Traditional vs. Infrared

Although the traditional and infrared sauna share a common purpose of promoting overall health and well-being through heat therapy, there are differences to be considered before making a purchase. Here are the details of the fundamental buying concerns:

Health Benefit Differences

Traditional and infrared saunas share most of the same health benefits, but the differences in the way they provide their respective heat therapies should be considered. The presence of steam within a traditional sauna is considered by some to be important to improving sinus and respiratory function. At the same time, many manufacturers claim that the process of resonant absorption unique to an infrared sauna stimulates a greater amount of bodily contaminants and toxins to be expelled during an infrared heat therapy session. Personal interests and preferences should and must play a central role when making a decision based on these differences.

Operating Temperatures

An infrared sauna operates between 85°F and 150°F, whereas a traditional sauna operates between 180°F and 220 °F. Because the temperatures in an infrared sauna are significantly lower, the environment within the sauna is much milder. For those who want the benefits of a heat therapy session but cannot tolerate the "harsh" climate of a traditional sauna, an infrared model is a good alternative. However for many sauna enthusiasts, the extreme heat along with bursts of water vapor from pouring water over the heat rocks is the very essence of the sauna experience.

Energy Consumption

Many sauna manufacturers and retailers give acclaim to the infrared sauna because it uses significantly less power than a traditional sauna, thus saving money in energy costs. Although this is true, the average cost per use of an infrared sauna is about 5-10 cents, versus 25-35 cent per use of a traditional sauna, these numbers depending on the size of the sauna and the duration of each use. Being that the cost differences are a matter of pennies and not dollars, there doesn't need to be too much consideration of energy costs while making a buying decision.

Plumbing

Some manufacturers state that an advantage to an infrared sauna is that it doesn't require any plumbing, as opposed to a traditional sauna. With large commercial saunas plumbing and drainage can be a necessary consideration, but with smaller residential saunas this isn't an issue. The amount of water that actually pools on the floor is relatively little and can be easily absorbed with a towel. Also, with the types of wood that are used in our sauna kits, it's okay to wait and allow any pooled water to evaporate naturally, as will happen when the sauna is in a heated state.

Electrical

There are certain electrical issues that must be considered when purchasing either an infrared or traditional sauna. Depending on the model, a sauna will use either a normal household 110v power line, or it may require a hard wired 220v line, such as what runs a clothes dryer. Some models may also require a dedicated 15 or 20 amp power outlet. As you browse the various models that The Sauna House has to offer, you'll notice that we've listed the electrical requirements of each model. The Sauna House strongly recommends that any necessary electrical work be performed by a licensed and bonded electrician.

Heating Times

Heating times are something you may want to consider when deciding between a traditional and infrared sauna. The emitters in an infrared sauna take around 10 minutes to warm up, while a traditional sauna takes about 30 to 40 minutes.

Assembly

Assembly times vary with each model, but both traditional and infrared modular sauna kits can be relatively quick and easy to assemble using a few simple tools. Anywhere from 2 to 4 hours of total assembly time for a modular sauna kit is typical. If you're considering a custom pre-cut sauna kit to be built within an existing framed and insulated space, permit 1 to 2 days total construction time.

Maintenance

The amount of maintenance required for either a traditional or infrared sauna is almost negligible. Even with heavy use all that is required for either style of sauna is that the walls and benches be wiped down with a light solution of dish soap and water a couple of times per year.