Saunaing is a pleasure for the body and mind.
If you have experienced the sauna and know all its secrets, but you do not want to share this moment with strangers, there is only one solution: install one at home!
Once you have made this decision, the question that immediately arises is: how to choose it?
A few suggestions and the answer will come to you!
Traditional or infrared sauna
Before choosing materials and dimensions, the first decision to be made is the type of sauna: is it better to have a traditional or an infrared sauna?
:
TRADITIONAL:
- It is energy-consuming, consuming large amounts of energy compared to an infrared
- The heating time is three times longer than with an infrared system
- The temperature easily reaches 85°.
- Moisture content is higher due to steam
- Installation is less straightforward than with an infrared camera.
- Can be inserted indoors or outdoors without difficulty
- It is not recommended for those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular problems.
INFRARED:
- The most powerful are triphasic
- They heat up 3 times faster than a traditional sauna
- The temperature is around 60°.
- Moisture content is lower than in traditional systems
- Easier assembly
- You can choose between ceramic or carbon technology, although ceramic is the preferred choice.
- It is suitable for those suffering from cardiovascular or respiratory problems, rheumatism or lumbago.
- It is perfect for sports enthusiasts as it helps regenerate scars, sprains, bruises, injuries, inflammation or muscular pain.
In both cases you will have options such as chromotherapy, aromatherapy or music therapy.
The number of loungers and the surface area depend on your taste and the space you have available; more space will allow for the installation of a greater number of benches or loungers.
MATERIALS
Most sauna cabins are completely made of wood that can withstand temperature changes, such as cedar or spruce, tremulus, birch, abachi, hemlock or Douglas pine, all of which are very dense, hard and excellent for insulation.
Red cedar is more durable and remains intact over the years.
Wood is used because it respects tradition and is natural, but above all because it offers several advantages such as:
- Absorption: retains water vapour or helps keep the sauna air dry, absorbs heat and does not overheat
- Radiant properties: essential for creating the microclimate inside the sauna.
CABIN
A perfect cabin should be at least 2 metres long and 1.5 metres wide (2 metres if you want to lie down better).
Finnish (traditional) saunas have a standard height of 2 metres, which is ideal for providing enough space to move around without wasting heat.
Smaller saunas are also available, but always remember that a good sauna cabin should not be less than 2 square metres.
Other elements to pay attention to are:
- Doors: in traditional saunas, the height is equal to the height of the cabin and 56 cm wide, but they can also be narrower to reduce heat loss.
- They are almost always equipped with an isothermal window and often consist of large windows to avoid feelings of claustrophobia.
- Benches: generally have a depth of between 50 and 70cm and are placed at different levels so as to take advantage of the high temperature at the highest level.
- It is important to check that the size and location are suitable for the chosen sauna cabin.
- Stove: the most suitable is a sauna with a higher load of volcanic stones (18 to 20 kg, but some stoves go up to 25 kg).
- Ventilation system: if the sauna will be placed in a windowless room, it is essential to provide a duct that directs the stale air directly outside.
ELECTRICAL CONSUMPTION
The question we all ask ourselves when we think about choosing a sauna is: how much kw will it consume?
Energy absorption varies according to the size of the sauna, so the choice will depend first on the number of people using this corner of peace and second on the number of times it is used.
To get an idea of the dimensions, for two people lying down, the cabin must be at least 2 metres long by 1.5 metres wide.
In a case like this, the power consumption will be around 4.5kw.
Considering the number of sauna sessions, 1-2 sessions per week of about a couple of hours, the consumption will be about 3€ per hour.
Consider that the power of the stove is decisive for the consumption (3 to 9 kw). We recommend the use of a probe connected to the stove, which will check the actual temperature of the sauna space and thus reduce operating costs.
CUSTOMISATION
Last elements to consider are physiological needs, personal taste and accessories.
If you want the benefits of aromatherapy, you can find essential oils on the market that stimulate the body's wellbeing; for colour therapy you can have spotlights installed with the possibility of adjusting colour and intensity.
There are timers and hourglasses to tell you how long you should stay in the sauna, ergonomic backrests and adjustable headrests. You can also decide to cover the walls of your sauna with Himalayan salt!
This last element has only one constraint: your imagination!!!
