Wood-Fired Hot Tubs - What You Need to Know

Fast becoming a growing market in the UK, wood-fired hot tubs are a great way to achieve an authentic Scandinavian bathing experience in your garden. Unlike a traditional electric-powered hot tub, wood-fired tubs offer lower running costs, require less maintenance, and look great!

Do you want to know how long it takes to heat the water or how often it should be changed? We have the answers to all your questions here.

What Does a Wood-Fired Hot Tub Look Like?

Wood-fired hot tubs are available in a variety of sizes and colours suitable for any outdoor space. StovesAreUs is an exclusive retailer of the Kirami hot tubs known throughout Europe for their build quality, performance, and reliability. 
These hot tub spas are available in small 1-2 seater models all the way up to larger 7-8 seaters suitable for families and holiday homes and everything in between, view the whole range here. Not only is there a wide choice of size of the hot tub, but you can also choose the colour of the wood and the colour of the interior lining as well as a wide range of accessories making them one of the most versatile hot tubs you can buy.
Connected to the tub is the woodburning heater. These heaters come in various sizes depending on the heat output needed for each tub. The heat generated from the fire is channelled through pipework directly to the water for a consistent flow of heat.

What to Consider Before Buying a Wood-Fired Hot Tub?

Positioning and placement of the hot tub are essential for proper use. Choose a flat surface that can withstand the weight of the hot tub, it can be evened out with stone chippings if necessary. You could also build the surface out of concrete or ready-made slabs for a more solid foundation.

The installation of a wood-fired hot tub is incredibly easy and can be performed by anyone. After making a suitable surface, all that is required to install is to connect the heater, the chimney, and the outlet pipe. This will take roughly 1 hour and then it is ready to fill.

How Long Does it Take to Heat Up a Wood-Fired Hot Tub?

This is the most common question that we get asked. It depends on the size of the hot tub and the output of the heater. On average, a 1450-litre tub will take approximately 2–3 hours to heat, we recommend using dry wood chopped into small pieces to achieve a quicker heat-up time. Using larger pieces and moist firewood will quite often double the heating time. It also helps to use an insulated cover during the heating process.
The amount of firewood needed varies depending on factors such as the starting temperature of the water and the outside temperature. It is estimated to need anywhere from 5-10 loads of firewood with every use.

What Water Can I Use in the Hot Tub and How Often Does it Need to be Changed?

More often than not, these tubs are installed next to an easy-access water supply such as a hose or tap making it incredibly easy and efficient to refill. If you are located near a lake or by the sea, these hot tubs can also be filled with lake water or seawater. The heaters are made from marine-grade aluminium and are fitted with a magnesium anode rod similar to sea boats and outboard motors to protect them from corrosion. Always pay close attention to water hygiene when using lake or seawater and if you have any suspicions regarding the cleanliness, you should change the water and clean the hot tub.

It is recommended to change the water every one or two days after normal family use. This can however be extended with the proper use of a filter and chemicals. A hot tub filter will rid the water of dirt and impurities that come from bathing, and chemicals such as chlorine will allow you to keep the same bathwater for up to 3 months. The water can be easily drained using the discharge pipe fitted to the tub. Place the hot tub so that draining the water does not cause any problems. If necessary, use a hose to guide the water further away.

How Do I Drain My Wood-Fired Hot Tub?

Draining a wood-fired hot tub is quick and easy. As stated above, each tub is fitted with a discharge pipe to drain the water away. It is important that draining the hot tub can only be done when there is no fire or embers in the heater and it has completely cooled down.
A hose with an internal diameter of 38mm can be fitted to the outlet valve to drain the water further away from the tub if needed.
If for any reason the outlet valve has frozen due to cold temperatures, you should try to thaw the frozen valve before pouring warm water over it. Do not attempt to open a frozen valve by force without thawing it first.

Maintenance Tips

The lifetime of a wood-fired hot tub is said to be more than 15 years, with proper use and maintenance. Over time, the outer wood panels will age/wear so will need to be cleaned and oiled to keep them looking new. Maintenance of a wooden hot tub is different from a plastic tub so here is what you need to do for both.
Wooden Hot Tubs
Stained and Thermowood outer panels should be treated with wood oil diluted with water. Red cedar outer panels can be treated with paraffin oil.
The inner surface of a wooden hot tub requires more thorough cleaning. Regular washing with detergent is recommended, as well as rinsing and drying it thoroughly. We do not recommend treating the inner panels with wood oil or other similar substances as they will dissolve in the bathwater when it is heated.
Plastic Hot Tubs
The outer wood panels can be treated the same as above. Plastic interior tubs are a lot easier to clean and maintain, as dirt and impurities simply slide off their smooth surfaces. Again thorough cleaning with detergent, rinsing and drying is required.

What Accessories are Available?

Accessories for wood-fired hot tubs are endless. These range from insulated covers and filters to steps and drinks holders.
An insulated cover is the most important accessory to purchase with your hot tub. The use of a properly insulated cover will significantly decrease the heat-up time due to less heat evaporating from the water.
Steps are a great accessory to have. They provide safe entry and exit from the hot tub and are a must-have if you have children or difficulty accessing one of the larger models. The smaller steps are lightweight and are designed to fit around the tub with matching wood finishes. Some of the larger steps feature handrails for convenient support.
Take your bathing experience to the next level with drink holders that connect to the outside of the tub and LED lights that are installed between the insulation and the interior lining of the footwell. The light shines through the translucent interior material, with no need to make any holes in the tub.

If you would like to find out more about our range of wood-fired hot tubs or our full range you can see our full range of products online if you have any further questions feel free to contact us by email or just pick up the phone and call us 01484 940111.