There are several perks for using a sauna. Some of the benefits include increased circulation, weight loss, flushing toxins, and the overall improvement of one’s health. However, the fact is that you won’t be able to enjoy such health benefits without a quality sauna heater.
A good heater will help you make the most out of your sessions. Your sauna will have the right temperature, and you’ll have all the time you’ll need to relax since it won’t cool down quickly.
To ensure that you take advantage of all that your sauna has to offer, we went through the top sauna heater reviews and compiled a list of some of the best sauna heaters on the market.
Sauna Heater Reviews
1. Finlandia FLB-60 Sauna Heater
Features Overview
- Serviceable heating elements
- Direct rock and heating element contact
- Standard wall-mount design
Looking for an electric sauna heater from a reputable brand? Then look no further because this Finlandia sauna heater might be precisely what you need. The heater features professional-grade heating elements and can heat sauna rooms that are 170 to 300 cubic feet large. As you can see, it has quite a reasonable heating capacity.
The wall-mounted sauna heater features stainless steel construction and has a large rock capacity. You’ll get value for your money since your purchase will include 50 pounds of ingenious sauna stones.
Product Highlights
The heater has inbuilt controls and a 60-minute timer that operates silently. One of the things that make it stand out is the fact that users can preset it up to 8 hours. What this means is that you can make use of the programmable timer to conveniently heat your sauna in advance. This feature will come in quite handy if you don’t have enough patience to wait for your sauna to heat up slowly.
You can schedule your sauna session ahead of time so that you can head right in for some relaxation after you are done with your chores or arrived home after a long day at work.
Users like the fact that they can mount the heater’s controls from the front to either of its sides. Despite its strong points, we recommend using this type of sauna in a residential type of setting because of its delay timer.
The Good/What I like
The Finlandia sauna heater is both Ce and ETL certified.
The Bad/What I don’t like
Even though it has a warranty, the information is not clearly indicated in the product description.
Pros
- Efficient
- Lightweight
- Great customer service
Cons
- A few quality control issues reported
2. TURKU TU90WD-OD – Residential Sauna Heater
Features Overview
- CE AND ISO9001 certification
- 104-194F temperature range
- Aluminum thermostat sensor casing
Turku offers one of the best home sauna heaters for traditional saunas. This model features a firm body structure and lasting heavy-duty electric elements. The brand coated the heating elements with strong Teflon material to make them durable. That’s what makes the heater a good fit for people who are looking for something reliable.
This heater can operate effectively in sauna rooms that are about 250 to 450 cu ft. You should consider purchasing it if you’re looking for top heating performance for a large sauna room. Users also like that the sauna has a user-friendly outer digital controller that is simple to read and easy to operate.
Product Highlights
The controller features an electronic thermostat that you can use to maintain the temperature of the sauna. It also has an overheat protection feature that cuts off power automatically when it detects abnormally high temperatures. So you will never have to worry about the system getting overheated.
Another benefit that comes with owning this heater is that it heats up very fast. The direct contact between the sauna rock and the heating coils combined with the ventilated unit design makes that possible.
The Good/What I like
Users can sprinkle some water on the rocks if they need more steam.
The Bad/What I don’t like
The heater is not compatible with infrared saunas.
Pros
- Overheating protection
- The timer doesn’t have a ticking sound
- For wet and dry saunas
Cons
- It takes some time for oils to burn off
3. VEVOR Sauna Heater
Features Overview
- 316 stainless steel heating coil
- Stylish design
- Easy to use control panel
Vevor produces this sauna heater in 2 KW, 3 KW, 6 KW, and 9 KW variations. So you’ll have more than enough options at your disposal, depending on your sauna needs. The 2 KW option is suitable for sauna rooms that are approximately 70 to 106 cubic feet, while the 3 KW option is recommended for rooms that are 70.6 to 141.2 cubic feet large.
Consider getting the 6 KW heater if you have a sauna room that is 176.5 to 317.8 cubic feet, and the 9 KW heater for rooms that measure 317.8 to 459.1 cubic feet. However, for this review, we’re going to look at the features of the 2 KW model.
