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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
FAQs about Hot Tubs
Exactly what the name suggests. A lot of people think the hot tub is a Scandinavian invention. But nothing could be further from the truth, as the hot tub has its origins in Japan! Natural hot springs, also known as ‘onsen’, have been used since time immemorial in Japan due to the volcanic soil.
Over time, the Japanese developed round, oval or square wooden hot tubs to capture the hot spring experience. The water is heated by means of a wood stove in the hot tub. This is also known as a hot tub with an internal wood stove. In addition to hot tubs with internal stoves, hot tubs featuring external and integrated wood stoves are also available. We have electrically heated hot tubs too. With bubbles or without. Which one is right for you?
Jacuzzi is originally a brand name. This brand has become a household name in the electric spa/massage bath market, resulting in many people referring to electric hot tubs (including those from other brands) as Jacuzzis.
If you’re looking for a ‘Jacuzzi’, the chances are you’re looking for an electric hot tub (or spa) with bubbles, massage jets and mood lighting. Learn about the differences between hot tubs, whirlpools and Jacuzzis.
Buy a hot tub at TICRA. You can see our wide range of spas in our 1200 m² showrooms in Dronten and in Maastricht. Here, our specialists will put together your ideal hot tub with you.
Already know exactly what you want? Then feel free to order your hot tub in our webshop. If you have any questions, you can always contact us via chat. You can also call us to receive guidance on the options over the telephone.
Our Nordic electric hot tubs are very easy to operate. You set the desired temperature using the control panel. Depending on the outside temperature, the most comfortable temperature is around 37 or 38 degrees Celsius.
The massage jets can be made harder or softer as desired. There are 3 settings on the Nordic hot tub (massage jets off, setting 1, or setting 2 for the harder jets), which can be set using the control panel. What's more, all the jets are individually adjustable by rotating them. The massage jets are pump out water as standard, but can also contain air. This is set by means of separate control buttons located around the entire spa. This combination of water jet and air jet currents will give Nordic hot tub users the ultimate relaxation massage!
Before you start firing up the stove, make sure the hot tub is filled up to about 10cm below its rim. The water temperature is controlled by allowing more or less oxygen to enter the stove by sliding the ash pan and possibly a grille. The best way to light up a wood stove is with well-dried birch wood. This burns easily and gives off good heat. This will get the fire going and your hot tub heated quickly and easily. Read more on firing up a wood-fired hot tub here.
Your hot tub can be sited almost anywhere. We recommend that you choose a paved surface, such as paving slabs, decking or clinker bricks. In that regard, it's important for the ground to be nice and even, so please double-check this using a spirit level.
If you have chosen an electric hot tub, then a power supply will in many cases have to be installed by a qualified electrician (unless a plug socket is already present). Some hot tubs require a high-voltage current. If this is necessary in your case, your contact person from our sales team will let you know in advance. For further information on hot tubs, please visit our information page.
The convenient drainage system, encompassing tap and outlet hose connection, allows you to empty the hot tub and drain the water to the designated area. Another, quick way to empty the hot tub is with a submersible pump.
The easiest way to clean your hot tub is to do so straight after you’ve emptied it, as the dirt hasn’t yet dried in. Start by rinsing away most of the dirt with a garden hose. To remove remaining particles, we recommended using a sponge and a non-abrasive cleaning product, similar to what you would use to clean a bathtub in the bathroom.
An electric hot tub can withstand frost, provided it is on and kept at the right temperature. If you’re not using your Nordic Hot Tub during the winter, it can be set to winter mode. The tub temperature will then drop back to a low level. Several times a day, the pump will automatically start to circulate the water in the tub. This will keep the pipes clean and prevent them from freezing over.
A wood-fired hot tub can withstand minor frost of a few degrees Celsius. If temperatures drop well below freezing, we would recommend either draining the hot tub, or keeping the water above zero by lightly firing the heater to prevent it from freezing. The latter is only recommended if the frost is very temporary. Another option is to choose a filter system in combination with a frost protector, which acts as an electric heating element. This will release heat into the water, preventing it from freezing.
Our Nordic electric hot tubs are very easy to operate. You set the desired temperature using the control panel. Depending on the outside temperature, the most comfortable temperature is around 37 or 38 degrees Celsius.
