How to use and take care of a wooden hot tub in your Garden

Although the idea of a wooden hot tub may seem like a new trend, it is not. Traditional hot tubs were built using wood even though they were mostly found in old castles and palaces. Even then, they didn’t have a stove so the water had to be heated separately. 
Modern wooden hot tubs are well equipped with burning heaters that heat the water to the preferred bath temperature. They also come in different sizes that can accommodate up to 30 people. These tubs are designed for outdoor use and can complement your garden as much as they are functional.
They have a life expectancy of between 10 and 15 years. However, to achieve this you must take care of the tub well. The most common way of taking care of wooden tubs is treating the exterior using a wood supplement or linseed oil at least once or twice a year. You can also use wood glaze or wax in the place of oil. But this is not all. This article takes you through everything you need to know about using and taking care of your wooden tub so that it serves its purpose while adding value in your garden. 
Taking Care of your Wooden Hot Tub 
The wooden tubs require some degree of attention. This means you need to monitor and regularly take care of it to ensure durability. Here are some of the things you must keep in mind if you want to use your wooden tub for a long time:

• Don’t leave your wooden hot tub without water for a prolonged period or more than a week because this will result in cracking and leaking. 
• Avoid placing devices or other kinds of warm systems close to the stoves or heating area because wood generally handles large differences in humidity and temperature poorly.
• Make sure you regularly check and monitor the condition of the tension hoops so that you tighten whenever necessary. 
• Do not use abrasive substances to clean the wooden tub to preserve the protective layer of the wood. You should clean the inner part of the tub using water soap and soda supplements and a brush to prolong the life expectancy. 
• Make sure the tub is installed on stable ground so that the water level is even. Avoid a ground that has patches of grass or humus. Most importantly, make sure there is good circulation of air underneath so that the damp can vaporize. 
• Avoid treating the interior of the tub with oil to allow it to absorb water so that the wood can swell up and keep the hot tub dense. 

Using Your Wooden Hot Tub
Once you have purchased your wooden tub, you must identify a suitable location in the garden to install it. In most cases, your specialist will advise you based on the advantages and disadvantages of different locations.
Here are some guidelines on the proper use of your wooden tub:

• Determine the best times to use the tub. This is important because these tubs take time to heat up. It even takes longer during the cold season. 
• Get your firewood ready in time. Make sure the firewood is well dried so that it doesn’t end up smoking.
• Fill the tub up with water using a water hose making sure the water level reaches the recommended levels. 
• Check the water level in the hot tub before igniting the heater. You should never start the heating process when the tub is empty or the water is barely at the minimum level. When the water reaches the recommended level, you can turn it off and cover with a lid so that it heats up faster. Make sure you empty the tub after bathing while the embers are still live in the heater. 
• Begin with tinder and kindling while avoiding paper as its ashes could get into the water. 
• Burn medium-sized wood to heat the water while maintaining the heat placing. At this point, you can use more hardwood so that it burns for longer. 
• Check the temperature of the water, if it is too hot then open the lid or even add some cold water and you’ll be ready to enjoy a great soak. 

A wooden hot tub is one other best ways to engage with nature while enjoying the serenity of your garden. However, you must make sure you take care of the tub properly to ensure longevity and great service. 
 
 

Gardening course for beginners from GardenAdvice

One day gardening courses especially created for beginners run in your own garden by the GardenAdvice expert gardeners. Available as a gift voucher for the gardener in your life. Become a gardener with the GardenAdvice Gardening Course. If you are new to gardening it can all seem a bit complicated at first with all the Latin names and the gardening terminology. GardenAdvice.co.uk have developed a especially designed short one day course to be able to teach you all the basic skills of gardening to get you started. The courses in your own garden cover such basic skills as pruning, correct digging methods, growing your own shrubs and creating the perfect lawn. See some of our clients our gardening course and our MyGardenTeam service on Instagram and the client section on the GardenAdvice website. For further information visit or gardening courses section.