Sauna Types
Picking the type of sauna heater for a sauna Wood-burning stoves are excellent if you live in a wooded area or where firewood is plentiful. They work well for outdoor saunas. Unfortunately, you cannot control the temperature with a wood-burning heater the way you can with an electric sauna heater. An infrared sauna features infrared sauna heaters that emit rays that are absorbed directly into the skin. Temperatures with infrared sauna heaters are lower than previously-mentioned sauna heaters, which many people prefer. Some studies show that infrared heaters provide special health benefits. Another alternative heating source - albeit inefficient - comes from oil and gas heaters. These heaters need proper venting to avoid an unpleasant odor produced by burning fuel. Propane heaters are sometimes used for portable saunas. |  |
Barrel saunas give you a rustic look
If you'd like to give your home a rustic look, check into a barrel sauna. These large, barrel-shaped saunas are made out of sturdy cedar. Built to accommodate six to eight people, this sauna's unique shape permits condensation to move down the walls into a drain for easy cleaning.
Another type of sauna is an ozone sauna that is effective in killing virus organisms and bacteria. Ozone saunas involve the use of activated oxygen - a compound made up of three oxygen molecules. Ozone sauna users say they feel more refreshed, less tense, and less tired after regular sauna sessions.
If you're handy with tools, you can save money by building your own home sauna, but it's a time-consuming endeavor. Larry McDermott, manager of Home Innovations Spas in Omaha, NE, says a custom-cut sauna kit is ideal in cases where you're designing a room in any shape. You design the room, he says, and the kit is made to your specifications. The kit composes the inside of the sauna, and you complete the outside to match the decor of the room.
Panel-built saunas are pre-assembled at the factory. Some infrared-heated models simply snap together. There are outdoor sauna kits that are made of weatherproof material.
Steam shower combos work well
Steam shower combos give you the same benefits as a traditional sauna, but take up far less space. A combo sauna features a normal shower and a steam bath. It takes up just a little more space than a regular shower.
A steam shower generator hooked to a water line produces the steam that helps relieve stress, break up sinus congestion, and burn calories. A combo sauna is an economical alternative to a more costly traditional sauna. The unit has enough room for up to three people at a time.
A steam combo sauna uses 220-volt electricity. A computer control panel with a timer allows you to control how long you'll be using the sauna. Sliding doors separate the shower and the sauna for heat protection.
Your budget and the time you want to devote to putting together a sauna will factor into your sauna choice. A large selection of brands and types of home saunas should make it easy to find a sauna that will be a fine fit in your home.