Beginner’s Guide for Buying Your First Sauna (Updated 2022)
If you’re just getting started, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed. There are a tons of information floating around the web, however some of them may be inaccurate. With our customers in mind, we want you to make well-informed decisions when it comes to selecting the best sauna experience and the right product to match. Here, we provided some basic explanations when shopping around for a sauna.
PART I - THE BASICS
Things to know before you buy:
When it comes to putting money down on a big ticket item, there are always a few key things to know before you commit. Buying a sauna is no exception. Here, we have all the information compiled in one place to help you make the best judgment call.
What is a traditional sauna?
According to traditional Finnish standards, an authentic sauna experience involves a heater and stones. If the stones are dry, you have what’s called a dry sauna experience; whereas if you ladle a small amount of water onto the heated stones, then it creates humidity to the air, and you now have what’s called a wet sauna experience. Both of these experience can be achieved with our traditional barrel saunas which are most frequently used in an outdoor setting.
How about the infrared sauna?
While an infrared room is often called a sauna, it is not an accurate description since neither hot stones nor water are used. Instead, it generates heat from the infrared portion of the light spectrum and delivers heat therapy without getting extremely hot. The infrared rays, delivered from several heaters located throughout the room, penetrate the body. This type of saunas are mostly used in an indoor environment.
The ultimate question is “which sauna experience is the right one for me?”
While all sauna models provide a variety of health benefits, the range of sauna styles allows you to find the right fit for your needs and budget. Read our blog to learn more about the differences between the most popular types of sauna.
Nordic Barrel Sauna
The Basics of Sauna Selection:
We put together this complete guide that incorporates the ins and outs to help you navigate through a myriad of features, sizes, and upgrades so you know exactly what type of sauna is right for you. We will use T55, one of the new Nordic barrel saunas out there, as an example here.
The Size of Sauna
The best way to answer this question is to consider how many people will use the sauna and how much space you have. All of our saunas will tell you how many people can be seated comfortably inside (e.g. T55 is 2-4 person model, T63 is a larger 6-person model). Our detailed product descriptions also provide you with information such as the interior dimensions along with a technical drawing. We’ve also created this Size Chart for our available Nordic Barrel Sauna models (NBS).
The Type of Heater
An electric heater is standard with every sauna we sell, and we also have wood-burning stoves. The main driver for selecting one or the other is the size of the sauna. The wood-burning stove is recommended for saunas 6’x6’ or larger, whereas any sauna smaller than that typically go with the electric option.
The most common electric heater sizes range from 3kw to 10.5kw depending on the capacity of the sauna. We sell reputable brand heaters from Harvia and HUUM that have been making quality products for many years. Each of our sauna model pairs with a standard size electric heater. For example, 2-person model usually comes with a 4.5kW heater and 4-Person model comes with a bigger 6.0kW unit. The general rule-of-thumb is that we recommend 6.0kW or higher for anything larger than a 6-person sauna.
There are also three types of electric heaters on the market - one with built-in controls such as our veteran KIP heater from Harvia, one with a digital control panel (aka wall controller) such as Virta or Cilindro from Harvia, or the most state-of-the-art DROP heater from HUUM that comes with an optional Wi-Fi controller in addition to a wall controller.
The wood-burning stove will require that you vent the heater out the top or back of the room as well as provide an appropriate firewall around the heater. Installation should be done in compliance with the heater manufacturers’ instructions as well as applicable building codes.
Electric heaters also offer easy maintenance and more control, but will typically require a licensed electrician to complete the installation. While the choice of heater can be one of personal taste, the overall experience is similar whether heating with electric or wood.
The Choice of Wood
With our classic barrel saunas we give you the choice of selecting from three types of lumber: Rustic White Fir, Rustic Red Cedar, and Clear Red Cedar. Whichever you choose, you will find the craftsmanship to be unparalleled.
Our Enhanced Sauna Collections are constructed exclusively with Nordic Spruce and Aspen, all sourced responsibly from Northern Europe. This is a new category of barrel saunas we’ve introduced in 2022 and the only kind in the North American market that’s made using thermally modified wood for its exceptional durability since you’d definitely want your investment to last for a long time.
