Frequently Asked Questions

how do the hot tubs heat up?

Our Hot tubs heat up through convection. This process involves the stove drawing cooler water into the lower pipe. As the fire heats the water jacket around it, the water gradually warms up and ascends to the top of the water jacket surrounding the stove, exiting through the upper pipe. Heat rises, and this principle applies to water as well. As water molecules become heated, they start to vibrate and rise, similar to how warm air ascends..

How long do they take to heat up?

the 2 person is slightly faster at 90 minutes, which uses a 24kw stove. the 4, 6 & 8 person heats up in around 2 hours. heating times can be slightly improved with use of one of our wooden stirring paddles to mix the water 2-3 times during the heating process

The hot tubs don't have a plastic liner. how do they stay watertight?

Modern hot tubs often feature plastic liners, but here at Birchwells, we take a more traditional approach. Our hot tubs are crafted with precision joinery, offering the natural feel and aroma of wood. As you fill your hot tub for the first time, the wood fibers will swell immediately. Within the first 24 hours, the swelling wood creates a tight seal between each joint, all reinforced by stainless steel tension cables. Initially, your hot tub may leak slightly, but after about 24 hours, the leaks will cease, and your hot tub will become watertight.

Do I need to treat the wood?

yes. once your hot tub has finished swelling, you must treat your hot tub for the first time with an oil of your choosing. we recommend Tung oil. it leaves a natural finish on your hot tub, so you can preserve its natural beauty.

How long do your hot tubs last?

This depends on the wood species you choose. Our Canadian wester red cedar hot tubs can be expected to last 25 years, and our spruce hot tubs 15 with good yearly coats of oil

do your hot tubs have warranty?

yes. our hot tubs all have a two year warranty on all parts of the product.

what is the difference between flat pack and assembled?

One of the main challenges with hot tubs is their installation due to their heavy and bulky nature upon delivery, often compounded by limited access in gardens. The flat pack product offers a solution by delivering the hot tub in pieces. The more complex assembly steps are pre-done; you simply need to mount the staves onto the base, arrange the stainless steel cables around the hot tub's exterior, tighten them, and then position and secure the pre-cut seats and frames. We provide assembly instructions for those who wish to review them prior to purchase for added confidence. The flat pack construction is akin to assembling furniture from IKEA. As for the assembled hot tubs, they arrive ready-made, requiring only a quick 5-minute connection of the pipework to the heater.

how do the hot tubs arrive?

both variants of the hot tub arrive on a pallet which is tail lifted off the lorry. they will place the place on the closest point of your property for you to then unpack and move the hot tub and its components either to cover or to their desired final location

what can i use to heat the hot tub?

our stoves use exclusively wood to heat the water. you cannot use coal or any alternative fuel source. we often recommend using softwood to get the fire to temperature quickly and then moving onto hardwood. we always recommend quality kiln dried firewood. never use freshly cut wood or garden waste.