We try to keep the answers to wood fired hot tub FAQs short and sweet, but sometimes 50 words doesn’t hit the mark. When you need to know more, detailed explanations can be helpful in your decision-making journey.
Below are the most frequent questions requiring longer answers that GOODLAND receives from bathing enthusiasts.
Is the wood fired hot tub made in Canada?
GOODLAND Wood Burning Hot Tubs are proudly made in Winnipeg, Canada. For our American friends, this is in the middle of Canada above Minnesota and North Dakota. GOODLAND is based on the west coast of Canada, with our design team working between Bowen Island and Vancouver, British Columbia (BC).
An extensive design process is behind everything that we create at GOODLAND. Having a small in-house design team allows us to envision and build items exactly to our specifications.
We moved the manufacturing out of BC to lower our costs while still allowing a close connection to production. Our Winnipeg manufacturing facility combines state-of-the-art machinery and traditional craftsmanship assuring the highest quality construction to withstand the rigors of time and changing seasons. Our materials are largely locally-sourced or purchased from other North American businesses, including our Canadian western red cedar.
See Canadian hot tub manufacturing in action and learn more about GOODLAND in the video above.
Why is the wood burning hot tub expensive?
Unlike traditional hot tubs made of plastic and fibreglass, the price of the GOODLAND Hot Tub is largely determined by the cost of quality Canadian materials and craftsmanship. Designing and building in Canada instead of overseas allows us to maintain an ultra-high quality level, source premium materials, avoid supply chain interruptions, and add value to our local economy.
GOODLAND Wood Burning Hot Tubs are built with a combination of traditional expert craftsmanship and modern machinery. The former part means these modern wood fired hot tubs are largely hand crafted with hand welding and woodwork.
After each tub is tested for water-tightness, every component is assembled by hand to ensure exact fit and finish. Each assembled tub is then thoroughly photographed for a final quality check before custom packing and shipping.
The manufacturing processes have been consciously chosen with an eye to the intended long-term use, product design, and environmental impact. For example, instead of joining the aluminum tub sides with economical rivets or glue, we’ve opted for double seam welding to ensure maximum durability and eliminate the possibility of leaks.
Building with natural materials such as aluminum and wood is more costly than using man-made materials like a standard jacuzzi tub. In addition we use 6061 marine aluminum, a premium-grade alloy offering excellent corrosion resistance, strength, and workability, as well as western red cedar which is more expensive than comparable woods.
The inherent properties of these materials make them all the more valuable—durable, long-lasting, low maintenance, and sustainable. This article sheds more light on how our wood fired hot tub differs from all the others.
Inexpensive electric hot tubs draw a lot of energy to stay heated 24-7, require extensive maintenance and cleaning, and have a short lifespan. In other words, they cost more in the long run in terms of your energy bill and environmental impact.
Watch GOODLAND Wood Burning Hot Tubs being made in our facility.
How is the hot tub in the rain and with moisture?
Our Wood Burning Hot Tub loves rain and moisture. After all, it was conceived in a temperate rainforest off the West Coast of Canada, and intentionally designed for all-season use in all types of weather. The hot tub is constructed from marine grade aluminum and western red cedar, the best natural materials known for longevity and durability.
Why a marine grade aluminum hot tub?
Marine grade aluminum is used in shipbuilding and other transport industries because of its inherent properties. It’s strong, lightweight, and can withstand constant contact with water. There are many different grades of marine aluminum—we chose 6061 for its excellent corrosion resistance, strength, and workability.
Unlike all-wood hot tubs, having an aluminum alloy as the tub liner makes it low maintenance, hygienic, leak-proof, and easy to clean. Another win for aluminum is that it’s infinitely recyclable, keeping it out of the landfill.
Why western red cedar for a hot tub?
We chose red cedar - our sustainably-harvested local lumber in British Columbia - for its appeal to the senses and resilience. Not only naturally resistant to rot and decay, it’s also a beautiful wood that appeals to the senses—it’s richly hued, subtly aromatic, and silky to the touch.
Western red cedar has been used for centuries by the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast for canoes, buildings, totem poles, and more. Over time this wood weathers to a soft gray when left untreated.
See our comparison of hot tub materials for more details on why aluminum and cedar hot tubs are superior to other options.
How do you fill the hot tub in the winter?
Fill your wood fired hot tub in the same way that you would in the summer. For folks who live in colder regions, you may be familiar with needing to turn off your outdoor taps in the winter. We ensure that our taps are accessible all year round by using a faucet frost protector.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can have frost-free lines installed to your outdoor connection by your local plumber. We always suggest disconnecting and draining your garden hose in the winter months after you’ve filled up your hot tub.
The GOODLAND Hot Tub has been freeze-tested to withstand the coldest Canadian winters without damage. If the water in the tub freezes, build a small fire to slowly reheat the water.
Find winter hot tub use tips and other resources for wood fired hot tubs in our Journal.
How do you drain the tub in the winter?
Our hot tubs come with a drain hose but also have the ability to be drained right onto the ground simply by pulling the plug. In the winter, we recommend removing the drain hose to prevent it from cracking which means your hot tub will drain directly onto the ground.
Elevating your hot tub on a platform, or ensuring a good drainage area with gravel will help keep ice at bay. Once drained, place the cover on the hot tub or tip it over on its side to prevent unwanted snow and ice build up until you’re ready to fill it again.
See How to Winterize Your Hot Tub for all the details on using your wood fired hot tub in the cold seasons.
Do you have to drain the hot tub every time you use it?
You do not need to drain the GOODLAND Hot Tub with each use—this is one of the big advantages of an aluminum-lined wood burning hot tub. The water lasts longer, even without chemicals. The benefit is less time and money spent on maintenance, and more time spent enjoying your outdoor soaking tub.
