Sauna shopping guide

It’s the best time for buying your sauna. However, even if you finally decide to buy a sauna, you have questions, and you’re in doubt. Maybe, you are more in doubt than you were earlier when you didn’t decide to buy a sauna. It is normal, and you don’t have to worry or to delay your shopping. After this article, you will be 100 % sure what you need, and what is the best choice for you. Before everything, here is a checklist that will help you in your shopping:

  1. Traditional Finnish sauna or Infrared sauna
  2. Built sauna or Portable sauna
  3. Small or Big sauna
  4. Indoor or Outdoor sauna

If you’re not sure which type of the sauna is better for you, read this guide and learn more on our page about saunas, then make a decision. Whatever you decide to buy, be sure, you’re making big benefit for your health. Sauna has many benefits, learn more about them.Traditional or Infrared sauna?

A traditional dry Finnish sauna (check here) is the most popular. It is the wooden room with 15% of steam and temperature between 70 and 100° C. First notes about sauna belong to the 12th century, but the history of sauna is much older. Today, contemporary saunas in towns are electrically heated and very simple. Out of the cities, traditional wood-burning saunas inside wooden hut are still popular. In Helsinki, during the WW2, there were more than thousand public saunas. Today, most Finnish people have their sauna in their home. Usually, during the summer they visit sauna every day, while in the winter once a week. Here, you can learn more about this type of sauna.

Remember:

  • Very high temperature of the room
  • Traditional type of sauna
  • Low humidity

The Infrared sauna (check here) uses light to create heat. Known as a far-infrared sauna – “far” describes where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. A traditional Finnish sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turn warms the body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you. The effect is like sitting in the sunshine, where a person may feel quite warm even though the room temperature itself is cold. The dangers of infrared saunas are generally the same as those of wet saunas and involve excess heat. An infrared sauna produces same results at lower temperatures than a regular sauna, which makes it accessible to people who can’t tolerate the heat of a conventional sauna. Read more about the Infrared sauna.

There are three types of heaters:

  • Ceramic infrared sauna heaters (here) are very efficient and produce infrared heat in the optimal wavelength.
  • Metal rod infrared sauna heaters utilize reflectors; they operate at higher temperatures than ceramic ones.
  • Carbon sauna heaters (here) are effective and operate at low temperatures (100 to 200 degrees F.).

Remember:

  • Safe and Healthy for all living beings
  • Durability
  • Economy of Use
  • Ease of Maintenance

Built sauna or portable sauna?

At first, this decision will depend on the size of your home. If you don’t have enough space, it doesn’t matter. If you don’t have your own home, or you move very often, or you just don’t have enough space for the sauna, portable sauna (see here) is for you. It is very easy to use it and when you finish your sauna process, you can put it away until the next time. Price of portable sauna is lower than other saunas, you can use it anywhere, even while watching your favorite TV show, or you can take it with you on your travels.

It is perfect if you know which type of sauna you want, infrared or steam, because you can choose between these two types when you’re buying the portable sauna. Portable Steam Saunas are generally provided with a steam generator like (Durherm Portable Personal Folding Home Steam Sauna (Blue Outline)) unit and utilize this heated steam to elevate the temperature within the sauna unit. Unlike in steam sauna, the Infrared Sauna emits infrared light in wavelengths that are directly absorbed by the body and does not cause any effect on the surrounding air. Infrared saunas like (Radiant Saunas BSA6310 Rejuvenator Portable Sauna) generally heat up more quickly compared to the steam saunas. They are integrated with heating panels, most likely made from carbon fiber.

However, if you have enough space in your home, you can build the sauna in your bathroom or somewhere else inside the home. You can order pre-built model. Many of them are available in online shops. These saunas are bigger, for two, three or more people, and more expensive. However, adding the sauna to your home makes your home more valuable and brings lots of benefits to your health. These saunas are more comfortable and you can experience like in five stars wellness.

Precut sauna

For a pre-cut sauna kit (like this), you may need construction help. With these, you provide the wall studs, insulation, and exterior walls, and they must build the unit from pre-cut pieces. A precut kit typically includes wall and ceiling boards, assembled benches, a pre-hung door, floor decking, a sauna heater, and a variety of accessories, from backrests to heater fences, vents, and controls.

Modular saunas

Modular or prefabricated saunas (like this) cost a bit more than precut kits but are much easier to erect. Because of the labor savings, total costs are similar to precut saunas—and you can have one installed (or do it yourself) in half a day. If you move or want to relocate the sauna, you can take it apart and reassemble it somewhere else. They have two-sided, pre-insulated walls and ceilings that simply lock together. Benches, backrests, and floor decking all come pre-assembled.

Sauna for one or for more people?

While making decisions, try to be objective. If you plan to use sauna just for yourself or for you and your, one to two friends, you don’t need sauna for five persons. If you have the big family or you have the plan to spent time with more people inside, buy sauna for four or more people. Save the energy and money!

Be aware that the size dictates not only how many people can comfortably sauna at a given time but also the output capacity of the heater you’ll need.

Indoor or outdoor?

If you’re lucky and you can choose, probably, you’re in doubt where to place sauna, inside house or outside? Well, we agree this decision is not easy.

Indoor saunas do not require insulation or a foundation, but they do need proper ventilation and a draining system. They are typically installed in a bathroom, where there is easy access to your home’s main water supply.

Outdoor saunas (check here) are typically installed near a pool or garden and are a great choice if you do not have extra space indoors. They require a solid foundation, proper insulation, a power connection, and a water supply. Here are some ideas for outdoor barrel sauna, read more.

Conclusion

Whatever you decide, be sure, you’re making a great benefit for your health. It seems like big expenditure, but there are a lot of long-term benefits. It’s a profitable investment for you, your family and your future health.