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How To Build a Sauna
I'm just starting to plan my sauna. Are there any sauna floor plans or guidelines?
Yes, see the help pages:
- Precut Sauna Floor Plans for an existing room
- Prefab Sauna Floor Plans for our sauna kits that set up indoors or outdoors.
And watch our "How to Build a Sauna" videos at:
- How to Build a Sauna | Converting a Room to a Sauna — This informational article and videos demonstrate how to tack up your sauna foil, attach cedar paneling to the interior of your studs, mount your sauna heater, install your sauna benches, hang your sauna door, and finish trim and entry walkway.
- See our list of How to Videos.
Other important considerations are:
- Type of sauna heater (gas, electrical, wood, infrared)
- How many sauna bathers will use the sauna at once
- Sauna room size to determine how powerful your sauna heater must be, and last
- Where to put the heater, bench arrangement and venting for your layout
How are saunas built? | Explain Precut vs Prefab
At Cedarbrook Sauna + Steam, we build all our saunas with cedar. Cedar is the best on wood to absorb heat, but does not stay hot to the touch. There a couple ways to start a wood sauna.
- Finish the inside of a room with a precut sauna kit. In this scenario, you attaching tongue and groove cedar boards to the studs. We precut the boards to fit, so installation goes quickly. Of course, you build or convert an existing closet or room in your house or spa, or perhaps build or convert a shed into a sauna.
- You have open space and want a sauna room that assembles fairly quickly with very little construction. For this scenario we designed our prefab modular home sauna kits. Prefab Home Sauna Kits assemble easily with pre-built insulated walls and ceiling panels that screw together and sit on a base of your choice, yet are still portable.
The prefab sauna is a panelized sauna that comes in prebuilt, modular panels that interlock into freestanding sturdy sauna room. Ceiling panels are set atop to enclose the room. The prefab can also be relocated. Prefab saunas are installed inside or outdoors with the addition of the optional roof. See: How to Build a Sauna | Setting up the DIY Prefab Modular Sauna Kit – shows you how quickly a sauna goes up.
The precut sauna is designed for new construction or situations where you have a small room already framed in. You frame and insulate your walls, ceiling, and door opening. Then add the door, cover the walls with tongue and groove, build sauna benches, finally trim it out. Precut saunas are permanent and cannot be relocated. See: How to Build a Sauna | Converting a Room to a Sauna – Article and videos demonstrate how to build a sauna in an extra room.
I'm converting a room in my house to a sauna, do you have any supporting articles to get me started?
Yes, since building saunas for 40 years, we've accumulated a bit of knowledge. See our list below:
- How to Build a Sauna | Converting a Room to a Sauna — This informational article and videos demonstrate how to tack up your sauna foil, attach cedar paneling to the interior of your studs, mount your sauna heater, install your sauna benches, hang your sauna door, and finish trim and entry walkway.
- How to Measure and Order a Precut Home Sauna Kit — Just the basics when you'd rather order a sauna from Cedarbrook.
- Sauna Venting and Framing Info — Discusses airflow and sauna venting
- How to Build a Sauna | Setting up the DIY Prefab Modular Sauna Kit – if you prefer to view our ready to assemble kits, this article shows you how quickly a sauna goes up.
Do I need a permit for my sauna?
Commonly, an outdoor sauna and structures of 120 sq ft or less do not require permits (in the U.S.). Some counties allow larger structures of up to 200 sq. ft. without permits. You may run into some problems if you put your sauna right on the property line you share with a neighbor, a parking strip or an access easement.
While adding a residential circuit is fairly straight-forward for any electrician, it may not be a bad idea to get an electrical permit for your indoor sauna. You can call your county permitting department to easily check. Most sauna installations require 220/240v power with a hard wire connection to a separate 30 or 40 amp breaker in your electrical panel. In some instances, a small tradional style sauna can be wired to 110/120v circuit, if the circuit to the panel with a #12 gauge wire.
I'm building my own sauna and I need to do it as cheaply as possible. Where can I save the most on my sauna?
- Build your own benches. We can provide the wood and instructions
- Use 1x material for your bench tops. Using residential 9/16" sauna bench tops instead of the commercial 1½" (2x2) saves and works well.
