We are often asked "What size heater do I need?" Well its very easy to work out the basic size needed,although you may need to take a few other factors into consideration. The basic rule of thumb to get you started is based on the cubic footage of the sauna (we use feet because it fits the equation so much better than meters)
simply take the height X the length X width and divide by 50 to get the kilowatt size needed.
For example -; your sauna is 6' long, 6'high, and 5' wide
6 x 6 x 5 = 180 / 50= 3.3 so basically a 3.3kw heater is your starting point
Now think of any mitigating circumstances:- is the sauna indoors or outside?
if its indoors a 3Kw heater will be more than enough,if outdoors then ask yourself " is the sauna well insulated or just a basic insulation?"
if its well insulated then ,once again a 3Kw will be fine, if its not then a 4kw or 4.5 will be better. if in doubt move to the larger Kw heater. Do not be over concerned about the running costs of a larger heater, A larger Kw heater will take less time to heat up and switch on for less time while keeping to the desired temp during use. On the other hand don't simply buy the larger heater thinking it going to be better,if the size of the room is correct the smaller heater will work as it should.
Remember,every ones health and age differs,check with your doctor before using a sauna,and be aware! what was good for you at 25 years old is not always the same at 70
With the above in mind the normal recommended temp for a traditional sauna is
150-175 F (66-80C)
But personal preference might change this but higher temps are NOT better for you than those nearer the base line.
Many might be surprised by the answer to this and some may disagree but in Finland and Russia (the two countries with the highest % of saunas) the usual time is just 15 mins. Avid lifelong enthusiasts who use a sauna every day normally recommend no more than 3 X 15 min sessions per day,often split into one in morning followed by a 30 min break then a second 15 min session then,perhaps, a 15 min session in the late afternoon.
Provided it is a traditional wet/dry sauna yes,this would seem to be obvious ,but do you know how much and why you are doing it? The amount? well not a great deal,one ladle full every 5 mins is easily enough. The fact you MUST be aware of is this is not a steam room,its a sauna which is designed to be a dry heat. I once had a customer who was convinced that placing a bag of ice on the stones every few mins was the correct way,he said the feeling was fantastic,Im sure it was ,he was creating a short lived steam room,a very pleasant but different animal altogether. Not many people realise that the main reason to add water is to make it easier to breath! there is also the added benefit of increasing the temp very rapidly.
Another question with a seemingly obvious answer,providing its a private sauna with no chance of causing offence then almost nothing, almost nothing ?? well yes,those regular users mentioned earlier would never enter a sauna without............a hat! Sauna hats are something we recommend VERY strongly. sauna hats are 100% wool felt and loose fitting (see examples in our range) a good sauna hat keeps you brain temp low and even and,we believe, its the healthiest sauna accessory of all! There is a saying in Russia 'if you wear nothing else in a sauna always wear a hat"