like a home in any other state. Every tub is assembled and tested in Chicago before it travels to you by freight, and the cost, tax and timing details for your order are explained in Shipping, Sales Tax, and Pickup for Your Walk-In Tub Order . Where your tub ships from Ella's…
• 📖Where can I buy an Ella walk-in tub or see one in person?An Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub is ordered through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, who confirm the model, door side, therapy package, faucet and accessories before the tub is built and tested for your order. Every Ella tub is assembled in America at the company's facility in Chicago and ships nationwide, so where you live does not limit where you can receive one. If you are just starting to look…
• 📖Should I ask Ella's Bubbles or my retailer my product questions?Product questions about how an Ella walk-in tub works, how it installs, which replacement part you need and how the warranty applies go to Ella's Bubbles, the manufacturer, no matter whether you bought through a dealer, a retail store or a partner. Questions about your specific order, its delivery and any return go to where you purchased. The split is laid out for store purchases in Bought Through Home Depot…
• 📖Where can I buy an in-stock walk-in tub that ships now?Ella walk-in tubs are assembled and tested to order at the company's facility in Chicago and shipped nationwide, so the quickest route to a tub is to confirm the model, door side, therapy package, faucet and accessories with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, who can tell you what is on hand for that exact configuration. Where can I buy an Ella walk-in tub near me? covers the ordering route. This…
• 📖Where can I buy a walk-in tub shower combo with professional installation?An Ella walk-in tub and shower combo is purchased through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and it ships nationwide from the company's Chicago facility, so where you live does not limit which model you can order. Installation is a separate job done by a local licensed plumber or electrician rather than by Ella's Bubbles, and the shower column that turns the tub into a combo has to be fitted before…
• 📖Do I Need an In-Home Appointment to Buy a Walk-In Tub?No one from Ella's Bubbles needs to visit your home before you choose a walk-in tub. Every Ella tub is assembled, jetted and tested to order in Chicago, so the choosing happens over the phone, from the spec sheets and model videos, or on a 30-minute live video tour where a specialist shows you the tubs in real time and can take seat and doorway measurements for you on camera. The one appointment every order does…
• 📖Is Ella the Same Company as Ella's Bubbles?Yes, Ella and Ella's Bubbles are the same company. Ella's Bubbles is the full name of the manufacturer, and Ella is the short form used for the company, its products and its trade partners, which is why you will read about an Ella walk-in tub, an Ella shower base or an Ella dealer while the website itself is ellasbubbles.com. Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs: A General Overview introduces the company, and this page…
• 📖How Long and Where Can I Store a Walk-In Tub Before Installation?There is no deadline to install an Ella walk-in tub once it has been delivered, so it can wait as long as your project needs, provided it stays in its original packaging, indoors and out of the weather. If you have nowhere dry and warm to keep it, the better option is to leave the tub at the Ella dock and schedule delivery close to installation day, as explained in Can Ella Hold My Tub at the Warehouse Until My…
• 📖Can I Exchange an Uninstalled Walk-In Tub for Another Model or Door Side?The published policy does not describe a separate exchange path, so a swap works as a return followed by a new order for the configuration you want. A brand new, uninstalled tub in its original packaging can be returned within 30 days unless your invoice stipulates otherwise, a restocking fee applies, and installed products cannot be returned or exchanged, as laid out in the 30-day return policy explained .…
• 📖What Happens If the Freight Truck Cannot Reach My Driveway or Road?If a full-size freight truck cannot make it down your road or into your driveway, tell your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before the shipment is booked. The carrier decides how a stop is served by how its truck can reach and unload at the site, and the two alternatives to a curbside stop at the house are pickup at the carrier's terminal or pickup at the Chicago facility. What Is Curbside Delivery with…
• 📖Can a Clearance Walk-In Tub Be Changed to a Different Door Side or Therapy?No. A clearance walk-in tub is one specific, individually listed unit identified by its serial number, and it is sold exactly as configured: the drain side and door hand cannot change, a jetted unit cannot become a soaker, jets cannot be added to a unit built without them, and options such as a heated seat cannot be added. If the listing does not match the hand or therapy you need, the answer is a different serial…
• 📖What Training and Installation Resources Does Ella Provide to New Dealers and Installers?Ella's Bubbles supports new dealers and installers with a set of product, marketing and technical resources: brochures and personalized catalogs, visits or live video tours of the Chicago showroom, video calls from the showroom for customer conversations, trade show banners from an in-house design team, the EllaSync catalog and shower builder for your website, installation manuals and free lifetime technical…
