What hottub!?

[renmure]

eliot said:

The sales pitch of having loads of friends or even the family in it rarely occurs in reality.

Agreed. Initially we willingly bought into the lifestyle sales pitch and brochure photos of friends and family lounging around dipping in and out sipping G&T while the BBQ was sizzling in the background and decided we needed room for at least 5 adults. The reality for us was 30 mins of stargazing most evening. Only times we made a dash to jump in during the day was to enjoy the novelty of a monsoon downpour or a driving blizzard.

[Chucklehead]

Hotsprings are very well regarded for their insulation, which should be a major factor in your decision making.

[8bit]

Thanks all for that. We have two kids who like using the existing tub so we're looking for a 4 or 5 person model.

Energy costs are definitely a consideration, a post a few pages back in this thread suggested Jacuzzi were also very well insulated which is chiefly why they're on the radar. Looking into Hotsprings ones now as well. Those with Canadian Spa units, how do you find those for energy efficiency?

ETA - what are access requirements like for these for servicing etc., do they need to be accessible around all sides or could we put it beside a fence or even in a corner?

Edited by 8bit on Wednesday 20th March 15:23

[Otispunkmeyer]

Thoughts on "wood fired" hot tubs?

Seems to me its ideal if you like to get too warm by chopping a load of wood before you even get in

Suppose if you have a "free" or cheap source of decent wood, it might be worth it?

[renmure]

Access for the Hotsprings ones is simply removing a panel on the front of the tub. Everything is all together in there. The rest of the carcass is thick insulated foam material similar to Kingspan. I think that’s similar for all with the amount and quality of the insulation differing.

As a said, our Hotspings tub was obviously a quality product and I’d recommend one but when it was out of warranty and needed anything done then it wasn’t cheap but parts etc were always available and an engineer was always available. A significant cost was replacing the top cover a couple of times when it got saturated and heavy but you could get after-market made to measure ones off the internet for about 50% of the cost.

[PushedDover]

Hmmm found our Jacuzzi had pooped a part out of its rotating nozzle today

Need some TLC or sourcing of the part

[Mobile Chicane]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Thoughts on "wood fired" hot tubs?

Seems to me its ideal if you like to get too warm by chopping a load of wood before you even get in

Suppose if you have a "free" or cheap source of decent wood, it might be worth it?

I'd love one. 'Getting with nature', rather than 'council sex pond'.

[renmure]

Mobile Chicane said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

Thoughts on "wood fired" hot tubs?

Seems to me its ideal if you like to get too warm by chopping a load of wood before you even get in

Suppose if you have a "free" or cheap source of decent wood, it might be worth it?

I'd love one. 'Getting with nature', rather than 'council sex pond'.

It takes away all the impulsiveness of having a tub. You need to prep it so the wood is ready for when you need it then think a few hours ahead about when you might want to light it before getting in it. If you have a hard day at work and get home at 5 you might get in the tub at 8-9pm after faffing around getting it ready rather than at 5.01 with a conventinal one. They look great in the brochures but must make for an occasional novelty toy.

[Portofino]

8bit said:

Thanks all for that. We have two kids who like using the existing tub so we're looking for a 4 or 5 person model.

Energy costs are definitely a consideration, a post a few pages back in this thread suggested Jacuzzi were also very well insulated which is chiefly why they're on the radar. Looking into Hotsprings ones now as well. Those with Canadian Spa units, how do you find those for energy efficiency?

ETA - what are access requirements like for these for servicing etc., do they need to be accessible around all sides or could we put it beside a fence or even in a corner?

Edited by 8bit on Wednesday 20th March 15:23

Just got out of my Canadian Spa Okanagan. Lovely clear crisp night out there & now feel suitably mellow.

Energy wise it works out at roughly a pound a day. It’s only a small 2 person one (marketed as 4 person!) which we decided on so that the our admittedly older kids wouldn’t get all their mates around & also for the low running costs.

Access wise there is a hatch you unscrew where all the mechanicals are so you can position anywhere.

I’m in it 4/5 times a week after the gym. I’ve a large cantilever parasol which covers the tub when opened so I can be out there in the rain as well. Love it.

[PushedDover]

renmure said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

Thoughts on "wood fired" hot tubs?

Seems to me its ideal if you like to get too warm by chopping a load of wood before you even get in

Suppose if you have a "free" or cheap source of decent wood, it might be worth it?

I'd love one. 'Getting with nature', rather than 'council sex pond'.

It takes away all the impulsiveness of having a tub. You need to prep it so the wood is ready for when you need it then think a few hours ahead about when you might want to light it before getting in it. If you have a hard day at work and get home at 5 you might get in the tub at 8-9pm after faffing around getting it ready rather than at 5.01 with a conventinal one. They look great in the brochures but must make for an occasional novelty toy.

And AFAIK they are simply hot baths, not spa’s with comfy seats and massaging jets etc

[Mobile Chicane]

renmure said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

Thoughts on "wood fired" hot tubs?

Seems to me its ideal if you like to get too warm by chopping a load of wood before you even get in

Suppose if you have a "free" or cheap source of decent wood, it might be worth it?

I'd love one. 'Getting with nature', rather than 'council sex pond'.

It takes away all the impulsiveness of having a tub. You need to prep it so the wood is ready for when you need it then think a few hours ahead about when you might want to light it before getting in it. If you have a hard day at work and get home at 5 you might get in the tub at 8-9pm after faffing around getting it ready rather than at 5.01 with a conventinal one. They look great in the brochures but must make for an occasional novelty toy.

Each to their own.

I come from a culture where the weekly wood-fired sauna is an 'event'.

Make of this what you will.

[renmure]

Mobile Chicane said:

renmure said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

Thoughts on "wood fired" hot tubs?

Seems to me its ideal if you like to get too warm by chopping a load of wood before you even get in

Suppose if you have a "free" or cheap source of decent wood, it might be worth it?

I'd love one. 'Getting with nature', rather than 'council sex pond'.

It takes away all the impulsiveness of having a tub. You need to prep it so the wood is ready for when you need it then think a few hours ahead about when you might want to light it before getting in it. If you have a hard day at work and get home at 5 you might get in the tub at 8-9pm after faffing around getting it ready rather than at 5.01 with a conventinal one. They look great in the brochures but must make for an occasional novelty toy.

Each to their own.

I come from a culture where the weekly wood-fired sauna is an 'event'.

Make of this what you will.

I've got an outdoor wood-fired sauna. I was in it today and probably use it 3-4 times / week.

Not quite the same thing as a wood-fired hot-tub tho. 25 mins after lighting the sauna you can be in it. That's pretty much a similar time, if not slightly better, than the outdoor electric one I previously had. I'd totally recommend a wood-burning sauna. A wood-burning hot-tub, not so much.