THE WOOD-FIRED HOT TUB EXPERIENCE
The wood-fired hot tub is a place to gather, drawing us together, any and all. We see each other a
little more generously - knowing this is a time to do nothing other than find contentment. A time to log off and put another log on, where the ritual of heating it is half the fun. Like the drive through the countryside to arrive here, we lend ourselves a little more fully to the moment. To the company we share it with, and to the beauty that surrounds us as we follow nature's lead at an unhurried pace. I hope you enjoy this process as much as I do. Once I transitioned to a traditional wood-burning hot tub, I can never go back to a chemical plastic one.
You'll love the wood-fired tub if you want to feel like a real-life lumberjack, surely impress your significant other, or just create a truly unique, and in my opinion- a heavenly nature experience. Give yourself 4-5 hours to heat in the winter time, 2-3 hours in the summer - especially if it is your first time. You will get the hang of it, but this process requires time, patience, and perseverance, all skills you hopefully came out to the country to practice :) Once the smell of burning wood and cedar hits the air, you'll be in heaven.
Step 1:
Make sure the water level is at least 4 inches above the stove.
If the water level is low you can top it off from the hose located on the side of the house facing the driveway.
After many hours of bathing or if you have a big crew of people in the tub, you WILL lose water through displacement or evaporation.
Step 2:
Grab a fire starter and grab a couple smaller logs from the firewood pile or kindling from around the property. Create a teepee shape in the stove. Light your fire starter with the provided matches or lighters.
You can also use some nontoxic paper, such as brown paper bags or cardboard to surround the fire starter to give it more of an opportunity to catch.
Make sure the fire starter has enough air circulation.
The key to good fires is AIR AIR AIR! I will normally leave the stove top off for 10-15 min until the fire is really raging. There is a sweet spot when the fire is going steady where you can start to place your logs. Start with smaller lighter pieces of wood. Too much wood at this point can dampen the flames.
The 1st 30-45 min are the most important for monitoring and adjusting as necessary.
If your fire looks weak make sure to get more airflow by moving the wood around with your metal poker.
Step 3:
Once the fire is going you can sit back and relax. Start to place some larger denser logs which will burn slowly and steadily. Monitor your fire every 30 min and check the temp, there a little rubber ducky floating around that'll give you a digital temperature read.
Hot water will stay at the top and cold water will be at the bottom. Use the provided paddle to stir the water and distribute the heat so that you can get a more accurate overall temperature reading.
Step 4:
Stop putting in wood once the thermometer hits about 95.
If you keep feeding the fire past this point it’s possible that the hot tub will be TOO hot. Once you dip your toes in for the first time make sure that you immediately touch the BOTTOM of the hot tub and start to swirl around the cold water that the paddle didn’t reach.
If the hot tub is too hot you can always add some cold water from the hose. Depending on the time of year, the hose tap may be off during winter to prevent pipes from freezing. If it is below 30 degrees outside - you can contact your host, and they'll give you further instructions on how to cool the tub down.
Step 5:
Wash your hair and body before you enter the tub. There is a shower about 15 feet away under the lower deck. Oils, sunscreens, and lotions permanently damage the tub.
Once the tub has hit your desired temp - it's time to soak and CHILL. All your hard work has paid off, you've earned it.
At the end of the night, place the insulation and lid back on the tub. The tub retains its heat VERY well, and will typically still be somewhere around 90 degrees in the morning, depending on the time of year. If you want to make sure you have a sizzling hot tub ready for a morning soak - throw on a couple more logs before you turn in for the night, and keep that fire going!
