Infrared sauna heaters are the most important elements of an infrared sauna.
What good is this room made of wood that we call an infrared sauna if the heater quality is poor?
And what determines quality heating?
Basically, it comes down to…
1. the operating surface heat of the heaters
2. the construction of the heaters
3. placement of the heaters
Types of Infrared Sauna Heaters
The common types of infrared heaters used in saunas are…
ceramic,
incoloy rods,
steel, and
carbon.
Ceramic and carbon are very popular. Supposedly, they're better far infrared emitters than other types of heaters.
To the right is a picture of ceramic infrared heaters used in Clearlight Saunas.
Selecting Quality Infrared Sauna Heaters
To find an infrared sauna with quality heating, here are a few things to look for…
What's the surface temperature?
This question is important. Basically, lower surface temperature of the heaters means more effective infrared heat for you.
And what range should you look for? Operating surface temperatures around the 300 degree neighborhood is good. Less than 300 is great.
Check out the heater placement
Are there front and back heaters?
This one has little to do with the actual quality of the heaters, but it does impact your overall experience.
The heaters should be positioned so that you're surrounded – front, back, sides, and some saunas have floor heaters so your feet aren't neglected.
Is the wiring properly insulated?
You shouldn't be able to see any wires - they should be protected.
Testimonials (real ones)
If you find satisfied owners of a particular infrared sauna brand, most likely they're happy with the output of the heaters.
From there, you can either…
1. Choose a particular brand based on testimonials that impress you, or
2. Find out some details about the infrared heaters and use them to compare with brands that you may be considering.
With regard to number 2, you can ask questions like…
-What are the heaters made of (carbon, ceramic, etc.)?
-What is the surface temperature of the heaters?
-What is the heater placement like?
-Do the heaters shut on and off to maintain temperature or is the heat constant?
-How long does it take the sauna to warm up?
One helpful place you can go online to chat with infrared sauna owners and enthusiasts is the Far Infrared Sauna Yahoo! group (you'll need a Yahoo! ID and password for access).
