Plumbing & Electrical

These guides cover common electrical questions for Ella walk-in tubs, including dedicated GFCI circuits, amperage, and wiring. Learn about 15 or 20 amp lines, one or two circuits, and GFCI protection at the outlet or breaker. Articles explain NEC Article 680 rules for hydromassage bathtubs, how many GFCI circuits your tub needs based on its therapy package, and what to do if a power cord is too short to reach the receptacle. Find information on outlet placement, cord reach, and identifying control boxes and connections.

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

These articles address common questions about Ella walk-in tub drains, including dual drain technology, 2-inch gravity drains, and connecting to 1.5-inch house plumbing. Learn about drain configurations, fill and drainage times, and the function of the overflow. Guides explain the 4-port T-type drain, the emergency pull-up chain on certain models, and where the drain sits for slab installations. Find solutions for cracked drain elbows and overflows that do not drain.

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

These guides cover water supply lines, shut-off valves, and recommended water heater sizes for Ella walk-in tubs. Learn about the 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided stainless steel supply lines included with fast-fill faucets, and the pipe size for quick filling. Articles explain anti-scald and thermostatic valve standards like ASSE 1016 and 1070, and the function of a Thermostatic Control Valve (TCV). Find information on using a walk-in tub with well water and septic systems, and solutions for hot water running out or mixing valve crossovers.

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

These articles provide information specific to Ella walk-in showers, covering drain positions, valve selection, and rough-in measurements. Learn that shower drain positions are fixed per model and cannot be chosen. Guides explain how to select a shower valve, trim, and shower head, and how to cut openings for these components into the wall panel. Find details on shower drain rough-in distances from the back and side walls, as shown on model specification drawings.

• 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…

These guides offer further assistance with plumbing and electrical considerations for your walk-in tub. Find information on obtaining electrical diagrams specific to your tub's therapy package, including hydro massage, air massage, or microbubbles. Learn why hot water may run out before the tub is full, often due to an undersized house water heater for the 55 to 75 gallons or more required. Additionally, articles explain why a mixing valve might cross hot and cold water when the tub is off, indicating a plumbing crossover issue.

• 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 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…
• 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…
• 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…

• ▶1:52Ella's Bubbles: Proper Electrical Installation For Your Walk-In TubContractors learn the electrical requirements for installing an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub, including dedicated GFCI protected outlets and breakers. The video shows how to find…4 chapters · used in 12 guides
• ▶1:42Ella's Bubbles: Determining Correct Hot Water Supply For A Walk-In TubCustomers can determine the correct hot water supply for an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub by understanding recommended hot water heater capacity and tub water capacity. The video also…4 chapters · used in 13 guides
• ▶0:55Ella's Bubbles: Proper Electrical Requirements For InstallationProfessional electricians determine the proper electrical requirements for walk-in tub installation, calculating total amperage for each electrical pump or component. Dedicated GFCI…4 chapters · used in 16 guides
• ▶2:21Ella's Bubbles: Dual Drain Technology and House Drain ConnectionElla's Bubbles dual drain technology is shown, including the dual 2-inch, four-port drain system and its connection options to a house drain. The video demonstrates how water flows…6 chapters · used in 24 guides
• ▶1:15Gray and Blue Control Box ExplanationsCustomers learn about the chromotherapy and air massage control boxes on Ella walk-in tubs. The video explains how to power each box and connect its components, including the LED light, air…3 chapters · used in 5 guides
• ▶0:22Proper Grounding of Your Walk-In TubProper grounding of an Ella's walk-in tub is vitally important for all electrical components and the tub frame. This video shows how to secure a proper ground connection during…used in 6 guides
• ▶1:24The Best Dual Drain Technology for Walk-In TubsElla's Bubbles Dual Drain Technology provides fast, efficient water removal for walk-in tubs. This exclusive gravity drain system ensures a quick, hassle-free bathing…4 chapters · used in 5 guides
• ▶0:35Premium Walk-In Tubs with Dual Drain Technology for the Fastest Draining | Ella’s BubblesElla's Bubbles Dual Drain Technology provides faster, safer drainage in all acrylic walk-in tubs. This feature reduces wait time, making every bath more enjoyable and allowing for…used in 8 guides