Larch Hot Tubs

If you are new to purchasing wooden hot tubs then you probably aren’t thinking too much about the type of wood. Yes, there are actually different types of wood you can purchase to make your wooden hot tub. Some of the woods you can purchase are cedar, redwood and larch. The type of wood you choose depends on what you want out of your hot tub. If you are looking for longevity and durability then choose larch hot tubs. 

Larch is a special type of wood that comes from Russia. It is said to be the most durable wood in the world. Not only can it sustain tough weather conditions, but it doesn’t even stain either. This makes it the perfect choice to use for a hot tub that is placed in an outdoor wilderness surrounded by wildlife and harsh weather conditions. Perhaps the most impressive thing about larch hot tubs is they will last the longest. If you were to purchase a cedar hot tub then it may last you 10 to 15 years with good maintenance. But a larch hot tub will last you 20+ years. You won’t even have to apply any waxes or oils to the exterior of the hot tub because larch doesn’t stain and can resist most forms of decay on its own. That means you will save lots of money by not having to buy supplements for the wood. Of course you will still have to clean the water and add oxygen granules on a regular basis. But as for the wood, that will pretty much stay strong on its own. 

Larch wood is going to be the most expensive because it has to be imported from northern regions of the world. Regular larch can be found in Canada and northern United States, but many consumers like going with Siberian larch from Russia because it is the most durable. If you have that little bit of extra money to spend on a wooden hot tub, we would say ‘go for it’. If you are just looking for a nice hot tub to relax in for a few years, then you might want to consider buying a cedar hot tub instead.

In-ground vs. Above-ground Wooden Hot Tubs

Wooden hot tubs can be installed in-ground or above-ground. Both versions are perfectly fine, but you have to consider the costs and setup you want before choosing your hot tub. An in-ground wooden hot tub is going to be permanent. Obviously if you are going to dig a hole in the ground and built a tub then you won’t be able to transport it anywhere. An above-ground wooden hot tub gives you that luxury because you can just empty the water, disassemble the wood and disconnect the woodstove. Then you will be able to transport it to any other location that you want. People who install wooden hot tubs often want to move them to a new location, which is why the above-ground hot tubs are so popular and the in-ground hot tubs are so rare. However, this doesn’t mean you should just give up on in-ground hot tubs. For one thing, if you want to increase the value of your property then an in-ground hot tub could be seen as something of value. In fact it will be considered an add-on to your home, which will make buyers more attracted to your home when it comes time to sell it. In-ground hot tubs are also the most durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions because the wood is held together with concrete. The only thing is you have to use either electricity or gas to heat the water. It does not have woodstove heating. So this is something to consider when deciding on an in-ground hot tub. 

 Above-ground hot tubs are certainly the most economical. The materials are cheaper and the installation is easy. In fact a lot of manufacturers provide customers with self installation kits for their wooden hot tubs. They will just ship the wood through a freight carrier to their location and include instructions on how to assemble it into a hot tub. It all depends if you are handy and prefer to save money by doing your own manual labor. You also have to be willing to maintain the exterior of the wood as well as the interior. Therefore, the above-ground hot tub will require a lot more dedication and time to maintain it. Overall, a wooden hot tub is a luxury that you should be able to afford. You have to decide if the hot tub is strictly for you or if it is an investment for the future.

Wooden Hot Tub vs. Swimming Pool

As a homeowner, you probably want to develop a new addition to your home. The most common additions are swimming pools because it symbolizes the stereotypical dream that everybody has about their future home. But, what people don’t realize are wooden hot tubs can be a more luxurious addition than a swimming pool. Wooden hot tubs are also cheaper to maintain and more affordable to purchase. However, wooden hot tubs are not always considered additions because they are portable. An addition is typically a permanent structure like a fence, shed or swimming pool. You could have either an in-ground or above-ground swimming pool and it would still be considered an addition. This is not necessarily the case with a wooden hot tub unless you can figure out a way to permanently establish it above-ground to one particular location. Ask your wooden hot tub supplier for more information on this. If you can get approval from your local zoning and building office to build the wooden hot tub as an addition then it will increase the value of your property. Then when you go to sell your property it will attract buyers and bring you a much bigger sales price. 

