How Wood Burning Hot Tubs Work

Wood burning hot tubs are an incredible way to experience the outdoors in all its glory. Like gathering around a campfire, it invites us to pause, take notice of the natural environment, and come together for quality, connected time. It not only offers a soak that's truly elemental, highly relaxing and grounding - but it presents a ritual of heating the water by fire alone, that gives purpose to being outside, and reason to dwell there longer. And if you already know how to make a fire, you can easily heat a wood fired hot tub. All you need is wood, water, and good company. 

Wood fired hot tubs can bring you closer to nature than any other hot tub can. They're made to bring you to the waters edge, take you high in the mountain tops, or deep in the woods, and they can go places no electric hot tub can. They work by heating the water directly with a submerged, or with an externally located firebox. With both types of fireboxes, the wood fire transfers heat to the water, bringing it to temperature without the use of electricity. 

1. Fill tub with salt or fresh water

You can fill a wood fired hot tub with water sourced directly from a lake, ocean or river nearby your property, or even set up right on the shore. Simply build a fire with wood and kindling, light the fire in the stove, and listen to the fire crackle, the frogs croak, and the sound of the trees rustling in the wind as you stare up at the night sky as it heats. Chopping the wood, lighting the fire, and letting it heat the water creates an elemental, primitive luxury to enjoy mother nature in its purest form.

2. Light a fire in the stove and wait 2-3 hours for initial heat

Building a fire is a simple art. Gather dry wood, kindling and paper or dry leaves. Place tinder at the bottom, stack kindling in a teepee or grid shape over it, and ignite the tinder with matches or a lighter. Leave the lid of the firebox slightly open to allow for airflow, and build the fire once established by adding heavier pieces of wood. 

3. Stir the water

Create natural circulation using a paddle or a long piece of wood, bringing the hot water that naturally settles at the bottom of the tub to the surface allowing it to mix evenly throughout the tub. 

4. Stop heating once the temperature reaches 90 degrees farenheight 

Once the water reaches 90 degrees, stop adding wood and allow the water to climb to 102-104 or your preferred safe soaking temperature. It will quickly rise to temperature on its own from there. If you add too much wood, the water will overheat and delay you from being able to comfortably soak. If it does get too hot, add cold water or wait for it to cool down before entering.

5. Maintain temperature with an armful of wood a day

AlumiTubs are built with 360 degrees of insulation ensuring the tub not only gets hot, but stays hot - indefinitely with just an armful of wood a day. Designed with an internal wood stove for optimal heat properties and safety, its firebox is built 50% bigger than other wood fired hot tubs - providing better efficiency, a hotter burn, allowing for the use of regular size logs, and producing far less smoke along the way.

Unlike wood tubs constructed without marine grade aluminum, AlumiTubs maintain their temperature with just an armful of wood a day. Put the cover on overnight when you go to bed and it will stay within 2-3 degrees. Put a log on in the morning while you drink your coffee and by the time you're done your avocado toast, it'll be back up to hot tubbing temperature.

 

To expedite the initial heat time, or use your wooden barrel hot tub during high heat where there may be a fire ban, or in a residential area where wood fire may not be permitted by municipal bylaws, the Hybrid and Electric tubs make hot tubbing accessible year-round, in every climate and at any property. 

To see a wood burning hot tub in action, visit our Instagram page  or check out our videos, or watch this demo for detailed steps to heat your AlumiTubs wood heated hot tubs.