Spend time in the sauna on a consistent basis and you’ll experience a multitude of health benefits. Both an infrared sauna and a traditional sauna can help with everything from reducing stress, removing toxins, and increasing your blood circulation. However, there are differences in these types of saunas that you will want to consider when choosing a sauna for your home.
We want you to make the right decision when considering a sauna. In this post, we’ll break down the top considerations buyers should take into account when considering the purchase of a sauna. Learn how to select the right sauna and optimize your purchase for the best experience.
What to Know When Shopping for a Sauna
- Difference in sauna types
- Comfort level with new experiences
- Restrictions of your property
- Who would join you?
- Inside or outside sauna
- Learning about additional features
- Proximity to a sauna dealership
The health benefits of a sauna are a major draw for many people looking to make a positive impact on their lives however this unlocks a lot of new questions for buyers to consider.
This can make choosing the right sauna seemingly complicated as you’ll need to pick the right one for your property, lifestyle, and desired level of customization. Finnleo has been helping homeowners and sauna enthusiasts for nearly 100 years and we’re happy to help you make the right decision on the right sauna for you.
As you consider whether you want to go the route of improving your quality of life with a sauna let’s break down the top considerations buyers should have before making a purchase.
Know the benefits
Top-of-mind for many sauna buyers are the health benefits. The most immediate benefit of a sauna may be the most obvious: in a sauna, you sweat. Which is good!
In this way, a sauna is beneficial for flushing out toxins circulating around in your system by helping you to sweat more efficiently. This can relieve the skin’s pores of inflammation and acne by leveraging the body’s natural process for flushing out toxins, chemicals, and other irritants.
The most noticeable health benefits of sauna bathing are related to increasing the circulation of your bloodstream. This can boost your cardiovascular performance and may help you to burn more calories.
Additionally, the simple act of sitting in a sauna environment is also very helpful for naturally relieving stress and sleeping better. To learn more about the health benefits of sauna bathing, download our Top 11 Health Benefits of Sauna ebook.
Consideration 1: Do you have experience with infrared sauna or traditional sauna bathing? Which is your personal preference?
There are two main types of saunas—traditional saunas and infrared saunas. Both sauna types offer users many similar benefits including health benefits and a method of relaxation.
However, the way that sauna bathers achieve these benefits are very different.
Traditional Saunas
A traditional sauna is also referred to as a Finnish sauna. If you are looking for a typical sauna experience in which you relax in a room with higher temperatures, this is the sauna for you.
With this type of sauna, you are seated in a wood-lined room that is heated by an electric sauna heater filled with rocks. When the rocks are heated it’s a delight to pour water over them and create steam.
Water can be ladled over the rocks to enhance the steam experience. In a traditional Finnish sauna, you sweat more and may feel more heat in comparison to an infrared sauna.
Traditional of saunas actually heat up to temperatures of 150 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. One of the major benefits of traditional saunas is that users can control the temperature and humidity of the sauna during their heat bath while infrared sauna users can only control the temperature.
Users can also control how much water is thrown over the rocks, thus affecting the level of dryness or level of moisture depending on your preference. Adding water can also create a more comfortable experience for sauna bathing.
We recommend incorporating aromatherapy into traditional sauna bathing by mixing in essential oils with the water during a sauna bath.
Traditional saunas take between 40-45 minutes to reach the desired temperature for sauna bathing to properly heat the rocks in the sauna. Sauna bathers are recommended to spend between 10-15 minutes in the sauna to maximize the benefits, and many sauna enthusiasts enjoy multiple rounds. Sauna bathers using either a traditional or infrared sauna should always make sure they are drinking enough water before and after using a sauna to stay hydrated.
Infrared Saunas
An infrared sauna features a similar design to a traditional sauna. You are also seated in a room lined with wood, such Canadian Hemlock. However, one of the biggest differences of infrared saunas is that these wood-lined rooms are heated using infrared technology rather than a heater covered with rocks.
In an infrared sauna, an emitter produces infrared waves provide the heat in the sauna. In an infrared sauna, you can use the room sooner, as the infrared heats the body directly as opposed to heating the space. The temperatures are not quite as hot as a traditional saun, measuring at an average range of 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Though infrared saunas have lower temperatures, users will still feel heat as the method of heating the body is different than with traditional saunas. Rather than heating the air, infrared energy will directly heat your body. Infrared sauna users will still sweat profusely from the infrared energy that penetrates the body and raises the body core temperature.
Infrared sauna bathers can begin bathing as soon as the sauna is turned on. Similar to traditional saunas, recommended length in the sauna is 10-15 per session. However, because the temperature is much lower in infrared saunas, users will sometimes opt for longer sessions.
Consideration 2: Would you consider trying a type of sauna that is new to you before making your purchase?
Have you experienced a traditional or infrared sauna at a gym or spa that you have visited? If this is the case, you may have a specific sauna in mind that you are considering installing into your home. However, if you have not tried both an infrared sauna and a traditional sauna then you may want to consider visiting a sauna dealer to demo or test a model of both types to see which sauna you prefer. This will allow you to see which sauna offers you the features and benefits that will help give you the best experience possible.