• 📖What happens if I refuse the walk-in tub freight delivery at my door?Refusing the freight delivery sends the crate back with the carrier instead of leaving it at your curb, and the right response depends on why you are refusing it. If the crate is severely damaged, call (800) 480-6850 before the truck leaves and you may reject the delivery. If the order was canceled or is a duplicate, do not sign for it, note the refusal with the driver and contact the team the same day so the…
• 📖Can my walk-in tub be delivered to a condo loading dock instead?Yes, your walk-in tub can be delivered to your building's loading dock or loading area, but give your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 the exact address and the dock details before the order is finalized, because the freight carrier, not Ella's Bubbles, decides whether the stop counts as a commercial dock delivery or a residential delivery. A condo or apartment building in a neighborhood is usually seen…
• 📖Can two people carry an Ella walk-in tub up a flight of stairs?Two people can carry most standard-size Ella walk-in tubs, which weigh 200 to 240 pounds net, once the tub is out of its crate and the access panels are removed, but a flight of stairs calls for extra hands beyond that pair. The tub ships fully assembled and cannot be taken apart, so the stair route has to clear the tub's actual size, or the crate size if you carry it crated. Every model's figures are in How much…
• 📖What Happens If I Ordered the Wrong Door Side on My Walk-In Tub?The hand of an Ella walk-in tub is set at the factory and cannot be reversed after delivery, so what happens next depends on whether the tub is still uninstalled and in its original packaging. Before anything else, confirm the side really is wrong, because sides are named as you face the tub, and a tub that looks like the wrong side is sometimes exactly what the room needs once your installer looks at the…
• 📖Ella's Bubbles Reseller ProgramElla's Bubbles offers a reseller program, not a traditional dealer program, for companies that want to sell and install Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs and showers. Approval is based on your company's website content, your prior walk-in tub sales or installation experience, and how much you currently invest in marketing walk-in tubs, and approved resellers gain access to a dedicated portal, catalogs, and live video…
• 📖Where can I buy a walk-in bathtub with professional installation?An Ella walk-in bathtub is purchased through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and it ships nationwide from the company's facility in Chicago, so where you live does not limit which model you can order. Professional installation is arranged separately: Ella's Bubbles builds and tests the tub but does not perform installations, so a local licensed plumber or electrician sets the tub, with free…
• 📖Where can I see real customers using Ella walk-in tubs?The real customer content Ella's Bubbles publishes is video: short testimonials in which owners describe the tub they bought and how it fits them, plus a live video call from the Chicago showroom where a specialist shows you a real tub with water in it. The two testimonial videos on this page cover the Big4One and the ShaK, and Are walk-in tubs really worth it for your home? summarizes two more. If you want to…
• 📖When Will I Receive Shipping Details for My Walk-In Tub Order?Shipping details for an Ella walk-in tub order arrive in stages rather than all at once. The invoice confirms the ship-to address before the order is released to production, and the tracking information is emailed once the tub has actually shipped. Because every tub is assembled and tested to order, no fixed timeline is published, so your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 confirms the current timing for…
• 📖What If I Find Concealed Shipping Damage After Signing the Delivery Receipt?If you signed the delivery receipt and then found damage inside the crate, report it right away. The published freight damage window is 48 hours from receipt of your shipment, and it covers concealed damage discovered during a visual and operational inspection as well as obvious crate damage. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with photos, a copy of your invoice and your signed bill…
• 📖Are Ella tubs sold at Home Depot configured differently from dealer tubs?No. An Ella walk-in tub sold through Home Depot, Menards, Amazon or another retail partner is the same tub that reaches you through an Ella dealer. It is assembled, jetted and tested to order in Chicago, built to the features and electrical standards on the order, and it carries the same Lifetime Limited Warranty and the same lifetime technical support. What changes from one seller to another is which models and…
• 📖Which Ella walk-in tub options are special order and do they add lead time?On an Ella walk-in tub, a special order is a build that goes past what a frame normally carries: infusion microbubble on the Deluxe or Ultimate, the Air + Hydro + Foot triple on the Lounger, all four therapy systems on the TransferXXL, and the H2 hydrogen system on any tub other than the Standard60. Ella publishes no lead time for these or for any other option, because every tub is assembled and tested to order…
