HOW A WOOD BURNING OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA WORKS
Very few activities have the therapeutic benefits of the wood-burning outdoor steam sauna.
You may already know that regular sauna use reduces inflammation and stress and helps with heart function. Even knowing this, you may still find some of the nomenclature confusing.
For example, we use the phrase “traditional sauna” here a lot at My Sauna World - what exactly is a traditional sauna? Is it the same as a steam sauna? How is that different from a steam shower?
This article will answer those questions and describe in detail how a wood-burning outdoor steam sauna works.
OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA VS INFRARED SAUNA
When we say “steam sauna” or “traditional sauna,” we are essentially saying the same thing.
First, what is a traditional sauna? A traditional sauna uses either wood-burning heaters or electric heaters as a source of heat. These heaters warm rocks that heat the space of the sauna. If you apply water to those rocks (a process known as loyly) you create steam, which is why they are also called steam saunas!
Second, a traditional sauna or a steam sauna simply means any NON-infrared sauna. That’s because an infrared sauna uses a particular carbon heater that can NOT be used to make steam. Infrared saunas are intended to be low humidity and focus heat and energy on the body directly versus the entire room. Learn more about infrared saunas here.
OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA VS A STEAM SHOWER
A steam shower, however, is a completely different beast than a steam sauna. They both work wonders for weight loss, blood pressure, and even your overall mood – they just differ in how they deliver those benefits. Here are the ways that they are the same, as well as how they differ:
SIMILARITIES:
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Steam saunas and steam showers produce heat and humidity
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Moisture in both structures will reach temperatures between 108 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Both structures can handle extra humidity.
DIFFERENCES:
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Steam showers are structures made of tile and glass and use electricity (and sometimes wood burning stoves) to heat water to produce heat and humidity
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You can use your current shower space, hook it up to a steam generator and you’ll have your own at-home steam shower!
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Steam showers heat water to create steam
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Steam saunas are made of wood and use electricity or wood or propane to heat sauna rocks which can have water poured onto them to create steam.
HOW DOES A WOOD-BURNING OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA WORK?
There are four factors involved with your wood-burning outdoor steam sauna: 1) The heater, 2) the wood, 3) the sauna stones, and 4) the process of creating steam.
So, first let’s tackle the heater. As mentioned, a steam sauna uses either a wood-burning heater or an electric heater to create heat to make steam.
THE HEATERS
Wood-Burning Heaters:
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You have to install a chimney for safe use. Pre-built outdoor saunas have a chimney kit included for your convenience.
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You need to keep firewood on hand. Try to use wood that you have easy access to.
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Controlling the temperature may be difficult until you have a feel for the process of heating your sauna.
Electric Heaters:
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You have to have a licensed electrician install electrical wiring.
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Comes with controls, which makes it easier for you to find the temperature that you desire.
Steam saunas powered by wood burning heaters or electric heaters can reach between 175 to 194 degrees Fahrenheit during sessions and can be used indoors or outdoors. But, for purposes of this article, we’re going to focus specifically on wood-burning outdoor steam saunas.
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THE WOOD FOR YOUR SAUNA HEATER
If you have a wood-burning heater, you’ll need wood to burn to produce heat. While you can use any kind of wood that you want, here are a few facts to keep in mind as you choose what type is best for you:
Softwoods are cheaper and usually easier to access. They are good for building and starting your fire. A few examples of softwoods are:
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Pine
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Cedar
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Fir
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Spruce
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Redwood
Hardwoods are the more expensive option, but they provide a long, slow burn. They are the better option for producing a long-lasting fire. A few examples of hardwood are:
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Oak
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Maple
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Walnut
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Cherry
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Poplar
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Birch
You can either browse the selection at your local hardwood store or gather your own wood for fuel. Keep the following in mind:
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If you use your own wood, be sure to clean and season it. Seasoning your wood lets it rest for a couple months while it dries out.
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Save yourself the headache and stay away from greenwood. Freshly-cut wood from your forest will not burn properly. You need wood that has a moisture content of less than 20% for effective burning.
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Check the wood and make sure that it is sap-free. Burning wood that has sap can let off harmful fumes or release liquid that can burn you.