 Some people might say that swimming pools are better because you can fit more people into them and you don’t have to heat them up. But the problem you face with a swimming pool is all the water you have to clean every week. This requires you to use stronger chemicals, like chlorine, which can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Either that or it will cause your eyes to sting and possibly give you acne. The point is you want to reduce the amount of chemicals you consume your body in. Wooden hot tubs only require herbal supplements, which are totally natural and contain no added chemicals that are harmful to your body. Plus you are only dealing with a small amount of water in the hot tub, so it is much easier to maintain. 

The verdict is simple. Wooden hot tubs are superior to swimming pools. Even though they cannot hold as many people, they are affordable and luxurious at the same time. People who see a wooden hot tub on your property will be just as impressed to see it as they would a swimming pool. Perhaps, even more impressed. Then if you ever want to sell your property it can be a luxury that you include with the property.

Wooden Hot Tub Safety Tips

Wooden hot tubs can provide a very relaxing experience to you and your family. The only thing is you have to know how to use them properly, especially the heating source. If you use a woodstove as your heating source, for example, then there are a couple of tips you need to follow. The number one rule is never light a fire in the woodstove if there is no water in the hot tub. If you light a fire with no water then the heat from the stove will build up in the empty tub and eventually cause a fire. Then all of your efforts in building the tub will be for nothing. So always make sure the tub is filled with water before you light the woodstove on fire. This is crucial. 

 

Another tip to remember is to never swim in water that is not clear. If you notice your water has turned yellow or green then you should empty the water out of the tub immediately. Then scrub the interior of the tub with soap and baking soda to thoroughly get rid of any mold or bacteria that exists there. After it is cleaned, take your hosepipe and refill the tub with new water. You never want to chance swimming in dirty water because you could get very sick from it. So make sure you consistently add herbal supplements to the water and wood supplements on the exterior. Make sure you don’t use the wood supplements on the interior because they contain oil and it is very greasy to wash off. So every two weeks, empty the water in the tub and replace it with new water because you don’t want to have the same water in the tub for too long. 

The final safety tip is to keep the hot tub covered when you are not using it, but only if there is water in the tub. When there is no water you should avoid using it because it will create mold. You have to realize the outdoor environment subjects the water to all kinds of organisms and substances. You should only remove the cover when you are beginning to heat up the water and getting into the water. Do not heat the water with the cover on the tub because that could cause the water to boil or just get really hot. It may even cause the cover to catch on fire, so make sure it is removed before starting a fire.

Siberian Larch Hot Tubs

There are many different types of wood available to make your wooden hot tub out of. Some people choose wood that gives off a certain scent and provides them with aromatherapy. Others simply care about the durability and strength of their wood. If you are one of these people then you need to purchase a wooden hot tub made out of Siberian larch. This type of wood comes from northern Asia, mostly in the region of western Russia. Within the last 100 years, it has become a major exported product in this region. People are quickly realizing how durable Siberian larch really is. This makes it the perfect wood material to use for a wooden hot tub. 

Siberian larch is a rare wood type because it has rot resistance. Since water and moist areas typically contribute to rotted wood, this puts wooden hot tub owners in a peculiar situation. But for those who make their hot tubs out of Siberian larch, they won’t have to worry about their tubs rotting away. This is perfect for those who don’t have time to regularly tend to the wood and keep it from rotting by using oils and supplements. Furthermore, Siberian larch can withstand the tough impact of nasty weather conditions like heavy winds and rainstorms. 

The only real downside to purchasing Siberian larch is the cost. Since the total supply of Siberian larch comes from Russia, this means you will have to pay international freight costs in order to get the wood over here. Unless, of course, you find a wooden hot tub manufacturer in America who already has their own supply of Siberian larch on hand. If they do have it then they will probably charge you even more money to accommodate for their shipping costs in getting the wood over to your country. But if you want the highest quality wooden hot tub possible, then you will need to purchase the Siberian larch model.