- Two-piece wall construction. The savings are huge when you 2' or 3' pieces to span your studs vs longer 4', 6', or 8' T'n'G cedar. Also we do have a finger-joined product that's very green – a fantastic use of very short pieces.
- Fit your sauna only two benches. Some saunas seem cluttered with 3 or 4 benches.
- You can vent your sauna from under your door, thus sparing you a lower vent. You will still want to keep the upper though.
- Work closely with your electrician and pull your own wire. Save the critical connections for the expert.
- Order a sauna door made with tight knot cedar (no window). These are still great sauna doors, and the knots add a Ponderosa style. Choose your cladding width and direction.
How do I prepare the base for my outdoor modular sauna kit?
IMPORTANT: First note that the exterior size of our prefab modular saunas is 8" wider and deeper than the size in the title. For example, a 5'x7' outdoor home sauna kit (the title reads 5'x7') has an exterior measurement of 5'8' x 7'8" — thus, this is the minimum size of your sauna base. The outdoor modular sauna kit will sit well on any of these bases:
- Pour a concrete slab. Leave concrete surface bare or lay tile over the top.
- Tamp down gravel and lay patio pavers over.
- Gravel with pressure treated wood works well also. In fact, if you know you will be relocating your sauna, it's even easier to bring your base with you. See step 1 of our How to Build a Sauna | Setting up the DIY Prefab Modular Sauna Kit.
- Build a wood deck and install marine plywood on your joists, and then put tile or sheet vinyl on the plywood for a vapor proof surface.
Are the sauna walls of the prefab sauna kit shipped in just 4 units or do you make more than one piece per wall?
Our pre-built sauna walls form the walls and ceiling of your sauna room. Sauna wall panels are never wider than 5’ and the panels can be requested in two pieces if the quarters are tight. Generally, we make the prefab walls 4' to 5' wide. We understand you may be setting up your home sauna kit in your basement where perhaps maneuvering all the sauna parts may be difficult, up or down stairs, etc. So yes just let us know what panel width you require for your sauna scenario. And of course, our kits include a prefab ceiling panel or two depending on the sauna dimensions and your requirements.
Can I vent my sauna heat back into my house? Or do I have to vent the sauna to the outside?
It is best to vent the sauna back inside the house rather than to the outdoors. The main reason is that the barometric pressure outside is often different than indoors and this can create reverse flow bringing air from the outside in. Also, you always want to minimize penetrations to the outdoors. Though it might seem like a great way to add heat to your house, but a sauna will add very little positive heat to your home as by design; it is meant to heat a small enclosed space. Also FYI, the sauna will not add any significant moisture to the adjoining air space. Even when you ladle water over the sauna heater rocks you add very little actual humidity to the air. Saunas provide very dry air. The humidity of a sauna ranges from 10-35%.
Most importantly, the air coming into the sauna through the intake opening should be fresh and cooler than the heated sauna air. Fresh air also affects the sauna heater's thermostat and hi limit sensors. Otherwise, the sauna heater may sense that the room is prematurely hot and thus shut the heater down before the desired temperature is reached. Also the fresh air air will have slightly higher oxygen levels but do not be concerned with oxygen levels as the sauna rooms are no where near near air tight. Many saunas do just fine with a wide crack at the bottom of the door serving as the intake vent. See more information relating to this subject under our accessories: sauna vents and grills. Also see our full article on this topic: Sauna Venting and Framing Info.
What's should interior ceiling height of a sauna be?
We recommend between 6'4" and 7'. A shorter ceiling means your sauna heating costs are lower. Of course, consult the manufacturer's specs, but generally most sauna heaters are engineered for ceilings no higher than 8'. Ceilings higher than this might adversely affect the sauna heater's sensors, thus overworking the sauna heater. The adage "form follows function" very much applies in the realm of sauna construction.
What insulation should be used in a home sauna?
Indoor saunas with 2"x4" studs do just fine with R13 insulation. Any exterior walls with 2"x6" studs should still have R19 insulation. Ceiling insulation should be R26 or greater.
Also VERY IMPORTANT, and a step never to be skipped is covering your studs with the Sauna Foil Vapor Barrior. It reflects heat back into the sauna and keeps moisture from seaping behind your cedar.
How much space is required for a sauna room?
We offer cedar sauna kits as small as 4'x4'. Indeed, we also offer a 1 person canvas sauna tent heated by infrared lights.
