Monthly Archives: May 2015

 
Buying a sauna to install in your home is an exciting experience. A new sauna means you no longer have to mingle with strangers at the gym to enjoy the relaxation and health benefits of a sauna. Now, whenever you want to sit in a sauna and break a good sweat, you need only walk down the hall in your own home or head out to your back yard. As you go shopping for a new sauna online, you'll come across a lot of different models and options.

The most common heaters you might come across are ceramic and carbon fiber heaters. If you feel confused by those options, you’re not alone. Few people know how a sauna works, they're just glad it does. In this post, you'll learn the crucial differences between ceramic heaters and carbon fiber heaters.

Even Heat Distribution
The heating surface area of a carbon fiber heater makes it easier for this type of heater to provide even heat distribution compared to ceramic models. The surface area of a carbon fiber heater is much larger and composed of thin carbon plates. This allows these models to provide even heat distribution that lacks hot and cold spots which are typical of ceramic heaters. As a result, you will enjoy heat that is well dispersed throughout your sauna.

Use of Infrared Rays
Carbon fiber heaters emit warm rays that are closer to far infrared than a ceramic heater is capable of producing. The result is a heat that is beneficial for your health and healing inside your sauna. Heat emitted from carbon fiber heaters has a slightly lower temperature, which allows you to stay in the sauna longer and allow for deep tissue penetration. When the sauna heats you from the inside out, it provides better relief of stress, sore muscles, and aching joints.

Lower Energy Costs
Because a carbon fiber heater produces heat at a lower temperature, and provides more even heat distribution, you'll enjoy a much lower hit to your monthly utility bills. The engineering of carbon fiber heaters is already energy-efficient in nature compared to ceramic heaters, but the improved performance of carbon fiber models means you'll waste less money heating your sauna and maintaining temperature levels.

Better Life Span
The last thing you want to do is buy a new sauna now, and be forced to potentially replace your heater in the next decade. The average ceramic heater has a lifetime expectancy of just 5,000 hours, compared to a minimum of 20,000 hours for a carbon fiber model.

As you consider the purchase of a new sauna, take a few moments to consider the type of heater powering your model. While it might not be the first thing to cross your mind, the heater in the model you purchase will impact the performance, efficiency, effectiveness, and maintenance cost of the saunas you are considering.

 
Whether you've just purchased your first home and it has an old sauna in it, or you're looking to remodel your home and add a sauna, there are mistakes you must avoid. Any purchase for your home, from a washer and dryer to paint colors, is worthy of serious consideration to ensure you make the best possible choice. It is important that you don't get caught up in the excitement of installing a new sauna in your home.

Instead, take your time and carefully consider the sauna models you've viewed online. The following points are some of the critical mistakes you need to avoid when looking for that perfect sauna to install in your home.

Type of Heater

Infrared heaters have largely replaced the old wood burning saunas used throughout much of human history in heat rooms. However, not all infrared heaters are made the same. As you compare models, you need to avoid inefficient, poor quality heaters that leave you spending more money on utility bills and waste time as you wait for the sauna to get up to proper temperatures.

Assembly Systems

You need to pay attention to the assembly systems that hold your sauna together. If you've purchased from a suspect vendor, you could have a poorly assembled unit in your home that doesn't hold heat (at best) or fails to stand the test of time (at worst). Factors to keep an eye on include:

• Exterior buckles
• Magnets
• Slide clasps

Types of Wood

The type of wood used to construct your sauna plays a big role in the joy you'll get from your investment. Woods such as Aspen, Basswood, and Fir are not suitable types for use in a sauna if you plan on using it frequently over the years to come. These are soft, light woods with low tensile strength. The result is a sauna that has poor decay and shock resistance, and could warp, dent, or scratch easily.

Instead, look for saunas produced using Hemlock and Canadian/Western Red Cedar. These woods have natural beauty that helps create a welcoming environment, but also have functional strength and durability. Hemlock is very stable and not likely to cup, check, or twist over time. Red Cedar has a low shrinkage factor and is highly unlikely to warp, twist, or check while you own your sauna.

If you're going to install an outdoor sauna, Canadian/Western Red Cedar is a must. Not only does it boast the benefits mentioned above, it has also has the best heat retention among woods commonly used in sauna construction.

Glass Panels

When you buy a sauna with glass panels, it enhances the beauty and appeal of your sauna. With that said, be aware that too many glass panels used in the construction of your sauna means less heat inside. Not only does the glass not hold heat in as well, more space dedicated to glass doors means less space for infrared heating panels to provide warmth.

Keep these elements in mind as you shop online for a new sauna, and you'll be sure to pick the best sauna possible to help you kick back and relax in style for years to come.

If you have any questions, or need some advice during your search for the perfect sauna, feel free to contact us anytime!