Sauna Heater Tips - Choose Gas and Electric Heaters for Convenience - or a Woodburning Stove for the Purist

Which type of sauna heater is the most efficient? Which one will do the best job and be convenient and safe to operate?

The stove is the heart of the sauna. Without a suitable heater, there cannot be a good sauna - regardless of other luxuries and money spent on construction.

Look for a heater that stores heat in a large amount of stones and that maintains the air between 60 and 80 degrees celsius. Traditionally sauna temperatures are not too hot because when water is added, the humidity level rises and gives the sensation of increased heat for a short period of time.

Finland's expertise

Löyly is a Finnish term that is inseparable from the sauna experience. It is defined as a combination of the temperature in the sauna and the steam generated when water is thrown onto continuously heated stones. Because the air is heated by convection it continuously circulates throughout the sauna.

Warmth and safety

Temperatures higher than 100 °C (212 °F) will burn skin. The hottest Finnish saunas maintain low humidity levels so the environment, otherwise hot enough to boil water, can be tolerated.

Wet heat causes scalding so hammam type saunas with 100% humidity keep the surroundings cooler, at around 40 °C.

Choose your spot

Within the sauna itself a higher bench is for those who prefer a hotter experience and a lower level bench is best for those who prefer more moderate warmth. Good etiquette requires that the door not be kept open so long that it cools the sauna for those already in it. A draft, even if at 100°C, may still be unpleasant.

For the purists

Knowledgeable people insist that saunas are best experienced with a stove that works by preheating and then storing heat in the stones. They are enclosed in a metal box with a lid that is opened when water is flung onto them. Barrel or ancient smoke stoves are the most desirable option for those with traditional preferences.

Updated versions

More modern sauna heaters are constructed with safety and ease of use in mind - without sacrificing the point of the sauna.

Electric sauna heaters are available in wall and floor mounted models. Features to consider in quality heaters include a solid, cast stainless steel top, inner casing and large stone compartment. A covering that maintains the front of the heater at a safe level is advised. Sauna controls can include a light switch, timer and thermostat as well as a built in high temperature safety cut off.

The output of gas sauna heaters is measured in BTUs. Higher ratings allow for more rocks. Gas or propane heaters are designed for use with water and allow free air flow for faster heating. Heaters for the outside wall come with a flue cap while inside wall models are constructed with a drafthood.

A woodburning sauna heater is ideal for remote locations and for those who enjoy a more traditional sauna. Before installation, check with the local municipality about codes, guidelines and inspections.

A noncombustible surface and an insulated stove pipe are recommended. It may be advisable to include a nonflammable surround to protect the wooden walls of the sauna from the danger of fire.

Something completely different

An infrared sauna heater uses a spectrum of infrared rays to heat the body. Rather than stones, ceramic elements or steel emitters produce the effective rays of an infra red sauna.

Make the heart of your sauna a heater that makes the most sense to you.