Sauna Glossary

Adjusted cubic feet (ACF): A calculation of the adjusted size - in cubic feet - of a sauna's interior that helps determine a corresponding kilowatt rating. Ambient room temperature: The temperature inside an indoor home sauna when not in use. Backrest: A wooden fixture to a bench that takes pressure off the back of a person sitting in an indoor home sauna. Bench: The wooden seating area for people inside an indoor home sauna. Blind fastened: When building a home sauna, the joining or attaching of two or more pieces of wood where a fastener such as a screw or nail is not visible. Brush: A long-handled tool used to remove dirt and skin particles while using a home sauna. Bucket: A copper or wooden sauna bucket that contains the water that is poured over rocks inside a heater. Combustible material: A substance such as wood that can be burned to provide heat inside a sauna. Door jamb: The area in which a sauna door is hinged or hung.

Dry sauna: A sauna that doesn't use water to create a dry climate of around 10 to 15 percent humidity. Infrared-heated saunas are dry saunas.

Electric sauna heater: A device that uses electricity to raise the temperature inside a sauna.

Framed room dimensions: The interior sauna room's interior measurements to determine how much custom-cut sauna materials will be needed.

Furring strips: Wood strips applied to a sauna's wall studs placed in level fashion before sauna boards are attached.

Gas sauna heater: A vented device that is fueled by either natural gas or propane used to increase the temperature inside a sauna.

Headrest: A removable wooden piece that relieves neck pressure while sitting in an indoor sauna.

Heater: The device that boosts the inside temperature of a sauna by using either wood, infrared rays, electric, gas, or propane fuel.

Hygrometer: A device that measures the humidity inside an indoor sauna, which usually ranges from 10 to 35 percent, depending on how much water is poured on the stones.

Infrared heat: A radiation process in which rays are absorbed by the body inside a sauna. Unlike traditional steam saunas, steam is not emitted with infrared heat.

Insulation: Paper-faced fiberglass material that helps prevent heat loss in a sauna. R-11 or R-13 fiberglass insulation is recommended.

Ladle: An accessory used for pouring water over the rocks of a sauna heater.

Light bulb: An incandescent means of providing illumination inside a sauna. Sauna lights come in different colors to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Oils: The scent additive that is placed in the water bucket and poured over the sauna heater's rocks to add fragrance to the air.

Pre-built sauna kit: Pieces of wood that can be assembled or re-assembled in another location. It can take from two to four hours to assemble or disassemble.

Portable sauna: A sauna that can be quickly disassembled and moved from place to place.

Rocks: The hard material found in a sauna heater that, combined with water, provides a temperature increase inside a sauna. Most heaters contain about 30 pounds of sauna rocks.

Sand timer: An hourglass-shaped device that determines how long users have been inside a sauna.

Soap: Specially-made to withstand a sauna's extreme heat, a bar made of natural ingredients for cleansing the body while taking a sauna.

Thermometer: A device that measures and displays the temperature inside a sauna. The average temperature in a sauna is around 180 degrees F.

Towel rack: The place on the exterior of the sauna where towels are hung.

Vent: A means of removing air impurities from a gas or wood-burning heater and helping to speed the heat-up process of a home sauna.

Water: The liquid that is poured from a sauna bucket or sauna ladle to produce the steam that increases a sauna's temperature.

Wood-burning stove: The use of firewood to heat the inside of a sauna.