Frequently Asked Questions

Our standard stoves are built using 304-grade stainless steel and we also offer upgrades to 316-grade stainless steel, which boast improved composition and are a must if chemicals are to be added to the water.

Access should be clear between the kerbside drop off point and the hot tub’s final position. The base should be prepared before the hob tub’s arrival. Having a garden hose and a few bags of firewood will make it easy for you to get started as soon as the tub is ready to go!

You can find all of the dimensions for our hot tubs under “Technical Specifications” on the product pages. We recommend leaving at least 50cm clear on all sides of the tub for maintenance and inspection, with additional clearance for loading and cleaning in front of the stove.

Packaged dimensions of our hot tubs are listed under the “Technical Specifications” link on each of the product pages. Special attention to be paid to ensure that obstacles like window sills, outside taps and pipes are considered when checking access.

Very little! If good-quality logs are used, the ash will need to be emptied from the stove periodically.

A water supply must be present for filling the tub, but a permanent plumbed connection is not required – a garden hose is suitable.

Standard wood-fired hot tubs do not require an electrical supply to operate.
Accessories such as lights, jet and air bubbles will need an electrical connection. We recommend speaking to a qualified electrician before ordering your tub so that you can establish the cost and practicality of installing the power supply, and making the final connection once the tub is in situ.

Lead times vary depending on the product. Please send us an email at info@royaltubs.co.uk, telling us which product you are interested in and we can confirm current delivery lead times.

Product weights can be found at the Technical Specifications link on each of the product pages. We recommend having 4-6 fit and able people present to lift the tub into position upon delivery.

A special base is not required, but the surface must be level, and able to support a weight of up to 2,500kg (depending on the size of the tub). This could be decking, concrete or simply a flat patch of grass.

You can remove ash from the stove easily using the tools provided. The ash can be composted or used in the garden as a fertiliser.

Yes. You can use stain, or products such as linseed oil to treat the exterior for the tub against the weather and moisture.

Wooden hot tubs should be drained for cleaning every 2-3 days. This can be extended with the use of chemicals or filtration systems for tubs with a fibreglass or polypropylene liner.

Make sure the stove has cooled down before draining the tub! Failure to do this could damage your stove.
Drain the water out, and scrub all of the internal surfaces using a brush and soap solution. Once complete, rinse down and refill.
For hot tubs with liners, surfaces can be thoroughly wiped down in a similar fashion, before rinsing and refilling.

Filling time varies depending on the size of your tub, your water pressure and flow rate. You can estimate the filling time by measuring how long it takes your hose to fill a 1 litre container, and multiplying this by the hot tub’s capacity.

The hot tub has a bung in the bottom, or a drain tap outside (if selected) for draining.

If the hot tub has a liner (fibreglass or polypropylene) you may use chlorine if you wish to keep using the same water for longer.

Chemicals can be used with lined tubs (fibreglass or polypropylene) where the water doesn’t come into contact with the timber facade but they are not required.
Using chemicals can allow the same water to be retained for longer, between cleaning.

This is a difficult question to answer, because it depends!
Wooden tubs are unsuitable for chemicals, which means water should be changed every 2-3 days when in regular use, with the lid fitted while not in use to ensure no debris finds its way in.
For lined tubs (fibreglass or polypropylene), chemicals such as chlorine, or filtration systems can be used to maintain water quality for a period running into weeks.
Following basic practices such as showering before using the hot tub can extend the period between cleans.
In a commercial setting (such as glamping sites or holiday rentals), water should be changed for each new guests’ arrival.

Yes… Kids love hot tubs! As always, when children are around water close supervision is required (there is still a drowning risk, even in a hot tub) and you may wish to lower the temperature a little so that the tub is comfortable for them. It is also advisable for children to take regular breaks out of the water.

“Safe soak” times are recommended from 15-30 minutes, with a maximum of 60 minutes (based on water at 40℃). As a rule, the higher the water temperature the shorter your soak should be.

If heat logs of seasoned hardwood are used there will be minimal smoke produced. Burning treated/painted wood will produce more smoke as well as tar within the chimney and stove.

No – burning anything else will invalidate your stove’s warranty and could cause damage thanks to higher burning temperatures. We recommend using only seasoned hardwood (moisture content <20%) or heat logs.

As a general indicator, a larger hot tub will require 6-8 good-quality logs to heat up from cold. This will vary depending on a range of factors including the size of your tub, weather, and when your tub was last used.

We recommend using seasoned hardwood (moisture content <20%) or heat logs.

Depending on when it was last used, the wood being burned, the size of the tub and the weather conditions, the tub will reach temperature in 1-3 hours. If the tub is being heated from cold, 1.5-2 hours is a reasonable expectation.

The stove’s burn is regulated by adjusting the grates on the front. Using the handles, open or close the grates to increase or decrease airflow. Opening the grates will cause the stove to burn hotter (and consume wood faster), closing them will prolong the burn.

We recommend using a pool thermometer to check the water temperature. NOTE: Always stir the water using a paddle before checking the temperature, as different parts of the tub may not be the same temperature

39℃ is the recommended temperature, but you may like it slightly higher or lower depending on personal preference, weather conditions etc

The appearance of the wood will change naturally with age. To preserve the colour of your tub use an oils such as Danish Oil or any other wood pretector on the exterior of your tub. Wooden lid can be treated from both sides.

You can dispose of your ashes safely in the bin once they are completely cold. Alternatively, ash can be used as compost on your garden. You can simply mix it into the soil or add it to your composting bin.

There is no need to completely clean out the boiler. The wood will continue to burn perfectly well as long as there is room for air to circulate. Before cleaning always make sure the embers have completely gone out first, and invest in a long-handled shovel for safety.

