Have you already decided to get a 3 person traditional sauna for your home? If you want to take advantage of the maximum opportunities and benefits of this type of therapy, it is good to consider a few important details. With the best heater, along with ample firewood and electricity, you will enjoy hours of healing sauna sessions. Here is everything you need to know about the utility requirements of your new steam therapy tool.

In order for your sauna to function properly, you will need a sauna heater, wood, electricity, and water. Here is more information:

1. SAUNA HEATER

Wood Burning  Heater

The wood-burning sauna heater is a fan favorite among sauna pros. Sauna goers enjoy its woody aroma and the ambiance it provides. Both of these factors make your sauna sessions more enjoyable.

• You will need firewood if you use this type of sauna heater. 
• You might find it difficult to control the temperature in your sauna. As you learn how your sauna works, it will become easier to operate.

Electric Sauna Heater  

The electric sauna heater works the same way as the wood-burning type. It needs 220 volts of electricity to make your sauna stones hot, which we will cover later.

• For this style of heater, be sure to place your sauna in an area where wiring can happen. 
• You may need the help of a trained electrician to help you with wiring.

2. WOOD

If you decide to use a wood-burning sauna stove, you will need wood to operate your sauna. The best part about a wood flame is that you have a variety of fuel options. You can use any kind of wood for your flame. Both softwoods and hardwoods can be used, but here is how they are different:

Softwoods

• Lower cost
• Slower heating time 
• Burns faster
• Absorbs the heat from steam as it flows
• Perfect for starting your flame 

Pine

• Carving made easy by high flexibility 
• Easy to stain
• Readily available & easy-to-use

• Furniture
• Roofing
• Framing
• Flooring

• Carving made easy by high flexibility 
• Easy to stain
• Readily available & easy-to-use

Cedar

• Most popular: Western Red Cedar
• Commonly used for:

• Outdoor furniture
• Roofing
• Exterior building
• Decks

• Tougher than other softwood types
• Better at handling moist environments than other softwood types
• Reddish hue w/ aromatically-pleasing properties

Spruce

• Features creamy-white lumber tone 
• Commonly used for:

• Musical instruments (i.e.: violins, guitars)
• Fences
• Boards
• Paper

• Turns into pulp after being processed
• More tough and durable than other softwoods
• Has rigid, scaly bark 

If you decide to use softwood, these are your best options. In short, softwood is better when used for building the sauna itself instead of being used for fuel. 

Hardwoods

• More expensive option
• Slow, long burn
• Produces fruit or nut 
• Dormant during the wintertime
• Can thrive in temperate climates

Oak

• Highly popular
• Commonly used for:

• Furniture
• Flooring
• Cabinets
• Doors
• Trim

• Features medium-brown hue
• Often stained to medium-reddish brown tint

Maple

• Also highly popular
• Commonly used for:

• Furniture
• Flooring
• Countertops
• Butcher blocks
• Trim
• Places requiring light-colored wood 

• Features creamy, beige tone
• Sometimes amber-yellow hue after staining 

Walnut

• Hardly ever stained
• Commonly used for:

• Furniture
• Veneered pieces

• Features deep, dark-chocolate brown tone
• Sometimes lighter hue of dark brown

BEST WOOD FOR YOUR SAUNA

Due to their long, slow burn, hardwoods are often seen as better suited for the sauna stove. Here are a few key points to remember: 

• If you can, try to stick to using wood that you have a lot for stocking purposes.
• Recommended Fuel Wood Types: Oak, Birch, Maple, Ash, Grey Box, Ironbark 
• Recommended Building Wood Types: Cedar, Oak, Aspen, Pine, Hemlock, Spruce
• Trees that have sap may release fumes or burning liquid while burning. Avoid these types of trees.
• Do not use painted or stained wood for your sauna heater. It can release harmful toxic fumes. 
• Use clean, seasoned firewood. This means it has been dried for an entire season.  
• Avoid using greenwood. If it has been freshly cut from the forest, it is not ready for use. (Allow it to dry out until the moisture content has reached 20% or less.)
• To find good quality wood that can handle intense changes in temperature, look for a color that doesn’t vary and no broken knots.

3. ELECTRICITY & INSULATION

One question often asked is: “Do saunas use a lot of electricity?” When built correctly, the answer is no. If you are unsure of how to wire your sauna for electricity, hiring an electrician will be your best option. Here is some extra information that will assist you or a professional:

• In order to work, your sauna heater needs 220 volts.
• You must be certain that the heater is hard-wired to your electrical box correctly. 
• For both 4.5 or 6 KW heaters, you should use a 30-amp breaker, as well as a 10/2 wire.

• If it happens to be distanced more than 30 feet away from the breaker, then you should use an 8/2 wire.

• For 8 KW heaters specifically, you will need a 40-amp breaker and an 8/2 wire.
• The next step is to put the wiring hole underneath the heater in the sauna wall. 

• If you are using a barrel sauna, the hole can go through the floor right below the heater.

SAUNA INSULATION 

Most pre-built saunas do not require insulation. The pod, kota, and barrel styles are some examples of the types of saunas that do not need the extra cushion.  (For example, the Almost Heaven Huntington Canopy Barrel 6-Person Sauna does not need to be insulated.) If you decide to use a pre-existing building or want to build your sauna from scratch, you need the proper insulation.

• The floor and ceiling of your sauna both need to be insulated. The walls need it as well. 
• You can use fiberglass to insulate your sauna. This option can be dangerous, so be mindful.
• Recycled cotton, shredded old jeans, for example, are the safer alternative. 
• Remember that you will need a foil vapor barrier. This helps with heat retention. 

4. WATER

Whether you use a wood-burning stove or an electric heater, you need water for your sauna if it is traditional. Water needs to be drizzled over your sauna stones to create loyly or steam. To make the process easier for you, consider adding the Almost Heaven Bucket, Ladle, and Thermometer Package. You will also enjoy the authentic, traditional experience. Here are a few of the benefits:

• Store water easily and with convenience using the bucket. You can keep the water close to your sauna stove with no worries. Drizzle the water over the stones using your new matching ladle.  

• Also included in the Almost Heaven Bucket, Ladle, and Thermometer Package is an efficient chrome sauna thermometer that serves as a hygrometer as well. 
• You will have easy access to your temperature and humidity levels at all times with the ability to read both Fahrenheit and Celsius.

FINAL WORDS

Enjoying relaxation in your very own sauna is as simple as knowing what you need to operate it. Choose a heating source that works best for wellness needs. As a result, each session will provide a truly sweet escape from your everyday troubles. 

If needed, be sure that firewood is available, or electricity is installed correctly. This ensures that you will enjoy decades of soothed muscles, weight loss benefits, and glowing skin. Keep enough water on hand to keep the comforting steam circulating. Use these guidelines as you set up the perfect 3-person traditional sauna.