How To Heat Your SaunaThe heart of the sauna is its heater. Sauna heaters must be specially designed to maintain a consistent high temperature. There are several types of heaters available, but the most commonly used are electric heaters. Wood-burning heaters are popular in rural areas, and oil and gas heaters are also available. The sauna heater has 2 basic functions: to create heat and to create steam. The stones that are piled on the heater retain heat. When water is poured over them, they produce steam. Electric HeatersElectric sauna heaters were introduced in the 1930s. Prior to that, all saunas were heated with fire. Many sauna aficionados feel that fire produces the best type of heat for a sauna. They describe it as being a "soft" heat.However, wood-burning heaters are not practical for most urban areas. For this reason, electric sauna heaters are now the most common type of heater. Electric heaters are usually enclosed in a protective casing to prevent burns if bathers accidentally touch them. They are controlled with a thermostat mounted outside the sauna. The desired temperature is set and the heater stays on while the sauna is in use. It takes an electric heater about 30 minutes to bring the sauna to the desired temperature. Wood-Burning HeatersFor those who have a home in the country, a wood-burning heater is a good choice for a sauna. Most country houses have a good supply of firewood, so saunas can be operated at quite a reasonable cost. Some wood-burning heaters have glass doors that allow bathers the cozy experience of gazing at the fire while taking a sauna.Wood-burning sauna heaters are combustion chambers with controlled airflow. The amount of airflow determines how fast the wood burns; with lower airflow, the wood burns more slowly. Controlling the airflow also controls the temperature to a certain extent, but there's no way to set a wood heater to a certain temperature like an electric heater. Oil and Gas HeatersOil and gas heaters are sometimes used for saunas, but are less common than electric or wood-burning heaters. They are relatively inefficient, especially when compared with electric heaters, and some people complain of the odor associated with the burning fuel. Properly vented, however, oil and gas heaters should have no discernible smell. Sauna StonesEvery sauna heater needs stones. They retain the heat produced by the heater and also produce steam when water is poured on them. Sauna stones are subjected to constant heating and cooling, so they need to have special qualities to withstand the severe temperature changes.Sauna stones can be any type of rock, but some kinds are better than others. Sauna stones should not give off any odor when heated, and should be able to withstand high heat without cracking. Good sauna stones should not have any cracks, should have a rough surface (to release steam faster), and should be able to retain the heat. Popular sauna stones are peridotite and olivine, both available at sauna supply stores. |
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