Buyers Guide

Buyer's Guide is designed to help you in the process of purchasing your infrared sauna. Whether you choose to purchase a unit from us, or someone else, this may well be the most important section for you. Currently there is much information and even some dis- information on the web concerning infrared saunas, but it is easy to decipher once you know the ground rules. Reading this section will provide the basic information to make a sound sauna purchase. The last thing you want is to take delivery of a sauna, only to find out that the quality, performance and/or service was mis-represented. There are certainly many good companies out there, but there are also those that have a tendency to disappoint. And some others which disappear into the night.
Infrared Saunas are physically made up of three major components, with an important fourth consideration.
The design, the quality, the execution and the support of these items will determine you sauna experience. 


WOOD


1. Westren Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar is our preferred wood of choice for sauna. Colorful in appearance with various hues, cedar is stable, but soft and resists warping under heat and humidity changes prevalent in a sauna. Cedar also has a low density making it a good insulator, quick to heat and quick to cool down. This makes the wood more comfortable to sit against. Wood that is too dense radiates too much heat and can burn you. Also, cedar does not bleed pitch like other types of sapwood. And perhaps most importantly, cedar is highly resistant to fungus & decay.


2. Redwood
Redwood shares many of the same outstanding qualities as Western Red Cedar but two factors make redwood a little less desirable than cedar. 1. Redwood is a beautiful red colour when installed but in time will turn a dirty grey color as body oil and perspiration react chemically with the acid found in Redwood. When redwood is newly installed it may also leech it’s red color into your skin but It’s only temporary. 2. Redwood typically costs more than Western Red Cedar.


3. Alaskan Yellow Cedar
Alaskan Yellow Cedar isn’t actually cedar but rather a type of Cypress tree once used by western Native American tribes to fashion totem poles. As you might imagine Alaskan Yellow Cedar is highly resistant to fungus and decay. It is often chosen for saunas simply for its appearance - the interesting yellow color. It is aromatic but usually not as pleasant or rich as that of Western Red Cedar.
4. Western Hemlock
Western Hemlock also has some good characteristics but is not as resistant to decay as the above three choices and can tend to expand a bit. It is a very strong wood but can emit a faint sour smell when it is fresh.
Choosing the right wood for your sauna is the most important aspect of your new sauna. Stick to these four choices and you will have a beautiful sauna that will last for years.
 
INITIAL DRY

When the lumber arrives at the factory, the lumber is first sorted by length, size, grade, & grain. All wood must go through a drying phase before milling begins. To prevent any collapsing of the wood, the lumber sits in the yard for a minimum of three weeks. “Collapsing" means the fiber cells of the wood shrink due to water retention and microbial distress. If collapsing occurs, it can cause defects in the surface of the lumber. Collapsing is not a usual phenomena, however we take a precaution to ensure proper drying and monitor the entire process.
 
AIR DRYING LUMBER

WE TAKE OUR TIME! Lumber is then ripped into various sizes for sauna panels. Chosen pieces are then air-dried further. As said in a prior description of the process, shrinkage (or collapsing) causes changes to the lumber which can result in poor fitting panels. This would be detrimental to the quality of our sauna product. Therefore, we avoid any poorly dried lumber by only choosing the best air-dried pieces to be used for a production.
 
AIR DRYING LUMBER

Once an air-dry process is complete, the blanks are then placed in our high quality kilns. The most important step before production is the Kiln Drying. Lumber will reach its best moisture content in kilns. Many companies have problems as they only air dry their lumber and it drops its moisture content to 20%, which is too high for stability and may result in mold, rotting and shorter life-span. It is important to not rush the drying process. Therefore, our final and ready-to-build lumber will contain 6-8% of moisture. Once this is achieved, the final product is beautiful, strong and durable wood which now can be used for building.


HEATERS


LOW EMF CARBON HEATERS



Ultra Carbon is an exclusive high output infrared heater. Our LOW EMF advanced heater design produces infrared heat at the optimal wavelengths. Our heaters are actually manufactured in the same facilities and with the same specifications as heaters used in many of the more expensive home and commercial saunas on the market today. Our heaters are made side by side with theirs. We then utilize a thicker substrate (Ultra) than most commercially rated heaters, so the output, durability and longevity of our heaters is increased substantially. You will not find a better performing heater, anywhere.

ZERO EMF CARBON/CERAMIC HEATERS

Zero EMF Carbon/Ceramic Heaters, which do not turn red hot, but instead produces invisible, far infrared heat. This combination, provides a higher level of infrared that can be attained, that also results in an even, safe, surface temperature that is more comfortable for the user. Furthermore, no unhealthy gasses will be emitted during heating due to its unique manufacturing methods. Our heaters offer a well-rounded and safe heat therapy, with all the benefits that an infrared sauna should deliver. Zero EMF is emitted, therefore, you can relax knowing your sauna is free of electromagnetic fields and you are utilizing your sauna's benefit to its full effect.