• 📖Is There an Ella Showroom in the San Francisco Bay Area?No, there is no Ella's Bubbles showroom in the San Francisco Bay Area, and none anywhere else in California. The only permanent showroom is at the Chicago warehouse and production facility, where every model is on display and visits are by appointment, so from the Bay Area the quickest way to see and feel a specific tub is the live video showroom tour described in Can I See a Walk-In Tub in Person? Showroom…
• 📖Ella's Bubbles Reseller Program: What You Get and How It HelpsThe Ella's Bubbles reseller program is built for businesses that want to sell Ella walk-in tubs to their own clients. Filling out a reseller application can provide contractor pricing on Ella's Bubbles products. Resellers also get a reseller portal, an assigned account manager and training calls that show how the tubs work and what to offer clients. How the reseller program helps your business The program gives…
• 📖How Do I Become an Ella's Bubbles Dealer or Drop-Ship Partner?You become an Ella's Bubbles dealer by completing the dealer application in the Become a Dealer section of ellasbubbles.com with your business details, and the partnership team follows up from there. Approved dealers receive dealer pricing and access to the dealer portal, and an approved dealer's orders can ship straight to the end customer's home, which is how drop shipping works with Ella. The three trade paths…
• 📖Can a Walk-In Tub Be Stored in a Garage or Outside Before Installation?Yes, an Ella walk-in tub can wait in a garage before installation, as long as the garage keeps the weather off and keeps the tub out of the cold. Storing it outside, on a driveway, patio or lawn, does not meet Ella's guidance. That guidance is to keep the tub in its original packaging, indoors and out of the weather, until the installer is ready. The complete storage guidance, including how long a tub can wait, is…
• 📖I just placed my walk-in tub order, what happens next?Thank you for choosing Ella's Bubbles. After you place your walk-in tub order, your tub is assembled, jetted, tested, cleaned and carefully packed at the Chicago facility, then shipped to you by freight carrier. You receive an order confirmation when your purchase is complete, and a shipment confirmation with a tracking number by email once your product ships, typically within 24 hours of the tub leaving the…
• 📖How your walk-in tub ships and how to prepare for delivery dayPreparing for walk-in tub delivery day comes down to three things: measure the path from your main entrance to the bathroom against the shipping size, plan for your installer or two able helpers to carry the tub, and keep all packaging materials until your installation is complete. Your walk-in tub is delivered as one fully assembled unit, protected by heavy duty packaging and shipped by LTL freight truck to your…
• 📖Your walk-in tub has arrived, how to inspect the delivery before signingCongratulations, your new walk-in tub is here. The walk-in tub delivery inspection takes only a few minutes: before the driver leaves, look over the shipping crate, photograph it from all sides, and write any damage you see on the delivery document before you sign it. Light scuffs and scrapes on the container are normal, the packaging is designed to absorb them, but documenting everything at the door is what…
• 📖My order arrived damaged, how do I file a freight damage claim?If your walk-in tub arrived damaged, a freight damage claim puts it right, and in most cases a damaged part is simply replaced rather than the whole tub. Two rules protect your claim: report the damage within 48 hours of receipt, and keep every piece of packaging, including the crate. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with photos of the damage plus copies of your invoice and bill…
• 📖Can I return my walk-in tub? The 30-day return policy explainedYes, Ella's Bubbles has a 30-day return policy for walk-in tubs, unless otherwise stipulated in your invoice, for brand new, uninstalled products in their original packaging. The published policy at ellasbubbles.com/shipping/ states: "The restocking fee is 25% of the original order amount, less taxes and shipping costs." The customer is responsible for all associated costs of shipping the return, and Ella's…

Warranty & Registration58 articlesOpen topic →

• 📖Does Ella Send a Technician? Parts, Labor, and Free Lifetime Tech Support ExplainedDoes Ella send a technician? No. Ella's Bubbles is the manufacturer of your walk-in tub, and the Lifetime Limited Warranty we stand behind is a parts warranty, so we do not dispatch our own service technicians to your home. Instead, we do two things for the life of your tub: we ship verified replacement parts to you at no charge, and we provide free lifetime technical support to guide you or your local contractor…
• 📖Warranty Exceptions: The TCV One-Year Warranty, Non-Ella Faucets, and Water-Quality DamageThe main warranty exceptions on an Ella walk-in tub are the thermostatic control valve (TCV), which carries a one-year limited warranty instead of the lifetime term, damage to the TCV cartridge caused by water quality, which is never covered, and faucets that were not made by Ella, which are covered by their own manufacturer rather than by Ella's Bubbles. Everything else on the tub, including the shell, frame…
