A traditional sauna heats the air and the rocks, and you control the humidity
by throwing water on those rocks. That steam burst, löyly, is the thing infrared
cannot reproduce. If you have used a sauna in Finland, at a gym, or at a
Korean spa, this is what you used.
Electric or wood-burning
Electric is the practical choice indoors. Push a button,
wait 30 to 45 minutes, done. It needs a dedicated 240V circuit and, for most
residential room sizes, a 6 to 8kW heater.
Wood-burning needs a chimney, a flue, clearances to
combustibles, and usually a permit. It also produces a quality of heat that
electric owners quietly envy, and it works when the power is out. Outdoors it is
often the better choice. Indoors it is a building project.
Sizing the heater to the room
Roughly 1kW per 45 to 50 cubic feet of room volume, then add capacity for
any uninsulated surface. Glass and stone are the usual culprits. A large glass
front can add the equivalent of a third of the room again. Undersizing the
heater is the most common mistake and it produces a sauna that never quite gets
there.
Precut room or freestanding cabin
A precut kit converts a space you already have, a spare
bathroom or a basement corner. It gives you the exact dimensions you want and a
built-in look, but you are responsible for the framing, the vapor barrier, and
the electrical.
A freestanding cabin arrives as panels and assembles in a
few hours. It costs more per cubic foot and it can be moved.
Bench layout
Heat stratifies hard. The difference between the upper and lower bench can be
30°F or more, which is the point: the upper bench is for heat, the lower is for
recovery or for anyone who wants a gentler sit. You want the upper bench high
enough that your feet clear the lower one, and the ceiling low enough to hold
the heat, usually around seven feet. A tall ceiling wastes the heat you paid
for.
Ventilation
Air in low near the heater, out high on the opposite wall. Skip this and the
room feels stale and takes longer to heat no matter how good the heater is. Any
manufacturer whose install guide does not cover ventilation has not thought
hard enough about the product.
We are currently completing authorized dealer agreements with several
manufacturers in this category. If you are planning a build and want a straight
answer on heater sizing or room layout, email hello@radiantsaunahq.com.
