FAQ

What makes Urban Cedar Hot Tubs different?

Our hot tubs have the sheer beauty of a wood-fired hot tub with the maintenance of a modern electric hot tub. All of our hot tubs are handcrafted from stunning western red cedar with acrylic seating areas and then (round hot tubs are) finished off with our signature stainless steel bands. Gone are the days of needing to clean out the stove or worry about a long heat-up time, with our hybrid design your hot tubs will always be up to their target temperature for you. We have spent over 20 years taking the best bits of a wood-fired hot tub and combining them with the convenience of an electrical hot tub. To create the best range of hot tubs possible.

How does delivery & installation work?

Once you have placed the order, the electrical guide will be sent across to you. With this you will need to contact an electrician and have a rotary isolation switch fitted.

A few weeks before the day of delivery, we will email you a short Q&A, which will contain several questions regarding access etc and also confirm timings.

In situations where access is limited we will look at other means of getting the Hot Tub in; this can vary from using a sled, a crane or in some circumstances even rolling the Hot Tub.

On the day of delivery, the team will arrive during a 1 hour time slot and will remain on site for 2-3 hours. Once they arrive on site they will move the Hot Tub into place using a special trolley system that allows for easy moving. Once the Hot Tub is in place, they will discuss the positioning with you and liase with the electrician who will also need to be present. They will then begin filling the Hot Tub. Once it is full they will test it before giving you a full demonstration. Answering any questions or queries you may have on the Hot Tub.

What water supply is required?

The Hot Tub is designed to be as easy to maintain as possible so there is no fixed water connection. The Hot Tub is filled and drained using your standard garden hose.

What power supply is required?

The Hot Tub can either have a 16-amp or 13-amp supply, which is determined by the below:

16amp - This allows the Hot Tub to have a 3Kw Heater, which will heat the Hot Tub at 3-4º per hour. This would need to be hard-wired into a rotary isolation switch by an electrician. It will need to be fitted before the installation, and then the electrician will be required to be in attendance on the day of installation to make the final connection.

13amp - This allows the Hot Tub to have a 2Kw Heater, which will heat the Hot Tub at 2-3º °C per hour. This would be supplied on a standard 3-pin plug with RCD protection on, no electrician required.

Most clients would go for the 16-amp supply due to the faster heat-up time.

What clearance do I need for a Cover Lifter?

For a Cover Lifter to be fitted, we recommend that you have a minimum of 3ft behind the Hot Tub. This allows for enough room for the lid to cantilever into place and safely come off the Hot Tub without any risk of damage.

Energy efficiency?:

The Hot Tub is fitted with a programmable heater, this means that if you have low-cost electricity overnight, then you can program it to do all ofitss heating and filtering during this time, minimising its dday-to-dayrunning costs.

The Hot Tub is extremely well insulated with a 5-layer system. To begin wit, you have a light layer of spray foam on the underside of the liner, followed by an air cavity, then you have foam insulation around the inside of the cabinet with a foil blanket on top. This is all tucked in nicely with our signature solid Red Cedar cabinet.

Noise?:

The Hot Tub is extremely quiet for the majority of the time; the only time it will make a small humming noise is when the pump is running on low speed for either the filtering or heating. However, this is unnoticeable for most people.

Running costs?:

The Hot Tub running costs can vary depending on the season, if you have low-cost electricity etc, However, the consensus is that it costs £2-3 per day to run your Hot Tub on average at the moment. However, if you use the programmable heater to its fullest, this can be reduced to around £1 a day or even less.

What can the hot tub sit on?

The Hot Tub has a completely plastic base that can go directly onto gravel, patio, concrete, or even decking if it has been reinforced to take the weight. If you have any doubt about the surface you would like your Hot Tub to go o, please let us know and we can advise further.

What is the maintenance?

Daily Care:

Testing & balancing the water

Use your test strips to check the Alkalinity, pH, and Chlorine levels. Adjust the chemical levels if needed:

• Alkalinity should be balanced first (acts as a buffer for pH).
• pH should be in the correct range to avoid irritation or cloudy water.
• Chlorine keeps the water clean and safe to use.

This only takes a few minutes each day but makes a big difference in keeping your spa water fresh.

Weekly Care:

Cleaning the filter

Once a week, remove the filter and give it a clean. You can do this by running a garden hose through the filter fins to wash away dirt and debris. For a deeper clean, use a filter cleaning spray or soak it in a filter cleaning solution. A clean filter keeps the water circulating properly and ensures your spa runs efficiently.

Quarterly Care:

Drain & refill

Roughly every 3 months (this may vary depending on how often you use the hot tub and how well you’ve kept up with daily/weekly care), you’ll need to completely change the water.

• Steps:
1. Drain all the water from the tub.
2. Clean the shell if needed.
3. Refill with fresh water and allow it to heat.
4. Balance the chemicals as if it’s brand new.

Fresh water not only feels better but also protects the Hot Tub components and is easier to balance.