On the other hand, modern infrared saunas are usually constructed using Canadian hemlock which is known for its natural strength and resistance to decay.
What are the typical accessories?
We offer a wide selection of accessories to enhance your sauna experience. All accessories are made with either Nordic Spruce or red cedar, complimenting any of our indoor and outdoor saunas. Whether you prefer a dry or steam sauna, accessories such as the BLT Set (bucket, ladle and thermometer) is essential for a traditional sauna experience. Or, an accessory package maybe desired for some? Also, don’t forget to check out our beautiful Himalayan salt bar which acts as an unique backdrop or a lighting fixture.
You can browse our entire sauna accessories section here.
What other customizations are available?
A lot of these add-ons for a barrel sauna that usually cost extra are already included in our Nordic Barrel Saunas. Some real savings here.
Floor Kit:
To make your whole surface flat inside a barrel sauna, a floor kit is a must.
Vista Window:
This is our customers’ favorite option which makes the whole sauna experience even more enjoyable; however it’s only available on barrel saunas.
Rain Jacket:
Your barrel saunas are not waterproof, so having a rain jacket in place will definitely protect your valuable possession when winter rolls around.
Sauna lovers around the world…
PART II - THE PRACTICALITIES
Now that we have the basics covered, let’s talk about preparation and assembly. While your sauna is being built, you will have a few weeks down time to have the ground work ready so to speak. Use this time wisely as it could save you a lot of headaches later.
How to prepare for your sauna arrival?
Before constructing your sauna, there are two crucial things to ask yourself:
Is the sauna site level?
A site that is not properly level might result in staves becoming difficult to line up correctly, and/or your door not latching properly. If it’s impossible to make your site level, you might want to consider using shims under your sauna cradles to compensate for the uneven ground.
What base do I place my sauna on?
There are a wide variety of choices for your barrel sauna foundation, but the most popular ones include a concrete slab, a wooden deck, brick pavers, compressed gravel or flagstone. DO NOT PLACE IT ON BARE EARTH! If your barrel sauna is going inside your home, any flooring type is suitable, but carpeting is NOT recommended.
How difficult is sauna assembly?
Our factory makes it as easy and enjoyable as possible by providing pre-built wall sections and assembled benches using the highest quality materials. All of the lumber is pre-cut and pre-notched for a precise fit and finish for both indoor and outdoor sauna rooms, which makes the DIY assembly of your sauna kit a breeze. It can be completed in just a few hours by 2-3 individuals.
Note on electrical requirement. Unless you bought sauna with a wood-burning heater, you will need a 220V line and 30-amp (or 40-amp depending on the size of the heater) run from your breaker to the sauna site for the heater to be hardwired. In addition, the LED light is powered by a regular 110V and 15-amp plug-in. It’s common to have these wires buried if they will be running through your yard, but ALWAYS defer to your local code and regulations. The electrician will drill a hole for the electrical wires to enter your sauna and the most popular place is on the back, behind the heater. This is also where you will want to mount the electrical supply for the LED light.
How much is shipping cost?
We ship for FREE to anywhere in the Continental U.S., and AK and HI customers are welcome to inquire about shipping charge. Your sauna will arrive on a single pallet (with the exception of our largest barrel saunas), and get offloaded to your curbside by the freight driver. You will get a call a few days prior to the final delivery. Check our individual product pages for the current shipping timeframe.
We love our saunas and stand by our promise on quality and craftsmanship! Therefore, we offer a complete satisfaction guarantee for 30 days. If you’re not happy about the order, we’ll take it back with no questions asked. Due to the nature of these custom products, all returns will incur a 25% restocking fee in addition to the return shipping fee. With that being said, we are confident that you will enjoy the sauna experience! As our customers often tell us that the only regret they have is not getting the sauna sooner!
If you are looking for somewhere to start, why not check out our beautiful Nordic Barrel Sauna which we’ve used as an example here? Click below for more information.