Different types of saunas: What kind of sauna should you choose for your home?
There is a variety of saunas on the market and it can be confusing to know which one to purchase. We’re going to give you a rundown of the types of saunas, their characteristics and how to use them. Hopefully, this will make the decision process easier!
Things to consider while looking for a sauna are your personal preferences regarding heat and moisture as well as whether you would like an indoor sauna or an outdoor sauna. There are indoor and outdoor saunas that can be custom-built or installed as pre-manufactured saunas such as our outdoor saunas at Haljas. The most common saunas are electric and infrared saunas, followed by wood-heated saunas and steam rooms.
Electric saunas
Electric saunas are heated by an electric sauna heater typically up to 70-100 °C where the humidity is 5-20%. In electric saunas, water is thrown on the hot stones which creates a nice steam. Modern electric heaters usually come with a control panel that allow you to choose your preferred temperature and switch the heater on with one touch of a button which is very convenient. Heating time depends on the size of the room and the heater itself - smaller rooms heat up faster. Electric saunas can be installed practically anywhere and the heaters require a shorter safety distance than the wood burning heaters. These characteristics make electric saunas perfect for smaller spaces such as apartments.
Infrared saunas
Infrared saunas use infrared heaters to emit infrared light which is absorbed by the skin. An infrared sauna heats your body without warming the air. The room temperature is usually 40-60 °C, allowing for longer stays in the sauna. The lower temperatures in the room make an infrared sauna a good option for people who don’t like the heat. Infrared saunas are very popular and there is a variety of infrared saunas on the market. Similarly to electric saunas, infrared saunas can be installed practically anywhere.
Photo by HUUM on Unsplash
Wood-heated saunas
Wood-heated saunas use a wood burning heater to heat up the room. The temperature is usually around 80-110 °C, depending on the heaters’ power and the size of the room. Humidity is typically same as in an electric sauna which is around 5-20%. Wood-heated saunas do not require electricity which make them a good option for rural settings. The heating process is a bit more hands on than with other sauna types because you need to keep an eye on the fire. Also, wood burning heaters require a longer safety distance which means that they require a larger room. Wood-heated saunas are loved because of the old traditions around it and the smell and sound of wood cracking in the fire. The overall experience is very similar to an electric sauna.
Steam rooms
Steam rooms use warm water steam to heat the air and the temperature is usually between 30-50 °C. The humidity is usually 95-100% which is why steam rooms are built with tiles. The steam is produced by a generator which is located outside of the room and is connected to steam lines. Steam rooms can be installed as prefabricated rooms or custom-built for a space. The experience is very different from other saunas because of the high humidity.
To make the decision process easier, we recommend to try out the different types of saunas and choose your favourite. In the end, every sauna has beneficial properties and it all boils down to the kind of experience you would like to have as well as where you would like to install the sauna.
Take a look at our selection of prefabricated outdoor saunas!