The Natural Luxury of Outdoor Tubs: Why Cedar Tubs Are the Best Choice

The Natural Luxury

When it comes to relaxation and rejuvenation, few things can rival the tranquil experience of soaking in an outdoor tub. The soothing embrace of warm water, the gentle rustle of the breeze, and the connection to nature create an oasis of calm in our busy lives. Among the various materials used to craft these outdoor retreats, cedar tubs stand out as a top choice. In this blog, we’ll explore why cedar tubs are the best option for your outdoor relaxation haven.

  1. Natural Beauty: Cedar wood possesses a natural elegance that enhances any outdoor space. Its warm, reddish-brown hue and distinctive grain patterns make it a stunning addition to your backyard or patio. Over time, cedar weathers gracefully, developing a beautiful silvery-gray patina that only adds to its appeal.
  2. Durability: Cedar is renowned for its durability and resistance to decay. Its natural oils act as a defense against insects and rot, allowing cedar tubs to withstand the elements and last for years. This resilience makes cedar an ideal choice for outdoor tubs, which are constantly exposed to changing weather conditions.
  3. Aroma Therapy: The aroma of cedar is not only pleasant but also therapeutic. The scent has a calming effect, promoting relaxation and stress relief. Soaking in a cedar tub allows you to indulge in the subtle, soothing fragrance of the wood, enhancing your overall relaxation experience.
  4. Insulation Properties: Cedar wood boasts excellent insulation properties, which help to maintain water temperature efficiently. This means you can enjoy longer soaks without worrying about the water cooling too quickly, saving both energy and enhancing your comfort.
  5. Low Maintenance: Cedar is relatively low-maintenance. Its natural oils and resistance to decay mean you won’t need to apply harsh chemicals or sealants to keep it in good condition. Occasional cleaning and minimal upkeep are all that’s required to keep your cedar tub looking and performing its best.
  6. Eco-Friendly: Cedar is a sustainable choice for your outdoor hot tub. It’s a renewable resource, and many cedar tub manufacturers prioritize responsible sourcing and production practices, making it an eco-friendly option for nature lovers.

In conclusion, if you’re considering installing an outdoor tub, cedar tubs are undoubtedly the best choice. Their natural beauty, durability, aroma therapy benefits, insulation properties, low maintenance requirements, and eco-friendly nature make them the perfect addition to your outdoor oasis. So, why wait? Invest in a cedar tub and elevate your outdoor relaxation experience to a whole new level.

Custom Cedar Hot Tub Installation

There’s nothing quite like making a space your own – whether that’s inside or out!

If you’re looking to add a cedar hot tub, but want to have a custom install to best suit your space – you’ve come to the right place! Northern Lights has been building cedar barrel hot tubs for over 25 years, with happy customers all over the world. Our engineers have worked on thousands of hot tub design installations from standalone cedar tubs, to those that are installed into a deck, in full or part. It’s incredible how versatile in design our cedar tubs can be – and we never get tired of seeing a completed project, where the hot tub beautifully integrates into a space.

Take a look at our design gallery for hot tub designs – including standalone hot tubs, half-deck hot tub installations, and full deck hot tub installations.

To see actual customer installations, also take a look at our hot tub gallery, or follow Northern Lights @cedartubs on Instagram – where we are always posting new and exciting projects to share.

Wanting to talk to us about your own space? We’d love to work with you! Contact us with our online form, or call 1-800-759-8990 to chat with someone on our team.

Create your own oasis with a cedar tub – almost anywhere in the world!

Can I get a cedar tub shipped to Australia?
Hey Google, can I get a wood hot tub in Florida?
Do you have a dealer for your cedar hot tubs in Mexico?
Siri, how do I find a cedar barrel hot tub installer in California?
Will Northern Lights ship a hot tub to Europe?