Product Highlights
This dry sauna heater is designed for both commercial and domestic use. It’s an excellent fit for people who have small or medium-sized saunas. The heater comes in a wall-mount design and has excellent heat dissipation. The mounting metal frame also has a reserved and concealed turnbuckle. You’ll find that it’s quite easy to install and operate.
The heater features a 430 stainless steel shell that is durable and resistant to rusting. To achieve an anti-oxidation effect, Vevor isolated the contact between the stainless steel and air by treating it with a plating surface. For the internal design, the brand used magnesium oxide powder for electrical strength, high insulation, and good thermal conductivity.
This heater has a maximum temperature range of 90℃. It features a mechanical knob that you can use to adjust the temperature and time whenever you need to. The knob also prevents overheating and intelligently detects the sauna temperature. There’s also a safety sensor that automatically stops the heater.
The Good/What I like
It produces a large amount of steam for maximum benefits.
The Bad/What I don’t like
The sauna stones are not included in the purchase.
Pros
- Heats up quickly
- Power saving
- Safety sensor
Cons
- Some users don’t think that it’s hot enough
4. Scandia Sauna Heater with Steamer Tray
Features Overview
- 60-minute timer
- Mechanical wall mount control
- 1-year warranty on parts
Made by one of the largest sauna steam product manufacturers in the USA, this traditional sauna heater is considered to be one of the best on the market. The brand has expert technicians who handcraft and individually make each of the heaters. That is part of why they stand out from other mass-produced heaters. There’s no doubt that this model will enhance your overall sauna experience.
Scandia sauna heaters come highly recommended and are best suited for commercial saunas. You can expect the same level of performance, craftsmanship, and versatility from this heater as well.
Product Highlights
The sauna heater features a smart design with a stainless steel interior and exterior. It can handle large sauna rooms of up to 448 cubic feet. However, you’ll need a ceiling height of about 7 to 8 feet for optimal user experience. Users are advised not to install the heater in sauna rooms with ceilings that are over 8 feet. Doing so will void the heater’s warranty.
For protection against overheating, it features a safe built-in thermal cut-out that is UL listed. The sauna also comes with a solid pan design to keep it from getting damaged by water. The steamer pad is made of quality corrosion-free stainless steel with high temperature resistance.
The pan design also allows for immediate steam generation. It somewhat transforms the traditional heater into a Russian or Turkish sauna heater.
Its steamer tray design is also unique. The design promotes longer element life since it keeps the elements dry while simultaneously providing instant vaporization. Your purchase will also include 25 pounds of high-density sauna rocks. These rocks are known for their excellent heat retention.
The Good/What I like
The heater’s shell has a 10-year warranty.
The Bad/What I don’t like
Still new to some markets making it difficult to determine its long-term performance
Pros
- Easy to maintain
- Comes with sauna rocks
- Energy-efficient operation
Cons
- Some users did not get the sauna rocks
5. Harvia M3 Wood Burning Sauna Heater
Features Overview
- Stainless steel air-flow spoiler
- Elegant graphite black exterior
- 100 pound stone capacity
If you are looking for a stylish small sauna heater, you should check out this model by Harvia M3. It’s a great fit for people who want a touch of the traditional sauna atmosphere. You can trust that you’re going to have a pleasurable experience since it offers even heat distribution and efficient air circulation.
Product Highlights
The heater is designed for sauna rooms that are 159 to 459 cubic feet in size. It comes highly recommended because it produces heat and steam cycles that are soothing and long-lasting.
One of the reasons why it stands out is because of its glass door. The door helps complement the sauna atmosphere because users get to enjoy the warm glow of the fire as they relax. The heater’s design also makes it possible to equip it with a pipe model water heater. It comes with an adaptor that you can use to convert the metric pipe size to a standard 6-inch pipe size, as well.
The Good/What I like
The heater comes with free sauna rocks.
The Bad/What I don’t like
Not enough user reviews to determine if it operates efficiently.