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Stained or painted wood can also release toxic fumes when burned. Be sure to avoid it as well.
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Wood that has the same consistent color throughout and no broken knots is the best for withstanding drastic temperature changes.
THE SAUNA STONES
The sauna stones play a large role in heating up your wood burning outdoor steam sauna. What’s so special about sauna stones? A few things:
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They’re a particular type of rock that won’t explode when heated or when water is poured on them!
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Appropriate for both electric and wood-burning heaters
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Allow for easy stacking for better air circulation
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Allow maximum vaporization for better steam!
THE PROCESS OF CREATING STEAM
There is a step-by-step process that happens each time you step into the realm of relaxation. Here’s what happens when you use your sauna:
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Before you begin, be sure to remove contact lenses or jewelry. Your lenses may dry out and jewelry can cause burning.
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Assemble your sauna stones on the top of your heater.
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Start the process of warming your heater. For wood-burning heaters, start building a fire.
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Allow your sauna some time to warm up to the desired temperature. This process can take 30 minutes to 1 hour.
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Start your session by applying water to hot sauna stones. (The heater itself becomes cooler, but causes hot air to rise.
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The area that is closest to the stove will be the hottest area. The heat will rise, so be sure to fan the air for circulation so that the cooler air is not left at the bottom of the sauna.
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As the steam flows, your body begins to sweat. This is your body’s natural way of cooling. For maximum results, lay flat on the sauna bench. This will help your whole body heat evenly.
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Fresh steam rises to the roof of your sauna, then makes its way to the far corners of the room. For the best results, remain close to the corners if possible.
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If certain areas of your body become hotter than others, use extra towels on your skin to reduce the amount of heat absorption.
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Be sure to only use your sauna for as long as your body will allow. Staying inside for too long might result in dehydration or other adverse health effects. Beginners: It is important that you get an understanding of your body’s limits early on. Try starting with only 5 to 10-minute sessions. Maximum Session Time: Do not use your sauna for longer than 20 minutes.
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Post Workout Session: Be sure to wait for a minimum of 10 minutes before starting your sauna session after a workout.
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After your session, take the time to allow your body to cool down properly. You can either wait a few minutes and take a cold shower or opt for a dip in your pool. Cooling your body too quickly causes circulatory stress, so be mindful.
Want to learn more about how to get the most out of your sauna? Check out this blog: How to Sauna Like a Pro.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNAS
OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA: BARREL SHAPE
The Almost Heaven Princeton 6-Person Standard Barrel Sauna is a wonderful example of a spacious barrel sauna for any space. You can choose between White Fir, Rustic Cedar, and Clear Cedar for the look that best fits the style of your yard.
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Benefits of using a barrel sauna for our outdoor steam sauna needs:
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Nice visual addition to your yard
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Circular design keeps heat flow even
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Walls are 1 ½ inch thick, no insulation needed
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Can add porch or changing room
OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA: POD SHAPE
One example of a pod sauna that is charming, durable, and efficient is the Dundalk LeisureCraft Clear Cedar Pod Sauna. You can enjoy its classic appeal in standard form, or add your own windows, porch, or change room for extra flair.
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The “newest sensation”
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Unique rain-drop shape
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Provides extra head space
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Triple layer roof (no insulation needed)
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Option to add a trendy overhang cove
OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA: THE LUNA
Dundalk Leisure Craft provides a great example with their Luna Outdoor Sauna. Try adding a front porch with two benches for your own custom cool-down area.
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Modern design with spacious interior
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Eco-friendly
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2-tier benches with rounded corners
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2 huge bronze-tempered windows for lots of natural light
OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA: THE PANORAMIC
The Panoramic Sauna by Dundalk Leisure Craft is a timeless beauty for any space.
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Unique bubble back acrylic wall
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Half moon shaped bench in dome for spectacular views.
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Western Red Cedar made with 1 1/2″ cedar boards
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Includes Premium benches with arch seat
OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA: THE EAGLES NEST
The Eagles Nest Outdoor Sauna by Dundalk Leisure Craft is reminiscent of an outdoor clubhouse with a polished, practical appearance.
