The Sauna Experience

• What is the best temperature for a Sauna?

  The appropriate temperature for a sauna depends on your preference! Most people prefer to enjoy their sauna at temperatures between 150-175 degrees Fahrenheit for traditional saunas and 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit for infrared saunas.

• How long should I stay inside a sauna?

  While this, too, varies between individuals – one can usually stay in the sauna until they begin to feel uncomfortable. Typically, remain in the sauna for about 10-15 minutes and then take a break to cool off for several minutes. Then you can feel free to return to the sauna for another “inning.” A Finnleo sauna experience can be truly relaxing and rewarding, but don’t stay in the sauna for extended periods of time. Set the temperature and humidity level (if you are using a traditional sauna) to your ideal level. If you begin to feel dizzy or uncomfortable, simply leave the sauna and cool off.

• What should I do after sauna heat bathing?

  After your sauna, cleanse your skin via shower or bath to remove any and all residues or salts left behind. A quick rinse will close your pores once again and is the perfect way to end your sauna experience. It is recommended that you moisturize your skin with a high quality moisturizing lotion. It’s also ideal to shampoo your hair afterward. Don’t forget to drink an adequate amount of water, mineral water, fruit or vegetable juice to replace fluids that were lost during your heat bathing.

• Is it okay to pour water on the rocks of Finnleo traditional heaters?

  Pouring water on the rocks of Finnleo traditional sauna heaters is perfectly fine and is an essential aspect of the overall experience! For infrared saunas, however, the humidity will be ambient. The new BWT feature on the Vena-T, Himalaya, and Laava makes adding water even easier than ever.

• Are there any health problems that I should be concerned about?

  Be sure to consult your personal physician if you have any history of heart problems, high blood pressure or any other health problems before enjoying any kind of sauna.

• What are some of the most notable benefits of using a sauna?

  Relaxation is by far the most cited benefit from regular sauna bathers, followed closely by the positive effects seen from detoxification. Download the health benefits of sauna.

• How much can I expect to pay monthly for my sauna?

  If you use your sauna 3 times per week, a 6 kW heater will use approximately $4 to $6 per month. A 2.1 kW heater, on the other hand, would use about $2/month. Far-infrared saunas typically use $3 to $5 per month. Steam baths usually average $3 to $5 per month.

• How long, on average, does it take for a sauna to fully heat up?

  A traditional sauna generally takes between 30 and 45 minutes to fully heat up. During this time, the rocks will be heated to the perfect temperature for soft heat and soft steam. With the addition of a Saunatonttu heater, the sauna heat up time is halved. It takes about 10 minutes for an infrared sauna to heat up. After 10 minutes, the air has warmed up a little and the emitters are running at full power.

• Does my sauna need to have a drain installed?

  No, not necessarily. That said, it may be more convenient for cleaning purposes — especially with our traditional saunas.

• What kind of floor is best for a sauna?

  For traditional saunas, the best kind of floor for a sauna is cement, tile or anything that doesn’t absorb water. For infrared saunas, wood or tile is perfect. Carpet, however, should never be used — as it absorbs sweat and odors.

• What heater size is appropriate for my sauna?

  To find out the appropriate heater size for your sauna, measure Length x Width x Height to find the cubic footage. Next, find the correct heater on the Finnleo or Helo heater sizing chart. On the infrared saunas, the ideal amount of emitters and wattage has already been calculated for each room.

• What type of circuit breaker should be used for my sauna?

  Standard breakers should be used. They should be sized for the heater in to correspond with the National Electric Code. Standard Infrared saunas, however, can be easily plugged in to normal household 120 volt outlets (15 and 20 amp).

• Why are so many different wood choices recommended?

  There are many variables to consider when choosing the appropriate wood choice for performance in a given sauna. All the woods used in our saunas have been used for hundreds of years and have long proven their viability for sauna use. Wood choice is also largely contingent upon user preference and style. We hand select clear softwoods such as Western Red Cedar and vertical grain Canadian Hemlock and fine-grained European woods such as European Alder and Nordic White Spruce. We then complement these choices by matching bench materials which enhance the sauna user’s comfort levels. We determine the most ideal profiles, thickness specifications, framing materials, hardware – and give you a product that is built to perform and to last. Our warranties and decades of experience will give you further piece of mind when considering our wood choice expertise.