Do saunas require a floor drain?
No, a floor drain is not common in a sauna. Of course, if you are planning to take a cold quick rinse in your sauna, then yes, you will want one. Some of our customers have installed indoor sinks with a drain in the wall though. See the sauna gallery photos. A little splashing in the sauna is fine. If you're concerned about moisture remaining, then leave the sauna heater on an extra 20 minutes.
What kind of floor is appropriate for a traditional sauna?
Most outdoor saunas are set on a concrete slab, pavers, tile, or a deck, or pressure-treated wood. A wood base does make relocating your sauna to another location much easier.
Indoor sauna are built on concrete, tile, vinyls, or any non-permeable surface, ie, anything that will not absorb water. While obvious to us, it deserves to said, "never put a sauna on carpet."
What's the easiest way to determine the power requirement of the sauna heater?
Our rule of thumb: Multiply your sauna Length x Width x Height (in feet) to calculate the cubic footage of your heat sauna, and then divide by 50. E.g. a 5' x 8' x 6'6" sauna is 260 cubic feet / 50 = 5.2 and then round up to the next best heater . So the minimum is 5.2 kW to heat this sauna. So, an economical choice here would be the Polar HMR 60 (6kW).
What type of circuit breaker should be used in a home sauna?
We recommend a 240 volt breaker in nearly all home sauna installations. Of course, the sauna heater's manufacturer's spec should be adhered to as well as consult your local union electrician and permitting code for your situation.
Are there saunas I can just plug-in or use on standard 120 volt power supply (as is standard in most homes except for the dryer and the stove)?
Yes, see our 4x4 modular sauna, 4x4 modular infrared sauna, Infrared light tent heat therapy room, and the 2 Piece Polar modular sauna.
What should I cover my sauna floor with?
We prefer to walk on cedar sauna duckboard or grated flooring in our saunas. Cedar is soft to the feet, but not cold. Concrete or tile sauna floors feel very cool after taking a sauna. Also our duckboard kits are built in 18"x48" rectangles that are easily removable for washing or sweeping. Also take a look at the Sauna Rubber Flooring Squares, an interlocking rubber floor tile for the sauna or steam rooms to help you keep your footing.
Should I insulate the concrete floor in the traditional dry sauna?
No, this is not necessary. Since of course, all sauna bathers are not sitting on the floor. Additionally, sauna air flows best with cool area coming in at the bottom and some hot sauna air leaving at the top. This ensures proper air flow and fresh oxygen to the sauna bathers. Generally, there is no significant heat loss through the floor.
Should I enclose the space under the sauna benches to make the sauna easier to heat?
No this is not necessary and best to leave accessible. We do like the style of adding bench facing to our sauna benches, and lighting them from underneath. Bench facing does not enclose the air space though. It's more of an ambiance choice, and also adds a back rest to the lower sauna bench.
Why should I consider buying a sauna from Cedarbrook Sauna and Steam?
We've been sweating the details for our customers since 1971, so you can simply enjoy knowing you're buying quality Western Red Cedar and construction in your home sauna kit. Read more about Cedarbrook's company history. We also provide cedar lumber to the Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Everett and Woodinville area. We have two locations: our showroom in Woodinville, WA and our lumber mill in Cashmere, WA.
On the go? Cedarbrook's website is mobile-ready! We have a lite-weight mobile version of our sauna and steam products for your smart phone. Send your sauna or steamroom questions and quotes at our contact page.
How much time is required to build and ship my home sauna kit? How much deposit?
Generally depending on the season, we can build and ship your sauna to you within 2-3 weeks. Cedarbrook requires a 50% deposit to begin your order. Final payment due at shipment.
If you would like to customize your sauna layout – no problem. We'll provide the sauna or steamroom layout drawings with a delivered quotation free of charge. Design and layout consultations are included in the price. After placing a sauna kit order, our staff will discuss your layout and other needs. All saunas are custom saunas at Cedarbrook Sauna + Steam! Contact us for a free sauna or steamroom quote.
I have no idea what kind of sauna I want or what's available … Can you help me choose a sauna for my lifestyle, budget and location?
Sure! First take a look at our Sauna Ideas page, Sauna Tours page, and the Sauna Photo Gallery pages. These sauna pages will give you ideas and help clarify your questions.
