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Choosing the Right Home Sauna
If you're looking for a way to relax your mind and detox your body conveniently, consider installing a home sauna.
A sauna is a small, enclosed room warmed to high temperatures causing the blood vessels to dilate, increase blood flow, and trigger perspiration.
These help the body release toxins, relieve muscle pain, reduce tension, and improve cardiovascular health.
There are a few essential factors to consider when choosing the right home sauna, and we're here to guide you.
Choosing the Right Home Sauna: Things to Consider
- Types of Sauna or Heating Process
- Size
- Safety
- Location
1. Types of Home Sauna or Heating Process
Home saunas use traditional heat sources like stones, electrical heaters, or infrared light.
Traditional Home Sauna
Traditional saunas originated in Finland, where they used wood fires to increase the temperature of the air. Nowadays, a traditional home sauna uses electric heaters that warm up hot or lava rocks which radiate the heat.
Temperatures can get intense up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit in a traditional sauna.
This process causes humidity levels to rise, which in turn makes you sweat more and faster as it triggers the body's natural cooling process.
Electric saunas are common because they require less maintenance, are safer, and are more sustainable than wood.
Sunray Rockledge 2-Person Indoor Traditional Sauna
Infrared Home Sauna
Unlike traditional saunas, infrared saunas do not use dry heat or increase the air temperature in the room.
Instead, they warm the body directly using infrared lights.
Infrared home sauna warms you from inside your body as infrared rays emit a cozy heat, which activates your body's blood circulation, detoxification, and natural healing process.
Infrared saunas can go up to between 120 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Since the air does not heat up and the temperature is cooler, the environment in an infrared sauna is more tolerable than the traditional one. This is a more comfortable setting so you can stay longer inside.
Sunray Heathrow 2-Person Indoor Infrared Sauna
2. Size
When choosing the right sauna, consider the size of your home.
If you put it in a small room or apartment, you should consider buying the 1-person or 2-person sauna size.
The Sunray Barrett 1-Person Indoor Infrared Sauna can fit 1 to 2 persons comfortably. This cozy wood cabin includes a Bluetooth speaker system, ergonomic backrest, air purification system, cup holders, and interior and exterior keypads for convenience.
Sunray Barrett 1-Person Indoor Infrared Sauna
If you have enough space and you're buying the sauna so you can detox while bonding with your family and friends, there are home saunas big enough to accommodate 3-4 persons comfortably.
The Sunray Roslyn 4-Person Indoor Infrared Sauna provides convenient side-by-side seating.
In addition, this charming and sophisticated in-home sauna is easy to assemble despite its size.
Sunray Roslyn 4-Person Indoor Infrared Sauna
3. Safety in Using In-home Sauna
If you have small children or pets in the house, you'll want to ensure that your unit has a secure door so that kids or pets don't get into trouble while you're using the sauna. Also, always discuss with your doctor before letting kids or seniors use the sauna.
Read the manual carefully before using the sauna for the first time.
4. Location
Where would you want to unwind and sweat your stress away? Some home saunas are safe to use outdoors while others are designed to go well with your home interior.
Outdoor home sauna
Outdoor saunas are perfect for those with ample space in their backyard or near the pool area.
The Sunray Grandby 3-Person Outdoor Sauna is a perfect size for the backyard. It’s easy to assemble and includes wide bench seating for maximum comfort, an oxygen ionization system for purifying the air, recessed interior lighting, Bluetooth, cup holders, and more.
Sunray Grandby 3-Person Outdoor Sauna
With an outdoor sauna, think about the proximity to the electrical source, the structure surrounding it, your privacy, and if it's going to be too exposed to elements like direct sunlight.
Indoor home sauna
Any room can be used for an indoor home sauna. It can be placed in a corner, near the bathroom or home gym, or you can build a space entirely dedicated to it.
The Sunray Baldwin 2-Person Indoor Traditional Sauna cabin is constructed of natural Canadian Hemlock wood for a durable yet naturally appealing décor that’s versatile enough for your classic or modern home interior.
Sunray Grandby 3-Person Outdoor Sauna
The wood in saunas is available in different shades. So when choosing the right home sauna, pick one that fits your decorating needs or goes with your color scheme.
The Sunray Bristol Bay 4-Person Indoor Corner Sauna is perfect for that vacant corner space you've always wanted to utilize.
Sunray Bristol Bay 4-Person Indoor Corner Sauna
Most homeowners prefer having their sauna installed near the shower or pool so they can quickly cool down after using it.
Important note: You should try to cool first with natural air before taking a shower or jumping into the pool. This will give your body time to adjust to the temperature change.
