In today’s world, one does not have to leave their home in search of recreational activities or wellness centres. 

Joyce Atuheire, a massage expert says saunas can help one relax and manage stress by alleviating muscle and joint pain.  

Also, Hellen Gilen Dranimvah, a sales agent at Jaquar says since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies dealing in wellness facilities have had to think outside the box by installing saunas in people’s homes. 

A homeowner who desires to install a sauna can consider the following options. 

Infrared sauna

In the infrared sauna, lamps are used to generate radiation that heats up the body. This electromagnetic radiation works on the body only, and not the whole surrounding.

Wooden sauna

Wood is the most traditional method to heat sauna rocks. Using wood as a heating method produces dry heat with low humidity. Add water to the rocks every 10 minutes, to add humidity to the room.

Electrical sauna

Electrical saunas increase the room temperature with low humidity and dry heat through electrical heaters. It is used widely by gyms or clubs as an alternative. They can be excellent portable saunas and come in a variety of styles and designs.

Steam room

A steam room is a Turkish-style sauna that uses boiling water that generates wet heat or high humidity. Steam rooms are for people who like to use steam or hot humidity for their portable sauna sessions.

Size and location

Charles Magara, an interior designer says home-saunas can be sizable outdoor structures or small interior rooms. 

Two, three and four-person saunas are common, though larger models are also available. Portable saunas are also available and can be used in just about any location. 

“These can be moved around easily to a suitable space, including outdoors temporarily, especially if the weather is pleasant,” he adds.

However, other styles and designs can fit into an existing room or be a stand-alone structure. These include, basements, garages, unused rooms or corners, bathrooms, and closets respectively. 

Heat source

Traditional saunas use hot stones over a log fire to create steam. While it is still perfectly possible to build this kind of steam room, most modern versions use an electric heater. 

Baker Ainebyona, the director of Danube Homes says saunas use dry heat, generally somewhere between 185- and 200-degrees Fahrenheit.

This heat can come from a variety of sources, depending on the type of sauna like electricity, wood, gas, or infrared light. Infrared heaters have either carbon or ceramic elements. 

Carbon tends to be more durable, while ceramic heats up faster. The penetrative nature of infrared rays means these saunas operate at lower temperatures. They tend to hit a maximum of about 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in around 15 to 20 minutes. 

Additional features and safety

Lighting: Standard bulbs, LED, or infrared lights can be enhanced by the use of colour.

Controls: Some models feature digital controls, which make adjusting the temperature easy and accurate. “This also makes the temperature easy to read and monitored as one desire,” Ainebyona says.

Audio systems: These systems are frequently Bluetooth-compatible to enable the user to play music from a mobile device or another source of entertainment, thus relaxing during the process of rejuvenating the body.

However, mobile devices should not be taken inside a sauna, because when temperatures get too high, they can cause grave injuries or death.

Caution

Some personal saunas include a folding chair, while others include things like foot-warming pads for extra comfort. Although saunas can be very relaxing, it is not safe to sleep in one. 

Homeowners must use timers to set a time period in case they doze off unexpectedly. A home sauna must be made of non-toxic materials, equipped with safety glass and simple and intuitive controls so one can relax without worrying about overheating or getting locked in. 

When choosing a home sauna, opt for the right model for its intended location. Hire a competent electrician to install it properly.

Maintenance

Dust or vacuum the sauna in between uses to remove dust, hair, dead skin cells and dirt. There is a need to wash down benches or backrests with a natural brush dipped in diluted white vinegar and water or a mild detergent diluted with water. 

Be sure to leave the sauna door open so that the surfaces can air-dry after cleaning. Wearing towels in the sauna can help prevent sweat stains from getting attached to any surroundings like furniture and the sauna walls.