Installing an indoor sauna at home is quite an exciting project. Once the sauna is finished, residents and guests will be able to relax in comfort and luxury, making it easy to feel rejuvenated even after a hard day. Before installing a new sauna, though, homeowners will have to find the best indoor saunas to suit their needs. They can read on to find helpful information about how to choose the right model.
Wet vs. Dry Saunas
Dry saunas feature benches and heating elements to increase the temperature inside the room. Dry saunas can use electric, fuel-powered, or even infrared heating elements, but the effect will be the same. Users will be able to relax and luxuriate in warmth and comfort.
Wet saunas are more like steam rooms, though they are similar to dry saunas in appearance. The heating elements in wet saunas are designed for safe exposure to moisture. When users pour water on top of the rocks that are typically situated on top of the heating element, moisture is created in addition to heat, triggering increased sweat production. Some wet saunas can also be used as dry saunas.
Electric vs. Wood Heaters
In centuries past, all saunas used wood heaters with piles of rocks on top. They provide a pleasant ambiance but can be very difficult to use since they must be stoked frequently and tended to constantly to maintain ideal temperatures. These days, most homeowners choose more modern alternatives, with electric heaters leading the pack in terms of popularity.
Traditional vs. Infrared Saunas
Modern saunas with heaters still feature sauna stones, but those stones are heated and kept at a consistent temperature using electricity. Infrared saunas, on the other hand, use infrared heaters to warm the body directly. All saunas are good for clearing the lungs, relaxing, and detoxifying through sweating, but infrared saunas are largely viewed as the better option for people with heat sensitivity.
Sauna Size
Home saunas come in a variety of sizes, ranging from tiny models designed to accommodate just one or two people to chambers as large as those found at gyms. The primary factors homeowners must consider when determining the correct size are:
- How much room there is in the house to accommodate the sauna
- How many people will routinely use it
- What the homeowner’s budget is for the project
- How long users are willing to wait for the sauna to heat up
Larger six- to eight-person saunas are able to accommodate families or several guests more comfortably, but they cost more, take up extra space, and require a longer heating period before use. Small, one- to two-person saunas fall on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to cost, footprint, and heating time, but their tiny footprint makes it impossible to host guests. Most homeowners opt for somewhere in the middle and purchase four- to five-person saunas.
Quality Matters
No matter what type of sauna a homeowner decides to buy, quality is key. Look for a reputable manufacturer that offers plenty of different model choices and uses high-quality materials like Canadian hemlock. Follow the assembly directions carefully or hire professional contractors to install the unit.
