Subscribe to our newsletter and get £50 off your first order. Be the first to know about new products, special deals, and more
.png)
At Eden Hut, we offer an extensive collection of handcrafted hot tubs, each one designed to bring tranquility and wellness into your daily life. Among the most important decisions you'll make when choosing your perfect spa is understanding the difference between internal and external ovens. This choice will not only shape your hot tub experience but also guide you toward the wellness journey that feels most authentic to you.
Let us walk you through this gentle comparison, so you can discover which heating approach calls to your soul and complements your vision of perfect relaxation.
An internal oven, sometimes called a submersible or snorkel stove, sits quietly within your hot tub, separated by a protective wooden barrier that keeps you safe while allowing the flames to work their magic directly in the water. The heating element is accessible to bathers but protected by design, creating an intimate connection between fire and water.
Picture this: the stove sits underwater with only the feed inlet and chimney stack above the surface, allowing complete water contact with almost all surfaces for super-efficient heat transfer. It's like having the warm heart of a campfire cradled within your sanctuary of relaxation.
An external oven takes a different approach to warming your soul. Positioned beside your hot tub, this elegant system creates a gentle circulation of warmth through carefully designed connections. Heat-resistant hoses connect the heater to the hot tub, with cool water entering through the lower hose, being heated, and returning through the upper hose.
This creates a natural thermosiphon effect – a peaceful dance where heat always rises to the top, just like it's warmer in the attic in summer than downstairs. It's nature's own way of sharing warmth throughout your entire soaking space.
When your soul craves immediate comfort, an internal oven answers the call with remarkable efficiency. Internal stoves are known for their high efficiency because they transfer nearly all the generated heat directly into the water, heating more quickly compared to external stoves. This direct contact means your peaceful retreat can be ready in as little as 90 minutes to 2 hours, perfect for those moments when you need tranquility without delay.
Internal stoves are generally less expensive than external ones, making them the most budget-friendly heater option. Their simple, elegant design often translates to lower upfront costs, allowing you to invest more in the other elements that enhance your wellness sanctuary.
For those with intimate gardens or cozy outdoor spaces, internal ovens offer a wonderful advantage. By integrating the internal heater into the hot tub body, space can be saved, making internal heaters perfect for locations where access around the hot tub is at a premium. Your entire wellness experience exists within one harmonious footprint.
There's something deeply satisfying about the straightforward nature of internal heating. Internal heaters are very simple in operation and highly efficient, with all heat from the stove body being transferred to the water itself. This simplicity brings you closer to the elemental experience of fire warming water – just as nature intended.
Craving the benefits of cold baths? Check out our collection of premium cold plunge tubs.
If your vision includes gathering loved ones for shared moments of peace, external ovens create the space for connection. External stoves require additional space outside the tub but leave the interior completely open for users. This means more room for family, friends, and the gentle conversations that bloom in warm water under starlit skies.
External stoves significantly reduce the risk of burn injuries, as the heating element is located away from the bathers. This thoughtful design brings peace of mind, especially for families with children who want to create safe memories together. The chimney and fire door remain easily accessible yet safely distanced from your soaking space.
External heaters are easier to clean and maintain given their accessibility, with clear access all around for inspection and easy access to the fire door for loading, lighting, and cleaning. This means more time for relaxation and less time spent on upkeep – exactly as it should be.
With external heating, your hot tub can be fully covered and insulated when not in use. With a fully insulated cover, you can leave the tub in the evening and enjoy hot tub-ready water temperature in the morning without restarting the fire. This gentle heat retention means your sanctuary is always ready to welcome you.
Discover the Rosewood – our best-selling hot tub with an external oven.
Fueling your wood-fired hot tub from outside means less debris ends up in the hot tub, as loading wood directly over water inevitably causes wood and ashes to land in the water. Your soaking experience remains pure and uninterrupted.
Choose an internal oven if your heart yearns for:
Choose an external oven if your soul calls for:
Both systems offer profound therapeutic benefits, but with different approaches:
Internal ovens provide more intense, immediate heat therapy – perfect for deep muscle relief and quick stress release. The direct heat transfer creates powerful therapeutic warmth that penetrates deeply.
External ovens offer gentler, more evenly distributed warmth that's ideal for longer therapeutic sessions, circulation improvement, and the kind of sustained relaxation that melts away weeks of tension.
With an internal system, your wellness experience begins with the intimate ritual of feeding the fire directly within your sanctuary. The internal stove design helps heat water more efficiently, with water ready to enjoy in about two hours. You'll need to stir the water occasionally with a wooden paddle to ensure even temperature distribution, creating a mindful, hands-on connection to your relaxation process.
An external system invites a different kind of mindfulness. The natural circulation creates a gentle, even heat throughout the tub, allowing you to simply slip into perfectly warmed water without the need for stirring. The ritual happens outside your soaking space, preserving the sanctity of your relaxation zone.
Consider these gentle questions as you choose your path:
If you see yourself stealing quick moments of solitude for rapid restoration, an internal oven's swift heating aligns with your needs. If you imagine longer, leisurely soaks with loved ones, an external system's spacious comfort serves you better.
Families with young children often find greater serenity with external systems, while adults-only households may appreciate the intimate efficiency of internal heating.
Small, cozy gardens often embrace internal systems beautifully, while larger outdoor sanctuaries can accommodate the graceful footprint of external heating.
If simplicity in upkeep enhances your relaxation, external systems offer easier care. If you enjoy the hands-on connection with your hot tub's inner workings, internal systems provide that intimate involvement.
At Eden Hut, we believe your hot tub should reflect your unique vision of wellness and serenity. Whether you're drawn to the intimate efficiency of internal heating or the spacious elegance of external systems, both paths lead to the same destination: a sanctuary where stress dissolves and peace takes root.
Our handcrafted hot tubs are designed to honor whichever choice speaks to your heart, creating a wellness experience that feels as natural as breathing and as restorative as deep sleep.
Take a moment to envision your perfect evening of relaxation. Feel the warm water embracing you, hear the gentle crackle of the fire, and imagine the conversation or silence that fills your spirit. This vision will guide you toward the heating system that transforms your hot tub from a purchase into a portal to daily renewal.
Your sanctuary awaits – let us help you with our guide to bring life with the perfect balance of function, beauty, and soul-deep satisfaction.
Have questions about delivery, installation, or anything else related to our hot tubs and saunas? We're here to help! Fill out the form, and our dedicated team will assist you promptly. Your satisfaction is our priority. Get in touch today!