• 📖Bought Through a Dealer or Installer? How Your Ella Warranty WorksIf you bought through a dealer or installer, your Ella's Bubbles warranty still comes directly from Ella's Bubbles and works exactly the same way it does for every other Ella owner. Many walk-in tubs reach their owners through dealers, remodelers and installation companies who handle everything from the sale to the finished bathroom, and that is a wonderful way to buy. The Lifetime Limited Warranty is registered…
• 📖Warranty Coverage for Ella Shower Bases: 30-Year Limited Terms and the 10-Day Claim WindowElla's Bubbles shower bases are covered by their own shower base warranty, separate from the Lifetime Limited Warranty on our walk-in tubs. Both the Roll-In and Barrier-Free shower bases and pans and the Low-Threshold acrylic shower bases carry a 30-Year Limited Warranty against defects in workmanship or material, measured from the date of purchase, provided the product is installed and maintained according to…
• 📖New to a Home With an Ella Tub? A First-Week Guide for Second OwnersIf you have just moved into a home with an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub already installed, welcome. As a second owner you can identify the model from the serial label and the shape of the door, download the right manual from the product page, and reach the same lifetime technical support and replacement parts that every Ella owner enjoys. The Lifetime Limited Warranty itself belongs to the first purchaser at the…
• 📖Warranty Terms for Showers, Shower Doors, Seats, Faucets, Alcove Tubs and the Pet Spa: What Each Published Document SaysWarranty terms for Ella's Bubbles showers, shower doors, seats, faucets, alcove tubs and the Pet Spa are printed in the manual or spec sheet published on ellasbubbles.com for each product, and they range from one year on some accessories to thirty years or a lifetime on shower units. The fastest way to know your coverage is to find your product in the table below and then open the matching document from its…
• 📖My Older Manual Says 5 Years on Pumps or 3 Years on Components: Which Warranty Applies?If your older manual says five years on pumps or three years on components, you are reading an earlier version of the Ella's Bubbles warranty. The current published Lifetime Limited Warranty at ellasbubbles.com/warranty/ grants a Lifetime Limited Warranty on all supporting equipment: motors, pumps, fixtures, electronic controls, faucet, waste, overflow and all plated finishes. The current published document is…
• 📖Defect or Wear and Tear? Examples of How Support Evaluates Common Part RequestsIs it a defect or wear and tear? The Ella's Bubbles Lifetime Limited Warranty covers defects in workmanship and material under normal use and conditions, and it does not cover ordinary wear, misuse, improper maintenance or damage from improper installation. The line between the two is not always obvious from a description alone, which is why the published warranty requires photos of the affected part and a…
• 📖Common Warranty Questions: Dealer Purchases, Labor, the TCV, Activation, Second Owners, Older Manuals and WearThe most common warranty questions we hear all come back to the same facts: the Ella's Bubbles Lifetime Limited Warranty is a parts warranty extended to the first purchaser at the original installation address, and it works the same way whether your tub came through a dealer, a retailer, an installer or another Ella partner. This page gathers the ten warranty questions we hear most often and gives each one a short…
• 📖What Happens After a Warranty Part Is Approved: Testing, Where It Ships, Return Labels and What to KeepOnce the support team has verified a defect from your photos and approved a warranty part, Ella's Bubbles ships that warranty part to the original customer's address without charge. Parts such as hoses and control boxes are tested before they are packed, a control box shipment may include a return label so the old box can be diagnosed, and you should keep any replaced part until your ticket confirms the problem is…
• 📖Claiming the Free Accessory for Sharing Your Story: Warranty Activation First, Any Two Reviews, and What to Do When the Upload FailsSharing your walk-in tub story earns you a free accessory, and the claim is simple once the pieces are in the right order: your warranty activation has to be on file first, then you post any two reviews on the platforms listed on the program page, and finally you upload screenshots of those posted reviews at ellasbubbles.com/claim-free-accessory/. If the upload will not go through, or nothing has arrived after you…
• 📖Warranty Activation Troubleshooting: QR Code Will Not Scan, the Old Register Link, Form Errors, Missing Serial Numbers and Repeat RemindersIf the QR code on your tub will not scan or the register link in your paperwork lands on a dead page, type ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation/ directly into your browser; that is the working page, and it accepts the same two-page form. If the online form errors out, rejects an email address, or you cannot find your serial number, you can still get activated: submit a photo or PDF of the completed form through a…
• 📖Labor Coverage Comes From Your Installer: What to Ask For in Writing Before the Tub Goes InElla's Bubbles backs your walk-in tub with a Lifetime Limited Warranty on parts, and the published warranty excludes labor, installation, and removal, so the labor side of any future repair comes from a separate agreement with the installer or contractor who puts the tub in. Installers operate independently and provide their own labor warranties, which is why the best time to settle that coverage is before the…