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Unique design resembles a clubhouse
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Comes in 3 sizes 8’x6’. 8’x7’ and 8’x8’
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Features full-tempered glass door
OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNA: DIY (DO IT YOURSELF)
If you are brave enough to take on the task and have enough time on your hands, you can build your own sauna yourself. You can also use a building that is already in your yard. This will help you save space and will be a little less stressful than taking on the whole project on your own. A few examples are an old garage, storage shed no longer in use, a small log cabin.
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You can start from scratch and gather all materials that you will need.
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Keep in mind you will be responsible for electrical wiring and plumbing as well.
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Be sure that your yard has enough space.
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Also, be sure that you have the correct foundation before you begin.
SIZES AVAILABLE FOR OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNAS
Each family is different, so be sure to choose the sauna size that works best for you and your needs. If you live alone or plan to be alone for your sessions, a small traditional sauna will work for you.
On the other hand, if you are more of a social butterfly, you might want to opt for a bigger option. For example, say you, your spouse, and two children (if they are old enough) plan to bond as a family with sauna time. A larger sauna would be a better pick. If you plan on entertaining multiple guests with relaxation tactics, a 6-person outdoor sauna is best for you.
SUMMARY OF HOW OUTDOOR STEAM SAUNAS WORK
The outdoor steam sauna works by using bursts of steam during your sauna session.
To make heat, your sauna needs either an electric or wood-burning heater, sauna stones, and wood for fuel. The steam sauna is created when you apply water to hot sauna rocks. Steam begins to rise and flow, causing your body to sweat.
If you want to start enjoying the benefits of a wood burning outdoor steam sauna, have a look at our large selection of outdoor saunas that can fit every space and budget. Rest assured, whichever brand you chose, your outdoor steam sauna will work efficiently and provide the ultimate relaxation experience with every enjoyable session.
Let customers speak for us
The DYN-6106-01 Elite sauna from My Sauna World was at a fair price and fit the tight space that I had available. Ordering was great with assistance for questions answered quickly. The sauna was package better than most shipments. It was heavy off the truck, but each section was manageable with 2 people. Assembly was easy. It works nicely. It would fit one big guy or two skinny people. Bluetooth works great.
Very pleased with the sauna and the customer service from sauna world! The conventional heater along with the infrared provide much faster warm up times than other brands. Additionally, I can generate a little steam by spraying water onto the hot rocks of the conventional heater. I use it 4 times per week. Sauna World was quick to respond to my installation and operational questions.
I haven't even built this sauna yet (Rainelle), but I have to give an ENORMOUS shoutout to Adora and especially KELLY for their help on this one. This was a big purchase for us, and these ladies went way out of their way to make it work out for us. The first sauna that showed up was badly damaged in shipping, and from what it sounds like - that is not typical. At all. So Kelly helped us to get it squared away, and it took what could have been a horrible customer experience into a fantastic one. Give this woman a raise!
We really like our sauna! Quality of the sauna seems decent. The quality of the accessories was not! The back recliner was all busted up out of the box.
My wife and I would occasionally sit in the sauna at our gym after a workout. It was hot but a little gross. I can't tell you how many times we bailed on the gym sauna session because someone else was playing their phone too loud, someone was breathing like they were gasping for air, someone decided to be shirtless in public, someone is weird or any number of other reasons. Loved the sauna feeling but HATED the gym sauna.
We bought a sauna for our home and installed it in our basement to escape the gym sauna experience. We absolutely love it! We sauna daily. Without the angst and frustration of hoping to avoid an awkward gross experience at the gym sauna.
If you are considering a sauna purchase, spend a little extra and get the WIFI enabled heater. This is the best way to make sure you get the benefit of owning a sauna. The app on our phone is easy to use. Just click the on/off button on the app and set your temperature to your desire. I like 171. My wife likes 153. Once it hits the temperature, the app will let you know. You can even turn on your sauna while you are on the way home from the gym. The WIFI version and the app make all the difference in usability and enjoyment of your investment. If we did not have the app and the WIFI version, we probably would probably skip 2/3 of the sessions we currently take.
