Are you looking for budget-friendly hot tub ideas? In ancient times, a hot tub was a sign of status for homeowners who were considered financially strong. But in present times, it’s affordable for everyone. You can DIY a hot wood-fired tub inexpensively using a wood fire heater.
It also adds value to your home. Fire-heated hot tubs are made in different ways. This article will discuss 17 DIY wood-fired amazing hot tub plans by spending less.
17 DIY Wood-Fired Hot Tub Plans
1. Cedar Hot Tub
The cedar hot tub is furnished with an underwater wood-burning stove. This is the best option if you plan to build your tub in a place without electricity. It is easy to make, and you will get a good-looking design by spending a little money.
It will also increase the beauty of your home. Cedar hot tub is one of the most beautiful designs. Cedar wood is water-resistant, so it is best to make a hot tub.
2. Steel Tank Hot Tub
This hot tub is made of a galvanized steel tank, and copper tubing is used to warm the water. This tubing is wrapped around a bucket to make a coil connected to the tank.
Then, wood is inserted into the coil, and it is fired. Wait for some time, and you will see it will start heating. A lid can be applied on the top of the tub to cover it so the water gets warmer quickly.
You can add one more copper tubing to speed up the process of warming the water. In this way, you will get an enjoyable soak in warm water without spending lots of money. It is not a fancy tub, but you will like the idea of heating the water.
3. Rubberized Plastic Tank Hot Tub
This plan uses a rubberized plastic tank to warm water in the tub. The size of the tub can be according to your need. For a single person, a thin narrow tank is ideal because water can get warmer soon in it.
A round-shaped large tank is good for all the family members soaking simultaneously. You can choose the galvanized aluminum with a wood fire to heat the water. The burner can be connected to the tub from outside the tank.
4. Hot Tub Made of Plastic and Aluminum
Making a hot tub using a large plastic tank is a great idea. Its base is made of wood pieces, and an aluminum sheet is wrapped around the plastic tank. After wrapping it with aluminum, another layer of wood is applied around the tank.
Benches can be made inside the tank to get a comfortable soak, and a heater is placed inside the tub on one side. It’s a great idea to achieve a hot tub cost-effectively, and homeowners should try this.
5. Hot Tub with Homemade Wood-Stove
It is a great idea to construct a hot tub by making its heater yourself. Heaters are an important feature of a hot tub and can be made differently. It is a great source if you want a comfortable, warm soak.
A stainless steel water heater provides 55000 BTU of heating capacity with woods only. You will get soothing hot water in your tub in only a few hours. So, this natural way to heat water is by using no electricity.
The stainless steel coil is another way to heat water into the tub. If you use large wires in the coil, it will heat the water quickly.
6. Wood Stove Hot Tub
This is a great idea if there is too much cold, especially in areas covered with snow. You can build this tub with two people. The tub’s sides are made of wood staves, and a stainless steel tank is placed on the inner side of it.
Then the wood is wrapped with strong wires to tighten the staves. As the tub is large so, make any sitting area inside it. Connect it with the wood-burning heater by placing it inside the tub and enjoy a warm soak.
7. Build Your Hot Tubs Using Steel Sheets
This is a unique idea to build a hot tub using steel sheets. You will need a large sheet of steel which you will cut according to the size of the tub’s sides. Use another piece to make the bottom of it.
Use square tubing around the perimeter of the tub. You will have to do a lot of welding to join all the pieces. Beads of welding should be done both inside and outside.
On the underside of the tub, place a stand of steel plates for the heater, which will be in an L shape. Add another stand for the chimney and add all the connections of water. So, to start warming water in the tub, fill it and turn on a wood fire under the tub. Enjoy a warm soak in it.
8. Off Grid Hot Tub
The simplest designs provide the most outstanding results. This idea is simply taking a large steel tank and connecting it to the heater. In this system, a stove is connected to the tank from outside.
The stove is made of a steel box with a lid covering it, and wood is used in it to turn on the fire. So, you will get this wonderful hot tub by spending less money.
9. Large-Sized Hot Tub
If you want to build a hot tub of large size to enjoy with your friends and family by soaking in warm water, this is a great idea. But you will put in your efforts and need to take a break from your daily routine because it will need time to construct.
To make it, you first have to dig a pit where you want to build it. Then, use a plastic sheet over the pit as a liner. Now, add insulating foam to the plastic sheet. Make a concrete mixture and pour it into the pit.
For one week, leave the concrete to dry and cure completely. Install a stove inside the water, and add a drain in the tub. You can make an insulating sheet for the tub, so the water remains warmer for longer.
10. Environment-Friendly Hot Tub
This idea of a hot tub was discovered by a Japanese company in which a stock tank is used. However, the set-up is attractive, affordable, and easy to use. In this system, the water is not constantly kept warm, but you must heat it a few hours before soaking.
It is a good idea to bathe before soaking so that the water remains clean. A 100-gallon tank is enough to make this hot tub. This is better than commercially available tubs because it uses less water.
So it’s easy to drain the water from it frequently and make it germ-free. You will not need any chemical spray to kill the bacteria. You can replace the water every 3 – 4 days and drain it in the plant’s area.
If you are afraid of the growth of germs, you can add 35% hydrogen peroxide to 100 gallons of water. But wear all safety goggles and gloves. In most spa stores, it is sold as water sanitizer.
It separates hydrogen and oxygen; thus, oxygen works as an active ingredient that can kill germs. To keep the water warm, use wood fire stoves because they are less costly.
