Questions to Sellers of Wood-fired Hot Tubs
Product questions
Size
| ★★ | What are the measurements of the hot tub model? | These figures are important when planning where a hot tub will be situated in your garden or backyard. Wood-fired hot tubs from different manufacturers that have equal internal diameters may in fact have different external measurements, so it’s worth finding and reading the exact specifications and wood-fired hot tub reviews. |
| ★★ | What is the size of the packaged wood-fired hot tub? | Knowing these measurements is essential if you have limited or narrow access to your garden, in which case just one or two inches might make enough of a difference that you need to hire a crane. |
| ★ | How much space is required in my garden or backyard to accommodate the hot tub model? | Different space requirements apply depending on your customised wood-fired hot tub kit. For example, the type of steps you choose, whether the heater is external or internal, whether the water filter is mounted behind the cladding or if it is placed in a box at the side of the tub. |
Technical resources
| ★★★ | What water can I use in the wood-fired hot tub? | For some brands, using seawater can void the warranty. Some hot tub brands advise against using lake or rainwater in all-wood hot tub models as they may disrupt the effectiveness of the water treatment chemicals. It’s important to check any recommendations or requirements listed by the manufacturer. |
| ★★★ | What is the power rate of the hot tub model? | This is essential information to know so you can check whether you may need to upgrade your household power lines in order to use all of the various functions of your wood-fired hot tub. Usually, 13amp wiring is more than enough, but wood-fired hot tub models that have electric heaters may need 32amp lines or more. |
| ★★ | What water sanitisers (chemicals) can I use with the hot tub model? | Depending on the type of steel and liner used in your chosen wood-fired hot tub, some manufacturers will prohibit the use of chlorine sanitisers, which are less expensive and more common than oxygen alternatives, for example. It is beneficial to find this information out beforehand. |
| ★ | Is the first water filter cartridge included in the hot tub kit? | In the UK, we’re used to unwrapping a gadget and using it straight away, only inserting the batteries which are included. That is not necessarily the case for the rest of the world, and you should check if the cartridge or other filtration elements will be included as part of your package. |
Product design materials
| ★★★ | What is the standard lifespan of the hot tub liner (if applicable)? | This depends significantly on how you use and maintain the hot tub. Acrylic liners are commonly more durable than fibreglass or plastic. One brand suggested a lifespan of 8 years for their fibreglass liner, but it tends to be difficult to make specific guarantees as there are a number of factors that influence it. |
| ★★ | Are the materials in your hot tub safe to use with seawater or chlorine? | Among the common types of steel used by most wood-fired hot tub brands in their heaters, only AISI 316 is guaranteed as safe to use with seawater and chlorine, while aluminium will corrode relatively quickly. AISI 304 is partially chlorine-resistant, but less so than AISI 316. Note that chlorine cannot be used with all-wood models. |
| ★★ | What type of wood do you use for the wooden parts of your hot tub and what is its typical lifespan? | The most common types of wood used in wood-fired hot tub production in the UK are pine, larch, thermowood, oak and cedar. Regarding their lifespan, the manufacturer’s answer will typically say it depends on maintenance and your specific use of the hot tub. But in general, thermowood, oak and cedar tend to be the most durable, with thermowood requiring the least maintenance efforts. |
Wood-fired hot tub kit content
| ★★★ | Are water treatment chemicals included? | Some brands, like Kirami (The Log Company), have their own branded water treatment products, while others, like TimberIN, offer a set of chemicals produced by other manufacturers on their e-store. The majority of brands only recommend water treatment products but do not sell them themselves. Read their guidances carefully to see what products are suitable with the hot tub model you’re intending to buy. Most wood-fired hot tubs cannot be used with chlorine products. |
| ★★ | Which parts are included when buying this hot tub model? | The initial wood-fired hot tub price shown on e-stores can increase substantially after adding all the necessary components to use it safely and comfortably. For example, you will likely need to add on stairs to get in, a cover for heat insulation and protection from leaves and debris, chimney flue and protection against burning and water filter. These are integral parts of the unit, but in the pricing schemes offered by most of the top hot tub brands in the UK, they will have to be added as separate components. |
| ★★ | Are stairs, chimney, cover and heat protectors included in the standard hot tub kit? | As explained above, check whether each of these components is included in the hot tub kit. |
| ★ | Do I need to buy any accessories or hardware items (power cords, fittings, filter cartridge, etc.) to be able to use the hot tub straight after delivery and installation? | There is always some preparation required before thehot tub is delivered. Make sure to prepare accordingly so that you don’t have to delay installation and you can promptly enjoy soaking in your hot tub. |
