What is this coil on the outside of the chimney?

[samandandy]

We moved into a home that has a wood burning hot tub. Outside the chimney, near the water and firebox, there is a coil going up the chimney about 2 feet. Does anyone know the purpose of this coil? And if so, what is the proper position for it to be in -it looks like it may have slipped. Thank you.

 

[Chimney Smoke]

Very cool, just have to plan well ahead before you want to use it. The only thing I can think of is more surface area for water to come into contact with the heat??

 

[yooperdave]

need more info...is it copper tubing? I've seen a "poor man's water heater" by installing a few turns of copper tubing around stove pipes, just doesn't make sense if its for the hot tub though. Perhaps if you can find a brand and model number on the tub itself, you can research or go to the manufacturers site?

 

[begreen]

That looks like a Snorkel tub, but I have not seen copper tubing added. Maybe this was double-timing as a still?

 

[Highbeam]

Ive seen people route used motor oil through a tube like that to preheat it before dripping into the firebox.

 

[M1sterM]

A pic of any connections on the end of the coil, or at least a description of where the coil starts/ends, would help.

 

[BobUrban]

without more info the best guess is copper tube used to heat water for the tub. Heat will keep the water moving if set up correctly and probably works very well. We have a similar water/heat exchanger on the sauna stove in the UP for deer camp showering.

 

[begreen]

Hmm, that is a thought. Hot water heating for a shower before soaking? Without knowing where this tubing starts and ends it is just a guess.

 

[bag of hammers]

without more info the best guess is copper tube used to heat water for the tub. Heat will keep the water moving if set up correctly and probably works very well. We have a similar water/heat exchanger on the sauna stove in the UP for deer camp showering.

+1. Seen similar setups on a couple of sauna stoves. In this case, maybe its just intended to keep the water circulating in the tub? I would love to have a hot tub setup like that, with snorkel stove. Parked down by the shore, light it up, feed it while puttering aroung all afternoon, grab a bucket of beer, enjoy sunset and / or clear starry night....

 

[Highbeam]

+1. Seen similar setups on a couple of sauna stoves. In this case, maybe its just intended to keep the water circulating in the tub? I would love to have a hot tub setup like that, with snorkel stove. Parked down by the shore, light it up, feed it while puttering aroung all afternoon, grab a bucket of beer, enjoy sunset and / or clear starry night....

A lot of us have hot tubs. Electric heated. Provides a great place for many nice starry nights. Just last night i was out in the tub talking about the coming eclipse with my daughters. We must have been soaking for two hours.