Claimed Health Benefits of Sauna
Research has shown several health benefits of using a sauna regularly:
- Detoxification
- Increased metabolism
- Weight loss
- Increased blood circulation
- Pain reduction
- Antiaging through skin rejuvenation
- Improved cardiovascular function
- Improved immune function
- Better sleep quality
- Activated autonomic nervous system
- Reduced oxidative stress and inflammation pathway activities
- Stress management and enhanced relaxation
Installing Your Home Sauna
Before buying the sauna, make sure you have measured the area where you plan to place it.
Most home saunas like the Sunray Cayenne 4-Person Outdoor Sauna is easy to assemble are easy to assemble and come with easy-to-follow manufacturer's instructions.
Make sure you consider the distance of the electrical supply, the angle of the room, or the outdoor space where you're planning to place it.
Any DIYer can install a home sauna fast with the essential tools, skills, and proper guidelines.
Proper maintenance of home sauna
Saunas for home generally require little maintenance, but they must be protected from moisture since they're mostly wood. Here are some maintenance tips to properly care for and keep your home sauna in great shape for years.
Clean your home sauna regularly.
Basic cleaning, like wiping the benches, doors, and duckboards, should be done regularly, especially after use. Vacuum or sweep the floors, particularly with outdoor saunas.
Keep the sauna dry.
When not in use, ensure the sauna is clean and dry. Moisture can speed up the deterioration of wood and provide a good breeding ground for bacteria. Open the door after using your home sauna to let it dry completely.
Wash your feet before using your home sauna.
Take a shower, or wash your feet before going in. Having a bucket of clean water or wet wipes ready by the entrance, especially for outdoor saunas helps. Ensuring your feet are clean can reduce wiping and upkeeping time as you're not bringing in a lot of dirt.
Check the vents and doors.
Just like any appliance in your home, check the parts of your home sauna frequently and see if it needs to be fixed or replaced. Doors may wear out over time so check for loose screws.
It's critical to keep the door and vent in their best shape, so the heat stays inside the sauna for its purpose. Sanding the vent’s corners can help reduce friction. Don't forget to vacuum and wipe the sauna after sanding.
Clean the heater and rocks.
Rinse the rock after use to remove debris before placing it back in the heater. Cover the heater area when sanding.
Utilize towels and rugs.
Please don't sit in the sauna directly for hygienic reasons. Use a towel instead.
Your body oil in your sweat can stain or discolor the bench and backrest. The acid from your sweat may also slowly break down the wood finish. So, put towels on the bench and use them when leaning on the backrest.
The towels will help absorb your sweat so it doesn't come in contact with the wood. Put rugs on the floor or lower bench, so you don’t contaminate it with your feet.
Use filtered water.
Hard water contains a high level of hard minerals and salt. These substances can leave deposits in your sauna and would leave unpleasant spots on the glass. You can remove the mineral buildup with a vinegar solution, but it's best to avoid them in the first place by using filtered or distilled water.
Observe at-home sauna wood maintenance.
Unlike other furniture, the wood in your sauna should not be varnished, painted, or stained. It should be able to absorb and release moisture. Keep the wood dry and vent out the sauna after use. Brush the wood with water and use a mild detergent when cleaning. Sand the wood when it's starting to change in appearance and vacuum the debris after.
How to use your home sauna
Using an in-home sauna is pretty straightforward. Follow these steps to avoid any issues or untoward effects.
- Prepare the sauna by adjusting the temperature to high for 45 minutes to an hour before using. This process is called curing.
- Hydrate before you enter. Drink at least two glasses of water.
- Take a quick shower. Rinsing yourself in the shower helps keep the sauna clean. It also relaxes your muscles and opens your pores to help you sweat faster.
- Stay hydrated. You can bring a refreshment inside and cover it when you're not drinking.
- Exit after 20 minutes and shower to rinse off.
Is the sauna safe for everyone?
Although a home sauna has many health benefits, some people are not advised to use it. It's best to take precautions and ask your doctor before using the sauna if you have these conditions or under these categories:
- Persons with heart problems (unstable angina pectoris, recent myocardial infarction, severe aortic stenosis)
- Sensitive to heat
- Pregnant women
- Those who are currently ill
- Young children (consult with your pediatrician first)
- With high blood pressure
- Using a pacemaker/defibrillator
- Individuals with high dehydration risk (has kidney disease, has recently consumed alcohol or with alcohol abuse)
Don't spend more than 20 minutes in a sauna. After 20 minutes, you can exit, rinse off, and cool down before re-entering for another 10 minutes if you like.