• 📖What Is the Lifetime Limited Warranty on an Ella Walk-In Tub?The Lifetime Limited Warranty is Ella's parts warranty for the first purchaser of a walk-in tub at its original installation address. It covers the bathtub shell, frame, door, door seal and finish for life, and it also covers all supporting equipment, including motors, pumps, fixtures, electronic controls, faucet, waste, overflow and plated finishes, for life. The thermostatic control valve (TCV) is the published…
• 📖What Is the Warranty Activation Form for an Ella Walk-In Tub?The warranty activation form is the two-page document, signed by both the owner and the installer and returned with a copy of the sales receipt, that puts your Lifetime Limited Warranty on file with Ella's Bubbles. Some owners call it the warranty registration form or the installer checklist, because its second page is a list of installation checks the installer initials. Complete it promptly after installation…
• 📖What Is the Serial Number Label on an Ella Walk-In Tub?The serial number label is the identification label inside the removable access panel next to the door of your Ella walk-in tub. It carries the serial number, which typically starts with the letter M, along with model information and the UL listing details a building inspector asks to see. Owners also call it the tub label, the ID plate or the UL label, and a quick phone photo of it answers most questions before…
• 📖How Do I Activate My Walk-In Tub Warranty?If you are asking how do I activate my warranty, the answer is the two page Warranty Activation Form at ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation/. You and your installer each complete and sign your part, you attach a copy of the sales receipt and your installer's license and insurance information, and you submit it online. The first thing to check when the QR code will not scan or the register link gives page not…
• 📖Is This Covered Under My Walk-In Tub Warranty?When you ask is this covered under warranty, the short answer is that almost every part of an Ella walk-in tub is: the shell, frame, door, door seal and finish, plus all supporting equipment including pumps, control boxes, jets, drains and ozone, carry a Lifetime Limited Warranty. So a pump that quit in under a year is a warranty matter, and the first thing to check is that you have photos of the problem and your…
• 📖Where Do I Find the Serial Number on My Walk-In Tub?If you are wondering where do I find the serial number, look on the inside of a removable panel on the tub apron. On stainless steel door models it is behind the large access panel on the seat side, and the serial number itself starts with the letter M. The first thing to check is that panel: pull it gently away from the frame, turn it over, and photograph the whole label so you have every number on it. Our guide…
• 📖I Bought a House With an Ella Tub and Have No Information. Where Do I Start?If you bought a house with an Ella tub and have no information, start with the serial label on the inside of a removable panel on the tub apron. That label identifies the model and build, and once you send it to the team they can send you the right manual. The first thing to do before your first bath is the vinegar flush, and the first thing to check on coverage is that the published warranty is extended to the…
• 📖I Installed the Tub Myself. Who Signs the Installer Part of the Warranty Form?If you installed it yourself and are asking who signs the installer part, the answer is you. For a self installation, complete the online form at ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation/ and put your own information in the installer field, then initial the checklist items you completed. The first thing to check is whether a licensed plumber or electrician made the water or electrical connections, because the team may…
• 📖My Clearance Tub Was Sold With a Door Leak. Can It Be Fixed?If your clearance tub was sold with a door leak and you are asking can it be fixed, the honest answer is that a Handyman Special is sold as is because its door leak is a manufacturing defect that cannot be repaired or covered. The first thing to check is your listing: a unit labeled Handyman Special was sold specifically for shower style use where a watertight door is not required, while every other clearance tub…
• 📖The Tech Support Number I Have Is Not in Service. How Do I Reach Ella's Bubbles?If the tech support number is not in service when you dial it, you are almost certainly using an older number printed in a manual, on a sticker or in old paperwork. The current ways to reach Ella's Bubbles are ellasbubbles.com/support and (800) 480-6850, and the first thing to check is that you are dialing that number rather than one from a document that came with the tub. Older numbers can be retired over the…
• 📖Printable Checklist for Moving House With an Ella Walk-In TubMoving house with an Ella walk-in tub starts with one decision: does the tub come with you or stay with the home? Either way the Lifetime Limited Warranty ends, because it is extended to the first purchaser at the original installation address and is void when ownership or location changes. What never ends is free lifetime technical support and access to replacement parts for every Ella tub, whoever owns it. Print…
