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Saunas are bliss, and having them in the comfort of your home is a tempting thought. It’s actually more affordable than you might think! But one of the first questions that come to mind when thinking of creating a home sauna is, what type of home sauna heater should you get?
Installing and using a home sauna can provide numerous health benefits and is also an excellent way to pamper yourself—great for the mind, body, and soul, particularly on frigid nights.
And there are four common types of heaters you can get for a home sauna: wood, gas, electric, and infrared sauna heaters.
Each type of sauna heater will give you a different experience, so below, we’ve broken down different options to help you find the sauna heater you need.
Types of Sauna Heaters for Home
Different types of sauna heaters come with various features that will only work with a particular type of sauna; convection or radiation.
For the convection-type saunas, you can use either wood-fired, gas, or electric heaters. Meanwhile, for the radiation type of saunas, your option is far-infrared heaters.
That said, here are four typical home sauna heaters and types.
Wood-Fired Sauna Heater
The wood-fired or wood-burning sauna heater is the traditional option, like in Finnish saunas. And two of the best things about wood saunas are the pleasant woody smell and the warm, toasty heat from the burning wood, making this sauna heater type perfect for relaxation.
Wood-fired sauna heaters can produce higher heat with minimal humidity.
It’s an excellent option to use for both a dry and wet sauna experience. Simply pour a ladle of water into the rocks on top of the wood-burning sauna stoves to create steam.
Although it usually takes a few minutes to build a fire and wait for the wood-fired sauna to heat up, it’s incredibly efficient and affordable to run.
You can simply grab some pieces of wood, not having to pay for electricity.
Electric Sauna Heater
Electric sauna heaters have become the top choice for home sauna use because of their convenience.
You only need to plug in the electric sauna heater, and the sauna will heat up quicker than wood-fired sauna heaters, and it’s ready to use.
One of the best things about electric sauna heaters is they often come with plenty of refinements. Most have compact designs with digital control and a built-in heater fence or protective coating to prevent accidental burns, making them more convenient to use.
Most electric sauna heaters are made from stainless steel or aluminum with heating coils with rocks stacked upon them.
You can use it as a wet or dry sauna heater by pouring a ladle of water into the heated stones.
The primary downside of using electric sauna heaters is that while they are cheap to buy and easy to install, they can cost more to run.
Gas Sauna Heater
Gas-powered home saunas can be fitted with a natural gas sauna heater or a propane sauna heater. Both options are usually more fuel efficient, hence cheaper to run, compared to electric sauna heaters, although they are a bit more expensive to buy.
Gas sauna heaters also provide more comfortable heat than electric sauna heaters.
However, gas sauna heaters are more prevalent in commercial saunas or larger sauna rooms and not much for home saunas. Because while they are practical and cost-efficient, installing a gas sauna heater at home is not exactly a DIY project.
They will require an electrician or a gas plumber to ensure the gas lines and the ventilations are correctly done.
Not all gas sauna heaters can be safely used when wet. So, better check the specifications and instructions before attempting to pour a ladle of water into a gas sauna heater.
Infrared Sauna Heater
Infrared or far-infrared (FIR) sauna heaters are a more modern spin on traditional sauna heaters. It produces electromagnetic radiation that warms up your body without heating the air around the room.
The rise in your core temperature without sitting inside a hot, stuffy room makes an infrared sauna heater more comfortable than any other traditional sauna heater.
Because an infrared sauna heater will warm up your body directly, the infrared lights travel much deeper into your body.
It means using an infrared sauna will make you sweat more despite the lower temperature, which can provide many health benefits like weight loss, deeper muscle relaxation, and improved blood circulation.
The drawback is that infrared sauna heaters are way more expensive than other types of sauna heaters. Infrared sauna heaters produce dry heat through infrared lights, so there is no option for ladling water to create steam.
Which Home Sauna Heater to Get?
Choosing what type of home sauna heater to use can be complex, but there’s always a sauna heater that will meet your home sauna needs and wishes.
Now, let’s take a look at the different sauna heaters available from best-selling brands.
Finlandia
Arguably the best-known name, and the oldest, in sauna heaters is Finlandia.
They offer primarily electric sauna heaters made from rust-resistant stainless steel and have a whole catalog of home sauna heaters. All of their electric sauna heaters are UL or ETL tested and listed.
One top-selling Finlandia sauna heater that can be used for both wet and dry saunas includes the FLB-80 (up to 425 cubic-feet room).
Harvia
Harvia is another well-known brand that produces a range of high-quality sauna heaters.
They carry a few different sauna heater models, from wood-burning and electric to infrared sauna heaters and both dry and combi heaters (dry and wet sauna).
Some of their top-selling sauna heaters are the Harvia Legend 240 Duo (wood-burning) and Harvia Virta (electric; combi).
HUUM
HUUM is another brand that carries a range of wood-burning and electric sauna heaters. They have one of the best-looking sauna stoves and heaters that combines Nordic and ancient Estonian sauna experiences.
One of our favorite HUUM sauna heaters is the HUUM Hive.
Helo
Helo is another Finnish brand that offers a range of sauna heaters ideal for home settings.
They have a wide range of electric and wood-burning sauna heaters with many features like remote or mobile app control. Helo electric heaters are also priced relatively low compared to other brands considering their quality.
One best-selling Helo sauna heater is the Helo Junior, ideal for small saunas and tight spaces. Another is the Piccolo model, featuring Helo-WT technology.
Final Thoughts
Electric sauna heaters are a good option if your top priority for a home sauna is convenience. But if you want to experience a home sauna the old-school way, a wood-fired sauna will give you that authentic sauna experience.
Meanwhile, gas sauna heaters are better suited for heating larger sauna rooms. Now choose infrared sauna heaters if your purpose is physical wellness.
That’s it—four types of sauna heaters that can offer various experiences to your home sauna. We hope you found the best sauna heater that meets your needs.