To better quote you, we'll ask you a few basic questions about your sauna scenario:
- Do you want your sauna in a separate building or are you converting an existing room?
- Do you prefer a sauna kit, so you don't have to endure any construction? See our sauna kit guide.
- Do you prefer a portable home sauna that you can easily relocate?
- Do you like a completely dry sauna or steamy heat? Or if you like instant heat, we can add an infrared light box.
- Do you want to complement your sauna with any plumbing amenities such as outdoor shower or an indoor sink, or perhaps an anteroom for cooling off, or an adjacent steamroom?
What is the basic difference between a sauna room and a steam room?
Steam rooms are tile, glass, or acrylic plastic rooms where the humidity is 100% (fog in the room) and temperature is 110-114° F. A drain is required as well as a gasketed, air-tight door system. Steam generators are installed outside the steam room.
Saunas are wooden rooms with wooden benches and are heated to 160-190° F with low humidity at 5-15%. You add water to the rocks to produce dry, invisible steam. No drain is required (except commercial installations that require more cleaning). Sauna heaters are located within the sauna room itself.
What are the basic types of saunas?
There are really only three basic types of saunas: Traditional Saunas, Far infrared saunas and Infrared electric light saunas
Traditional saunas consist of a small room or space with an electric, gas or wood heater, or heated with hot rocks. Far infrared saunas use ceramic or metallic elements for heating that mainly emit in the far infrared range. Infrared electric light saunas use incandescent infrared heat lamps for heating. They emit red and orange light hear, middle and some far infrared. In our experience, the infrared electric light sauna is by far the best.
While traditional saunas require high temperatures for copious sweating, infrared penetrates the skin and heats from the inside as well as on the skin. The infrared electric light sauna penetrates deepest, so the air temperature can stay coolest with the same effectiveness. Sweating begins faster and detoxification is increased. Preheating is less necessary, saving time and electricity. While some people like the intense heat of the traditional sauna, many find it difficult to tolerate, especially those who are ill.
Infrared is an antioxidant nutrient, activates the cells, supports metabolic processes and decouples toxins from water molecules. Far infrared saunas emit a limited infrared spectrum, often emit electromagnetic fields and are more costly than infrared electric light saunas. John Harvey Kellogg, MD, and early proponent of saunas and a careful researcher, believed the electric light sauna was best. This type also provides warming and stimulating color therapy. Red, orange and yellow assist the eliminative organs. Red helps clear the astral or emotional body. Everyone carries around emotional toxins that are as harmful as physical toxins.
What's the differences between all the types of saunas and sauna kits?
There are many types of saunas: Precut, Prefab, Modular, Cabinets, Infrared … needless to say, it can get confusing. See our guide: What Are the Differences Between Precut, Prefab, Modular & Infrared Sauna Kits?
Why do you recommend cedar for saunas?
Cedar has many advantages over other woods, such as aspen and spruce. It's a beautiful, low-maintenance wood which resists mold and insects don't like it. We use Western Red Cedar. After heating your sauna, cedar emits a subtle scent of the forest. And even better, cedar saunas resist staining, discoloration and odor absorption. Cedar is a light-weight wood and remains comfortable to the touch at high temperatures, and resists splintering, too.
Cedar is the softest and thus the coolest of all woods for the sauna. Aspen and Poplar are sometimes used in sauna rooms for people who have extreme chemical sensitivity or a known allergy to cedar. Less than 1% of people have any allergy to cedar and for those who do, prolonged direct contact can result in small red bumps on the skin which fade away quickly. A towel between the bather and the wood prevents this. Cedar contains some natural resins, oils and tannins that give it antimicrobial qualities. These also act as a natural mildicide and helps keep the whole sauna in a more hygienic condition.
You may read about the phenols that cedar gives off. These are basically molecules that you smell from the wood. They are non-toxic and most people enjoy the sweet smell of the cedar. Cedar is a very low density wood. This provides high insulative properties. Also cedar rates the highest on the stability range which keeps the wood from warping or cracking with the continuous heating and cooling and getting wet and drying out in the hot sauna environment. Cedar is also a beautiful wood with unique character and color in the grain structure.
