To create the ultimate home sauna experience, it’s important to understand the differences between infrared and steam saunas. Each offers distinct benefits that align with various health goals and personal preferences. Whether you’re setting up an outdoor sauna or upgrading your indoor spa, selecting the right sauna type can significantly enhance your wellness routine.
Infrared Saunas: Modern Wellness Innovation
How They Work: Infrared saunas use infrared lamps to directly warm your body rather than heating the air around you. This technology allows the heat to penetrate deep into your muscles and tissues, providing a therapeutic experience at lower temperatures compared to traditional saunas. Infrared saunas typically operate between 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, with very low humidity.
Benefits of Infrared Saunas:
- Deep Tissue Penetration: The infrared heat penetrates your skin and muscles more effectively than the ambient heat of a steam sauna. This makes it particularly beneficial for those looking to alleviate muscle soreness, joint pain, and chronic conditions like arthritis.
- Energy Efficiency: Infrared saunas are generally more energy-efficient than steam saunas. They heat up quickly and use less electricity, making them an environmentally friendly option for your home sauna.
- Can Fit Anywhere: Infrared Saunas are smaller in size and oftentimes even fit indoors. This makes infrared a solid option for when you don’t have as much room at home.
Finnish Steam Saunas: The Classic Sauna Experience
How They Work: Steam saunas, often referred to as traditional saunas, generate heat by heating water on a stove or with a steam generator, creating a warm and humid environment. Temperatures typically range from 150 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity levels reaching 40-60%. The combination of high heat and moisture offers a more enveloping experience than infrared saunas.
Benefits of Steam Saunas:
- Ideal for Outdoor Saunas: Steam saunas with their natural wood aesthetic fit into most backyards and match the rest of the environment. Combining an outdoor sauna with an ice tub allows for a quick transition between hot and cold temperatures which provides many health benefits.
- Perfect for the Pacific Northwest: The high humidity of a steam sauna paired with the crisp outdoor air in the Pacific Northwest offers a refreshing experience. This combination can help alleviate respiratory issues such as congestion, making it particularly beneficial in the cooler climate. Electric or wood fired saunas that utilize steam have also been shown to last longer than infrared, making them better long term investments.
- Cardiovascular Health: Steam saunas elevate your heart rate and increase circulation, providing cardiovascular benefits especially when used after exercise. Regular use can contribute to improved heart health and circulation.
- Higher Heat Experience: The combination of heat and humidity in a steam sauna provides a more intense feeling of warmth. This can lead to a deeper, more invigorating experience, which many people find deeply relaxing and refreshing.
Key Differences Between Infrared and Steam Saunas
- Outdoor vs. Indoor: Steam saunas are generally more suitable for outdoor saunas due to their traditional design and ability to withstand natural elements. Infrared saunas, with their modern appearance and lower energy requirements, are often better suited for indoor installations.
- Health Benefits: Both saunas offer substantial health benefits, but they target different areas. Infrared saunas excel in deep tissue penetration and pain relief, while steam saunas are better for respiratory health and providing a full-body sweat.
- Comfort and Preference: Infrared saunas offer a more comfortable experience for longer sessions, whereas steam saunas provide a more deep cleansing traditional sauna experience. Your choice may depend on your tolerance for heat and humidity.
Conclusion: Finding the Right Sauna for Your Home
If you prioritize pain relief, lower heat level, and want to fit your sauna indoors an infrared sauna would be an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking for the traditional sauna experience with higher temperatures and better overall health benefits, while being great for the outdoors, a steam sauna will be the choice for you.
We recently installed an outdoor unit for a customer that was looking for their own personal spa experience in their backyard. We built them a traditional steam sauna, large lounge deck, and covered the entire area with a gorgeous wood framed roof. Feel free to check out photos of this project below! If you’re looking for an outdoor steam sauna for sale you can reach to us here!