Pros
- Generates a lot of steam
- Hard-wearing exterior
- Elegant design
Cons
- Doesn’t have UL certification
Buyer’s Guide
Shopping for a sauna heater can be quite challenging. They are not the kind of products that we would regularly buy. It’s even harder to ask for advice from other people because not everyone has a sauna at home.
To ensure that you get a reliable sauna heater, we listed some of the factors that you need to consider when making your purchase. You’ll find this guide extremely helpful regardless of whether you are a first-time buyer or not.
1. The Size of the Sauna
Sauna heaters are built for different sauna room sizes. That’s why you have to know the dimensions of your sauna room before you make a purchase. If the two do not correspond, you’ll end up with an under-heated or overheated sauna room.
You can refer to the heater’s product description to check if the manufacturer has provided any information about its heating capacity. In case you fail to get the information you need, you can also contact the manufacturer directly and have them address some of your concerns.
2. Type of Sauna
You can’t settle for a random sauna heater when there are different types of saunas on the market. If you do, you might end up with a heater that you can’t use.
Purchase an infrared sauna heater if you have an infrared sauna. Even though it might have higher maintenance costs compared to other types of heaters, it is the only model that is compatible with such a sauna. You’ll also get to experience all the health benefits associated with infrared saunas since you’ll finally be able to make use of your sauna room.
You should consider wood-burning sauna heaters if you are after a traditional or authentic sauna experience. However, if you rarely have the time to set up such heaters, you also have the option of getting an electric sauna heater. Their initial cost is low and they are also easy to maintain. The only catch is that you’ll have to deal with an increase in your electrical bill if you choose to do so.
3. How Fast the Sauna Heats Up
Some sauna heaters take longer to heat up compared to others. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that a model that heats up quickly is always the best option. Depending on the material used, a heater can have more temperature inertia. What this means is that the heater is likely to have better heat retention even though it might take a while for it to heat up.
An ideal heater should be balanced in terms of how long it takes to heat up and the amount of time it can retain its heat. That way, you won’t end up with a model that will have you waiting impatiently or one that can only keep the sauna hot for a limited time.
4. Features
You should also look at features such as the power rating of the sauna, the controls, or whether or not it’s a stand-alone or a wall-mounted heater.
The space you have available should also help you decide whether you want a stand-alone or wall-mounted heater. Wall-mounted heaters are great for small saunas. You should consider getting such models if you are dealing with space constraints.
Set some time aside and discuss matters relating to power requirements or ratings with a professional. As for tech, check whether the heater comes with programmable controls or if you can preset/ automate it for added convenience.
5. Installation
You should get a sauna heater that you can easily install without the help of a technician. Avoid going for something that has a complex set up unless it’s necessary.
FAQs
1. What is the best sauna heater?
The best sauna heater is one that is compatible with your sauna. It should have the capacity to heat your sauna room efficiently. The model should also heat up within a reasonable amount of time, and needs to have excellent heat retention. If possible, make sure you go for a heater that has convenient controls and programmable settings.
2. Can I make a sauna heater at home?
Yes. It’s possible to make your own sauna heater. There are several credible sites on the internet that can help you build a DIY sauna heater. You just have to make sure that you do your due diligence and use information from reliable sources.
3. Is it safe to use water on an electric sauna heater?
Yes. You can use water on an electric sauna heater. The heaters are designed to produce steam when water is sprinkled on the sauna rocks. So you shouldn’t worry about it being a possible shock hazard.
However, you need to practice caution so that you do not add too much water at once. Otherwise, you will end up reducing the heat in the sauna room because the rocks will cool off quickly. You should also know that adding water to your heater may reduce the life span of the heating elements.
Conclusion
We recommend the Finlandia FLB-60 as the best sauna heater. It features professional-grade heating elements and is certified by the CE and ETL. You can also preset it up to 8 hours, giving you more than enough time to schedule your sauna session in advance. The heater also comes with 50 pounds of sauna rocks, and the brand offers excellent customer service.
The Harvia M3 Wood burning sauna heater is also worth considering. It’s a great choice for people who have large sauna rooms and provides efficient air circulation and even heat distribution. You’ll also like its durable exterior and glass door design.