How to Build a Home Sauna - Three Important Questions to
Answer Before Building
Considering that saunas are believed to produce numerous health benefits and
provide a relaxing spa experience, it’s no wonder than more and more people want
to know how to build a home sauna. The answer to this question depends on several factors,
including your budget, the space available, and how handy you are. There are
three important questions to answer before you begin building your home sauna.
What Will You Use For Heat?
The first factor to evaluate when planning
how to build a sauna is your heat
source. Will you use electricity, gas, wood or some other type of energy? Many
people consider the wood-burning sauna to be the top choice, especially if you
have easy access to wood and no hesitations about burning it.
Wood provides a pleasant aroma and a traditional atmosphere, but
obtaining the wood can be quite labor intensive unless you buy it already cut.
Before choosing this heating method, it is also important to know if local
building regulations will allow a wood stove, and if your home owner’s insurance
will cover it.
Electric stoves are most popular with people who don’t have a wood supply
available or who don’t want to spend time and money cutting and hauling wood or
dealing with ash disposal. Nearly all homes have electricity available already,
so it is a convenient heat source for both indoor and outdoor saunas. In
addition, electricity is the standard power source for
infrared saunas, which
produce radiant heat with special electric heaters. If you are interested in
infrared saunas, electricity will likely be your heating source.
Gas is usually cheaper than electric and provides a practical choice for
those concerned about budgets. It is a clean fuel source and relatively easy to
obtain no matter where you live. When using gas as a heating source, it is
important to test for carbon monoxide.
Often times, your heat source will determine whether you build an indoor sauna
or an outdoor structure. If you use wood for heat, it may be inconvenient and
messy to haul wood into the house. And insurance policy may only allow wood heat
in a separate, outdoor building. Also, electric
sauna room heaters require wiring that
may not be available for a large model or outdoor sauna without an expensive
bill to an electrician.
Next > Sauna
Installation - Lots of Choices
|