The best choice to make when purchasing wood for your hot tub is to consider the long term advantages. If you just want to buy a cheaper wooden tub to try out then go with cedar or redwood. They won’t last you as long but they still provide aromatherapy and a decent hot tub experience. However, if you plan to keep your hot tub for the next couple of decades then purchasing Siberian larch will be the best investment possible.

Emptying a Hot Tub

You will find that every aspect of a wooden hot tub is a lot simpler than the aspects of an acrylic tub. When it comes to emptying the water from the wooden hot tub, you won’t need to use a hose and pump to extract the water like with the plastic tubs. Wooden hot tubs usually have a small plug or drain built into the wall. You can just release the plug and let the water pour out of the tub. However, you may not want to do this if your tub is on a deck or somewhere that you don’t want water to spread. In this case you need to have a hosepipe and outlet valve installed into your wooden hot tub if it isn’t installed already. With a hosepipe, you can control where the water pours out. All you do is set the hosepipe somewhere that can sustain the water, like your garden, and then you turn the outlet valve to release the water. Then the water will go through the hosepipe and out the other end of it to wherever you set it up. 

Occasionally you will want to empty the water from your hot tub, especially if the water has been in there for more than two weeks. You don’t have to empty the water just because you used it one time though. As long as you are using biodegradable bathing supplements in the water, you can keep the same water in there for weeks. The supplements will help prevent fungal infestations and algae from growing in the water. Now if you feel the environment is clean enough to where the water is not contaminated then you could leave the water in there for longer than two weeks. A good example of this is during the wintertime when there are colder temperatures outside. However, you have to be careful with colder temperatures because you don’t want the water in the hot tub to freeze. This will create ice inside the structure of the tub, which could be very damaging to the wood. It all depends on whether or not you are going to use the hot tub during the winter season. If you are not going to then empty the water out of the tub and periodically clean it. When you are ready to fill the tub back up again, just take the hosepipe and attach it to your outdoor faucet. Then turn it on and wait a few minutes. Leave at least six inches of space between the water level and the top of the tub. Now you can start using it again.

Wooden Hot Tub Life Expectancy

Wooden hot tub can last a very long time if you treat the wood at least once a year. Remember that putting wood in an outdoor environment makes it susceptible to all kinds of germs, weather conditions, mold, deterioration, and so on. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to tend to the wood in order to enhance its life expectancy. First you need to get either wood supplement oil or linseed oil for the wooden exterior of the tub. Do not put these oils on the inside because it will create a greasy surface later on that you don’t want. If you want to clean the interior then use baking soda, soap, water and a brush. This will make sure any possible contaminants on the inside are completely gone. 

So if you treat the outside of the tub with oil supplements and clean the inside with soap and baking soda, this should preserve the life of the tub for another 15 years at least. But you have to make sure you do this cleaning process every single year, or perhaps even two times per year. Eventually the hot tub won’t absorb as much water, which will help increase its lifespan. There are some wooden hot tubs that have lasted as long as 50 years, and are still used to this day. That is the great thing about wooden hot tubs. They are practically ageless because they adapt to all kinds of environments and are acceptable in any era. The Ancient Romans used wooden hot tubs thousands of years ago and now people of the modern age are using them as well. This just proves that certain luxuries in life never change. 

The only external factor that could negatively affect your hot tub is weather damage. Depending on where you live, if the weather gets too windy or stormy then it could put your hot tub in jeopardy. Since wooden hot tubs are portable, you can empty the water and move the tub if you know there is a storm approaching. This transporting process could take a few hours, so make sure you have plenty of time set aside before the storm strikes. Always check the weather channel or your local cable news programs to find out if a storm is approaching. Then you can take the necessary precautions for moving your hot tub. The safest place to store it is in a garage. That way it won’t endure any structural damage from falling branches or other flying debris.