Having a wooden hot tub will no doubt transform your garden. These above the ground spas are a great way to relax and rejuvenate the body at the end of a tiresome day. Moreover, these tubs are linked to several health benefits. In this article, we look at everything you need to know about the hot tubs before you set it up in your garden.
Where Did the Wooden Hot Tubs Originate?
Hot tub bathing is believed to have originated from Japan where they practiced centuries-long hot water bathing practice in hot water inside freestanding tubs. The tubs were filled with water and could comfortably hold up to four people.
Unlike the conventional expensive plastic spas, these hot tubs are made using natural materials and are clean, thus easily complementing your style. Wooden tubs rarely require electricity or plumbing because you can easily heat them using an underwater wood stove. The heating mechanism of the hot tub is simple.
You need to build a fire like you would in a fireplace or other wood stove. You need to light the paper and place the store to provide a maximum draft. When the fire is good and going, you can now go ahead and fill up the firebox. The best wood to use is one that has been split one more time.
This allows that fire to burn faster heating the water faster. The time it takes for the water to heat will usually vary depending on several factors like dryness, size, the wood species, the size of the fire, how often the fire is fed, the temperature, the use of an insulating cover, temperature and ambient wind among others.
How Do you Control the Temperature?
It’s easy to control the temperature of water in a wooden hot tub. It is more like controlling the temperature of the water when you fill a bathtub for a warm bath. The only difference is that instead of checking the water and adjusting the cold and hot water entering the tub, you check the temperature of water periodically and determine whether you should add wood or not. You’ll also need to add some water from the hose to cool down the tub.
Benefits of Wooden Hot Tubs
- The hot tub comes with a bench seating providing more legroom in the spa thus, you can have a smaller wooden tub accommodating an equal number of people as a larger tub.
- Wooden tubs are designed with vertical walls that give more depth compared to the acrylic tubs.
- The mechanism of heating wooden tubs is not limited to wood as you can also use gas or electricity to heat them.
- Wooden tubs are far much cheaper compared to other above the ground acrylic models.
- Wooden hot tubs are made from fragrant wood that provides natural aromatherapy while you soak up.
- The rustic nature of the wooden hot tubs is aesthetically pleasing compared to the acrylic spas making it a great addition in your garden.
Drawbacks of Wooden Hot Tubs
- The simple nature of the wooden tubs is a disadvantage because they lack some options that you’d usually find in acrylic spas like contoured seating.
- Wooden hot tubs are expensive to maintain. Here’s why; they have a porous surface that can easily become a breeding ground for mould, bacteria and algae when not well treated and taken care of. This is one of the reasons why local health codes prohibit the use of wooden tubs in a public or commercial setting.
- These tubs don’t come with a built-in insulated cabinet therefore, all the water circulation pipes and jet pumping are mounted on the outer part of the barrel. This exposes the plumbing to breaking and freezing especially in extreme weather.
- While wood is known to have natural insulating properties, you’ll require a lot more energy to maintain the temperature of wooden tubs.
- Wooden tubs are highly prone to leaking especially when the wood shrinks because of low water levels or freezing weather. Leakages may also happen when one side is exposed to the sun while the other is in the shade leading to warping.
Investing in a wooden hot tub is a great move because along with the aesthetics, you get to tap into the health benefits that are associated with soaking in warm water. You can use this tub all year round because it accommodates both warm and cold water. Whether you need to cool off in a pool in summer or soak up for a hot bath in winter the wooden tub will meet your needs perfectly.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
