What to Know When Shopping For a Sauna

Saunas are a great way to relax, but they require some planning before purchasing. You’ll want to choose a model that suits your needs and space.

As you consider adding a sauna into your lifestyle routine, let’s break into the top considerations buyers should make before making a purchase.

Do you prefer infrared or traditional saunas?

There are two main types of saunas: traditional and infrared. Traditional saunas use hot water as a heat source. Infrared saunas use light-emitting diodes (LED) instead of hot water. If you aren’t familiar with the differences between the two, here’s a brief breakdown.

Traditional Saunas

A traditional sauna is also known as a Finnish sauna or a Swedish sauna. This type of sauna uses rocks to heat up the air inside the sauna. When the rocks are heated, you can pour water over them to create steam.

In a traditional Finnish Sauna, you sweat more than in an infrared sauna because you are sitting in a hotter environment. Users are in control of how much water is poured over the rocks, so this allows users to control both the temperature and humidity.

Infrared Saunas

An infrared sauna uses infrared rays instead of a heater. In this type of sauna, an infrared heater produces waves that provide heat in the sauna. This allows you to use the room sooner, because the infrared heat warms up the body as opposed to heating the space.

The temperatures are not quite as hot as a traditional sauna, with the maximum temperature being 125º Fahrenheit. The recommended sauna session time is 10-15 minutes. But, because infrared saunas have a lower temperature than traditional saunas, some people may choose to stay in them for longer periods of time.

Are there size restrictions for your sauna?

When you’re selecting a space to situate your sauna, you’ll want to consider where it will best be accommodated in your home and who will be sharing it with you. This will help you narrow down your selection to find a sauna that will fit in your desired location and has all of the features you want.

If you have a wide-open basement, this may be a perfect location. Basements are often underutilized spaces for many homeowners, so it may be the perfect space for your sauna. Or, if you have a certain space with size restrictions, you may want to get a custom-built sauna.

You’ll also need to make sure you have adequate electrical outlets for your sauna. Different size saunas may have different power requirements, so be sure to keep this in mind when you’re shopping.

How many people will use the sauna?

When selecting a sauna, consider how many people will use the sauna at a particular time. You may want to choose a larger size if you plan on sharing the sauna with more than one person.

Are you interested in additional features?

There are many features to consider before making a sauna purchase. For example, do you have a preference on the type of doors you want? Or is there a certain type of wood you prefer to match the style of your home?

Where can I purchase a sauna?

Whether you choose a traditional or an infrared, the decision to install a sauna in your home allows you to have an escape from relaxing and unwinding while enjoying several benefits for your health and wellbeing.

To start the process of purchasing a new infrared or traditional sauna, shop saunas online or visit Bassemiers in-store. We can help you find the right sauna for your space that checks all of the boxes for your sauna preferences!