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For the most part, you enjoy your outdoor barrel sauna, but you want the temperature to be hotter. While most traditional saunas reach temperatures over 190 degrees Fahrenheit (87.7 degrees Celsius), some sauna fans wish to withstand more heat during their sessions.
Before you try to ‘bring on the heat’, perhaps you have questions about the proper materials needed. You might be wondering about how heating works inside your sauna. You might also want to know more about what extra precautions you should take. This guide will provide more information on how to heat your sauna. Here are 6 steps to improving the temperature of your barrel sauna.
Finnish Sauna Society says that traditional saunas should be at a temperature between 176 and 194 degrees Fahrenheit (80 to 100 degrees Celsius). To help you keep track of the heat flow as it increases, you can use a thermometer. If you use an electric stove, start by adjusting the temperature knob.
If you use a wood-burning stove, keep in mind that you will have to keep adding logs until the sauna is hot. How hot your sauna gets depends on many factors. Keep the following facts in mind:
No matter the size, whether a 1-person outdoor sauna or a 6-person barrel sauna, you will need wood, a heat source, and sauna stones for heating.
Your sauna has two choices for a source of heat - theelectric heaterand thewood-burning heater. Here’s how they differ:
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
Cons:
Sauna heaters require little maintenance, but a little goes a long way. If properly maintained, most heaters last anywhere between5 to 20 years. Here’s how to ensure that your heater lasts for a couple decades:
If your sauna heater is the wrong size, chances are it will not work properly. If the heater is too small, warming your sauna can take way longer than it should. If the heater is too big, your sauna will become too hot quickly. Here a few tips for sizing:
Add rock or brick walls and large windows
Most outdoor barrel saunas will need a heater that is between 5 and 8 KWs.
You should opt for an inside feed rather than using an outside feed for a number of reasons. For example:
If your sauna has a wood-burning stove, of course, you need wood for fuel. Softwoods are good for starting your fire. Pine, cedar, redwood, fir, and spruce are examples of softwoods.
Hardwoods are better for fuel because they burn slower. They are usually the more expensive option. Oak, maple, walnut, cherry, poplar, and birch are examples of hardwoods. Keep the following in mind when selecting wood for your heater:
If your sauna heater does not have the proper stones, it will not operate correctly. Using stones from your yard will not work. This is because they have to be a certain weight in order to retain heat. Sauna stones allow slow and steady heat over time by acting as a heat sink. They operate by storing energy and smoothing the delivery of heat.
Without sauna rocks, the sauna heater would be too hot while running. It would also cool off way faster than it should. If you use too many rocks, you could slow your warm-up time down even more since stones heat up slower than air. The stones might not steam at all. The right amount of rocks allows the heater to actually convert more water to steam without leaving a puddle behind.
While you can gather your own rocks with careful selection, stick with using sauna stones only if possible. Benefits include:
If you use your sauna 2 or 3 times a week, replace them 2 or 3 times a year.
In short, the heat transfer that takes place when the water touches the stones is what makes your sauna hotter.
Almost Heaven explains that you should examine the interior, as well as the exterior of your sauna for maximum results. Here are 6 steps that can make your sauna hotter:
Since barrel saunas do not require insulation, you can cover the top as an alternative. Many saunas offer options as you complete your purchase. For example, theAlmost Heaven Salem 2-Person Standard Barrel Saunagives the option to add a rain jacket conveniently during checkout.
Adding another layer on your sauna keeps hot air from escaping and blocks cold air from coming inside. Here are a few different ways you can go about covering the top of your sauna:
Rain Jacket
Roof Shingles
Tarp Cover
Corrugated Metal Roof
DIY (Do It Yourself)
Covered Porch
Awning
Free-standing structure
Seal the Sauna
Be sure that you seal all possible leaks within your sauna. Follow these steps to help you remember:
Your heater might be the culprit behind your sauna not reaching the desired temperature. Remember not to pack your heater with sauna stones. Start with smaller stones and work your way up. If you use the Harvia KIP Electric Heater, keep the following in mind:
If placed too high, hot air will not heat the bottom of your sauna.
Used to turn the heater off when your outdoor sauna house gets too hot
If too high, it might cause the heater to do a permanent shut-off.
Almost Heaven barrel saunas come with two vents - one located underneath the heater so that fresh air is pulled in, and one by the ceiling on the wall across from the heater for exhaustion. Here are a few tips for your vents:
Because heat rises, you need a way to keep the air flowing. Hot air tends to get stuck at the top of the sauna. Use a small fan or wave a towel overhead to help the air even disperse throughout the room.
One of the benefits of using a traditional outdoor wood sauna is the fact that you can control your humidity levels. Add more water to stones to create a burst of steam. Of course, dry heat and wet heat are the same temperature-wise, but wet heat feels hotter to your body than dry heat.
Be sure not to dump water onto the sauna stones. Instead, try using a bucket and ladle to slowly drizzle water evenly onto sauna rocks.
There are several ways that you can improve your sauna’s temperature. First, try covering the top using a rain jacket, roof shingles, tarp, or corrugated metal. You can even build your own structure for cover. Next, be sure that you seal your sauna. Examine the door, wooden staves, window(s), and other problem areas for leaks.
Be sure that your heater is mounted correctly and has the right amount of stones. Close your vents when your session starts, but reopen them if it gets too hot for you. Fan hot air to help with circulation and gradually add more water to your stones to keep the humidity level high. Follow these steps and prepare to enjoy that extra hot, powerful punch you crave every single session.
For more information on the outdoor barrel sauna, or accessories that will assist you with increasing your sauna’s temperature, be sure to check our blogs and services.