Though saunas come in numerous styles and are made from various materials, your primary decision should revolve around the type of heat you prefer.
Infrared Saunas
While both dry and steam heat saunas heat up the air surrounding you to a certain level, full spectrum infrared saunas adopt a different approach.
Infrared saunas utilize light-based heating panels to directly warm the body. This technology results in lower maximum operating temperatures compared to traditional saunas, since high levels of direct heat, such as 195°F, would be uncomfortable.
By directly heating the body with deeper penetration, far infrared saunas offer a more soothing warmth, similar to sunlight, distinguishing them from the more direct heat experience of regular infrared saunas.
Dry Saunas
Dry heat saunas entail heat without moisture. The most common dry heat sauna utilizes an electric heater, although traditional options include wood fire ovens or natural gas heaters.
Dry saunas frequently include heated rocks that can be placed near the heater. Adding water to these rocks creates steam, allowing users to alternate between dry and steam sauna experiences.
Steam Saunas
If you prefer steam saunas, you don’t necessarily need hot rocks and manual water pouring. While that option exists, many saunas now offer built-in, automatic steamers within the heating unit.
Steam heat functions by pouring liquid over a hot heater or releasing it from a pressurized system to create steam. The sealed space of the sauna allows the steam to accumulate, resulting in bathing with moist heat instead of dry heat.
The choice of which type of sauna to use in your own home, considering health benefits, is entirely subjective. For optimal energy efficiency and lower electricity costs, infrared saunas are generally considered the superior choice.
A sauna’s electricity consumption depends on its type, size, and usage frequency. While home saunas typically use energy comparable to an oven or washing machine due to intermittent use, larger saunas can consume as much as a refrigerator.