Do you want to take a hot bath in your backyard but finding an outdoor wood-burning hot tub seems like too much of a hassle? Or maybe you’re just feeling like building your own. In either case, this article will help you find out what type of wood burners are most common and their main peculiarities.
What is a wood-burning hot tub?
This is a relatively recent invention (circa the 1970s), but it’s one of the most popular types of hot tubs to date. It’s a kind of hot tub that operates on the principle of burning wood. The term “wood heating” is somewhat misleading because the heat source is preserved in gas or electricity, which gets ignited by a fire pit rather than natural burning wood. The fact that it’s powered by electricity or gas doesn’t change anything – wood burning hot tubs are always cool to use, and they have at least one advantage over other styles: you can turn them on and off from inside your own house without having to go out into the backyard.
Wood-burning hot tubs are a great invention because they’re entirely safe and durable. Most of them allow you to maintain the temperature between 104 F and 110 F, and they don’t require much maintenance (you can even leave them turned off while you’re on vacation). All in all, wood-burning hot tubs are as close to nature and relaxation as possible.
Types of wood-burning hot tubs
Wood burning hot tubs can be divided into two main types: wood stoves and fire pits. Both of them work the same way – instead of burning natural wood, gas or electricity-powered device heats the water kept in a special chamber. So, in essence, you’re still enjoying the hot bath in your backyard, and you’re not doing anything environmentally harmful.
Wood Stove Hot Tub
The most common kind is the fire pit, but it also has its flaws. It can’t be controlled from inside your house, and it’s cumbersome (a standard wood stove hot tub weighs about 300 pounds). That’s why some people opt for a wood stove hot tub instead, which isn’t that common but which has the following advantages: it’s more compact, lighter, and easier to maintain.
Most wood stoves are steel or aluminium, so they’re surprisingly rust-proof. Their design is straightforward, typically consisting of a metal pan, an oven lid, and a water pump. The pump needs to be removed from the bottom of the tub for use, but you can usually leave it inside. It’s better to have a separate pan or bucket for keeping the ashes, so they don’t fly around and damage your hot tub.
Firepit hot tubs
Firepit hot tubs have a long metal tube with a metal insert in the middle, the fire pit itself. The insert is made of steel or aluminium, and its purpose is to retain heat from the wood so it can be transferred into the water. A typical fire pit weighs about 180 pounds, and it’s easy to use. Most of these types of hot tubs are usually pumped by gas or electricity, but some models also come with a manual pump.
Conclusion
Every type of hot tub comes with its advantages and disadvantages, but the benefits of a Wood burning hot tubs make up for them. They’re also great to give as presents or just as something fun for yourself. All in all, if you have a big enough backyard, a wood-burning hot tub is very convenient to use.