The massage jets can be made harder or softer as desired. There are 3 settings on the Nordic hot tub (massage jets off, setting 1, or setting 2 for the harder jets), which can be set using the control panel. What's more, all the jets are individually adjustable by rotating them. The massage jets are pump out water as standard, but can also contain air. This is set by means of separate control buttons located around the entire spa. This combination of water jet and air jet currents will give Nordic hot tub users the ultimate relaxation massage!
A standard filtration system and Nordic CLEAN™ ozone system are included with each and every electric hot tub.
The cleaning process that they provide purifies the water by destroying most of the bacteria and viruses present. Ozone treatment is 200 times more powerful than standard disinfectants. You’ll end up using less chemicals in the hot tub in the long run because the ozone layer kills most bacteria. Which is a real boon if you’re prone to skin, nose and eye irritations.
The Nordic Hot Tub is made of a very strong plastic, HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). Unlike an acrylic interior, HDPE never splits. Another great advantage of HDPE is that it feels very soft.
Warranty
We guarantee that the tub in your hot tub won’t split or crack due to material failure within 10 years of your purchase.
The electric Nordic Hot Tubs from the Classic series can be enhanced with the Mood Lighting package. This provides atmospheric lighting in both the interior and exterior of the electric hot tub. The package comprises:
- 4x LED interior lights
- 1 high-beam entry light
- 3 medium-sized lamps round the interior
- 4x exterior mood lights
The display is used to control the jets, temperature and lighting.
Jets: Turn on the jets at low pressure or on full power. Each time you press the button it will switch the jets to a different mode.
Temperature: Set the temperature with a press on the buttons. Each press will make the water feel 1°C warmer or cooler.
Lighting: adjust the lighting colours or turn them off completely.
The ‘No-Float Lounger’ is a reclining area in the hot tub where you can optimally relax with the extra back and massage jets. The No-Float Lounger is a feature in the Nordic hot tub spa series.
If you do not treat Red Cedar wood it will turn silver grey over the years due to exposure to the elements. This won’t adversely affect the properties of the wood or the quality of the hot tub.
To maintain the warm wood colour, treat the hot tub with a wood oil and repeat this treatment regularly to prevent discolouration.
Most of the popular models are in stock and the delivery time is 2 working days. If the Nordic Hot Tub is not in stock, we will order it for you. The delivery time will then be approximately 6-8 weeks.
Heating up a wooden hot tub takes an average of 2 to 3 hours and heating up a hot tub with a plastic inner shell takes 2 hours. Optional expansion of the hot tubs is possible to give them an extra powerful wood stove, which can reduce the heating time to 1.5 hours.
The time that it takes for the hot tub to heat up also depends on the outdoor temperature, water temperature, size of the hot tub, whether or not you're using a hot tub cover, the type of firewood and the method of firing it up.
Dried birch and oak wood should be used to heat the hot tub. You can, of course, use other types of wood, such as beech wood, as long as it is properly dried out and untreated.
Use well-dried birch wood to heat the hot tub properly. Once up to the right temperature, we recommend using oak wood to maintain the temperature. Oak wood is a harder type of wood which burns for longer.
Controlling water temperature with an external stove
You can easily control the water temperature during your hot tub session by controlling the air supply, which you can do by sliding the ash pan and/or grille on the external hot tub stove open or closed.
Controlling water temperature with an internal stove
In the case of an internal heater, you can control the temperature by sliding the cover further to the left. Once the water has reached the desired temperature, close the grille, ash pan or cover almost completely.
It is usually the case that the water next to the hot tub stove will be warmer than the water on the other side of the hot tub, so it's normal to stir the water with a wooden hot tub paddle to ensure even distribution of temperature.
FAQs about Saunas
An outdoor sauna is a wooden room designed to enable you to enjoy high temperatures, making you sweat and get rid of waste. Firing up a wood stove or switching on an electric heater will bring the temperature up to between 60 and 100 degrees Celsius. At these temperatures you can use the sauna for up to 15 minutes per session. After that, your body will need time to cool down using a cold shower or bath.
TICRA’s outdoor saunas are available in 4 types of wood: Nordic pine, Thermowood, Red cedar wood and White cedar wood.
You can choose between a traditional wood-fired stove or electric heater to heat the sauna. TICRA has a selection of sauna stoves from Helo, Harvia and HUUM. These 3 brands are known throughout the world for their robust, stable and sustainable sauna stoves. Sauna stones are heated by the sauna stove and contribute to an even distribution of heat in the sauna room.
Electric sauna heater
An electric sauna heater is easily switched on by means of the control switch on the heater.