• 📖Printable Checklist for Selling a Home With a Walk-In TubSelling a home with a walk-in tub is simple once you know two things: the Ella's Bubbles Lifetime Limited Warranty is extended to you as the first purchaser and does not transfer to the buyer, while free lifetime technical support and access to replacement parts continue for whoever owns the tub. Be clear about the first, generous with the second, and leave a tidy handover packet. Print this checklist and work…
• 📖A Factory Fitting Leaked and Damaged My Bathroom: What to Send and How the Claim Is ReviewedIf a factory fitting such as a supply line failed and water damaged your bathroom or the room below, gather three things before you open a ticket: photos of the damage, photos of the failed part showing the exact spot the leak came from, and the contact information for the contractor who installed the tub. Support forwards that package to the corporate team, who review the report and handle the claim from there.…
• 📖Cracked Tub Shell, Door or Shower Base: How to File the Warranty ClaimA crack in the acrylic of an Ella walk-in tub, in the tub door, or in the floor of an Ella shower base is handled as a warranty claim, not a return. Photograph the crack, send the photos with your purchase details and serial number through ellasbubbles.com/support, and the team looks up your warranty and logs the claim. Once the claim is verified, Ella ships the replacement part or unit at no charge for the part…
• 📖How to Get a Copy of Your Ella Walk-In Tub Warranty DocumentIf you want a copy of the written warranty for your Ella walk-in tub, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and the team will email you the warranty terms. For a period the warranty download link on some product pages opened the cleaning and maintenance PDF instead of the warranty, so if a click brings up cleaning instructions, you did nothing wrong. Ask the team for the document…
• 📖Dealers and Installers: How to Activate the Warranty in Your Customer's NameIf you sold or installed an Ella walk-in tub for a customer, you can activate the warranty in that customer's name. Open the warranty activation form on ellasbubbles.com, which is linked at the bottom of every page, enter the customer as the owner and your company as the installer, and submit it. No receipt number or dealer login is needed to open the form. The activation is complete only once both the owner…
• 📖Custom-Built Walk-In Tubs: Same Warranty, Same Manual, Same Cleaning RoutineA custom-built Ella walk-in tub carries the same lifetime limited parts warranty as a standard model, uses the same owner's manual as its base model and therapy options, and follows the same cleaning routine. There is no separate custom-tub warranty, no separate custom manual and no different maintenance schedule. Whatever therapies were added, such as air massage or microbubble therapy, are covered as supporting…
• 📖Does Drilling Holes for a Faucet or Grab Bars Void the Ella Warranty? Pre-Drilled Holes, Reinforced Walls and Choosing an InstallerDrilling the holes your installer needs to mount a faucet and grab bars on an Ella acrylic shower does not void the warranty. Those holes are not predrilled, drilling them is a normal installation step, and it is expected. What does void or limit coverage is a short list of installation and ownership mistakes: improper installation, modifying or repairing the tub outside Ella's Bubbles, and relocating or…
• 📖Is There a Warranty on the Whirlpool Jets and Pumps of a Walk-In Tub?Yes. On an Ella walk-in tub the whirlpool and air jetting system, including its pumps, motors and electronic controls, is covered as supporting equipment under the published Lifetime Limited Warranty, the same parts coverage that applies to the shell, frame, door and door seal. The warranty is for the first purchaser at the original installation address, covers parts and not labor, and must be activated after…
• 📖Does Ella Offer an Extended Warranty as My First Year Ends?Ella's Bubbles does not offer an extended warranty, and you do not need one. Every new Ella walk-in tub comes with a limited lifetime warranty on the tub and its parts for the original purchaser, so there is no first-year cutoff to plan around. What matters as your first anniversary approaches is that your warranty activation form is on file, because activation is what puts the coverage in force. Why there is…
• 📖Did Ella Receive My Warranty Activation Form? How to Confirm It Was RecordedElla records every warranty activation form it receives against the tub's serial number, and the support team will confirm receipt whenever you ask. A confirmation is not always sent back automatically, so if you have heard nothing after submitting the form, open a ticket or call with your serial number and the team will check your file. Staff can also help you finish a form that is missing a signature or a…
• 📖Where to Find the Serial Number on Your Ella Walk-In TubThe serial number of an Ella walk-in tub is on the label behind the large magnetic access panel, the panel next to the door. A second copy of the serial number is on the back wall side of the tub shell. The serial number is also included in the shipping and tracking information sent when the tub leaves the warehouse, so it may already be in your order emails or your installer's paperwork. Keep it with your sales…