11. IBC DIY Wood Fired Hot Tub
This idea comprises an IBC tub, insulation, and decking cladding. A drain is attached at the bottom, and a wood fire heater is connected from the outside. In this system, a copper coil heats the water, and the coil is inserted into a burner.
12. Backcountry Hot Tub
This wonderful design can be built far away from worries, in a peaceful area, and enjoy a calming soak in hot water. You will need copper wire to heat the water in the tub.
The heating speed depends on the diameter of the wire; if it’s thick, water will warm up sooner. You can use a garden hose to fill the tub with water because using connectors and other plumbing will cost you more.
You can use an old bathtub for this purpose. A washing machine’s old steel tub can be used as a stove to heat the water. This is a great idea to relax from a hectic day far away from noise and worries.
13. Stock Tank Hot Tub
You can use an old stock tank as a hot tub. Use a copper coil to heat the water, and you can set the stove using the bricks around the coil.
Connect it to the hot tub and fill water into it using a garden hose. You can place wood pieces on the hot tub as a stand to keep things and enjoy a calming soak.
14. Soothing Hot Tub
This idea of the hot tub will be helpful for you if you are looking for an enjoyable outdoor bathtub for a luxurious soak in your backyard. It’s made by using a bathtub equipped with a wood-burning heater.
Most people like this idea. It is made using cement and bricks. A small oven is made under the tub to heat the water inside the tub.
15. High-Quality Hot Tub
You should spend less than $1000 on building this tub. It is a high-quality hot tub idea and can be completed in five steps. Inexpensive versions also exist, but this type is affordable according to its quality.
Make a foundation and place your tub on it. Use a stainless steel coil to heat the water, and build stairs with the tub for easy access. For filling the tub, you can use a garden hose. Connect water sources with the tub, but a hose is easy to fill the water inside the tub.
16. Galvanized Stock Tank Hot Tub
This is the same idea as the stock tank hot tub but is built with some extra things. Start this by digging a hole in the ground according to the width and length of the stock tank.
Then, after making a concrete slab, place the tub on and build a wood-burning stove by wrapping the copper wire on a five-gallon bucket. Connect the stove with the tub.
17. Wood Fire Hot Tub Heater
A heater is the most important part of the hot tub because it heats the water. A wood fire stove is best because in this way you get warm water without spending money on electricity. The Solo Stove is a good-quality heater that resembles your stock tank.
It saves time from painting, welding, and cutting and provides quick performance. Its design makes it perfect for burning wood logs without making smoke. The wood-burning heater must be placed around 2 – 3 feet from the tub.
Things to Consider While Building a DIY Wood-Fired Hot Tub
You can build hot tubs in different ways, and it’s easy to build a unique one but keep a few things in your mind while building it:
Hot Tub Size
The benefit of building your own tub is that you can select the size and shape of the hot tub according to your choice. If you want to make a tub for one person or build a hot tub for the entire family, you can select the dimensions of your choice.
Material Types
You can get creative by building hot tubs made from recycled materials, and you will achieve more beautiful results by spending less.
Some homeowners select cedar or pine boards to make the tubs look attractive and add beauty to their garden.
Hot Tub Location
You must consider the location of your hot tub—most people like building it in their backyard, patio, or far away from their house. But there are plenty of designs available for indoor hot tubs.
The size of your hot tub depends on the area available for it in your house. So before building it, you must measure the area. While searching for an indoor tub online, you must focus on the measurements and find out if you can change the dimensions easily.
Budget
You can build a hot tub of your choice, but it will be good to consider your budget and how much you can afford. Carefully choose the materials and plans so that you can cost-effectively DIY your project.
Heat Source
To make DIY hot tubs, plenty of heat sources are available. Propane tanks, heating pumps, solar power, and wood-fired stoves are the most commonly used ones. You must select the source that works best according to the location.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Is This Possible to Make Your Wood-Fired Hot Tub?
Making a DIY wood-fired hot tub is possible. There are plenty of materials that you can select to make them. Building the hot tub depends on how you want it to look and how proficiently you use the tools.
How Do You Make a DIY Wooden Hot Tub?
To make a wooden hot tub, you must select wood that is water-resistant and reliable. Mostly cedar, pine, larch, oak, and beech are used for this purpose.
But making a hot tub from wood needs different tools and an experienced DIYer. Additionally, taking care of these tubs is difficult.
Which Wood is Good for Making a Hot Tub?
Cedar is the perfect wood to make hot tubs, but it is very costly. You can search a warehouse that will find lumber of the same quality. You will be using wood with clear boards that must not have a lot of knots.
How to Make a Cedar-Fired Hot Tub?
Follow these steps to make a hot tub of cedar:
- Find the boards with fewer knots and reasonable options.
- Now, cut staves from these boards.
- Make joints on the stave to connect.
- Build the bottom of the tub using the staves.
- Assemble all the staves to make the sides of the tub.
- Do the plumbing work for the water source and make steps for easy access.
- Fill the tub and connect a heat source.
Is it Good to Use DIY Wood-Fired Hot Tub?
Wood-fired hot tubs are more affordable than other heat sources. They can provide quick water heating, and you can use them anywhere in your garden or anywhere you want.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we have discussed different DIY wood-fired hot tub plans. A wood-fired stove is the most affordable way to heat the water in your hot tubs because it requires no electricity and you can modify the heating speed as you want.
It’s the best idea for places with no electricity access. Keeping the wood stove at a distance from your tub would be best to prevent accidents. If you think the water is too hot, wait for it to cool down.
Building hot tubs from recycled materials is a good way to save money while making tubs from wood will cost you more.
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