School me on SAUNAS

[go4thegusto]

My wife is in remission from Lymphoma. She is being told there are great benefits to the lymph system and general detox using a sauna. We would like to explore getting a relatively compact 2 person.
Infrared only OK?
I am concerned about the moisture of a wet sauna.
Help please with general insight, name brands, deals etc
Thanks!

 

[idahomuleys]

By wet sauna do you mean steam room? Not actually sauna? A dry sauna is an electric heater system where you throw water on the rocks to create steam. Very rarely is this enough moisture to cause issues. The heater itself generally dries out the space with how hot it is in there. Even without that, the sauna should be waterproofed behind the walls. A steam room is a different story and a room is heated off steam not an electric heater. I am not very familiar with infrared saunas. I built a dry sauna at my house a few years ago and love it. I have heard good things about Finlandia sauna kits but havent personally seen one. Pm me if you want to know how to find info on building one yourself.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[Braaap]

We bought our traditional sauna at Costco and it’s been great. We very rarely put any water on the rocks since we like it dry. I would recommend traditional over IR.

 

[pattimusprime22]

I recommend traditional(dry) over IR saunas. The IR saunas don't get as hot and many of the studies on positive health effects of sauna are done at higher temps that can't be reached with IR saunas.

 

[grfox92]

IR Saunas are not saunas. They are heat lamps in a wooden box.

I came very close to starting a business building in home and outdoor saunas. I still potentially could, but I was swayed by what my price woukd be VS what someone could order an IR sauna online for. Im just not sure the juice would be worth the squeeze for the market in NW WY.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

 

[Rich M]

You can get a 120-volt IR sauna for about $4k? I guess.

My wife got one when i bought a boat. Anyway. It will heat you up and start you sweating real good. We use it when time permits.

My wife got this specific one for health - over others. I have no idea about the ins and outs of it.

One of the nutritionists my SiL worked for had about 6 of em and folks would come in to “bake”. There are supposed to be some advantages to the dry IR.

Have you asked dr about recommendations?

 

[Beaveralum]

This is the sauna my wife and I use, best purchase I have ever made.

RELAX PORTABLE FAR INFARED SAUNA

Relax Sauna Energy – A Technological Breakthrough! Look at the emitter or panel of any Infrared Sauna… and ask… What percentage of this energy emitted is Actually Far Infrared Energy. You would be Shocked to find out how low those percentages are. Over 95% of the energy emitted by the 1500-watt...

chemicalfreebody.com

Feel free to PM and I can send you some podcasts to listen to that will explain the science behind the sauna way better than I ever could.

Congrats on remission for your wife

 

[Bushwacker44]

Just build one, fun and fairly simple. I've had sauna around my entire life. Outdoor wood or currently a electric 8kw in my basement. Definitely want to be able to throw steam. Also you will want it to reach 180° to feel like its getting hot. My steam room is about 6x10 with 2 benches. Simple and easy. This is a propane outdoor at fil that got a little to hot the other week. Closest ive seen that didn't actually burn down.
That grey plastic was a water bucket that melted.

 

[Yooper]

Always had a sauna growing up....every family member did too. My wife and I are both half-Finn and my mom's family all came over from Finland. But I digress. Wood heat is going to be more traditional and can get hotter. Electric heat is easier and less work overall. No experience with IR or those little units you see for sale other than my sister in-law had one that her husband bought and nobody used it. If you have the space available outside you could consider a barrel sauna as well. These guys are someone local to me, but I think there are other builders out there. The Sauna Guys

 

[TaperPin]

If you lean toward a steam shower or steam room, it’s good to know a good system or many tile guys who are clueless will rip you off with poor moisture proofing that can cause problems if used all the time. Laticrete has a lot of good information for professional installers, and I give out their information to remodeling clients thinking of one so they can better talk with tile contractors.

https://cdn-global.laticrete.com/-/media/project/laticrete-international/shared/files/technical-design-manuals/ds125_steam_room_technical_design_manual.pdf?rev=5e5d60f438514c86a89ebcee7a0ee671&hash=AEA052E859E52B421A48DC45FA64D31B

 

[StuckoYota99]

We bought our traditional sauna at Costco and it’s been great. We very rarely put any water on the rocks since we like it dry. I would recommend traditional over IR.

Which model did you get?

 

[Pacific_Fork]

The studies on the benefits of sauna are amazing. I would advise like above to get a real sauna and not IR. I’ve been in one and since they don’t reach high temps it just feels like you’re cheating yourself from the suck of 180 degrees for 25 mins in a real sauna.

 

[Braaap]

Which model did you get?

Almost Heaven 6 person barrel sauna. It’s great. Almost Heaven has excellent customer service as well.

 

[bozeman]

I have a 3 person ‘traditional’ sauna out in my shop. 8k heater gets it up to around 204F before shutting off. I usually get in around 180F, 20-24 mins. Then in the pool in the winter, or in a cold shower. Awesome feeling. You need to be careful with seat/bench height vs heater/stove height. But yes, the medicinal benefits are proven.

 

[RockAndSage]

Almost Heaven 6 person barrel sauna. It’s great. Almost Heaven has excellent customer service as well.

Those look pretty cool. Holding up well?

 

[Braaap]

Those look pretty cool. Holding up well?

Yes. We’ve had it almost two years. It seems to be high quality. I’ve seen one a buddy has had for several years longer than me and his looks great.