Sauna 101.com -- Info Guide to Saunas and Steam Rooms for the Home

Top Sauna Buying Tips

Here are some tips you sould consider when buying a sauna:

Infrared saunas are popular for indoor use. They use less electrical power, need less maintenance, require no plumbing, are more likely to simply plug into a wall outlet, and come in smaller sizes since they don't use a stand-alone sauna heater. However, if you want the traditional sauna experience, complete with hot stones that you pour water over, get a Finnish sauna.

Determine the electrical requirements. Many saunas require 240V electrical power, with a hardwired connection to a separate 30A or 40A breaker in the electrical panel. Some smaller saunas can be simply plugged into a 120V wall outlet, as long as there isn't alot other electrical devices on the same circuit.

Determine any plumbing requirements. Some sauna heaters are gas-fired and some have steam vaporizers, so determine if any gas piping or water piping is needed. This is particular true of steam saunas that utilize an external steam generator.

Ceiling height no more than 7 feet. Heat rises and you want to keep the heat down at the bench level. For every 6 inches above 7 feet, you lose about 20% of the heat. It is also cheaper and faster to heat if the ceiling is no more than 7 feet.

Get a larger sauna than you think you need. You may be fine with a sauna built for two, but a sauna that can seat four people doesn't cost that much more, and you'll have room to lie down when by yourself. And you will be offering a more traditional sauna experience, which is all about socializing.