The Wood-fired Hot Tub
WARNING: The flue (Chimney coming out of the stove) can become very hot to the touch. Please do not touch once lit.
Do not replace the parts of the cover around the stove and flue until all working parts have completely cooled.
The fire is also very hot so do be careful when loading.
YOU USE THE STOVE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The lighting of the hottub is an experience in itself - controlling the tub with fire in a primitive, off-grid way echoes the slow living of the countryside. Good things come to those who wait.
Remove the three parts of the cover that surround the stove. You can keep the part of the cover that rests over where you sit on as helps to reduce heating time.
We find the best way to light the fire is lay some firelighters in the middle of a pile of kindling stacked like the following image.
With this Jenga like kindling structure at the bottom of the stove you are on your way to building a roaring fire. Light the firefighter and add more Kindling/bigger logs one at a time without smothering the fire lighters. Go slowly at this point and let the fire build naturally. The better your fire at this stage the quicker bigger logs will burn later on and the less chance you have of a fire going out whilst enjoying a glass of wine.
Once the small logs are completely alight and the fire is burning you can add some larger logs. Keep the fire burning well at all times for maximum heating efficiency. Whilst it’s ok to leave the fire burning its key to keep monitoring so your fire is roaring at all times. Leave the lid off/half on whilst at this stage to give the fire plenty of oxygen.
Add wood regularly once you have a good fire and when the fire is burning well leave just the notched out bit in the lid open. To maintain the intensity of the fire, be sure to add more wood to the stove every 20 minutes. You can fill the stove completely, but do not forcefully load it.
To check the water temperature simply dip your hand in the water. For the most accurate measurement, stir the water and then check. Shortly before reaching the desired temperature, stop adding wood and close the air regulator. This will decrease the intensity of the fire and stop the rise in water temperature.
After reaching the bathing temperature, add a small amount of wood every 30 minutes to keep the fire burning but at minimum intensity.
Tips:
Remember to open the air regulator and to refill the stove with wood regularly (every 20 minutes) until the desired water temperature is reached.
Do not be afraid to fill the stove completely, but do not forcefully overload it either. Once the fire is started, add wood every 20 minutes to maintain heating intensity.
When you are getting close to the target temperature, stop adding wood and close the air regulator. This will reduce the burning intensity and stabilise the temperature of the water rather than continue to increase it.
Maintain the water at bathing temperature by adding a larger log every hour or so to keep the fire burning but
Do not put paper or cardboard into the stove as this can cause ashes to fall into the hottub.