• 📖When a Replacement Tub Is Approved: The Release Form, Confirming Model and Options, and Who Handles LaborA replacement tub is the last step in a warranty claim, used only when a problem cannot be corrected with replacement parts, and each replacement is put in writing before anything ships. Once support approves it, the team sets out the exact replacement on a release form: the model, its size, the door side and drain side, and the therapy options included. You sign and return the form, confirm the ship-to address…
• 📖What Proof of Purchase Do I Need for a Warranty Claim?To open a warranty case, the team needs three things beyond the usual photos and serial number: where you purchased the tub, the purchase date, and a copy of the sales receipt. If you bought through a dealer or a retailer, the receipt comes from them, not from Ella's Bubbles. Having these ready with your serial number and photos is the fastest way to get a replacement part shipped. Why the receipt matters The…
• 📖Resealing, Trimming and Add-Ons: Which Changes Keep Your Walk-In Tub Warranty IntactHaving a licensed plumber reseal an existing fitting on your Ella walk-in tub does not void the warranty, as long as no new holes are drilled and nothing is cut. The changes that do affect coverage are cutting or trimming the tub, and gluing anything directly to the tub surface. Accessories installed with care, such as a seat belt, leave the warranty exactly as it was. This article walks through the situations…
• 📖What Should I Check Before Filing a Walk-In Tub Warranty Claim?Before you file a warranty claim, rule out three things that look like defects but are normal: the air system's Auto Purge, the quiet hum of the ozone sterilization system, and a pump cord or push-button air tube that has simply come loose. If the symptom remains, gather photos, a short description and your serial number and open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850. The full filing process…
• 📖Does a Technician Come Out for an Ella Shower Warranty Repair?It depends on the product. For a walk-in tub, no technician is sent: Ella's Bubbles ships verified replacement parts at no charge and a local licensed plumber or electrician does the labor. For showers built for Ella by a partner manufacturer, warranty service runs through that manufacturer's field service program, which schedules a local service partner to inspect and repair the unit. The tub side is explained…
• 📖Are the Heated Seat and In-Line Water Heater Covered by the Warranty?Yes. On an Ella walk-in tub the heated seat and backrest pads, their heater control box, and the in-line water heater are all supporting equipment under the Lifetime Limited Warranty, which is a parts warranty for the original purchaser at the original installation address. Once support verifies the fault from your photos, the replacement part ships to you at no charge, and a local licensed electrician or plumber…
• 📖The warranty replacement part did not fix my tub, what happens next?If a warranty replacement part did not fix your tub, reply on the same support ticket, keep the old part where it is, and describe exactly what the tub does now. Free lifetime technical support does not end when a part ships. The team looks at the diagnosis again from your new photos, a short video or a live video call, and either sends a different part or guides your installer through the next check. The steps…
• 📖My dealer closed and I have no receipt, can Ella verify my purchase?Yes, in most cases the team can verify your purchase from the tub's serial number and a few identifying details, even when the dealer that sold it has closed and you have no receipt. The support team can look up the model number, serial number and purchase date from the order record when you provide the name the order was placed under, the installation address and the approximate purchase date. What the team…
• 📖How does a dealer file a warranty parts claim for a customer's tub?A dealer files a warranty parts claim the same way an owner does: open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with photos of the affected part, a short description of the problem, the tub's serial number, the installation address and the original order details, and the Ella's Bubbles team verifies the defect and ships the replacement part. Either the customer or the dealer can open the claim…
• 📖Does the Ella lifetime warranty apply to tubs installed in Canada?Yes. Wherever you are, the same Lifetime Limited Warranty and free lifetime technical support by phone, email and live video come with an Ella walk-in tub, and replacement parts ship under the warranty to a tub installed in Canada just as they do to one installed in the United States. Canadian purchases are handled through Ella's partner, Walk-In Tubs Canada, and the ordering path is explained in Ordering From…
• 📖Does the Ella Warranty Cover Installation Labor or Only the Tub Itself?No. The Ella's Bubbles Lifetime Limited Warranty covers the tub and its parts, and it never covers the labor to install, remove or repair them. When a covered part fails under normal use, Ella's Bubbles ships the verified replacement part free of charge to the original installation address, and a local licensed plumber or electrician fits it at the owner's expense. The published terms are summarized in What Is…
• 📖Are the Heated Seat and In-Line Heater Covered by Ella's Warranty?Yes. The heated seat and backrest pads and the in-line water heater are both supporting equipment under Ella's Lifetime Limited Warranty, so a part that support verifies as failed ships to the original purchaser at the original installation address without charge for the part. The warranty is parts only: Ella's Bubbles does not send technicians, and your installer or a local licensed electrician or plumber fits…