FULL SPECTRUM HEATERS

The Full Spectrum is an exclusive and unique heating technology with proprietary blends of wavelengths – Near (NIR), Far (FIR) and Mid (MIR)- that are fully customizable across the entire infrared spectrum to consistently deliver your desired health result. With Full Spectrum there is optimal wavelength – 99% - tissue radiance/penetration nearer to the surface of the skin.




ELECTRIC HEARTERS
There’s a lot to be said in the debate regarding an electric vs. wood-fired sauna stove. Each type has its own advantages, so there’s no right or wrong choice per se. What you need to decide is which one is better for your current needs and sauna set-up. In our opinion, an electric sauna heater is more convenient for those who lack the time and dedication to maintain a traditional sauna stove.

Wood-Fired/Wood Burning Sauna Heater
On the other hand, if you don’t mind doing a bit of extra work but you really admire the Nordic way of life and what the whole sauna culture is about, then a wood burning heater for sauna is ideal for you.

INFRARED HEATER
While there’s no question that all saunas have their own proven health benefits, an infrared sauna takes it up a notch. There’s even evidence that an infrared sauna can help you fight cancer, diminish signs of ageing, boost your metabolism and vitality and much more.
So, since an infrared sauna heater can contribute to the general wellness points of your sauna, we’re naturally all for it. However, bear in mind that the maintenance for such a sauna heating device can be a little more complicated than the one required by more traditional models. Should anything start malfunctioning, the repair costs necessary for an infrared heater for sauna can be steep.

SIZE
There are two aspects to consider here. First, there’s the matter of its own size: the best sauna heater for you has to fit in your home without ruining the design of your spa room. Secondly, there’s also the size of the room it can heat. Most sauna heaters mention in their product specifications that they can heat up a certain amount of cubic feet. If your sauna room exceeds that number, that means the sauna stove is too weak for your needs.

STONE CAPACITY
The power of your sauna stove is measured in stone capacity. It means the sauna heater is capable of heating up a certain weight equivalent of sauna stone material. The higher this number is, the more powerful your sauna heating device is.  

HEAT-UP TIME
Obviously, in today’s age of hurriedness, everyone wants their sauna to heat up as fast as possible. It’s true that the best sauna heaters are able to go from zero to max in less time than their less performant counterparts.
However, bear in mind that the faster your sauna heating unit fires up, the less durable the heat will be. Sauna which take a longer time to heat are made from materials with more temperature inertia, which means they stay hot for a longer time.
If you’re not sure if your home sauna heater is fast or slow, or if it’s working as it should, don’t forget that you should measure its performance with a thermometer. All home saunas need to be equipped with sauna thermometers for safety reasons, anyway.

CONTROL AND POWER SUPPLY
PLEASE HAVE A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN WITH A COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL CODES DO ALL OF THE WIRING FOR THE SAUNA. And please follow the specific heater manufacturer’s installation instructions that arrived with your heater.Here is some helpful information to pass along to your electrician in order to get your sauna up and running.

-The sauna heater will require 220v and must be hard-wired to the electrical box.

-If your sauna comes with a 4.5kw or a 6.0kw heater, it will require a 30-amp breaker and 10/2 wire, unless it is positioned more than 30 feet from the breaker in which case it will require 8/2 wire.

-If your sauna comes with an 8.0kw heater, it will require a 40-amp breaker and 8/2 wire.

-Your sauna also comes with an LED light that will plug into a standard 110v outlet.

-Your electrician will drill a hole in the wall of the sauna below the heater for the conduit. All of the wiring will come into the sauna through this hole. In a barrel sauna, it can also come up through the floor below the heater.

Heater owner’s manuals can be found on our website, or you can contact us and ask us to send you one.
What is the difference in the difference between near, mid and far infrared?
Simply put - the various infrared wavelengths - each provides its own special benefits:

 

NEAR INFRARED BENEFITS.
Near infrared waves have a shorter frequency range and penetrate the epidermis layer of the skin:
Health/Immunity
Wound Healing
Skin Rejuvenation
Pain Relief

MID INFRARED BENEFITS.
Mid infrared wavelengths penetrate deeper into the body, they are beneficial for increasing circulation.
Pain relief
Improved Circulation
Weight Loss


FAR INFRARED BENEFITS.
Far infrared sauna therapy heats the body directly rather than simply warming the air, it raises the core body temperature and produces a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level, where most toxins reside.
Weight Loss
Detoxification
Blood Pressure Reduction
Relaxation