Our answers:

Yes, we ship our cedar tubs to Australia!
Of course you can get a wood hot tub in Florida!
We absolutely can have a cedar hot tub dealer in Mexico!
You can find a cedar barrel hot tub installer California by checking our installer network!
And Northern Lights would be happy to ship a hot tub to you in Europe.

The reality is, there’s no one in the world that makes a cedar hot tub quite like we do – our exceptional handcrafted quality and the materials can’t be matched! So whether through us directly or through one of our global distributors – no matter where you are in the world, you don’t need to worry about getting a cedar hot tub to you. You can focus on which hot tub is exactly the one you need, and our team here will take care of the rest. And after over 25 years in business, rest assured it will be packed for efficient and easy shipping too.

How do you get started? It’s easy!

After researching which cedar tub is best for you – a classic cedar tub, ofuro tub, hydrotherapy tub, or even a chiller tub – using our online configurator, you can design your hot tub, and see the results of all the custom options in real time! Once you submit your design plans, we will provide you with a quote that includes a timeline and shipping estimate.

Each of our cedar barrel hot tubs comes with a detailed assembly manual, but our team is always here to help with any questions you may have during the installation process as well – just contact us!

Wood-heated hot tubs: We answer your questions!

While our cedar hot tubs have several heating options, the one we get the most questions about is always our wood fired hot tubs.

Going with a wood fired heater is great solution for cedar hot tubs – to smell the logs burning while you’re enjoying a relaxing soak, the ability to reduce on costs if you have a ready supply of fire wood, or even if you have a remote location and you want to take your hot tub off grid.

Below we’ve gathered some of the most popular questions we receive about our woodfired hot tubs.

Q: Is it possible to have jets on the wood burner models if a pump is installed?  I’m looking for the low cost of using wood but want some aspects of a spa.  I like the fact that your model has the heater outside the tub.

A: Yes you can have 4 jets, 120 VAC two speed pump and a filter system on any wood fired heater.  This is an additional $500 and it allows you to keep the water in the tub much longer as you now have a filter.  Click here for our wood fired hot tub heaters.

Q: Hi there we live in Cranbrook, BC, Canada, and love your wood fired hot tubs. Can you tell me if you ship to BC? Do these arrived assembled, or do we install them onsite?

A: We can absolutely ship a wood fired hot tub to BC!  We ship our cedar hot tubs all over the world, including Europe, Australia – and even Iceland! Most of our customers order their hot tub as a kit, and assemble their wood fired hot tub onsite. Not only will this save on shipping costs, but our team is always here to help if you run into any installation hiccups – you can see the installation process here.

Q: We are looking at an 8-person cedar hot tub with the largest heater & accessories, which is the appropriate one for that size tub? How long does it take to heat the water?

A: We have 4 sizes of hot tubs and various types of heaters, including wood fired hot tub heaters. With your needs, we would recommend our large cedar hot tub (74″ diameter), which is suited for 6-8 people. If the majority of time you will have 5-8 people using your wooden hot tub, this would be the size you should choose. This barrel hot tub holds approximately 523 gallons of water. With a large wood fired heater you would be looking at about 4 hours heating time.

Heating times vary based on 2 prime factors: starting temperature of the water, and type of wood used.

Q: Will a wood fired hot tub heater work for other types of hot tubs?

A: They will! You can learn more about the versatility of Timberline wood heaters at www.woodwaterstoves.com

Q: How do you recommend cedar hot tub sizes to match a woodfired heater?

A: When choosing a wood burning hot tub, it is important to not oversize it as the more water you have, the longer it takes to heat. Our most commonly recommend model is the Blaze 55,000 BTU wood fired hot tub heater, as it will heat up quicker, which is what most of our customers are looking for.

Q: We purchased the 50″ round cedar hot tub last year, and now have it installed. We are looking at purchasing the Timberline wood fired hot tub heater. We will have about 180 gallons of water (24″ deep) inside the tub. What size stove? What else should we purchase? We have the holes and the plugs already drilled and installed, and will need the heating pipes, hoses etc.  This is an off-grid hot tub, so we don’t want the filter – and will drain the tub for install.

