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How to use the wood-fired hot tub COMMON QUESTIONS HEALTH AND SAFETY How many adults will fit in the tub comfortably? The tub will accommodate up to 6 adults. It is not suitable for children. How do you control the water temperature? Bathing in water which is hotter than 40 degrees can cause fainting (see article). Never bathe alone as there is a risk of fainting after sitting in hot water. It is important to monitor the water temperature with the thermometer provided and adjust the fire with the air intake regulator. Once the desired temperature is reached,
close the air intake and the water temperature will not rise noticeably. If the water temperature gets above 40 degrees, add cold water with the hose to reduce the temperature. How high should I fill it with water? Fill the tub to 6”/15cm from the top (marked) which means the firebox is covered by water. The tub must be filled with water before lighting the fire. How much fuel does the boiler require? On average, you will need about 2 bags of logs to heat the water from cold. Build up the fire steadily in 2-‐3 stages to a full firebox.
Use only dry wood -‐ not fresh sawn or wet wood as the surface temperature in the firebox isnt high enough to burn off the excess tar. How long does it take to heat the water? This varies from Summer to Winter. In Summer, heating the water from 14C to 34C takes around 1½ hours. In Winter, heating the water from 6C to 38C takes 4-‐6 hours depending on the size and dryness of the wood. We recommend that you stir the water occasionally to maintain even heating. Is there a danger of burning myself on the firebox? The firebox is protected
by a fence and you should make no attempt to touch it when it is lit. Any surface underwater will not be hot on brief contact, however sustained contact may cause a burn. Does the flue get hot? The chimney (flue) above the cover board is insulated and timber-‐clad to avoid danger to users. How long can I stay in the hot tub? The ideal session is 10-‐15 minutes. We advise against staying in longer than 30 minutes at a time. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, and get out if you feel at all drowsy. We advise against drinking alcohol while
in the tub. Because of the risk of fainting (and drowning) it is not safe to bathe alone. Please replace the lid at the end of each bathing session HOT TUB MAINTENANCE How frequently do I need to change the water? We recommended that you change the water after 4 close sessions. As no chemicals are added to the water, bathers must shower before entering the hot tub. The tub is purely for relaxing in, not for washing in. No soaps or chemicals may be added to the water. How do I clean the ash out of the firebox? You can reach in with a
shovel or scoop once the embers are cold. Wood burns well on a bed of its own ash and so may be used for 4 -‐ 5 fires before emptying. There is no need to completely empty the burner. How do I empty the tub? Leave the water in the tub at the end of your stay so that it can be disinfected before emptying. If you need to empty the water out for any reason, pull up the wooden plug. next to the air intake. How to use the wood-fired hot tub For your comfort and safety please observe these simple rules: DOs • • • • • Fill
the tub with water up to the mark before lighting the fire Use dry wood and add more wood in stages Stir the water frequently while it is heating up Close the air intake once the desired temperature is reached Add more cold water if the temperature rises above 40C • • • • Shower before each bathing session Drink water to avoid dehydration Replace the lid after each use Leave the water in the tub at the end of your stay DONTs • • • • • • • • • Do not light the fire until the tub is filled with water Do not sit the firebox lid directly on
the wooden decking Do not use the hot tub if you are pregnant or feeling unwell Do not use the hot tub if the water temperature is more than 40C Do not allow children in or near the tub Do not touch the burner underwater behind the wooden fence Do not use soaps or chemicals Do not drink alcohol (or if you do, only in moderation) Do not stay in the water if you feel drowsy or dizzy • Do not sit candles on any wooden surface • Never bathe alone! How to use the wood-fired hot tub How to use the wood-fired hot tub Filling the tub and
lighting the fire It takes 5-‐8 hours to fill and heat the tub and you will need to be around for much of this time. 1. As stated above, you need to fill the tub to the marked line, so that water is covering the firebox. 2. Once the tub is filled with water, open the firebox by lifting the wooden handle. It is a bit awkward but can be manoeuvered out at an angle Check how much ash is in the firebox. It is important to make sure that ash isn’t blocking the bottom of the air intake [the pipe with a swiveling lid]. If there
is a small amount of dry ash it is fine to use this as a base for lighting the fire. If it is excessive then clear some or all with the scoop If there is wet ash and water (as rain can get in through the chimney) it is best to scoop it out into the metal pail using the scoop provided. 3. Place a firelighter on the bottom of the box or on a bed of tightly twisted newspaper. (If you dont have a firelighter you can simply use more tightly twisted newspaper.) Surround it with small pieces of kindling so that you can still reach it
with a match. 4. Once it is alight, add more kindling and gradually more dry logs [found beside the cabana]. When they are burning well you can then fill the firebox to the top with wood and replace the lid completely. 5. Check the fire every 30 minutes and add wood as necessary to keep the firebox full. Check the temperature each time, stirring the water because the surface is usually hotter than the bottom! It is surprising how quickly you can reach the recommended temperature (see above). Once you have done this, close the swivel lid on the air intake.
This will dampen the fire (although the temperature may still rise). Any time you open the firebox please sit the handle on the stone slab so as not to burn the decking. 6. After your bathing session leave everything closed Do not drain the water How to use the wood-fired hot tub How to use the wood-fired hot tub We want you to enjoy the hot tub but we also want you to be safe! Please read this article explaining the dangers of allowing the water to overheat. Hotter Hot Tub Water Poses Increased Fainting Risk Source: Mayo Clinic
Hotter water in hot tubs poses increased health risks from fainting, Mayo Clinic researchers report. Mayo Clinic heart researchers had six subjects soak in 40C degree water (the current recommended temperature for hot tubs) and 41.5C degree water for 21 minutes to see if hotter water caused any ill effects. They concluded that the higher temperatures posed little health risk from heart or circulation problems. But they found that when the subjects stood up to exit the tub, systolic blood pressure dropped dramatically, nearly twice as much in the hotter water compared to the 40C degree
temperature. The result is less blood flow to the brain, which can cause fainting, which in turn might lead to injury by falling or by drowning. The authors point out that in an earlier study 36 hot tub deaths, 25 were found to be caused by drowning. Thomas Allison, Ph.D, a cardiovascular disease specialist at Mayo Clinic, says the problem can be prevented by limiting time in the hot tub to 10-15 minutes, by keeping the water temperature no more than 40C degrees, and by emerging slowly from the water.