To heat your tub and to retain the temperature while you bathe will use about two bags of dry wood. If you cover the tub after using it at night it will still be warm enough to use the following morning. This is possible because the water is well insulated by the wooden tub and wood-burners burn very efficiently.

Do not be tempted to burn anything other than wood, and it is really important you only ever use dry wood. This will give you the best results, is far more efficient and better for the environment. Never use other solid fuels or wood that is wet.

To begin with there will be some smoke. Using dry wood is the best way to minimise the amount of smoke produced. When the wood gets up to temperature there will be less smoke. However the smell from the firewood is cosy and inviting and, again adds to the whole experience.

Hot tubs are blissfully quiet. The only noise you will hear is the gentle crackling from the burning logs and perhaps the occasional light roar from the flame in the flue. Many people find these sounds relaxing and they add to the calming experience.

This varies depending on the size of the hot tub, the air temperature and how good the firewood is that you use. Generally they take between 2.5 and 3.5 hours to heat up.

It is quite likely you will experience some leakage from a brand new tub.  Given time the water will cause the wood to expand and this will close all the joints resulting in a watertight finish.  Spruce can take 3-5days to swell up and seal up and larch can take over a week.  It is recommended to start filling up the tub with water when your delivery arrives to avoid shrinkage (especially in summer).

Look after your product as directed and it will last a very long time. Our tubs are made from spruce (average life 10 years) or larch (average life 20+ years) high quality woods known for their longevity. There are a few things you can do to help prolong the life of your tub. For instance we recommend a coat of protective oil on at least an annual basis.

Not at all. Unless you really neglect your tub it will last for years with minimal effort. Wood naturally releases a gentle antiseptic that will help to protect your product.

Keeping your hot tub clean is very easy. Natural cleaning products are recommended. First add a mild disinfectant to the hot tub and leave it for up to an hour. Begin to drain the water from the tub. While the tub is wet scrub it using a sponge or a soft bristled brush. Always make sure you rinse the hot tub thoroughly before refilling.

If you do not intend to install a filtration system you will need to change the water in your hot tub every 2-3 days. If you are using it frequently or if it is being used by several different people you may prefer to change the water on a daily basis. Fitting a filtration system and using some chemicals give you the option to change the water less often.

You can make payment using credit/debit card or bank transfer.  Please contact us if you wish to discuss any other payment methods.

If saunas are used as directed they are perfectly safe to use and can actually offer many health benefits. There are a few precautions  you should be aware of though….

You should not use a sauna if you are pregnant, drunk or using recreational drugs

If you suffer from diabetes, heart disease or another condition that affects your blood pressure you should check with your GP before using a sauna
If you experience any dizziness, or feel sleepy or uncomfortable you should exit the sauna immediately and cool down  in the fresh air
It is safer (and more enjoyable) to share your  sauna experience with another person
Limit your sauna session to a maximum of 15-20 minutes
Drink plenty of water before and after your session to keep your body well hydrated

We recommend the maximum time you should spend in your sauna is 15-20 minutes per session.

Larch and spruce are superior quality woods that are incredibly durable and require minimal upkeep. Many saunas are still usable after 15-20 years.

It really couldn’t be easier to take care of your wooden sauna. The seating area can simply be wiped with a mild detergent and clean warm water. The outside of your sauna will take care of itself due to the natural durability of the wood used. If you would like to retain the original colouring you can apply Danish Oil to the exterior wood.

At Royal Tubs, our products are constructed using premium quality spruce or larch wood that is grown in well managed, Siberian forests. Due to our strong relationships with our suppliers we are able to negotiate very competitive prices for our wood and we are proud to offer these fair and competitive prices to our customers. We also do not ship wood from Canada which affects the pricing dramatically.

We are committed to providing quality products and excellent customer service, as a business this is more important to us than excessive profits.

When you receive your delivery, your product will already be fully constructed and ready for installation. The driver will help you positioning the hot tub, but you will need some men power at your end if there are no lifting facilities. 4 men can normally carry the tub without major issues. If you have a Sauna coming, you will need to make sure you have a forklift with extended forks or a tele-porter / crane. Crane services are around £150/hour and one hour in most cases is more than enough to lift the sauna into the required position.

If you have decided to opt for an electrical product it will need to be installed by a qualified electrician which you will need to arrange prior to delivery.

Our products are generally very easy to set up, and require a minimal amount of preparation before delivery. You will need to make sure you have a firm and level location for your product. If you have ordered a wood-fired hot tub you will need access to a garden hose to fill it up, as well as a couple of bags of dry firewood to start it up. If you have chosen an electrical product it is important you contact a competent electrician to discuss the safest way to connect it to the mains supply.

Yes, we have interest-free finance options through our partners DivideBuy. You can find details here.

We cannot accept cancellations, as all tubs are built to order. Cancellation will result in loss of funds paid. Please ensure that you have checked and double checked everything before placing an order.
If you have questions or are unsure, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Once you have completed the checkout process, you’ll receive an email confirming your order (this can take up to 20 minutes to arrive in your inbox).
In the Royal Tubs offices, a hive of activity will break out as we confirm stock levels, order materials as necessary and send out instructions to our delivery team to let them know that you too will shortly have a garden the whole street wants to visit!
Once the commotion has died down, you’ll receive another email with delivery instructions and confirmation of your anticipated delivery date.
This email will also contain the instructions you’ll need if you wish to upgrade from delivery only to a full installation service.
Before your tub leaves us, we’ll crack open the champagne to celebrate another soon-to-be-very-happy customer upgrading their garden, and we’ll contact you again to confirm your product’s arrival.