Fire Meets Water

Last spring, Blairfield Realty helped Eric Bentley sell his home and had the chance to learn about his very cool company, Fire Meets Water. Fire Meets Water sells wood-fired hot tubs that look great; are light, mobile and well-insulated; and use minimal water.

Eric recently relocated to Lake Tahoe, California, but his tubs are still available right here in Austin. And with chillier nights upon us, we thought this was the perfect time to catch up with him to learn more about the tubs and what makes them unique.

Are you originally from Austin? If not, what brought you to Austin, and how long did you live here before deciding to relocate to Lake Tahoe? How did you meet the folks at Blairfield Realty?

I’m not originally from Austin, but I lived there from 2000 until 2018. I was born in Dallas and moved down to Austin to go to community college and then transferred into UT, where I graduated in 2005.

Before I got into the hot tub business, I was in the pool servicing business. That’s how I met Donna Blair and Tamara Carlisle. Our company, Pristine Pools, serviced their pools. My business partner and I sold the business in 2017 (Pristine Pools still services their pools but under new ownership).

Where did you first learn about wood-fired hot tubs? When did you start your business, and what inspired you to start it?

I first saw these wood-fired hot tubs at El Cosmico in Marfa, TX. You can rent them as part of the glamping experience out there. I immediately thought they were amazing. I’d never seen anything like them and was immediately intrigued.

Then a friend of a friend moved into my house in Austin as a roommate. He had one of these tubs, so we put it in the backyard. I fell in love with making the fire and crafting a hot tub experience from primitive technology. I had sold my business six months before and was deciding what to do next. I decided to see if people were as excited about these tubs as I am.

How do your hot tubs differ from traditional hot tubs in terms of how they work, how they’re maintained, and operating costs?

The tubs require firewood and water. It takes about 1.5 five-gallon buckets worth of well-chopped wood to get them hot, depending on the temperature of the tap water. The tubs heat at about 20 degrees per hour, so in January in Austin, with the tap water colder than in September, the time it takes to heat them up varies. I find that three hours is about the average heat-up time, give or take 30 minutes to an hour.

This also depends on how diligently the fire is maintained. When using tubs the second time, the water will still be warm from the day before (they are very well insulated), so less wood and less time will be needed. 

I usually try and get at two or three uses out of the tubs before I completely drain them, dry them in the sun, and scrub them out with all-purpose cleaner and a light scrub pad, sort of like cleaning out a bathtub. I don’t use chemicals. I do recommend Epsom salt because it smells nice, feels nice on the skin, and is really good for you.  

The cost of the unit includes an upgraded chimney and cover that both work really well to improve efficiency and heat retention. I wouldn’t sell a tub without these items. Upkeep costs include maintaining the wood and the water. A cord of wood in Austin can be delivered and stacked by Austin Firewood. If you are going to use the tub one to two times per week for six months, I think you’d go through around a cord of wood. It also consumes about 200 gallons of water, so the cost for that would depend on whatever your current rate for water usage is. 

How big are the tubs?

They’re five feet in diameter and are actually surprisingly roomier than pictures convey. According to the manufacturer, the tubs seat four people. In my opinion, two people fit very comfortably, while having four people in a tub can be cozy—and it obviously depends on how big the people are! But the simple answer is that the tubs accommodate up to four people.  

What do you like most about the tubs?

The beauty of these tubs is in their simplicity. My favorite aspect of the tubs is that they will never break or need maintenance. As a pool and spa service professional, I saw how much people spent on maintenance, repairs, chemicals, etc. This tub is going to take time and care to heat, but you won’t be left waiting for a reliable repair company to fix it if it breaks down.

My next favorite aspect is not using chemicals in the tubs. I love using Epsom salt, which is great for getting magnesium into your cells, a vital mineral for muscle recovery. The tub experience is quiet, doesn’t smell or feel like chlorine, and the crackling of the fire is nice. It’s an entirely different hot tub experience. Finally, I love making fires! 

How can people purchase your product?

If you’re looking to purchase a hot tub in Austin, you can contact me through my website or DM me on Instagram (fire_meets_water) or on Facebook (Fire meets water).

You’re clearly very passionate and excited about your new business, just like we are. In closing, is there anything you’d like to share about your experience working with Blairfield Realty?

From working with Tamara and Donna for almost a decade in the pool business, I knew how awesome they were to work with and their level of professionalism. They get things done right and do it with a really positive attitude.

When it came to choosing a realtor, I had other options (and even close friends in the real-estate business), but I went with them because I knew what a good job they would do staging my house. I was not disappointed; in fact, I was blown away. My house sold the first weekend, and I’m very happy with what I got for it. With Blairfield Realty, everybody wins. 

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