For these reasons cedar is the most popular wood used in sauna rooms. Aspen and Poplar do not have these qualities and it is often hard to find in a high quality tongue and groove in these wood species. Most commercial sauna rooms are cedar, and if you have enjoyed these you are not one of the few who have a reaction to the cedar.
Do you offer a non-allergenic wood such as white aspen or alder wood?
We specialize in western red cedar and do not have other wood species options at this time. Often the subject of phenols and cedar as being unfavorable/allergenic in the sauna environment is more of a talking point than a real world issue. We have supplied cedar sauna rooms to people with high levels of chemical sensitivity with no real world complications. Of course, it is possible that individuals can have issues with cedar … usually this is topical on the skin's surface and can be avoided by sitting on a towel. Also note that we sell an all natural water based sealer for saunas that forms a thin breathable layer of glass (silicon quartz based emulsion) over the wood which create a layer of protection between the bather and the wood. Not to mention, it keeps the wood looking pristine for years. I hope you find this helpful in your decision making process.
How should I clean my sauna?
After sweeping or vacuuming for dust, dirt and hair. We wipe down our sauna walls and benches with a product called, Sauna Kleena made of biodegradable products, natural oils and other ingredients specifically designed for sauna wood cleaning. An important ingredient is tea tree oil which has many antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. There is no bleach or ammonia in the product. Sauna Kleena also kills germs, viruses, mildew, and fungus on wood.
You can dilute it 5 to 1 or use directly from the bottle for stubborn stains or odors. Sauna Kleena will gently clean the wood without drying it out. This keeps your sauna looking new and avoids the splintering and cracking that can occur with other cleaning products. If the sauna wood has deep water and sweat stains, try sanding the wood with a fine 150-180 grit sand paper. The light sanding will usually remove some of the worst stains. Then wipe off the dust and clean with the sauna cleaner. See our sauna cleaner and our sauna wood treatments.
Why are they called dry saunas?
Traditionally, saunas are used to provide a dry hot heat with low humidity in a wooden room, usually cedar, aspen or spruce. Temperatures range between 78-90°C (180-195° F), though many are content to get in their sauna at 140° F while it gets hotter. Sauna bathers like set-off a blast of moist heat by pouring water over hot rocks creating steam. This results in a temperature of 160 to 200° F and humidity of 5 to 20%. The most traditional heaters are wood-burning, but the convenience of electrical and gas heaters are wonderful and bring a new meaning to "firing up the sauna".
What is an infrared sauna?
Infrared saunas deliver a milder environment and experience compared to dry saunas with no added humidity. Infrared sauna rays heat up in about 15 seconds and heat the body directly as well as the air. For those who enjoy a penetrating heat blast experience, but cannot take or do not enjoy the intense heat of a traditional saunas, infrared is an excellent alternative.
Many people who have experienced and enjoyed traditional saunas inquire about infrared saunas thinking it will be the same. And not helped by the many sauna dealers (especially those reselling saunas imported from China) keep touting how infrared saunas are nearly the same. It is IMPORTANT to KNOW the infrared experience is not the same. Infrared saunas DO provide a very good sauna experience especially if you DO NOT like high heat, but infrared saunas are very different from a traditional sauna. We've written even more information here, see: Infrared Sauna Basics.
What's the brief history of the sauna?
The sauna is one of the oldest forms of bathing the world has ever known. While archaeologists cannot confirm or deny the origins of the sweat bath — most certainly before the Romans — we know who perfected this fine luxury, the Norse peoples of Finland, Norway and Sweden. The Nordic people's unique sweat bath began to gain notoriety during the Reformation, when European bath houses had disappeared as a lifestyle. In the 1500s, Klaus Magnus wrote: "Nowhere on earth is the use of the bath so necessary, as it is in the Northern lands." Read more in this fuller article, Sauna History.
How can I best enjoy my sauna?
Enjoy some tips on how best to use your sauna session: before, during, and after and healing reactions some sauna bather experience. See our full article regarding the sauna experience.
What are the health benefits of saunas and steam rooms?
While best experienced, we explain the differences between a steam room and other saunas here. All saunas and steamrooms share a number of health benefits in different proportions depending on the heat source and level of humidity (water in the air), length of exposure and your overall health and fitness, such as:
- Remove Toxins – Detoxification, removes heavy metals and harmful toxins stored in the body.
