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Weekly monitoring of the chemical level should be performed. If the tub has been stained, this should be repeated annually to keep the rich color from fading caused by the elements. Some customers choose to allow the cedar to naturally "gray". This is accomplished by allowing the cedar to be exposed to the elements without any protection.
The circular construction accompanied with the high insulating value of cedar and our Northern Elements Covers will provide excellent insulation value. Outside temperature and your local electric energy costs (cents/kwhr) are the main variable in cost. Some of our customers run their tubs year round in extreme northern climates (-30 Celsius) (-22 Fahrenheit) and in those conditions are reporting a monthly cost of $50/month. The Chofu wood fired tub is the least expensive, requiring only the cost of wood.
The tub typically takes 1-3 hours to assemble, with the seats requiring an additional 1-2 hours. The Plumbing of a tub will take an additional 3-4 hours. Typically this is a weekend project. Time required to construct a foundation should also be budgeted. Remember, Northern Lights can ship tubs fully assembled requiring minimal additional work.
Typically most people feel that 37 - 39 C (98 - 103 Fahrenheit) is a comfortable temperature, however, we recommend you contact your doctor to determine if a hot tub is safe for your given health condition.
This depends on the volume of water being heated, and the power of the heater; the starting water temperature also plays a role.. Typically it takes less than 12 hours to bring the tub to full temperature with an electrical system. A wood fired Chofu system can heat a tub in as little as 2-4 hours.
Laundry detergent residue found on bathing clothes will cause bubbles to be formed. Adding a chemical called foam inhibitor will get rid of this problem.
If it is caught soon enough, Spa Shock can often revive the water. Spa shock is a high concentration of chlorine that instantly boosts the level. One should wait at least one hour before entering the tub after it has been shocked. If it is too cloudy it is best to drain the tub and add fresh water. A weekly inspection of the puck dispenser will eliminate running out of chlorine.
The air vent adds bubbles to the jets giving a more intense massage. However, because it adds cold air to the water, it should be shut off when the tub is not being used.
Experience! Our tubs are 43" deep, providing a unique soaking effect that is not available in shallow plastic spas. The aromatic smell of cedar coupled with the relaxing soak, and therapeutic massage provides a unique experience.
Cedar is in fact naturally resilient to decay. It's rich oils give cedar the lifespan it is famous for. Cleaning is the same as most plastic tubs. Typically a light scrub brush with a diluted solution of liquid bleach works well.
In 1993 the Food Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin conducted tests to compare wood surfaces of cutting boards with the plastic equivalents. The assumption was wood would absorb the juices and become a hot-bed of disease. In other words, plastic would be safer. This wasn't the case. Seven species of wood and four types of plastic were tested. All were intentionally contaminated with E-Coli, Listeria and Salmonella. To everyone's surprise, the bacteria were killed within 3 minutes of touching the wood surface. This was not the case with the plastic surfaces.
A level surface using gravel and patio blocks is sufficient. The area of this pad depends on the size of the tub. We do not recommend placing a tub directly on a deck without consulting a structural carpenter to make sure the deck is properly reinforce to with stand such a weight load.
The idea of a wood fired hot tub is to drain it after use. I can not be left filled in freezing conditions, unless an auxiliary circulating pump and a 1.5Kw heater is used in conjunction with the wood heater.
Yes we are very serious about offering a product that is made from a renewable resource. Unlike plastic tubs that are made from petroleum by products, the wood we purchase is harvest directly by a "Certified Sustainable" forestry mill. The cedar trees have been approved for "Sustainable Forestry Initiative"...SFI since 2001. This Mill has also been audited and approved by KPMG performance registrar. "Sustainable Forestry Initiative" is an international standard for certification of forestland. It is a comprehensive system of principles ,objectives and performance measures developed by scientists. For more information please visit www.aboutSFI.org and www.certificationcanada.org to get a better overview of the practice of sustainable forestry management.
A level surface using gravel and patio blocks is sufficient. The area of this pad depends on the size of the tub. We do not recommend placing a tub directly on a deck without consulting a structural carpenter to make sure the deck is properly reinforce to with stand such a weight load.
Minimum size
Small - 4 1/2' x 4 1/2'
Medium - 5 1/2' x 5 1/2'
Large - 6'x6'
X-large - 7'x7'
The pump , heater and filter are pre- assembled and wired (hyperlink to attached image) as a unit on a special plastic skid plate taking up a total area of approx 29" length 15" width and 21" high. This skid pack is design to easily fit into our custom cedar enclosure view image. This pre assembly greatly reduces the amount of time a customer will spend on final hook up!
