Wood Fire Hot tub?

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Wood Fire Hot tub?

Member since 2021 · 168 posts · 142 votes

Hi, I’m debating a normal hot tub vs a wood fire hot tub. Am I crazy?

Backstory: two luxury cabins in the Rocky Mountains, each sleep a max of 16 but 8-10 guests is more common. Yes, i know I’ll be short on seats in any hot tub and that’s okay. Either choice will seat 6ish. The wood route will require less maintenance and attention from a service company. No chemicals, no electricity, refill and clean after each stay, and “environmental friendly”. It’s just a bit niche and not sure what others think. Of the nightly rentals that I’ve found with a wood tub, all reviews are positive.

Thanks for your thoughts!

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JD MartinBusiness Member

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Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes

This sounds like a Looney Tunes short!

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Collin HaysBusiness Member
Property Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Jeff Langley:

Hi, I’m debating a normal hot tub vs a wood fire hot tub. Am I crazy?
Backstory: two luxury cabins in the Rocky Mountains, each sleep a max of 16 but 8-10 guests is more common. Yes, i know I’ll be short on seats in any hot tub and that’s okay. Either choice will seat 6ish. The wood route will require less maintenance and attention from a service company. No chemicals, no electricity, refill and clean after each stay, and “environmental friendly”. It’s just a bit niche and not sure what others think. Of the nightly rentals that I’ve found with a wood tub, all reviews are positive.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Better have a lot of wood!
[email protected]806-672-7102
SMOKY MOUNTAIN FALLS INC.51 Review
Website View Page
2 Reply
Jeff Langley
OP
Member since 2021 · 168 posts · 142 votes
2y
Quote from @Collin Hays:

Quote from @Jeff Langley:

Hi, I’m debating a normal hot tub vs a wood fire hot tub. Am I crazy?
Backstory: two luxury cabins in the Rocky Mountains, each sleep a max of 16 but 8-10 guests is more common. Yes, i know I’ll be short on seats in any hot tub and that’s okay. Either choice will seat 6ish. The wood route will require less maintenance and attention from a service company. No chemicals, no electricity, refill and clean after each stay, and “environmental friendly”. It’s just a bit niche and not sure what others think. Of the nightly rentals that I’ve found with a wood tub, all reviews are positive.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Better have a lot of wood!
Haha it’s not as bad as you think but that is a renewable energy source. Not many fire bans in the area, certainly not in winter.
0 Reply
John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
2y
Wood burning hot tub would require guest to build a fire and wait hours for it to get hot enough. Oops go too hot now have to wait an hour for it to cool off some.
Next day to get more wood and put around hot tub, build fire and wait...
Next day need to clean out the ash so there is room for to lug more firewood over and start a fire and wait...
See any potential problems or causes for a bad review?
3 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
2y
What @John Underwood said ^^^ there is no way to easily control the temps.
And the way my brain works as a lifelong business man is....it sounds like possible HUGE liability issue. Most peole do not know how to make a fire, or be safe around one (kids), there are lots of issues with scalding due to over-heating...how do you not let the temp go over 104 degrees, but definitely get it over 100d??
2 Reply
Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
2y
No way I would do a wood fired hot tub @Jeff Langley.

Like @John Underwood and @Bruce Woodruff pointed out, temp control is very difficult. It will take time to heat up. You are relying on guests to properly build and control a fire.
There is no way I would expect guests to be making a fire and keeping in in control.
If you are in the Rocky Mountain west, fire danger is a real thing and one stray spark from some green wood popping could create a wild fire.
Then you are on the hook for the response if they know it started at your place.
1 Reply
Mohammed Rahman
Real Estate Broker · New York, NY · Member since 2020 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
2y
Hey @Jeff Langley - I've never run into this scenario, but thinking from the terms of a guest, I don't think I would ever care if the Airbnb hot tub was wood heated or not.
Having a hot tub itself is what I would be looking for, even in luxury rentals I've booked for myself in the past :)
My $0.02 is to opt for the larger, more cost-effective, option - which may not be the wood heated one.
Also not sure if this is relevant, but would having an active wood fire heated hot tub on premise affect your insurance policy?
1 Reply
Garrett BrownPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2024 · 518 posts · 554 votes
2y
I'll echo everyone's sentiments here and say I would avoid. Firewood is not cheap either even though guests think it is.
[email protected]
1 Reply
JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
2y
This sounds like a Looney Tunes short!
Podcast Guest on Show #243
Skyline Properties
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4 Reply
Jeff Langley
OP
Member since 2021 · 168 posts · 142 votes
2y
Thanks, it’s been determined I’m crazy.
1 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Jeff Langley:

Thanks, it’s been determined I’m crazy.

Naw, you're just a good bidnessman thinking outside the box :-)
Plus it'll look pretty redneck....
4 Reply
Jeff Langley
OP
Member since 2021 · 168 posts · 142 votes
2y
They are actually Alumitubs and can be done nicely. A contained small fire that can heat up in a few hours, nothing similar to cavemen creating fire like some of the previous comments. Every nightly rental review that has one, is only positive and they usually have 100s of reviews(at least the only ones I can find).

I wanted to stand out in my market, while checking the box of "hot tub" since it's a standard amenity now. Debated pairing them with wood burning saunas.

0 Reply
JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Jeff Langley:

Thanks, it’s been determined I’m crazy.

Naw, you're just a good bidnessman thinking outside the box :-)
Plus it'll look pretty redneck....
🤣🤣 Don't take it hard or personal, you're among friends here. It's not a bad idea, it's just going to be difficult to enable as a practical matter. You have to remember that many of your guests are going to be idiots.
Podcast Guest on Show #243
Skyline Properties
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2 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
2y
Quote from @JD Martin:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Jeff Langley:

Thanks, it’s been determined I’m crazy.