Wood-fired sauna stove
- Start with firelighters
Open the ash pan a little, place 1 or 2 firelighters in the stove and light them. Put tree bark on top, preferably birch. - Building the fire
Once the firelighters and tree bark are alight, you can start building the fire. - Keep an eye on the fire
Add blocks of wood, building them up in a pyramid shape, and close the door.
TIP: Experiment with the oxygen supply by sliding the ash pan further open or closed. This will cause the fire to burn harder or more gently if desired. - Pour on water and enjoy
Once the sauna has reached the desired temperature, you can start pouring on water and enjoy your sauna session.
Electric sauna heater
The electric sauna heaters are equipped with a timer and thermostat. The thermostat switch can be used to adjust the temperature as you see fit. In the case of electric heaters with an advanced control panel, it’s also possible to set the exact desired temperature.
Wood-fired sauna stove
The temperature of the wood-fired sauna can be controlled by adjusting the oxygen supply of the sauna stove. The temperature will also depend on the amount of wood in the heater.
On average, it takes 30 minutes to an hour for a sauna to reach the right temperature. Heating the sauna with a wood stove is usually a fast process. Heating one with an electric sauna heater takes on average 15 minutes longer than heating one with a wood stove.
The outdoor sauna can be sited almost anywhere, as long as the ground is flat and paved. For example, the ground can consist of stone, tile or solid decking.
All our saunas come with a 2-year warranty as standard. With the exception of our Red Cedar and White Cedar saunas, as they even have a 5-year warranty on them!
FAQs about Garden Houses
A Finnish Kota should be sited on a flat surface, preferably made of stone or concrete. Your order will come accompanied by a drawing specifying the exact dimensions that the foundation should have.
A Finnish Kota should be sited on a flat surface, preferably made of stone or concrete. Your order will come accompanied by a drawing specifying the exact dimensions that the foundation should have.
The pinewood Finnish kotas should be treated with a woodstain. We’d advise you to use a woodstain from the Finnish brand Tikkurila. Tikkurila is a high-quality woodstain for wooden houses, outdoor saunas and garden houses.
Yes, no problem. The Finnish kota can be used for various purposes.
Enjoy cosy dinners with a barbecue kota or relax in an authentic Finnish sauna with the traditional Finnish sauna kota. The unique distinctive features of a Finnish kota also make them ideal for cold, windy and rainy climates.
Finnish Kota with barbecue Finnish kota as sauna
The kota is also available without barbecue or sauna facilities. Allowing you to use the space for plenty of other purposes, such as: relaxation room/meditation room, office, garden house, B&B, home hairdressing salon, studio. The possibilities are endless!
Kotas are generally exempt from planning permission requirements. That said, it will depend on the size of the location, where you wish to install it and in which municipality you live.
You can check out the possibilities on the following website: www.omgevingsloket.nl. Or contact your local authority.
FAQs about Outdoor Kitchens
The Polar Grill is perfect for both barbecuing (slow cooking at moderate heat of 80-160°C) and grilling (quick cooking at high heat of 160-300°C). You can also use it for baking, cooking, and even as a cozy fireplace for patio heating!
It is advisable to clean the Polar Grill after each use with warm water and a cleaning solution. Once the grill has cooled down, you can remove the ash from the ash tray.
Yes, you can. All Polar Grill models are optionally supplied with a special chimney set, including a flue, rain cap, and 3 single-wall chimney pipes. With this, the Polar Grills can be installed under a veranda, gazebo, garden house, garden room, or Finnish Kota.
If you plan to place the Polar Grill under a canopy, we recommend attaching insulated stove pipes through a roof vent. This ensures a waterproof and stable construction.
Yes, you can. In addition to grilling, the Polar Grill is often used as a patio stove. With clean, dry wood, you can create a cozy outdoor fireplace.
The Polar Grill comes standard with an adjustable grill rack, pan holder, and coffee pot holder. This allows you to heat pans and a teapot at the same time. The adjustable grill rack also makes it possible to smoke fish.
Yes you can. All Polar Grill models are optionally supplied with a special flue set consisting of a fireplace, rain cap and three single-walled flue pipes. This allows the Polar Grill to be installed under a veranda or in an arbour, summer house, garden room or Finnish Kota.
Do you plan to install the Polar Grill under a roof? In this case, we advise installing insulated flue pipes with a roof duct. This results in a stable, water-tight structure.
