Sauna FAQs

"How often should you use the sauna?"

Ideally for 15-20 minutes per day. With a minimum of once per week. 

 

"What is the maximum amount of time I should be in the sauna?"

Avoid spending more than 30 minutes in the sauna.

 

"Does the sauna burn calories?"

Yes! Spending time in a sauna increases your metabolic rate and keeps it elevated for a few hours after the sauna session. This results in more calories burned throughout the day.

The number of calories a person burns in a sauna depends on several factors, including their age, gender, body composition, general level of health and current weight. A sauna session of around 30 minutes can burn anywhere between 300 and 1,000 calories.

 

"Should I go in the sauna before or after my workout?"

Spending time in a sauna is a great way to end your workout. The sauna helps to ease muscle soreness and fatigue. When you exercise, your muscles undergo very small tears. Spending time in the sauna increases blood vessel dilation and circulation. This helps the muscles to receive oxygen-rich blood and aid in muscle recovery. The heat of the sauna also relieves muscle tension and joint pains.

A sauna session prolongs the period in which you sweat post workout, helping the body to remove more toxins, alcohol, nicotine, and more.

 

"Can I go in the sauna if I have a heart condition?"

We always suggest speaking to your doctor first before purchasing or using a sauna. Research however has proven that saunas help to improve blood circulation. During the sauna, your body temperature rises, causing blood vessels to dilate. The widening of the blood vessels allows more blood to flow to different parts of your body. 

Persons with low blood pressure or heart disease should be cautious. The heat of the sauna causes capillaries in the skin to dilate that in turn lowers blood pressure, the heartbeat then increases to keep blood pressure normal. Be aware and pay attention to how you feel before and after a sauna. Persons with high blood pressure should also be cautious. Interestingly, in Finland high blood pressure is fairly common, because of high alcohol consumption, and the sauna is enjoyed by everyone without incident.

 

"Are saunas safe?"

People all over the world have been using saunas safely for hundreds of years, but it is important to use common sense when dealing with the extreme temperatures of a sauna. If you are unsure about your overall health, then you should check with your physician before using one.

 

"How much water should I drink before entering the sauna?"

Prolonged periods of perspiration lead to the loss of water and electrolytes from the body, so be aware of your level of hydration and electrolyte balance. The risk of dehydration, leading to heat stroke in more sensitive individuals, exists and can be reduced by maintaining hydration before, during and after the sauna. It is important to drink only water when one is hydrating oneself, be careful when drinking caffeinated drinks, sweet drinks and alcoholic beverages as they have a tendency to dehydrate the body.

"Can I use the sauna if I am on medication?"

Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol should stay out of the sauna. Consult with a doctor prior to using to confirm it is okay to be in high heat.

 

"Can I use a sauna to detox from drinking alcohol?"

Alcohol dehydrates the body and using the sauna would dehydrate the body more through perspiration. In addition, being under the influence of drugs or alcohol negatively affects ones judgement. 

Interestingly, in Finland high blood pressure is fairly common, because of high alcohol consumption, and the sauna is enjoyed by everyone without incident.

 

"Can I use the sauna if I am pregnant?"

Pregnant women should ask the advice of their physician before using the sauna. Most pregnant women who are used to taking saunas should have no problem enjoying them, but use lower temperatures and do not stay in as long. Women in Finland use saunas throughout their pregnancy. Babies were born in the sauna because it was the most sterile environment.

 

"Can my child use the sauna?"

Children should be supervised in the sauna. It is best to start a child at a lower temperature and/or have them sit on the lower bench where it is cooler.

The sauna is a peaceful and relaxing experience of cleansing the body and it can be safely enjoyed by most people. If you have any health concerns, then it is best to check with a physician before you use a sauna. Most importantly, use your common sense and self awareness, your body will let you know when it is time to exit the sauna when it gets too hot. Remember to drink plenty of water before and after the sauna to keep yourself hydrated.

 

"Does the sauna increase your electric bill?"

The type you choose is a matter of personal preference and what you want your sauna to do for you. Operational costs on either type of sauna are very low. Since sauna heaters draw very little power, and since they are not running all the time the overall cost is negligible. Most users report little or no noticeable effect on their electric bills when using the sauna 3 or 4 times per week for 30-45 minutes per session. 

 

"How do I use a sauna?"

Turn on your sauna heater at least 30 minutes before you enter the room, unless you have a heater that has instant heat. This will give enough time to heat the room to the proper sauna bathing temperature.

To control humidity and comfort, pour 1 to 2 ladles full of water over the hot sauna stones to produce steam, which will aid in perspiration. After 10-20 minutes, or whenever you feel ready, exit the sauna and cool down by taking a cool shower. Rest for a while in a cool room.

If you are designing a sauna, it is convenient to have a dressing room and shower close to the sauna. Be sure to spend about as much time cooling down as you have spent in the sauna.

If desired, you can repeat the process with sauna, shower and cool down. Finish with a final shower. Then, relax with your favorite beverage and enjoy that wonderful after-sauna feeling!

 

"What do I wear in the sauna?"

You can wear a bathing suit, towel or go nude. Sauna users often sit on a towel for hygiene and put a towel over the head if the face feels too hot but the body feels comfortable. It will take your body a short time to adjust to the high heat. Sit on your towel if desired.

 

"How hot does the sauna get?"

Average temperatures range from 150º to 195º F (66º to 91º C). The temperature will be cooler towards the floor and higher towards the ceiling. If you have an upper and lower bench, you can sit on the upper bench for hotter temperatures, and the lower bench for cooler temperatures. 

 

"What do I do if the sauna is damaged upon delivery?"

Once the driver has unloaded the sauna, we ask that you immediately inspect the boxes for any damage. Please indicate any minor scratches, indentations, or scuff marks to the outside of the boxes
on the delivery receipt. You do not need to open the boxes to inspect the sauna. Please refuse the delivery if you should see any softball-sized holes in the packaging (likely damage caused by forklifts). Give us a call and we will get a replacement send out right away!

 

"Is it difficult to assemble the sauna?"

Your sauna will include a user manual which will illustrate assembly of your sauna. Average assembly time, for two adults, is 1 hour for most of our saunas.

 

"Do I need a special type of plug for the sauna?"

Electrical requirements for each sauna will vary. Please make sure that you follow the details on the product page and inside the manual. It is strongly recommended that you work with a licensed electrician to have your sauna properly installed for safety reasons.

We recommended a dedicated 20-amp / 120-volt electrical circuit, and a 20-amp wall outlet in order to be plugged in. 3 person saunas require this to work. (Please do not use extension cords, power bridges, or GFCI outlets.)