- Reduce Stress – Promotes better sleep, relaxes, melts away tension.
- Improve Skin – Helps clear cellulite, tones and hydrates cells and pores.
- Burn Calories and Control Weight – Burn as much as 600 calories or more in 30 minute session through profuse sweating.
- Give Pain Relief – Arthritis, muscle spasms, joint stiffness, sprains.
- Strengthens Cardiovascular System – Heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate increase, helps stabilizes blood pressure.
For more on how to build a steamroom, see How to Build a Steamroom | Start to Finish
Why steam bath? Several good reasons:
- Steam bathing provides a cardiovascular workout without stress or strain on your joints.
You heart rate will speed up 50-75% in a 20-minute steam bath. This speeds up the metabolism, thus helping you burn fat. It is about the same as going for a long walk. Some people are under the conception that steam baths raise your blood pressure. While this is true, it also expands your blood vessels to compensate. - A steam bath will also relax your tense and aching muscles.
If you have had a long day (or month) at work, toxins certainly build up in your body, especially muscle tissue, causing you pain and discomfort. A steam sauna can force your muscles to relax, almost instantly releasing these harmful toxins. It is also great after a workout. The extra blood flow will speed up the repair of your muscle tissue, thus allowing you to exercise again sooner. - Steam saunas can also help you lose weight.
Sitting in a steam bath for a half an hour can burn as many as 300 calories. Combine this with a healthy diet and exercise and you'll be thinner in no time. The steam sauna can also tighten your skin, in that battle against cellulite. - The steam sauna also cleanses your skin.
The sweat opens your pores, thus flushing out unhealthy toxins and grime. - The steam sauna also has distinct healing qualities.
By taking your internal body temperature to 104 degrees it brings you to an artificial fever state. As you know a fever's purpose is to kill viruses in the body. So even if you don't feel sick, it will make sure that you don't anytime soon.
What are the benefits of an infrared sauna?
Lawrence Wilson, MD and Megan Lorimer have written the following article: Infrared Light Sauna Therapy Health Benefits. Reprinted with permission.
Is infrared light safe in the sauna?
Infrared light is safe for use in a sauna style application. The wavelengths of heat are safe and contain no dangerous ultra-violet rays. Also noteworthy, the wavelength of infrared heat from the lights penetrate about 2" through your skin. Infrared lights heats produce heat immediately and typically will heat up a small indoor spaces of 4’Lx4’Wx6’H or less in about 15-25 minutes. When sitting in front of the infrared sauna light, you'll feel the heat instantly, but allow 5-10 minutes for a good sweat to develop. Similar to a other saunas, we advise sauna bathers to limit exposure to the concentrated infrared heat to 15-25 minute periods and discontinue use anytime you feel at all light-headed. Always drink water prior to, during and after sauna bathing.
What are the wavelengths of light emitted from your infrared lights?
The amount of energy in a light wave is related to its wavelength: Shorter wavelengths have higher energy. Of visible light, violet has the most energy, and red has the least. Just next to the visible light spectrum is the infrared (IR) spectrum. Infrared light can be split into three categories:
- Near spectrum ranges from 700-1600 nanometers. Closest to visible light.
- Middle spectrum ranges from 1700-3000 nanometers. Both near-IR and mid-IR are used by a variety of electronic devices, including remote controls.
- Far spectrum ranges from 3000- 5000 nanometers. Occupying the largest part of the infrared spectrum.
- Our infrared lights emit NO ultraviolet light and no electromagnetic field.
How hot can a sauna be and still be safe?
Of course, each of us may have a different scale when it comes to optimal health and our ability to sustain high heat in a sauna. Children, pregnant women, seniors, men and seasoned sauna bathers all have different tolerances for heat AND humidity. Generally we advise that your first trip into the sauna be for no more than 10-15 minutes while you're hydrating, ie drinking plenty of water.
At the Banya 5 sauna and spa, I entered their sauna when it was well over 220° F and enjoyed it. I am a seasoned sauna bather though AND more important than the temperature was the humidity which was about 27% on their hygrometer (humidity gauge). Their management staff had mounted a sign on the wall that reads: "Humidity can NOT be above 40%!". The sign is intended to stop sauna enthusiasts from putting too many ladles of water on the sauna rocks. While they may love the steam and profuse sweating, not all of us should attempt extreme sauna temperatures.