Example 1
Minimum length is 34 inches, minimum width 18 Inches, minimum clearance from foundation to bottom pf deck joists 22inches.
Example 2
Minimum length 38 inches, minimum width 16 Inches, minimum clearance from foundation to bottom of deck joists 22inches.
In the kit form (unassembled) the pallet weight and dimensions will be approx:
Package#1 (small 4'8") 60"x60" x32" weighing 500lbs.
Package#2 (medium 5'5") 67"x67"x32" weighing 600lbs
Package#3 (large 6'2")76"x76"x32" weighing 700lbs
Package #4(X-large 7') 86"x86"x32" weighing 800lbs
Sauna Package 86"x95"x38" weighing 900lbs
It is not so much horse power you are looking for. Our base 4 jet system comes standard with 2" discharge holes, and 1 1/2 HP power, with a true 1 1/2 HP impeller. On our 6 jet system the size is a true 2 HP with 2" discharge. What is more important is the flow per minute the pump produces which has nothing to do with horse power, rather impeller size.
Flow is the most important factor for jet operations. We use high flow jets made for wood hot tubs. A pump must be able to deliver the total flow that all the jets need and produce the necessary pressure to create that flow. we need more flow and more pressure as we go from 4 to 6 to 8 jets, and we do this by switching to different pumps with different (larger) impellers and different horsepower motors (1-1/2 , 2 and 3HP respectively). Once we get up to our maximum for 10 jets we still stay with a 3 HP pump but also slightly reduce the orifice size in the jets and increase piping size and fittings to 2" from 1-1/2" in order to ensure sufficient pressure remains for the jets and is not all lost in the piping. We also decrease the orifice size for 8 jet systems and switch to 2" piping if there is more than aft between the hot tub and the pump unit.
In today's spa market, companies are completing on the number of jets. A 2 HP pump powering 60 jets will not be anywhere near as powerful of a massage as the same pump powering 6 jets . The total flow rate of the 60 jets is the same as that of the 6 jets, meaning each jet has a much smaller orifice ( hole ) size . HP can also be a marketing gimmick . For example a 2 HP pump can be fitted with a 5 HP motor, but still not produce more than 2 HP. A properly matched pump that produces the flow required by the jet is what you are looking for. Jet companies rate their jets in gallon per minute of flow @ a specific psi of pressure. For example 13 GPM @12psi. If you have a 4 jets each requiring 13 gallons per minute then your pump must be capable of delivering 52 gallons per minute and also produce sufficient pressure so that there is still 12 psi left for the jets after the pressure drop losses in the piping and components are factored in.
We design our tubs to be simple yet effective. The most jets we have is a 10 jet system with all high flow components including 3 suctions and a 3 HP motor. HP is not the same as flow therefore if you double your jets to say 8, and double the HP to 3, the pressure on the jets will not be the same . You need to do more such as widen the piping to 2" and include more suctions to have a similar effect.
Whether you have selected the pre assembled option or the kit form, you tub will arrive securely wrapped on a pallet. Most customers will opt for residential delivery which means a carrier will bring the tub to your house. In this case the local carrier will contact you to arrange a suitable time for delivery. they will make every effort to unload the tub at the point of driveway or curb side. They will also attempt to have tailgate delivery arranged to assist in unloading the hot tub. In some areas tail gate lift trucks are limited or unavailable. In this case you will need to either remove the pieces off the pallet by hand (driver will usually give you a hand). If the tub is preassembled you will need to gather a few friends or neighbor to assist. Note for insurance reasons, the carrier will not position the tub to its final site, only as far as a safe drop of spot.
No our hydro massage systems re engineered around a venturi jet. We use a full 1 1/2" air line to get maximum air volume through the jet body, providing a very powerful massage. In the past we had offered a blower system but customers found it was very noisy (like having a large vacuum cleaner beside the hot tub), and we have since discontinued this option. The Venturi system, was originally patented by the Jacuzzi brother in 1968. Since the expiration of this patent, the venturi jet has now become the standard for modern spas and hot tubs, not only is it quieter but it uses no extra electricity making it very efficient.
No, wood is different than plastic and reacts differently to certain chemicals. The use of standard Chlorine commonly used in pools and some spas can actually damage the wood fibers over time. Our sanitization system uses bromine salts accompanied with other natural products that we consider "safe for wooden hot tub" . Please call us to ensure the chemicals you are using will not damage your wooden hot tub or visit our chemical/parts store to purchase chemicals that are "approved" for use with wooden tubs.
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