Fire and the Wood Fired Hot Tub: Fire Pits, Smoke, Firewood and Fire Bans

A wood fired hot tub turns fire into part of the ritual: you light it, tend it, and soak while it works. Planning a fire area around one comes down to a few things: space between the tub and any fire pit, smoke that drifts away from people, a dry woodpile within reach, and a plan for fire season.

This guide covers the fire side of owning a wood fired tub. For how the heating works and how long it takes, see how long a wood fired tub takes to heat.

The fire is inside the water

On an AlumiTub the firebox sits submerged in the water, enclosed, and vents through a chimney. The fire heats the water directly, which is why it is efficient, and why it is generally treated more like a household wood stove than an open fire. The firebox is the largest of its kind, so it holds a good load of wood and keeps heating without constant attention.

Lighting it is simple: build a small fire, keep the firebox lid open about 4 inches (10 cm) while it gets going, then close it once the fire is established. How to use a wood fired hot tub walks through the whole routine.

Pairing the tub with a fire pit

A fire pit and a wood fired tub make a natural pair: one for gathering, one for soaking. Give them space. Keep the fire pit at least 10 ft (3 m) from the tub so sparks and smoke stay away from bathers and the cedar, and follow local fire code for distances from structures. Seating between the two makes the fire the place people warm up before a soak and dry off after.

Smoke and siting

A wood fire makes the most smoke while it is getting going, then settles as it burns hot and clean. Site the tub so the prevailing evening wind carries smoke away from the house, windows and seating. Keep the chimney clear of branches and roofs: it needs about 10 ft (3 m) of vertical clearance above the cap and no structure or flammable material close by. Read Island has the best siting advice we have heard from an owner.

Firewood: the part that makes it easy

Dry, seasoned hardwood heats faster and burns cleaner. Wet wood spends its energy boiling off moisture. Once the tub is up to temperature, expect to use roughly an armful a day. A covered woodpile within a few steps of the tub, stacked a little away from the cladding, is the difference between lighting it on a whim and not bothering. The best firewood covers species, seasoning and storage.

Ash

Remove ash with the ash scoop that comes with the tub, once it is fully cold. Do not let water, rain or snow get into firebox ash. The maintenance checklist covers the routine.

Fire season and fire bans

Some municipalities restrict wood burning on certain days, and many regions bring in fire bans through late summer. Check with your local fire department how a wood fired tub is treated and whether bans apply to it. If they arrive every August where you live, a Hybrid keeps the tub in use on the electric side until the ban lifts. Before you buy covers permits and bylaws in more detail.

Safety around the fire

Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby, never leave a fire pit burning unattended, and keep children clear of the chimney and firebox lid while the fire is going. Never use accelerants to start either fire.

Common questions

Can I have a fire pit next to a wood fired hot tub?

Yes, with space between them. Keep the fire pit far enough that sparks and smoke do not reach bathers or the cedar, typically at least 10 feet (3 m), and follow your local fire code for distances from structures. Put seating between the two so the fire becomes the place people gather before and after a soak.

Can you use a wood fired hot tub during a fire ban?

It depends on the ban and your jurisdiction. Many regional fire bans cover wood burning appliances as well as open fires, so check with your local fire department. If summer bans are routine where you live, a Hybrid lets you keep soaking on the electric side while the ban is in place.

Is a wood fired hot tub an open fire?

No. The fire burns inside an enclosed firebox submerged in the water, vented through a chimney, so it is generally treated more like a household wood stove than an open fire. Rules vary, so the local fire department is the authority on how it is treated where you live.

How much wood does a wood fired hot tub use?

Roughly an armful a day of dry, seasoned hardwood once the tub is up to temperature, more on the first heat from cold. Dry wood heats faster and burns cleaner. Wet wood spends its energy boiling off moisture, which is slower and smokier.