Most saunas lined with cedar are heated to 160-190° F. Some of the posher modern spas have installed saunas lined with mud, stucco, salt, and even dog tooth calcite, amethyst and quartz. These saunas can handle much hotter temperatures. Just an FYI, steam rooms have high humidity but much lower temperatures (< 115° F), so steam bathers can stay in longer.
How to Install a Sauna Heater?
We have a great article about converting a spare room into a sauna that includes a section on centering, mounting, and installing your sauna heater. Look over that and if you still have questions, let us know.
What type of sauna heaters are available?
There are electrical saunas, combination wet/dry sauna heaters, natural gas or propane sauna heaters, woodburning sauna heaters, infrared sauna light, infrared emitters. This article on sauna heater types addresses each one more specifically.
- GAS Natural or Propane Gas sauna heaters are larger and are more expensive than wood or electric heaters. You must have a 7'x8' room or larger and must install the heater on an outside wall.
- WOOD FIRED Most wood heaters are installed in an outdoor installation. You must install wood sauna heaters much like a fireplace or wood stove. Options for wood heaters include water jackets and shower plumb in options that heat water.
- ELECTRIC HEATER The majority of heaters are electric (95%) and require only 20, 30 or 40 AMP dedicated circuits for residential applications. We estimate the cost per usage for an electric sauna at $5-$10/mo.
- INFRARED Infrared sauna therapy lights provide the full spectrum of light frequencies: near, middle and far infrared wave lengths. The entire infrared spectrum is compatible with cellular processes. Most importantly these lights produce no electromagnetic field!.
Why choose an electric, gas, wood-fired or infrared sauna heater?
In brief, all these heat sources have their place and advantages in different scenarios.
Clearly for convenience gas and electric sauna heaters shine. Most sauna heaters are electric these days. Gas does have one extra advantage similar to cooking with gas … when you turn it up, it quickly produces more heat. Too much heat? Turn it down and it produces less heat quickly. Electric sauna heaters need more time to warm up and cool down. If you like humidity, many electric sauna heaters come with a steamy feature designed into the unit now. See the FAQ lower down titled: "Can I get a little of both … a traditional dry sauna with some steam in a sauna heater?"
In the woods, what else can you use? It's also the most traditional and instinctually satisfying. If you've never chopped your wood, stoked your sauna fire, smelled the smoke, felt the blast of steam and the good sweat of a wood-fired sauna, endeavor to try it. Ideally all of these sauna heat sources should be experienced, not merely purchased on the word of some showroom salesman.
Indeed, one of our staff recounts a memorable sauna in a native sweat lodge: "We heated 35 rocks within a pyramid of logs outside. Once the rocks were red hot, we brought 9 rocks into the shallow teepee and songs were sung. Water over the rocks released steam. Then 8 more, more sweating, talking and singing. Then 9 more, more sweating and singing. Then 8 more, more sweating and singing. One rock was left outside as a tribute to our ancestors looking down from the stars."
Infrared saunas don't get as hot and cause profuse sweating like a traditional, but they're great for the healing rays. And you can't beat the nearly instant penetrating heat. Infrared lights can be added to the other saunas mentioned.
Can water be sprinkled on rocks atop my sauna heater?
Nearly all sauna heaters (wood-fired, gas and electric) are meant to enjoy a traditional Finnish steamy sauna experience. A couple of ladles of water on the heater rocks for a blast of steam is the right amount. Consider also adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the water to help open the lungs and your pores.
Can I get a little of both … a traditional dry sauna with some steam in a sauna heater?
If you like humidity in your sauna for the "soft" heat, you'll love the "Tylo Combi-U or Polar Steamy". You need no plumbing outlet as you fill the Combi-U with a pitcher. The Combi-U operates at 145° F at 65% humidity. The Combi-U has a computerized automatic "dry out cycle" to eliminate moisture problems to the sauna wood.
The wet/dry sauna heater combine the best features of the sauna and steam room. Since it is used in a wooden room, the humidity is still not as high as a steam room, but it does provide more steam than one can get by pouring water over rocks. It requires a 240V elelctrical circuit with 30-40 amps. There are reserviors for water that are filled manually or automatically (requires plumbing).
