Home Saunas: Options and Costs
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Saunas are a wonderful way to relax, improve health and promote well being. A home sauna is a great way to bring these benefits into your daily life - a relaxing way to improve immunity, skin, circulation, and heart health. The seemingly endless varieties, options and accessories available in home saunas can be a little overwhelming but it’s easier than you think to sort through and choose the sauna that’s right for you.
Heater Options
There are several options available to heat your sauna. The oldest, most traditional heat source is a word burning stove but these require quite a bit of time. The atmosphere inside a wood fired sauna is filled with ambiance but the temperature is variable and harder to control. Gas heaters operate similar to wood burning heaters but offer more control over the temperature.
More convenient, modern versions include electric, gas and, most recently, infrared heaters. Electric, gas and wood source heaters increase the air temperature within the sauna while infrared versions heat objects, mainly people. Infrared heaters are not unlike the sun’s rays but they do not produce damaging ultraviolet light. These types of heaters have been gaining popularity because they produce a deep heat which is appealing to many sauna enthusiasts. They also use less energy than electric or gas heaters and don’t create a steam so the sauna interior and experience feels cleaner.
Electric heaters have been popular because they are relatively fast and inexpensive. In the electric versions, higher grade heaters are more expensive but will last longer. This type of heater warms rocks which store the heat for long periods.
Electric, gas and wood heaters all use heated rocks to maintain high temperatures. Steam is created by pouring water over the hot rocks. One of the benefits of these types of saunas is the opportunity to use natural scents like lavender, citrus or eucalyptus to create a healthy, healing steam. The invigorating steam helps promote a healthy sweat that sweeps toxins out of the body.
If you choose an infrared sauna the experience is quite different. Instead of steam, infrared heaters penetrate the skin and go straight for the muscles. The effect is great on tired, sore muscles but doesn’t produce the atmosphere that many people are used to. Still, this type of sauna does have the same benefits as traditional saunas and is growing in popularity.
Costs
The price you’ll pay for a home sauna depends on the size, the materials and the heater type. For instance, heaters can range between $500 for a small electric model to over $3,000 for a large, deluxe model.
Other variables include accessories and optional elements like windows and types of glass. A decent size, two person home sauna typically starts just under $2,000 while a large 12x12 deluxe sauna can run close to $9,000 before options.
Because there are so many options and variables, many manufacturers have created online price charts where buyers can mix and match elements and receive an estimate. These are an easy way for homeowners to find the options available within their price range.
*Note: The information in this article is general advice and not meant as a substitute for personal guidance from a financial advisor, real estate professional, general contractor or legal counsel. Although the author is a licensed realtor, the advice given in this article does not constitute any client contract or agreement between the author and the user. The author is not responsible for any losses, damages or claims that may result from your decisions.