Ben je van plan om de Polar Grill te plaatsen onder een overkapping? Dan adviseren wij om geïsoleerde kachelpijpen door middel van een dakdoorvoer te bevestigen. Hiermee zorg je voor een waterdichte en stabiele constructie.
With the Polar Grill (or Polar Grilli, as it's called in Finnish) you can do everything: cook, bake, fry, roast and barbecue, slow cooking and even make pizzas and pancakes.
We recommended cleaning the Polar Grill with hot water and a mild detergent after every use. Once the barbecue has cooled down, you can remove the ash from the ash pan.
The various modules make it easy to assemble your own outdoor kitchen. You can use the Antille Outdoor Kitchen as a starting point and expand this with options. You can also choose to assemble all the modules yourself.
See all the possibilities:
A Palazzetti Italian outdoor kitchen will enable you to do pretty much anything you can think of cooking technique-wise. Obviously it depends on the modules that you include or don’t include in your bespoke outdoor kitchen. Be inspired and bring Italian culinary culture to your own garden!
Your Palazzetti Italian outdoor kitchen comes as a construction package. Each module consists of a concrete base, with (where applicable) a worktop and extensions such as a sink or barbecue. The base should be put in the desired spot by 2 to 3 people. The modules can be glued together using the adhesive supplied. Next, install optional extras. Finally, paint the concrete white with the exterior paint specially provided. Once everything is dry, you’ll be able to put your cooking skills to the test!
FAQs about Outdoor Showers
All our products that come as a DIY package are accompanied by a clear instruction manual. The manual features step-by-step instructions using text and photos to explain how to assemble the product. If you follow these steps, assembling your TICRA Outdoor product won’t be difficult at all.
An outdoor shower is ideal for fans of outdoor living. After all, it has many benefits:
- Hygienic
An outdoor shower makes it easy to rinse yourself prior to using a swimming pool, sauna, hot tub or ice bath - Easy to install
The only thing that needs to be done is to install (or get someone to install) a hot and cold water supply to which your shower can be connected up - Convenience
No more dirty feet in the house; showering outdoors is ideal for adventurers (including children!), who can freshen up before coming indoors
White cedar wood comes from trees that grow on the east side of Canada. The wood is light in colour. Red cedar comes from trees growing on the west side of Canada and this wood is brown/red in colour. All the wood in our products is FSC-certified, meaning it has been sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Our regular carrier services make it possible to transport your TICRA Outdoor product to another country within Europe at a very reasonable price, such as if you’d like the product installed at a holiday home. We have a lot of experience when it comes to delivering our products in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Spain. Please enquire about the current rates for transport to your location within Europe.
Our range includes a fantastic sauna with integrated outdoor shower, namely the Pure Cube Sauna with shower room. See this sauna here for more information!
FAQs about Garden Furniture
Our garden furniture comes as easy-to-assemble DIY packages. These are always accompanied by clear instruction manuals featuring text and photos to explain how to assemble your outdoor furniture.
White cedar wood comes from trees that grow on the east side of Canada. The wood is light in colour. Red cedar comes from trees growing on the west side of Canada and this wood is brown/red in colour. All the wood in our products is FSC-certified, meaning it has been sourced from sustainably managed forests.
FAQs about Ice Baths
An ice bath is a cold water therapy bath, in which you immerse your body in cold water. The extreme cold gives your immune system and your mental health a boost. With TICRA Outdoor electric ice baths, you’ll always be able to take a cold bath, because they can be set to a minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. No ice needed!
Chill Tub is a brand of high-quality ice baths. Chill Tub offers low-cost 'entry-level' baths that still need cold water/ice, as well as professional electric ice baths that can be set to a constant minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. The advantage of these electric ice baths is that they can also be used as a hot tub, because the temperature is adjustable to a constant temperature of up to 40º Celsius. It’s multifunctional!
Taking an ice bath isn’t for everyone. Sometimes an ice bath can be dangerous for you. If you have heart problems, an ice bath is strongly discouraged, as it can cause heart failure. Anyone who has a medical condition (such as diabetes, high or low blood pressure, or other health problems) should consult a doctor first.
When you take an ice bath for the first time, you should build up very slowly and carefully. Focus on breathing exercises and don't get into the ice bath too quickly all in one plunge. Don't stay in an ice bath for a long time if you're not used to it. And make sure you're not alone, so someone can help you get out of the water in case something goes wrong.
FAQs about Glamping Accommodations
Still have another question?
We are happy to help! From small to big questions, our experts will guide you step by step through all the possibilities.