When you do have to drain it, it’s the fastest-draining wood fire hot tub at only 20 minutes on account of its oversized drain hole, sloped floor, and reduced water volume.
When do I change the tub water?
The untreated water (no chemicals) can last for up to two weeks of daily use depending on local water conditions and who is using the hot tub. If it’s being used by a variety of bathers who haven’t showered before sinking into the water, it’s a good idea to change the water more frequently.
Drain and recycle your hot tub water after this time.The good news is that this is 'grey water', used chemical-free hot tub water may be recycled depending upon your location and applicable bylaws.
Learn more about sustainability and eco-friendly hot tubs.
Why can the water be reused? Is this safe?
Unlike electric hot tubs, a wood fired hot tub's water returns to ambient temperature when not in use. This prohibits harmful bacteria to thrive as they do in always-warm hot tubs.
The aluminum liner is also more hygienic than other hot tub materials, so you don't need to treat the water. The use of safer water treatment alternatives like bromine or hydrogen peroxide, can prolong the life of your tub water to 3 weeks of daily use.
How does tub delivery work? I'm hoping to purchase, but worry about delivery to my property
Our goal is to deliver your wood fired hot tub directly to your property’s curb or entrance. However, delivery details are dependent upon the shipping destination. Key points:
- Country - We ship anywhere in the United States and Canada for a flat rate, and offer worldwide international shipping.
- Accessibility - A 5-ton truck needs to be able to deliver the hot tub either curbside at your location or to a depot where it can then be transferred to a smaller vehicle to get it into your property.
- Streamlined packaging - The hot tub is wrapped in a cardboard carton to protect it and placed on a large wood pallet, with all of the components tucked inside. The delivery truck lowers the carton to the ground on the pallet for you to receive. At this point you'll require 2-3 people to move all of the lightweight components to your desired site. Our hot tubs can fit in the back of larger SUV, pick-up trucks, etc.
If these off-grid hot tub owners were able to receive and set-up their GOODLAND Hot Tub, you will too! We highly recommend reading the off-grid blog post for details and videos on shipping to remote properties.
The video above shows how to easily move the GOODLAND Hot Tub. Be sure to review Shipping & Freight for additional shipping information.
Can I use the hot tub as a cold plunge or for a cold soak?
Absolutely! It’s easy: add cold water to the tub and don’t light the fire–the addition of ice is optional. No need to purchase a heat pump system. Several customers have shared that they are using their wood fire hot tub as a cold plunge, and the insulated aluminum shell keeps the water temperature cold for an extended period, as it does for heat retention.
Read up on hot and cold water therapy and how to do the Nordic Cycle at home. If you fall in love with cycling between the two temperatures – as many people tend to do – you may want to invest in separate hot and cold tubs. We have a Cold Tub to suit this purpose coming soon!
How do you control the temperature of the tub water?
The temperature of the wood burning hot tub’s water is controlled by the fire in the submersible wood stove box. During the initial period of rapid heating, the fire should be large and the lid to the stove box should be open, giving the fire plenty of air.
While the water is heating, stir it with the provided wood paddle to mix the separation of cold and warm water and check the water temperature periodically (we recommend using a floating thermometer) to keep an eye on your sweet spot.
Adding smaller pieces of wood frequently to the fire will increase the heat, or close the lid to the stove box limiting the air intake to keep the temperature steady.
Lastly, be sure you're using the right firewood for a high-heat, long burn! Hint: use seasoned hardwood as firewood.
How do you cool down a wood fired hot tub?
Too hot? Simply add cold water to the hot tub—just like you would in any outdoor bath.
Additional resources:
- Read How Do Wood Stove Hot Tubs Work?
- Watch how the wood stove works and learn some tricks on quickening the wood burning hot tub heating time
How hot does a wood fired hot tub get?
Short answer: the temperature is completely up to you. The average bathing temp is 100-106 F for any hot tub. A wood fired hot tub’s main difference is how the water’s temperature is controlled by the fire’s intensity and duration.
Because of its submersible stove and smaller size which requires less water than other wood stove hot tubs, the GOODLAND Wood Burning Hot Tub heats up the quickest in only 90 minutes. For your first couple of soaks, anticipate that it might take up to 120 minutes to get the water to your ideal temperature until you get the hang of the process.
Since our Hot Tub is triple-insulated, the water will retain some of the heat when you add a cover and it’ll be quicker to heat up the next day. Bathers in colder climates might want to add rigid insulation to their wood fired hot tubs in the winter as well.
How do you control the smoke output?
If you manage the fire properly there should be no, or minimal, smoke. This involves choosing the right firewood - dry seasoned or kiln-dried - and setting it correctly so that air can circulate. A smoldering fire causes smoke.
In the above video Craig, GOODLAND's founder, shows you how to prep, light, and maintain the fire in the wood burning stove.
Tips for reducing smoke:
- Use seasoned local firewood, split into 1-3” dia logs.
- Don't use wet wood or waste, both create smokey fires. Stick to quality firewood, which is dry and dense, for the best fire.
- If your wood is dry and your fire produces a lot of smoke, allow more air into the fire. A well balanced fire will not produce a lot of smoke.
- Don’t overstuff the fire so you can ignore it—enjoy the process of maintaining the fire as part of the bathing experience.
Our article on Eco-Friendly Hot Tub Considerations shares more details on what causes smoke, as well as a video on lighting the fire properly.
If you have a question for GOODLAND not answered here or in the main FAQs, feel free to reach out to us.
Kendra Nickerson
Kendra is a writer, editor, and strategist who is driven by a love for finding better ways to do things. She covers the Resources articles for GOODLAND—the how-tos and whys. Kendra loves to garden, cook, and go on vacations that combine nature with bathing. In her past life, she worked in art and design.