A: We’re so happy to hear you’re enjoying your cedar hot tub!  The Campfire is the wood heater for hot tub that you need, plus the connection kit – this also includes the chimney and all accessories.

Using your cedar hot tub for cold plunge therapy

While there are many benefits to your cedar hot tub, one of the most-talked-about things we’re hearing about from athletes and athletic therapists all over the globe doesn’t involve heat at all! We’re talking about cold plunge therapy, and how this breathtaking practice is finding its way into spas, homes, and gyms everywhere.

What is cold plunge therapy?

Simply put – it’s the practice of taking your body from a very hot environment into a very cold one…very quickly. Usually a steam room or sauna is used to heat the body up, before submersing yourself in a cold plunge tub – whether you decide on a few seconds or a few minutes is up to you!

What are the benefits of cold plunge therapy?

Going from hot to cold quickly numbs the nerves surrounding your muscles and joints. This causes the body to release endorphins, which can aid in eliminating muscle and joint stress. The cold water also quickly causes the blood vessels to contract, and reduces joint and muscle swelling.

Another benefit often associated with cold plunge tubs is that it can help to increase the body’s immune system. The cold water stimulates the body into producing a hormones called cytokines. Cytokines are widely known to boast the body’s immune system, and help to protect against virus and bacteria that can cause colds and flues. The restriction of the blood vessels is also known to be beneficial in lowering blood pressure.

The Chinese and Romans practiced cold therapy for 1000’s of years, though you will now commonly see this practiced as Nordik spas and physiotherapy clinics worldwide.

Add a cold plunge tub to your own backyard

With the help of an Arctic heat pump, you can easily switch your cedar hot tub back and forth between hot and cold settings, allowing you to use your hot tub for BOTH heat and as a chiller tub for cold plunge therapy.

Our chiller tubs utilize an Arctic Air Source Heat Pump specifically designed for water refrigeration units to do the cooling. An external circulation pump and filter results in the refrigerated water being circulated through the tub. The refrigeration unit also has its own digital temperature controller, thus not requiring a separate external controller, allowing you to use your cedar hot tub to heat and cool.

Arctic heat pumps have been developed not only for pool and spa use, but for in your home, too! To learn more about Arctic heat pumps all over your home and business, visit the Arctic Heat website to learn more.

Northern Lights has been crafting cedar hot tubs and cedar barrel saunas for over 25 years – contact us anytime, our team of experts can help you find a solution that works best for you and your cedar hot tub!

Get the best of both worlds in a cedar hot tub that heats AND cools

Maybe you live in a location where it’s not unusual for a day’s temperatures to reach 95-100 degrees in the summer…and even evenings only “dip down” to a (still hot) 80 degree range. In extreme heat cases like that, the water in your hot tub would still heat up… even with the heater turned off! For a good part of the year, a chiller tub would be a wonderful addition to your yard, where you could happily enjoy a refreshing dip in tub with cooler water.

But then, winter arrives, the days and nights get downright cold – and a classic cedar hot tub is the only place you want to be.

But what if your cedar hot tub could do BOTH?!

cedar hot tub

Enter the Arctic Heat pump! Arctic Heat Pumps are the only heat pumps in North America that can both heat AND cool your hot tub, as well as operate in low temperature conditions (as cold as 20ºF) and still be efficient. Best of all, a heat pump will save you 60-80% on energy costs compared with a traditional electric heater.

The Arctic heat pump is a great way to make the most out of your cedar hot tub (or chiller tub), and get year-round enjoyment out of your investment. And that’s not all it can do, too – Arctic heat pumps have been developed not only for pool and spa use, but for in your home, too! To learn more about Arctic heat pumps all over your home and business, visit their website to learn more.

Northern Lights has been crafting cedar hot tubs and cedar barrel saunas for over 25 years – contact us anytime, our team of experts can help you find a solution that works best for you and your cedar hot tub!