• 📖What warranty covers Ella shower stalls, bases and wall kits?Ella's AcrylX with Armorcore one-piece shower stalls, including the 48 by 37 by 80 inch E-3648 and the 42 by 42 by 80 inch Millennial unit, print a Lifetime Limited Residential Warranty and a 30-Year Commercial Warranty on the stall. The legacy ESM series one-piece stalls and the low-threshold gel coat multi-piece showers print a 3 year limited warranty. The published pages gathered here do not print a term for…
• 📖Does Removing Tub Hardware for Custom Plating Void the Ella Warranty?Plating or refinishing the hardware on your Ella walk-in tub is a modification, and the published Lifetime Limited Warranty excludes products modified by anyone other than Ella's Bubbles, so confirm how it affects coverage on your specific tub with the team at (800) 480-6850 before the first part comes off. The mechanics of taking the pieces off are covered in Removing Grab Bars, the Door Handle and Controls for…
• 📖Is the Door Seal Still Covered Under Warranty on My Older Ella Tub?Under the published terms, yes: the door seal is named in Ella's Lifetime Limited Warranty alongside the shell, frame, door and finish, so the age of the tub does not by itself end coverage for the first purchaser at the original installation address. If your paperwork shows a shorter term, send a photo of it with your claim and the team confirms what applies to your tub. The full list of covered parts is in Is…
• 📖Can Ella Look Up My Tub's Options If Someone Else Bought It?Yes. When a walk-in tub was bought by an organization, a contractor, a dealer or a family member, the team can still identify it, because the lookup runs on the tub and the original order rather than on your name. Send a photo of the serial label, the installation address and whatever you know about the purchaser, and your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can look up the original order, confirm the model…
• 📖My Installer Went Out of Business, Who Does Warranty Repair Labor Now?If your installer has gone out of business, the repair labor on your Ella walk-in tub is done by any local licensed plumber, electrician or handyman you choose, and your Ella's Bubbles parts warranty carries on unchanged, because that warranty comes from Ella's Bubbles and not from the company that installed the tub. Ella does not send technicians. Technical Support diagnoses the problem with you, ships the…
• 📖How do I activate my Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub warranty?To activate your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub warranty, complete the two-page Warranty Activation Form, have it signed by both you (the owner) and your installer, and return it together with a copy of your sales receipt, either online at ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation/ or by email to [email protected] . There is no published deadline, and if the form was not completed at installation you can…
• 📖What does the Ella's Bubbles Lifetime Limited Warranty cover?The Ella's Bubbles Lifetime Limited Warranty covers your walk-in bath against defects in workmanship and material under normal use and conditions, for the first purchaser, from the date of the original purchase. The bathtub shell, frame, door, door seal and finish are covered for life, and so is the supporting equipment, including motors, pumps, fixtures, electronic controls, the faucet, waste, overflow and all…
• 📖Is my walk-in tub warranty transferable if I move or sell my home?Is your walk-in tub warranty transferable? No. The Ella's Bubbles Lifetime Limited Warranty is extended to the first purchaser only, and it stays with both the original owner and the original installation address. It is nontransferable, so if the ownership changes or the tub is relocated to a different address, the warranty becomes void. What does continue for every Ella tub, whoever owns it, is free lifetime…
• 📖What can void my Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub warranty?What can void your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub warranty? A few specific installation and ownership mistakes, and every one of them is easy to avoid once you know about it. The big three are an unlevel installation, installing the deck-mount grab bar without its large metal washer, and relocating or transferring the tub. The rest are misuse and modification issues such as running a pump dry, cutting a panel or…
• 📖How do I start a warranty claim for my Ella walk-in tub?To start a warranty claim for your Ella walk-in tub, gather photos of the affected part, a short description of the problem and your serial number, then open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850. Once the defect or malfunction is verified, Ella's Bubbles ships the replacement part to the original customer's address without charge. Photos and a description are required for verification, so…
• 📖My tub arrived damaged. What should I do in the first 48 hours?If your tub arrived damaged, the first 48 hours matter most: contact [email protected] to file a freight damage claim within 48 hours of receipt of your shipment, save all packaging material, and inspect your purchase for any concealed damage before filing. The inspection should be both visual and operational. The 48-hour window and the saved packaging are what make a freight claim go smoothly, so please…