What is the average cost to operate a sauna?
Nice thing about a sauna, it only costs when in use. We estimate a 6 kW sauna heater will, if used 3 times/week, cost about 60¢ per session for electricity or, your monthly cost is $6.00 per month.
How long before I can enter the sauna?
Generally, a sauna should heat up in 25-30 minutes; warm enough to comfortably relax. This is enough time for the sauna rocks to provide a soft heat and/or soft steam. The cedar interior will be comfortably heated, too. If you want to get into your sauna nearly immediately and feel direct penetrating heat, consider adding an infrared sauna light.
Does Cedarbrook sell sauna heater replacement parts?
Yes, we do! We will certainly do our best to find contactor boxes, thermostats, sauna rocks and timers for these sauna heater manufacturers: Amerec / Metos, Polar, Helo/Tylo, Narvi, Finnleo, Polar, Helo, Narvi, Finnleo, Nippa, Saunatec and others.
Does Cedarbrook have sauna heater manuals ready for download?
Yes, we do and we continue to build our list. See our Sauna/Steamroom Manuals page.
Polar and Tylo are popular brands. What's the difference between these sauna heaters?
Sure here are the basic feature differences:
Polar features:
- The Polar HMR sauna heater models with the built in controls, come standard with a thermostat and a timer with a 1- 9 hour preset feature. The heater will count down from 1-9 hours and then turn on and operate for 60 minutes and then shut off. The sauna can be hot in the morning, after a workout or when you come home from work!
- Controls come from the factory located on the front but can be moved to either side for easier access when the bench is close to the heater.
- The rock capacity is 50 lbs and they stack across the top an down into the heater with direct contact with the red hot elements * Water can be ladled over the rocks.
Tylo features:
- Evaporation tray on back of heater that allows the addition of moisture as the room is heating.
- Side air vents for faster heating.
- Center stacked rock arrangement for maximum steam output when adding water to rocks. 35 Lb rock capacity. * Water can be ladled over the rocks
- "Thermo safe" exterior where no safety guardrail is required by United Laboratories.
- Three stage thermostat with divided output for greater energy efficiency. Standard mechanical 60 minute timer.
- The Tylo Supersport sauna heater has the convenient top right location of the control. The Tylo Sport U controls are at the bottom.
- External controls of multiple style are available and with the CC style controls you can even turn the heater on and off with your smart phone.
How to determine if you need a left swing or right swing on my sauna door?
Generally, your sauna door should open out. This will give you more options when designing your sauna layout; ie, where to place your sauna heater and sauna benches. Also, if your sauna door opens out, it will protect sauna bathers. It's easy to linger too long in the sauna, overheat and rush for the cold plunge, thus it's better if the door opens out. Your sauna door can swing to the left or to the right depending on your sauna approach. Our standard hinge is on the right when facing the door while standing outside the sauna room.
The door swing diagram below will help you visualize the swing you need:
Can I get away with venting under the sauna door?
Yes, this is quite common, and removes the need for the lower sauna vent and sauna vent cover. Leave a good gap of an inch or more under the sauna door. Your sauna heater should be placed next to the sauna door for good air intake. Just to be clear, your sauna still requires a sliding upper vent. See our article on Sauna Venting and Framing Info for more information.
Your sauna doors show mostly horizontal cladding … is it stronger than vertical cladding?
Perhaps, slightly stronger, but it's largely customer preference as the cedar cladding matches the direction of the adjacent siding. Additionally, horizontal cladding is a good use of short pieces of wood. And of course, short stock pieces are generally less expensive.
What are my options for glass sizes on my sauna door?
We offer several glass sizes for our sauna doors:
- No window – Taking a sauna is NOT a spectator sport … Enjoy your privacy!
- 13"x13" – Just enough window to let in some light and take a peek.
- 10"x18" – A bit more light but still plenty of privacy.
- 16"x55" – This glass fits our solid rails and styles sauna door. See our
- 16"x67" – Let's in the most light and the least privacy. Designer finishes or custom etchings available, see our Rain Glass
- Portal – A stylish portal window that'll have you singing sea chanties.
- All glass – If you prefer maximum light, designer finishes or custom etchings, we sell glass sauna doors by Holcam, and others.
We also offer etched glass, matte glass and custom glass etchings.
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