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5 Hot Tips for Home Saunas
Bask in your very own heated haven, indoors or out. This overview will get you off to a glowing start
The very word "sauna" sounds toasty and tantalizing in the dead of winter. As snowflakes whirl and the mercury stays stubbornly low, the idea of having a wooden heat chamber right in your house might seem too tempting to resist.
Of course, warmth isn't the only benefit that saunas offer. Proponents say they cleanse toxins from our systems, ease muscular aches and pains, promote skin health and a host of other perks. Just ask a native of Scandinavia, where the 2,000-year-old sauna tradition is still going strong.
Installing a home sauna can be a big undertaking, and you'll have a lot of decisions to make. Here's an overview of what you'll need to do to prepare.
Of course, warmth isn't the only benefit that saunas offer. Proponents say they cleanse toxins from our systems, ease muscular aches and pains, promote skin health and a host of other perks. Just ask a native of Scandinavia, where the 2,000-year-old sauna tradition is still going strong.
Installing a home sauna can be a big undertaking, and you'll have a lot of decisions to make. Here's an overview of what you'll need to do to prepare.
2. Determine if you want your sauna indoors or outdoors. Indoor saunas are more common, but external saunas are a good option if you don't have the room indoors or if you want your sauna near a pool or overlooking a view. The downside: Exposure to the elements means it may need extra insulation to stay hot.
3. Know your options for materials. Cedar is the classic choice — it gives off a pleasant fragrance, resists rot, doesn't splinter easily and doesn't absorb excess heat (translation: You won't burn your bum sitting down). However, you can use other soft woods, such as hemlock and spruce.
Many people choose concrete, tile or another durable substance for the sauna floor, because moisture tends to collect on a wooden floor and harbor bacteria growth.
3. Know your options for materials. Cedar is the classic choice — it gives off a pleasant fragrance, resists rot, doesn't splinter easily and doesn't absorb excess heat (translation: You won't burn your bum sitting down). However, you can use other soft woods, such as hemlock and spruce.
Many people choose concrete, tile or another durable substance for the sauna floor, because moisture tends to collect on a wooden floor and harbor bacteria growth.
4. Choose your heat source. Essentially, saunas heat the body in two ways. A traditional wet-dry sauna uses an electric or wood-burning heat source with stones to raise the air temperature to a point between 160 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit, on average. You also can produce steam by adding water to the stones in the heating element (hence the “wet” part).
The newer infrared saunas use a radiant heat element that conveys heat directly to the body rather than the air, so you work up a sweat from within. Purists don’t consider infrared models true saunas, but these types have gained popularity in recent years. Infrared saunas are cooler (80 to 120 degrees) and can be gentler on the skin.
5. Determine the size you need. Think about how you plan to use it. Will it be party central or a solo retreat? Choose a style that has space for the number of people you need to accommodate so that you’re not spending the money and energy to heat unused space. You’ll also want to avoid making the ceiling so high that heat rises above the level at which occupants sit — 7 feet is usually regarded as the maximum.
Most home saunas for family use measure between 4 by 6 feet and 8 by 10 feet.
A few sauna models are shown below; you can find more premade saunas in the Products section.
The newer infrared saunas use a radiant heat element that conveys heat directly to the body rather than the air, so you work up a sweat from within. Purists don’t consider infrared models true saunas, but these types have gained popularity in recent years. Infrared saunas are cooler (80 to 120 degrees) and can be gentler on the skin.
5. Determine the size you need. Think about how you plan to use it. Will it be party central or a solo retreat? Choose a style that has space for the number of people you need to accommodate so that you’re not spending the money and energy to heat unused space. You’ll also want to avoid making the ceiling so high that heat rises above the level at which occupants sit — 7 feet is usually regarded as the maximum.
Most home saunas for family use measure between 4 by 6 feet and 8 by 10 feet.
A few sauna models are shown below; you can find more premade saunas in the Products section.
Western Red Cedar Canopy Barrel Sauna
This ultracool cylindrical shape would work perfectly in a contemporary home.
HeatWave Buena Vista One-Person Infrared Sauna
Short on space? This slim sauna offers just enough room for one.
HeatWave Hudson Bay Three-Person Corner Cedar Infrared Sauna with Carbon Heaters
A three-person corner model slips neatly into an odd space.
Sauna Room
Can't decide between a sauna and a steam room? Have both. This combo model by Bathroom Trends combines two amenities in a single, compact package.
If your wiring won’t support the voltage that an electric sauna requires (around 220 volts), you’ll need the help of a licensed electrician to correct it. In addition, you may need to add an exhaust vent nearby to siphon off moisture generated by the steam.