Top Sauna Questions

Buying a sauna is a major investment in your health and home. Here are the top questions we’ve selected from our years of experience that we think will help you satisfy all of your most important sauna questions.

How much does it cost to operate my sauna?

The costs of operating a sauna are very minimal - negligible under normal use, much like the cost of a clothes dryer or electric oven. Many saunas operate on efficient 220 volt electricity and draw less than 30 amps of power. Unlike a spa or other household appliance, it only runs when you want to use it. You heat up the sauna no more than an hour or so before you want to use it and then shut it off when you’re finished, usually 20-30 minutes later. Some of our saunas cost about $0.10 to $0.15 cents per hour of use, which is well under $10 a month to operate even if you use it every day. Find out how much your sauna will cost you with our Sauna Cost Calculator.

What are the Power requirements needed to use a sauna?

For most traditional units: The sauna heater requires 220v power and must be hard-wired to the electrical source. A 4.5kw or 6.0kw heater will require a 30 amp breaker and 10/2 wire and an 8.0kw heater will require a 40 amp breaker and 8/2 wire. The light requires 110v, 15 amp service with an in-line on/off switch.

For most infrared units: All of our 1 and 2-person infrared sauna units use a standard 15-amp, three-pronged household outlet. All other infrared saunas require at least one dedicated 20-amp outlet.

Check the electrical specifications for your specific model and ALWAYS have a licensed electrician do your wiring according to local electrical codes.

How hard is it to assemble a sauna?

After unpacking, most customers assemble their sauna in an hour or two thanks to the buckle latch system, pre-assembled panels, and simple wiring. Most infrared and indoor traditional saunas can be quickly and easily assembled by two people with a small stepladder and a Phillips screwdriver (a cordless drill makes the process even faster).

Barrel saunas come partially assembled and the sections simply need to be fitted in place. The saunas come with pre-assembled front and back ends and require the staves to be placed around the ends and then tightened with the stainless bands. Bench sections are pre-built and simply need to be installed after the room is assembled. Easy-to-follow instruction manuals are included with every sauna.

Can my sauna go indoors or outdoors?

Our barrel saunas are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Red Cedar is naturally resistant to decay, and the ball and socket design of the staves makes for a robust seal and solid structure for outdoor use. Additionally, the thick softwood staves are excellent at retaining the heat of the sauna and the circular barrel shape provides excellent distribution of heat. Roof covers are available here and are highly recommended for those in very wet or snowy climates.

We do not recommend placing indoor traditional or infrared saunas outdoors. If you choose to put an indoor sauna outside, please set it up under a patio cover and/or buy a sauna cover for it. The electronics are housed on top of the units and this section needs to stay dry. Placing an indoor sauna outdoors will void the manufacturer’s warranty but we have many customers who’ve successfully placed their saunas in protected outdoor environments.

How many people can a sauna hold?

We offer a wide range of saunas, from units for single occupancy like the Tranquil or Sparkle, to units for 8 people like the Everest. No matter what you’re looking for, we have the right sauna for you!

What standard features does my sauna come with?

Almost all of our infrared saunas come standard with backrests, magazine racks, towel bars, entertainment sound systems, reading lights, floor heaters, and other great features. Our traditional saunas include built-in backrests, interior LED lights, ladles, buckets, and thermometers. Flooring is not included with traditional sauna purchases but we offer flooring kits for both our barrel and indoor units.

What is the warranty of your saunas?

We offer a 7-year warranty on all of our infrared saunas for the following components: the wood cabin (does not include the normal characteristics of wood including hairline cracks or discoloration developed over time due to the heat), electrical, heaters, and stereo.

Our traditional saunas have a limited lifetime warranty on the cabin and 5-year warranty on the Harvia heater through the manufacturer.

You won’t find a better deal anywhere else, complete warranty information is available here.

How long does it take to get a sauna shipped to me?

Many of our infrared saunas are delivered within 7-10 business days after purchasing. Most of our traditional barrel saunas can be delivered within 6-8 weeks and indoor traditional saunas take about 4-6 weeks to be delivered. Our cabin saunas only require 2 weeks to be delivered.

what types of wood do you use?

We use high quality red cedar, spruce, hemlock, and fir. Red Cedar is the preferred lumber for traditional outdoors saunas because it is one of the few kinds of wood that are naturally resistant to rot, decay, and mildew. Our indoor infrared saunas are mostly built using Canadian hemlock.

What is the EMF level in your Infrared saunas?

We use premium low EMF heaters in all of our infrared units. Health is important to us so we spare no expense to assure your sauna session improves your health in every way rather than endangering it with poor quality heating elements.

What floor surface can I put my sauna on?

Infrared saunas can be placed on any flat surface, including carpet, wood, and laminate. Common areas are bedrooms, living rooms, walk-in closets, garages, and basements. Concrete absorbs heat, so if you’re placing your sauna on concrete (such as a basement or garage), you’ll want to put a rubber mat or rug under the sauna for insulation. Our barrel saunas can be used in any environment, but it’s important that the surface supporting the sauna is firm and level (a slight taper for rain run-off is fine.) Suitable surfaces include wood decks, concrete patios, paver stones, pressed gravel, etc. The barrel saunas can be placed directly on the ground due to the synthetic plastic cradle supports which create a barrier between the wood and the ground.

How are saunas shipped?

Our saunas are delivered, by semi or box truck, in multiple boxes strapped to a pallet. The single driver will unload the pallet to your curbside or driveway depending on the ease of access, unless you have made other arrangements with the shipper. Your sauna will come well-packed and well-protected with wrapping, boxes, and packing materials. You can read more about the shipping process here.

How hot will my sauna get?

Traditional saunas can reach temperatures of up to 180 degrees while infrared saunas can reach 151 degrees. The temperature setting should be between 110 – 140 degrees for maximum health benefits. We recommend that you listen to your body and do what’s comfortable for you. You can work up to higher temperatures and/or longer sauna sessions over time.

Do you have any discounts/sales?

We always offer discounts for medical professionals and first responders. We also have occasional sales on select models when we plan to discontinue manufacturing them.

Is there any toxic glue involved in your sauna construction?

Our saunas contain no toxic glues. The interior of our saunas are blind nailed (no nail heads showing) and smooth sanded by hand. They’ve been scrutinized and tested at the highest levels and have ETL, CETL, and CE certifications. In addition, our supplier belongs to the ISO 9001 quality control program.

Do you offer financing?

We're happy to offer financing through Affirm, making owning a sauna more obtainable and affordable for everyone. Select Affirm at checkout, then enter a few pieces of info for a real-time decision. Pick the monthly payment plan that works best for you; you’ll never pay more than you agree to upfront. Make payments at affirm.com or in the Affirm app, you’ll get email and text reminders to keep you on track!

What type of maintenance is required?

Maintaining your sauna is easy, the inside should need very little cleaning. Doors and windows can be cleaned with water and a microfiber cloth. You may want to periodically scrub the floor or benches of the sauna with a mild solution of water and baking soda but other than that, simply enjoy your sauna! Do not use any cleaners on the wood as the wood will absorb them and leech out when the sauna is in use.