The sauna is well made. Wood quality is excellent. Very few knots and blemishes. Hillsboro Almost Heaven saunas are a great choice for quality components, solid electronics, easy to use controls and an enjoyable sauna experience.
This is a standard kit sauna. I made several modifications but I am very satisfied with it so far. I have a few shingles left to install tomorrow and then will move onto to interior. MSW has been easy to work with and I recommend them.
I really love this sauna. I use it about four times a week to help me wind down before bed and calm my ego. Customer service at MySaunaWorld was great.
Assembly took me roughly 8–10 hours total over two days, and I’m not a particularly handy person. The step by step instructions video was straightforward and easy to follow.
I paired the sauna with the HUUM Drop 9 heater (the largest HUUM Drop), and it performs very well. I hired an electrician to install it (about $900 extra). It easily heats the sauna to 190°F plus. I personally like it around 180°F, which it reaches in about an hour. Also, you can pour water over the hot rocks to make the air hotter and steamier. Make sure to mount it low so that it can heat everything above it. (I mounted mine 6” from the ground to the base of the heater.) I love that I can start heating the sauna from my iPhone, even when I’m not on my home Wi-Fi.
I got the double-bench configuration going across the back of the sauna which lets two people lay down. The area around the lower bench is cooler which is nice to have different temperature seating options.
The sauna looks fantastic, smells great, and feels solid. I would recommend this sauna to a friend.
We love our new Almost Heaven Pinnacle barrel sauna!
Delivery was perfect, the assembly was a breeze, and the sauna fits perfectly in our space.
The only regret we have is not to have made this purchase 10 years ago!
I had been thinking about installing a sauna for quite some time. I kept going back and forth between framing one in or a prefab that I assemble. I spent several weeks going over the various websites looking at designs for both and writing out the pros/cons for each. After much deliberation, I reached out to My Sauna World to purchase an Almost Heaven Greyson.
It came way sooner than expected which was a good thing, so I had to arrange for my electrician. I assembled it very easily, with my wife holding just one panel, and then I ran into a problem. The last wall was short. It took a lot of head scratching and measuring and remeasuring as well as back and forth communication with both My Sauna World and Almost Heaven. It turned out that I had been sent 2 glass panels that were the same dimension when the 2 glass panels are actually designed with different dimensions. The new panel was sent out without question, and the rest of the assembly went easy.
I will say that the folks at My Sauna World were extremely responsive and did a great job as liaison back to the manufacturer.
Overall, I had a really positive experience, and we are very happy with the Greyson with the Harvia Spirit 8kW stove.
We also have the duckboard flooring (that is a must) sitting on top of the concrete floor. The back and leg rest are also recommended.
Note: this is advertised as a 3-4 person but in reality it is a good 2 person. And lastly, I grew up with sauna my whole life, starting with my grandpa’s wood burning sauna. This non insulated Greyson type will not get up to the same temperatures, but it does get the job done. Very pleased with the product and do recommend (to frame one in my self and buy a pre-cut kit would have cost a few thousand more overall)
Their customer service is refreshing in a world where most companies fail miserably with service. They should teach customer service to other companies and government agencies. We have only tested the actual product to make sure it works, but along the way, we had multiple questions and the replies were quick and helpful. The sauna was easy to assemble.
Frankly, I was stunned at the quality of this product. Equally stunning is how easily everything fits together. It’s well and I’m looking to an improved lifestyle.
Back rests are a nice size and fit perfectly in my Lugano 3-person sauna. They are very comfortable (especially considering they are wood) and make sitting in the sauna an even more pleasant experience. To think that they were added in free to my purchase of the sauna is hard to believe. Very pleased with customer service from My Sauna World.com !
Well built, good quality, reliable, and matches my barrel sauna very well
I purchased this since it was significantly more affordable than from the brands website. It arrived quickly and is function perfect. It's easy to install and looks great. I had issues with water leaking into the sauna before that used to annoy me. Now it stays completely dry and the wood also is protected from damage and weathering.
The best Sauna ever, and the quickest delivery, 100% recommend !!!!