Saunas! Infrared vs. Traditional

[mike31154]

Looking to hear from anyone who has experienced both to see whether it's worthwhile to build a traditional sauna (wood fired or electrical) or if I should just pick up one of those IR units that all the home improvement centers are peddling these days? I understand the IR ones don't actually get very hot inside, the light hitting your skin from the IR lamps is what gets the sweat going.

After a hard day on the slopes, a sauna always seems to relax my aching back.

[BlueAbyss]

IR is reputed to deeply penetrate tissue, and may be better for that reason at relaxing the aches and pains from spending a day on the mountain. And you're right, the air in IR saunas doesn't get overly hot, it is the action of the far-red radiation that warms surfaces.

You can't steam in an IR sauna though. So there is a drawback. Oh, and don't take a glass of water or any other objects into an IR sauna, the glass will get extremely hot from absorbing IR radiation. Trust me, I speak from experience:lol:

[mike31154]

Hmm, no steam. Thanks. Guess I'll have to try one of the IR things to see how I like it. Never been to a tanning studio, maybe they have the IR saunas to try?

[BMW Rider]

We have an electric one and it works very well. The generator is located remotely from the shower (ours is in the furnace room next to the bathroom) and feeds the steam in through a copper line. It is powered by 220V and has a small control panel mounted in the shower. The brand we have is Relax-a-mist.

[Myka]

Hmm, no steam. Thanks. Guess I'll have to try one of the IR things to see how I like it. Never been to a tanning studio, maybe they have the IR saunas to try?

Yes, you can pay to use the IR saunas. Personally, I don't like the IR ones, I much prefer traditional ones, but I haven't really paid any attention to the muscle relaxation part of it.

[mark]

Going to the pool where there's a sauna or a steam room, wife and I seem to be in the steam room more so that's what I'm hoping for the basement.

Still in the planning stage but will have a tile bath/shower with glass door, laid out with the generator in the next room like Rider's. For a small unit told about a grand.

[mike31154]

Generator? What do you need a generator for? I realize the larger electrical sauna heaters require 220V, but that can be wired thru your breaker panel no? And what's the deal with feeding steam in through a copper pipe? Don't think I've ever heard of that type of sauna? I just know the regular wood fired or electrical where you have to fire it up 20 or so minutes ahead of time. And for the steam you pour water over the hot rocks on the heater.

Edit.. ok, I Googled relax-a-mist and found the info re generators. It's a steam 'bath' so not entirely the same as a traditional sauna either.

[G1GY]

I've tried them all and only like the steam room.

So, for me........ No steam=No care.:cry:

[OCDP]

Steam is great, especially when your sick or have some bad chest congestion.

[LeeR]

I miss Silverstar :sad:

[mike31154]

He, he, more snow on the way at the Star, and it'll be that dry champagne stuff as opposed to the lead often encountered in the coastal ranges.

Thanks all for the input and experiences, particularly the heads up on the steam bath variation. I think I'll likely go with the traditional sauna though. I plan to install it in the basement of this old house and from what I gather the steam bath type might be a moisture issue in the long run. A hot shower should result in almost the same result as a steam bath anyhoo. Plus with the sauna, I don't need to find extra space for the steam generator, the heater is in the sauna itself and if I want a little steam, I can throw some water on the hot rocks.