Info & FAQs - Hot Tubs

First and foremost: the beauty of natural wood. Relax in harmony with nature surrounded by the sweet aroma of the cedar tree.

Deep soaking: Our tubs are designed to be deep - with the water coming right up to your shoulders - giving you complete immersion and a feeling of buoyancy.

Health: Deep soaking in steaming water has long been proven to stimulate circulation, reduce stress, relax sore muscles, help with insomnia, and aid with common joint pain such as arthritis.

Simplicity: Your own quiet refuge in your backyard.

A fun family activity: Socialize and relax with your family in the outdoors - soaking in a cedar hot tub is good clean fun!

Reduce stress: Melt away the troubles of your day as you do something soothing for yourself.

Can be assembled on site: This allows your tub to be placed just about anywhere, so no problems getting them situated into difficult sites.

A hand-made product: Our tubs are made one at a time by skilled craftsmen - not mass produced out of plastic.

Outdoor activity: You will find yourself seeing and hearing more of the sights and sounds of nature - from the comfort of your warm and quiet outdoor tub.

Rustic and traditional: Our customers appreciate the beauty of the wood and the simple tub design. Tubs like this have been used for many hundreds of years.

At Zen Bathworks we use high quality clear cedar and our tubs are made with care and precision. Just like a wooden boat, the wood swells in the presence of water to form a tight seal.

The answer depends on your situation.  That is why we offer three types of heating systems.  Electric heaters (most popular), Gas heaters (for very cold climates), and Wood heaters (for economy).  Find out more about heaters.

Heat rate depends on factors such as tub size, outdoor temperature, and heater size. The following numbers give a range for each type of heater. Electric heaters: 4-12 degrees per hour, Gas heaters: 10-40 degrees per hour, Wood heaters: 5-20 degrees per hour.  The electric and gas heaters keep the tub hot continuously, so heat rate is generally not an important consideration unless you plan to turn the tub temperature down between uses.

Most people will find that 100 to 104 is about right.  The factory setting on most tub heaters has a limit of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  There is some room for adjustment, but temperatures higher than 104 can be hazardous to your health.  Children should use a tub that is no hotter than 100 degrees.

There are three factors that effect the cost to operate a tub:   Size of the tub.  Climate.  Cost of energy or fuel.  Our simple Chofu wood heater is the most economical to operate.  Our electric and gas heated tubs run between $1.50 and $3.50 per day to keep hot.  Not bad for a spa in your backyard! 

All of our tubs are professionally packaged and crated for safe transport to your door. Your tub is shipped by trucking service. We ship to most USA addresses for FREE. There are some exceptions to this rule such as Hawaii, Alaska, or difficult to access locations. Our rates to HI and AK are low - please call for a quote.

Our tubs are designed to be easily assembled by the owner. Each tub comes with a detailed step by step illustrated instruction manual. Typical assembly time is about 3-4 hours and requires minimal tools: a couple of wrenches, a level, and a rubber mallet. The heating system will take 2-4 hours to install. If you are not comfortable setting up your tub, you can hire a contractor or handyman to do it. If you have an electric or gas heater, these connections will need to be made by a qualified professional.

The three most common sites for a wooden hot tub are on the ground, on a patio, or on a deck. 

On the ground:  Site should be level and compact.  Use fine gravel or coarse sand to prepare a well-drained level base.

On a patio: Existing patios or a poured concrete pad are a good place for installing a tub.  

On or in a deck:  Deck installations are a great choice. You use a deck to provide easy entry into a wooden tub.  If the tub is to be placed on a deck, be sure it is engineered to handle the weight. Have a professional check for proper support. A tub full of water is very heavy - refer to the tub specifications for actual weight of each of our tubs.  Filled weight for an average tub is over 4000 lbs.

Our tubs are easiest to install above the ground.  Below ground tubs will require a retaining wall and cannot be backfilled. We recommend above ground installations.

There is no definitive answer to this question of course, but there are a few things to keep in mind. The closer your tub is to your house, the more you may use it. A deck with a tub right outside the bedroom is very convenient. Proximity to power or gas sources may be a requirement. Privacy and setting are important. If you want to set your tub in a secluded spot away from it all, consider how to get power to the site for the heating system.

Indoors is generally not the best place for a hot tub because of the large amount of water vapor they release into the air. Outdoors is best and is what we recommend.  

Our tubs range in size and weight.  You can find full details on approximate capacity and weight here.

Cedar tubs are easy to maintain. Unlike tubs made of artificial materials, wooden tubs don't blister or fade. We recommend applying an occasional coat of teak oil on the exterior surface to keep the cedar looking glorious! Cleaning the inside amounts to washing with mild soapy water and a soft brush between water changes. Follow our simple water treatment steps to keep your tub water clean and safe.

Fresh clean water is what you want in your tub. Warm water in a hot tub will get dirty quickly unless steps are taken to keep it clean.  Our recommended method involves three things working together.  A filter, a built-in ozonator and/or ionizer, and limited use of a special type of chlorine.  When you purchase a tub kit from us we include what you need to get off to a good start. The details are included in the instructions that come with your tub.  

We recommend sizing your tub for your normal family use, not for the occasional large group or party. The hot tub product pages have diagrams and specifications that show how many people fit in each size tub.

Yes we do. Different size?  Different type of wood? Contact Us!

Cool and cold weather was made for hot tubbing! It is crucial to have a good thermal cover, which is why we provide premium hot tub covers with insulation rating (R-value) up to 22. Cedar is a good natural insulator - and our tubs have been performing very well from Alaska to Maine. Our heater systems have a thermostat and freeze protection that keeps the water warm and moving during cold weather. In some areas bitter cold winter weather makes use of the tub impractical during the coldest times. Heating costs will be higher in winter because of the additional heat times required. If you expect to be away or don't intend to use your tub during freezing temperatures the tub can be drained and shut off. Refer to your owners manual for details on how to drain and winterize your tub.

Each of our tubs includes a floor drain.  With a simple fitting, you can attach a garden hose to the drain and dispose of the water into your landscape or down a storm drain.  We recommend draining and refilling the tub every 6-10 weeks or as needed. The water is safe to use for landscape plants, but not for your vegetable garden.

The exterior Chofu heater has many advantages over submerged inside-the-tub heaters such as the snorkel stove. Inside heaters can take up  as much as 1/3 of the interior space of your tub! The Chofu does not take up any room inside the tub.  This means you have 1/3 more space in the same tub - or you can get a smaller tub and have the same space. Inside heaters prevent the use of a full coverage insulated top so heat is lost. The Chofu heated tub can use a full coverage thermal blanket and cover so less heat is lost. Water level must be kept over the tube of a snorkel heater to prevent warping the metal box - an approach that is prone to problems and wastes water.  With the Chofu, water level can be set much lower to eliminate wasted overflow. Unlike interior wood-fired heaters the Chofu introduces no wood debris or ash into the water - helping to keep things nice and clean.

Our tubs and equipment have a limited warranty for a full 2 years against defects in material or workmanship. Because of the natural resistance of Western Red Cedar, your tub will give you up to 25 years of service. Covers have a limited 4 year warranty.

Up to date standard lead times are displayed on heating system-specific Hot Tub product pages in the product description. Heating system selected will not impact the lead time of your purchase.