Installation & Leveling

These guides cover essential planning and preparation steps for your Ella walk-in tub installation. Articles here explain how to inspect, move, and prepare the tub, including standing it on end to navigate tight spaces. You will find details on accounting for loose parts, panels, and supply lines in the crate, and understanding walk-in tub weight and floor loading requirements for the tub, water, and bather. Learn about planning service access through front apron access panels and installing tubs in mobile homes, condos, or on concrete slabs.

• 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…
• 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…
• 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"…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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 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…
• 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…
• 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…

These articles focus on the critical steps of leveling your walk-in tub and performing the pre-installation water test. Proper leveling prevents door leaks and ensures the tub's stability, while the water test catches potential leaks before walls are finished. Guides explain leveling legs, how to conduct the water test, and why these steps are vital for warranty protection.

• 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.…
• 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…
• 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 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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?…
• 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…
• 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.…
• 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…

These guides cover the installation and adjustment of panels and trim for Ella walk-in tubs. Articles here explain how to manage exposed ends with finished end panels, including trimming an end panel to fit or rotating its brackets and clips. You will also find information on using extension panels and filler kits to fit tubs into 60-inch alcoves. Additionally, these resources address common issues like gaps under the front apron, aprons that won't sit flush, and refitting magnetic access panels.

• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…

These guides cover drains and plumbing for Ella walk-in tubs, including faucet installation and drain line considerations. Learn about installing 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucets and hand showers, connecting supply lines, and choosing the correct drain side for alcove or slab installations. Articles also explain prebuilding the dual drain line to the house drain and the implications of lowering the tub for below-subfloor drains and 3-inch thresholds, which affects the factory-preset frame and threshold height.

• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…

These guides explain how to properly finish the walls around your walk-in tub, focusing on the use of a glue-up tile flange. Articles cover why Ella tubs have a flat deck edge, how to install the tile flange for a watertight seal, and the correct order for wall finishing. Learn about the components of the tile flange kit and preventing leaks at wall corners.

• 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…
• 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 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…
• 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…
• 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 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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 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…

These guides provide detailed installation instructions for specific Ella walk-in tub models, covering everything from delivery and leveling to drains, electrical, and panel installation. Find step-by-step sequences for the Ella Ultra, HomeCare 32x60, LayDown tubs, Stainless Steel Inward-Swing family (Ultimate, Deluxe, Royal, Elite, Petite), Standard, Zen, Flow, Transfer family (Transfer26, 30, 32, 60, XXL), Two-Seat family (Tub4Two, Companion, Escape, Big4Two), and U-Shape Outward-Swing family (Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, Shak, Big4One). Learn about faucet spouts, supply lines, therapy controls, and extension kits.

• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…

These guides cover the critical aspects of planning your walk-in tub installation, including who should perform the work and how to maintain warranty coverage. Articles here explain the responsibilities of DIY owners, the benefits of hiring a licensed contractor, and the potential effects of improper installation on your warranty. You will also find information on what a bathroom inspector looks for, ensuring your electrical, plumbing, and structural elements meet local codes for a safe and compliant setup.

• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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.…
• 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…
• 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 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…
• 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…
• 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…

These guides offer detailed instructions for various installation and leveling tasks. Learn about mounting grab bars on Ella shower walls using reinforced backing, and how to install deck-mount grab bars on walk-in tubs, including proper washer placement. Find out how to install heated seat and back pads, and understand the purpose of loose air lines like hydro breathers and microbubble prime ports. Articles also cover installing a walk-in tub in a wet room while keeping the electrical compartment dry, and troubleshooting a pump that turns on immediately when plugged in.

• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…
• 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…

• ▶3:38Walk-In Tub Installation and Delivery Ella's Bubbles Transfer 60An Ella's Bubbles Transfer 60 walk-in tub is unboxed and installed, showing the steps for inspection, leak checks, plumbing, electrical connections, and leveling.Upon arrival, an Ella…5 chapters · used in 18 guides
• ▶1:50Ella's Bubbles: End Panels And Extension PanelsElla's Bubbles walk-in tubs include end panels and extension panels to fit various bathroom layouts. This video explains their purpose, placement, and how to remove them for service or…4 chapters · used in 24 guides
• ▶6:12Installing a Glue-Up Tile Flange: Step-by-Step | Ella’s BubblesInstalling an Ella's Bubbles glue-up tile flange kit creates a waterproof seal where a walk-in tub or shower base meets the wall. The video demonstrates marking the strip position and…6 chapters · used in 11 guides
• ▶1:51Ella's Bubbles: Understanding Extension and End PanelsElla's Bubbles walk-in tubs include extension panels and end panels for proper installation. This video explains the purpose and placement of these panels for various tub lengths and…4 chapters · used in 29 guides
• ▶2:02Ella's Bubbles: Installation Tips For The Ella Standard Walk-In TubElla's Bubbles provides installation tips for the Ella Standard walk-in tub, covering how to fit it into a 60-inch alcove, its hydro massage system, and drain features.The Ella…4 chapters · used in 18 guides
• ▶5:19Ellas Bubbles: Walk-In Tubs Installation Tips and RecommendationsWalk-in tub installation requires checking dimensions, inspecting for damage, and leak-testing the tub. This video demonstrates installing Ella's dual drain system, leveling the tub…4 chapters · used in 27 guides
• ▶0:53Ella's Bubbles-Leveling legs are critical to a proper functioning tub.Leveling legs are critical to the proper functioning of a walk-in tub. This video shows how to check and adjust the leveling legs to prevent door leaks and ensure proper door alignment.Many…4 chapters · used in 22 guides
• ▶0:50Leak Prevention Push Control System for Walk-In Tubs | Ella’s BubblesA technician demonstrates how to prevent leaks in Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub push button controls. This maintenance guide shows how to apply silicone caulk to keep controls watertight…3 chapters · used in 9 guides
• ▶1:09Walk-In Tub Extension Panels for Seamless Installation - Voted Best/Safest 2020 | Ella’s BubblesExtension panels, also called fill kits, allow Ella walk-in tubs to fit seamlessly into various alcove spaces. These panels can be custom cut to ensure a perfect fit and provide a…3 chapters · used in 6 guides
• ▶1:12Inside the Build: Under-the-Deck Piping of Our Walk-In Tubs | Voted Safest 2020 | Ella’s BubblesA technician provides a detailed tour of the piping behind an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub, highlighting the neat and tidy fit and finish of the air and water lines. The video explains…4 chapters · used in 3 guides
• ▶1:58Walk-In Tubs with Extra Leveling Legs for Superior Stability | Voted Safest 2020 | Ella’s BubblesElla walk-in tubs feature more leveling feet than competitors, including center legs, to enhance stability and durability. This design helps prevent movement and ensures a long-lasting…3 chapters · used in 6 guides
• ▶0:38Ella's Bubbles: Service Panel Access on Walk In Bathtubs - Organized Piping for Easy MaintenanceElla walk-in tubs feature easy-access service panels for maintenance. These panels are held by strong magnets and can be opened with a butter knife or a straight-edge tool.Ella walk-in tubs…used in 6 guides