Here at ThermaSol, we focus on innovative wellness products like our Smart Shower with Steam, but we also offer the ancient wellness tradition of the sauna with our residential and commercial Finnish-style saunas with Olivine rocks imported from Finland, and appreciate their restorative powers within the world of wellness and relaxation.
Sweating as a form of therapy has been recorded as early as 3,000 years ago with Mayan sweat houses, while the first saunas were developed in Finland around 2,000 years ago. Sweating from the dry heat of a sauna has numerous purported health benefits, from relaxation to cardiovascular health. As you sweat, your heart rate increases which gets your blood pumping and increases circulation. This is thought to help reduce muscle soreness, improve joint movement, and reduce stress, which can also help with heart health. One study even showed that sauna users in Finland had a reduced risk of heart disease! With all these possible benefits, lets dive into the different types of saunas!
Wood-Burning
The traditional Finnish sauna is made of wood and is a wood-burning, “dry” sauna, meaning it has little to no humidity. This type is powered by a wood stove that heats stones for temperatures between 140 and 200 degrees. Wood-burning saunas typically start at around $3,000-$4,000.
Electric
With an electric sauna, the stove and stones are heated with electricity, so there is no fire or smoke (how convenient!) but water can still be poured over the stones to create steam. Electric saunas can be installed indoors or outside, with prices ranging from $3,000-$5,000. We specialize in electric, stainless steel sauna heaters and a Finnish-style sauna room made with furniture-grade Western Red Cedar, which is highly resistant to warping, shrinking, staining or decay for a life-long dependability.
We offer saunas that are modular and freestanding, and even custom cut saunas, which can be easily incorporated into your home, perhaps in a pantry or spare bedroom. Our sauna heaters are even equipped with Olivine rocks from Finland (the motherland of saunas!)
Infrared
This type of sauna heats the body with light waves for a lower heat of around 150 degrees, which is thought to be better for those with health issues who can’t enjoy a higher-temp sauna. Infrared saunas can be installed indoors or outside, and are more affordable with a starting price around $1,500.
Steam
A steam sauna creates heat from boiling water that releases some steam into the air that is usually around 110 degrees. These typically cost around $4,000-$6,000. Steam saunas are different from steam showers in that they are still a “dry” bathing experience while steam showers are filled with wet steam that has more potential health benefits, such as alleviating respiratory issues and providing more moisture for the skin, which you can learn more about here.
Shower-Sauna Combo
If you want to skip the extra cost and space needed for a sauna by itself, you can set up a shower-sauna combo that allows you to use steam and heat inside your shower area. This one should also be professionally installed, as this involves plumbing. These range from $3,000 to $4,000.
Portable
For a less expensive and easy entry into the world of saunas, you can consider an inexpensive, portable sauna with a padded enclosure that you sit down in with your head exposed. These are the most affordable option at around only $150.
Are you interested in adding a sauna to your home, or do you already have a sauna you love? Let us know in the comments!