Naw, you're just a good bidnessman thinking outside the box :-)
Plus it'll look pretty redneck....
🤣🤣 Don't take it hard or personal, you're among friends here. It's not a bad idea, it's just going to be difficult to enable as a practical matter. You have to remember that many of your guests are going to be idiots.
Don't forget the booze JD, they're going to be drunk idiots, the worst kind....
2 Reply
Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
2y
Yeah, you are not an idiot @Jeff Langley. We are just pointing out the possible problems with a woodfired anything.
For example, I don't have a fire pit or allow it on our beach. It is banned anyways, but I point it out to all the guests.
We are in Idaho and it doesn't take much to spark a wildfire in the hot, dry summer.
1 Reply
Jeff Langley
OP
Member since 2021 · 168 posts · 142 votes
2y
Quote from @Michael Baum:

Yeah, you are not an idiot @Jeff Langley. We are just pointing out the possible problems with a woodfired anything.
For example, I don't have a fire pit or allow it on our beach. It is banned anyways, but I point it out to all the guests.
We are in Idaho and it doesn't take much to spark a wildfire in the hot, dry summer.
I said I was crazy, not an idiot lol. Jk, don't get all soft on me. A bad idea is a bad idea :) I'm also in idaho mountains.
1 Reply
Eric Gerakos
Investor · Costa Mesa, CA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
2y
Quote from @JD Martin:

This sounds like a Looney Tunes short!
Exactly what I was thinking. "Something smells good"
2 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Jeff Langley:

They are actually Alumitubs and can be done nicely. A contained small fire that can heat up in a few hours,
LEt me add this : If I were a guest and felt like a relaxing spa moment, I would want to walk out and get in. Like right now.
That's the beauty of the self-contained spas that trickle through a small heater and stay hot 24/7/365.
Just my $0.02
1 Reply
JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @JD Martin:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Jeff Langley:

Thanks, it’s been determined I’m crazy.

Naw, you're just a good bidnessman thinking outside the box :-)
Plus it'll look pretty redneck....
🤣🤣 Don't take it hard or personal, you're among friends here. It's not a bad idea, it's just going to be difficult to enable as a practical matter. You have to remember that many of your guests are going to be idiots.
Don't forget the booze JD, they're going to be drunk idiots, the worst kind....

I love the tripod; all it's missing is a see-through lid and a big stirring spoon 🤣🤣🤣
Podcast Guest on Show #243
Skyline Properties
View Page
1 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
2y
Quote from @JD Martin:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @JD Martin:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Jeff Langley:

Thanks, it’s been determined I’m crazy.

Naw, you're just a good bidnessman thinking outside the box :-)
Plus it'll look pretty redneck....
🤣🤣 Don't take it hard or personal, you're among friends here. It's not a bad idea, it's just going to be difficult to enable as a practical matter. You have to remember that many of your guests are going to be idiots.
Don't forget the booze JD, they're going to be drunk idiots, the worst kind....

I love the tripod; all it's missing is a see-through lid and a big stirring spoon 🤣🤣🤣

Yeah it's pretty cool. I was wondering how the heck do you get in that thing?
0 Reply
JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @JD Martin:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @JD Martin:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Jeff Langley:

Thanks, it’s been determined I’m crazy.

Naw, you're just a good bidnessman thinking outside the box :-)
Plus it'll look pretty redneck....
🤣🤣 Don't take it hard or personal, you're among friends here. It's not a bad idea, it's just going to be difficult to enable as a practical matter. You have to remember that many of your guests are going to be idiots.
Don't forget the booze JD, they're going to be drunk idiots, the worst kind....

I love the tripod; all it's missing is a see-through lid and a big stirring spoon 🤣🤣🤣

Yeah it's pretty cool. I was wondering how the heck do you get in that thing?

Maybe they're guests or hors d'oeuvres for someone a little bigger than them, ala the Twilight Zone:
Podcast Guest on Show #243
Skyline Properties
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0 Reply
Sarah KensingerPro Member
Real Estate Consultant · OH · Member since 2023 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
2y
No No No!! This is such a safety hazard it's not even funny! Just get a regular hot tub, I promise it'll much cheaper than a lawsuit.
I actually created a post on this a year ago which was not well received, so I'm happy to see we have more of a safety mindset on here now!
[email protected]330-557-3021
0 Reply
Collin HaysBusiness Member
Property Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
2y

Yeah I dunno, my guests seem to be pretty good at starting fires.🔥
[email protected]806-672-7102
SMOKY MOUNTAIN FALLS INC.51 Review
Website View Page
1 Reply
Kumar R.
Property Manager · Destin, FL · Member since 2023 · 83 posts · 27 votes
2y
@Jeff Langley Better use hickory flavor, yum :-) I don't know enough, can you moderate the temps with wood burning at all? Is gas line a possibility for your properties? I would go gas, lot more efficient and reliable
0 Reply
JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
2y
Quote from @Collin Hays:

Yeah I dunno, my guests seem to be pretty good at starting fires.🔥

🤣🤣 Yeah there's always that possibility too..
Podcast Guest on Show #243
Skyline Properties
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0 Reply
Brooklyn McCarty
Investor · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 754 votes
2y
Is the guest going to be the one feeding it wood?

Personally, this is a no for me. I want to make things as easy on the guest as I can, not add more work to them. Just sounds like too much that go wrong on the hot tub side, but also the guest side.
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