Consideration 3: Are there size restrictions for your sauna?
When you are selecting where to situate your sauna, you want to consider where the unit will best be accommodated in your house or on your property, as well as who all will be sharing the experience with you. By knowing where you will place your sauna, you can narrow your selection to find a sauna that will fit in the desired location and that also has all of the features you want.
Size and Location of Saunas
Finding the perfect location for your sauna can be a struggle if you are already tight on space. Keep in mind, Finnleo can build custom-cut saunas that can easily fit beneath your stairwell, in a tiny home, and just about any other space. You can also renovate an existing closet space or craft corner by having a custom-cut sauna installed there.
If you have a wide-open basement, this is a perfect location to create your own personal spa. For many homeowners, basements are underutilized spaces and are the perfect place for a new renovation project. Time to change the infant nursery or your recently graduated son’s rec room into something more beneficial to your lifestyle? Install a sauna and start taking advantage of the health benefits afforded to you through regular sauna sessions.
At Finnleo, we also install saunas into a finished space. Our saunas are available in a variety of standard sizes and designs. Our saunas are ready to be set up in your home or gym space with ease. Our range of saunas includes models that are portable and can easily be assembled into your space with easy-to-understand instructions to help you have a luxurious sauna quickly, easily, and wherever you like.
Consideration 4: How many people will use the sauna?
When selecting a sauna, you need to account for the number of people that will be using the sauna at a given time. If you are hoping to enjoy the sauna with members of your family or a significant other, then this will impact your choice of sauna as you will want to select a sauna with bench space for more than one person. Saunas can come in a variety of sizes to support people that want to install a sauna in a one bedroom apartment to those who wish to install a sauna for their entire family to enjoy.
If you intend to use the sauna alone or with one other person such as with a significant other, then a sauna such as the Hallmark 44 traditional sauna or the S-820 Low EMR/Low EF infrared sauna would be great options for up to two people to comfortably enjoy the sauna. Finnleo even offers smaller saunas built for one person if you prefer to use your sauna as a personal escape.
Other people prefer using saunas as more of a social experience or prefer to use their saunas with a larger group such as with family members or friends. Finnleo offers larger saunas to accommodate those that would prefer to use their saunas with others. We can even create a custom infrared sauna or custom traditional sauna to fit your lifestyle.
Consideration 5: Do you want to have your sauna outside?
If you are choosing an outdoor sauna, you want to be able to choose the best size to accommodate your outdoor space. Finnleo features outdoor saunas in a variety of sizes. Furthermore, you can choose special features including roofing types for your new outdoor sauna.
We offer plywood and metal roofing for outdoor saunas; you can select the roofing type that compliments your current housing style. The modern and contemporary style of our outdoor saunas is perfectly suited when situated next to a pool or patio. Upgrade the value of your home and property by installing a Finnleo outdoor sauna today.
Consideration 6: Are you interested in additional sauna features?
There are many other sauna features to consider before making a purchase. For example, do you have a preference on the type of doors for your sauna? Is there a type of wood that you prefer to match the style of your home?
Sauna Features and Accessories
When choosing a sauna, it is important to choose a sauna that fits your lifestyle and style preferences. Finnleo offers high-quality wood options including Nordic Spruce with Abachi benches & accents, clear Western Red Cedar, or Canadian Hemlock. With these options, you will never have to worry about your sauna losing its quality appearance over time.
Another way Finnleo lets you personalize your sauna is with several door options. Whether you are looking for a bronze tinted door to match accents in your home, an all-glass door to capture more light, or a Canadian Hemlock door to create more privacy, there are several options in a variety of sizes to create the sauna that looks just like what you have been envisioning.
If you choose a traditional sauna, there are several Rento accessories you may consider to optimize your experience. Rento buckets, ladles, and linens are available to help you create the desired steam and humidity level during your sauna experience while protecting your sauna from stains from perspiration.
Consideration 7: Where can I purchase a sauna?
Whether you are ready to purchase a sauna for your indoor or outdoor space, Finnleo saunas are the ideal solution. To start the process of purchasing a new infrared or traditional sauna, find a Finnleo dealer near you. Finnleo dealers can help you find the right sauna for your space that checks all of your boxes for sauna preferences.
What to Know When Shopping for a Sauna
The health benefits of a sauna are a major draw for many people looking to make a positive impact on their lives however this unlocks a lot of new questions for buyers to consider.
This can make choosing the right sauna seemingly complicated as you’ll need to pick the right one for your property, lifestyle, and desired level of customization. Finnleo has been helping homeowners and sauna enthusiasts for nearly 100 years and we’re happy to help you make the right decision on the right sauna for you.
As you consider whether you want to go the route of improving your quality of life with a sauna let’s break down the top considerations buyers should have before making a purchase.
When investing in a sauna, it is important to consider all of the different aspects of a sauna to create the best sauna experience possible. Whether you opt for a traditional or an infrared sauna, the decision to install a sauna in your home will allow you to have an escape to relax and unwind while enjoying several health and wellness benefits. Have any questions? Feel free to contact us to help you plan a new sauna for your home.