Brand and service questions
Delivery and installation
| ★★★ | Is a crane needed to deliver the hot tub to my property? | You can measure the pathways and gaps in your property and compare them against the dimensions listed as part of the hot tub package. If they are not shown on the product details page, ensure you check with the seller. A crane is needed when you don’t have the necessary access or if there are any immovable objects in the way. In some circumstances, it can be more cost-effective to hire a crane than to dismantle your backyard fence gate and re-install it. |
| ★★ | Do you offer free hot tub delivery to my location? If not, how much will it cost? | When you see “free delivery” featured on any top hot tub brand’s e-store, it tells you that delivery costs are included in the total price of the hot tub. Most sellers will have varying delivery cost depending on location. You should be able to find this information when you enter your postcode at the checkout. |
| ★★ | Do you help with finding a crane operator? | Check if your seller has established partnerships with crane operators in your location to pass on this task to a professional. |
| ★★ | Is offloading the hot tub from the vehicle included in the delivery? | It almost seems self-explanatory that a hot tub gets delivered and offloaded to your property, but trust us: we’ve heard rumours of some delivery service providers asking for an additional fee! |
| ★★ | Is a hot tub installation service included in the delivery? | Delivery drivers may not have anything to do with hot tub installation, which is a completely separate service from delivery. As such, you may need to engage a separate professional to assist with installation or order that service from the seller if possible. |
| ★★ | What is your delivery time after ordering a hot tub? | Some hot tub manufacturers keep stock of their best-selling models and can deliver them lighting-fast within just a few days. Generally, however, the usual delivery timeframe for top wood-fired hot tub brands in the UK is 3-6 weeks. Custom models can take longer. |
| ★ | Do you offer an installation service? | When a hot tub is delivered pre-assembled, some components still have to be installed and connected (side shelves, external heater, stairs, etc.). Most sellers will only deliver the hot tub to your driveway, to the gate or on the curb, so you will have to find a way to move it to its final spot. An installation service will cover all that for you. |
Warranty conditions
| ★★★ | What is your typical warranty claim handling turnaround time? | Most top wood-fired hot tub brands in the UK will specify a 30-day period in which they will rectify manufacturing defects. Customer feedback on trusted review platforms (such as Trustpilot or Google reviews) will usually give you a glimpse into the quality of the customer service and claims handling by each brand. |
| ★★ | What is your warranty period? | The warranty period for wood-fired hot tubs in the UK is generally 24 months for most brands, but bear in mind that some brands may only offer coverage for 12 months. Some brands provide a shorter warranty to businesses of 12 or even 6 months. |
| ★★ | Do you have a service team in the UK to undertake repairs? | If they do, you can expect the communication and repairs process to take less time from start to finish. Be specific with your enquiry to get clear answers from different hot tub brands. |
| ★ | Does your warranty cover all hot tub parts? | Some manufacturers do not apply the warranty to wooden parts, and there are some elements that are only covered by a shorter warranty period compared to others. That’s why it’s important to ask this question of wood-fired hot tub brands before purchasing. |
| ★ | What hot tub components are covered by a limited warranty? | Make sure you check whether the full warranty period covers wooden steps or shelves, artificial leather cover, heater door and similar parts. |
| ★ | Do you send technicians to do the repair work? | Not all repairs will be done by the technicians sent by the manufacturer to repair defects. Some brands will offer to pay the bill for a repair service provider you have found, while others may go as far as imposing a responsibility on you to replace a defective part sent to you by mail. |
Viewing the hot tub before buying
| ★★★ | Do you arrange a live video call to view the hot tub and answer customers’ questions? | If the seller doesn’t have a showroom near you, you can still get quite a good impression through a video conference. Some brands will make a special effort to explain to you personally how things work. |
| ★ | Do you have a showroom in my location/country? | Only a few wood-fired hot tub brands in the UK showcase their models in showrooms, and some of these can be located outside your local area. |
Price and financing
| ★★★ | Do you offer discounts if I purchase now? | This question is worth asking bluntly. Companies plan their promotions and sales ahead of time, so they may let you know about it and you can wait for the sale, or you could negotiate the current price if they are flexible enough. |
| ★★ | Do you offer finance options? | If you are seeking finance options, you can always send an enquiry to the seller to see what they offer in your circumstances. |
Hot Tub Buyer’s Checklist!
Get PDF file with the list of questions you need to ask all sellers before buying your hot tub.