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

Choosing the Right Sauna

Do you want a dry sauna or a wet sauna experience? This is probably the most important decision to make right off the bat. Both heat you up but, are very different.

Dry sauna, such as infrared and Finnish, are made of wood and use a heater to warm the surrounding air to about 180°F. Humidity is low at about 20%. Finnish sauna uses hot stones that produce a light steam when water is poured over them, but the sauna room itself is bone-dry. Outside the US, sauna is often done in the nude, even with other people present. In the US, it depends on how comfortable you are with this.

Wet sauna, also steam sauna or Russian sauna, is essentially a shower unit that uses a steam generator and multiple steam jets to produce 100% humidity. Steam rooms in the home often replace traditional showers. With wet sauna, you and the surrounding room are completely wet, all the time. Obviously, wet sauna is done in the nude.

How many people will be in the sauna at the same time?
Two-person saunas are small (as little as 4' x 4'), can easily fit inside most homes, and have quicker heat-up times. Larger saunas (up to 12' x 12') used for social occassions are more likely to be found outdoors next to a pool or jacuzzi.

Will you ever want to move the sauna? Older saunas were found outdoors and were custom-built units inside the home. Today, there are a variety of pre-built and portable sauna units that are free-standing and simply plug into the wall. If you think you will ever want to move the sauna to a different spot, or take it with you when you sell, consider such a unit.

How comfortable are you assembling a sauna yourself? Saunas range from the portable unit that you simply plug into the wall, to custom do-it-yourself kits that require you to build, wire and assemble everything. Take stock in your comfort level in assembly when buying a sauna and also keep in mind that a professional contractor is just a phone call away to do it for you.