How can I save my sanity with a wood fired log hot tub?

Why the PR200 is a Brilliant Retrofit Heater for Hot Tubs — especially for wood-fired tubs and the self-catering market

If you run a holiday cottage, glamping site or manage a self-catering property, you already know the hot tub is the little luxury that makes guests rave, book again, and tell their friends. But the realities of heating, maintaining and turning around those tubs between stays are less glamorous: time, fuel logistics, labour and inconsistent temperatures can all eat into your margins and your guests’ experience. That’s where the PR200 (Rexener PR200) water heater comes in — a retro-fit solution designed to replace or augment older wood stoves and inefficient heaters, and to make hot tub operation faster, cheaper and far less stressful. ‍

What is the PR200?

The PR200 is a compact, factory-built outdoor water heater made to heat hot tubs and even small pools. It’s commonly sold as a basic package (heater, chimney, fuel tank) with optional installation kits and extras; the unit can run on biodiesel, diesel or fuel oil and features a digital control for setting and holding the target water temperature. It’s built to replace traditional wood stoves where desired, or to work alongside them.

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Retro-fitting made realistic (and fast)

One of the PR200’s biggest selling points for retrofit projects is simplicity. The unit was designed to be installed as the heating system for either a new or existing hot tub or pool, and installation kits are available with different pipe diameters to fit common plumbing runs. For many operators, that means you don’t need to rebuild the tub or redesign the plant room to get reliable, controllable heat. Manuals and vendor install notes explicitly show retrofit pathways and the plumbing/chimney options for conversion from a wood stove to a PR200. In short: retrofitting is a practical, off-the-shelf option rather than a major construction project. ‍

Why this matters for self-catering: reduced downtime. Wood-fired tubs can take many hours to get up to temperature and then need careful attention; the PR200 lets you start heating earlier in the preparation process or even program a set temperature, shaving hours off your turnover routine. Vendors advertise heating times as fast — for example, heating from near-ambient (single-digit temperatures) up to a bathing temperature in a few hours — which is a game-changer for turnover logistics. ‍

Works wonderfully with (or in place of) wood-fired setups

Many self-caterers and rustic accommodation providers prize a wood-fired tub for its atmosphere — the crackle, the scent, the ritual. But there are practical downsides: wood collection, smoke concerns in residential areas, uneven heating and long wait times. The PR200 is explicitly marketed as an option to replace existing wood stoves while still preserving the outdoor rustic look of a wood-heated setup. It achieves faster, controllable heat without visible smoke (the combustion is very clean when run on recommended fuels) and it can maintain water temperature automatically, avoiding the “too hot / too cool” swings you sometimes get with wood. That means you can keep the wood-fired aesthetic where you want it while liberating staff from long pre-heat chores. ‍

Practical example: if guests arrive late on a Friday and expect a hot tub on, you can start the PR200 earlier in the day or remotely (where regulations/controls allow), and the tub will already be at temperature. No more last-minute wood fires or stressed staff staying late to babysit a blaze.

Time and cost savings (real operational benefits)

There are three interlinked savings the PR200 delivers:

1. Labour/time savings. Faster heat-up and automated temperature control reduce the hands-on time staff spend lighting fires, tending wood and monitoring temperature. For the self-catering market — where turnaround speed and staffing efficiencies directly affect margins — that’s a tangible operational win. Manual documentation emphasizes the speed and ease of use of the unit.
2. Fuel flexibility & efficiency. The PR200 runs on biodiesel (recommended), diesel or fuel oil. Running on biodiesel or controlled liquid fuelling can be cheaper and cleaner than buying and storing large quantities of seasoned timber, and avoids the unpredictability of wood quality and moisture content. Suppliers highlight the heater’s low consumption and efficient 20 kW class performance. That efficiency reduces running costs versus inefficient or loss-prone systems. ‍
3. Reduced downtime = more bookings. Shorter heat-up means fewer blocked changeover days, more flexibility with check-in times, and less risk of guests arriving to a cold tub. That directly increases your revenue potential and reduces guest complaints — the two metrics every self-catering operator watches. (This is an operational inference grounded in the heater’s faster heat capability as stated in manufacturer material.)

Ease of fitting — truly plug-and-play for many sites

The PR200’s documentation and installation kits are intentionally practical: the basic package contains the heater, chimney and fuel tank, and optional filter and mounting kits cover different plumbing diameters. Manuals include step-by-step diagrams for mounting and plumbing to typical tubs, and many installers report the retrofit as a matter of a day or two rather than weeks. The availability of service parts and a user-service kit also makes ongoing maintenance straightforward for a competent handyman or local engineer. That low friction is exactly what busy property managers need. ‍

A few installation points to note (from the manual and vendor guidance):

• Check chimney clearance and distances to combustible materials; the smoke pipe does get hot and minimum clearances are specified in the manual.
• Measure and match the recommended pipe diameter on the installation kit (common diameters are available).
• Consider a service kit and basic spare parts (nozzle, filter, gasket) — they’re inexpensive and extend reliability.

Reliability, noise and neighbourhood friendliness

For sites in residential or high-traffic tourist areas, visible smoke and noise can be an issue. The PR200 is designed to run with very little visible smoke (especially on biodiesel) and a typical noise level below 48 dB is quoted by suppliers — quiet enough for most sites when installed with an appropriate chimney and an insulated protective case. That makes the PR200 a good choice where hosts want the mood of an outdoor tub without upsetting neighbours or creating the smell of smoke around check-in times. ‍

Why self-catering hosts love it (summed up)

• Speed: heat water rapidly and predictably — one of the biggest operational pain points solved. Two hours to heat up from cold.
• Simplicity: easy to fit as a retrofit; documented installation kits and available parts reduce custom work.
• Cost control: efficient combustion and fuel flexibility help manage running costs and storage headaches (vs. piles of wood).
• Guest experience: steady temperatures and reduced downtime mean more five-star reviews, fewer complaints, and easier turnarounds. (Operational inference supported by product heating/performance claims.) That two hours means every guest can have use of the tub, as it can be emptied, cleaned and set up again in the changeover window.

A few practical tips for operators considering a retrofit

1. Do a site survey first. Check chimney run, clearances, and how the PR200 will connect to your tub. Installation kits have different diameters; measure before you order.
2. Think fuel logistics. Biodiesel is recommended (cleaner combustion) but confirm local availability and safe storage for your property.
3. Keep a simple spares kit. A nozzle, filter and gasket service kit is cheap insurance and is commonly offered for the model.
4. Plan for seasonal use. If your site is seasonal, you can program shorter pre-heat windows during busy changeover days to save fuel and staff time while keeping tubs guest-ready.

Final word: practical luxury that pays back

The PR200 isn’t just a luxury add-on — it’s a practical operations tool. For the self-catering market where turnaround speed, guest satisfaction and controllable operating costs are everything, retrofitting with a PR200 can pay back quickly in saved labour hours, fewer heat-up headaches and more predictable energy spending. Whether you want to completely replace an old wood stove or keep a wood aesthetic while adding reliable, programmable heat, this class of compact diesel/biodiesel water heaters has earned a place in many modern hot-tubled properties. For hosts who want the ambience of an outdoor tub without the unpredictability of firelight, the PR200 is a smart, installable, and maintainable solution

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