What is the difference between an infrared and a traditional sauna? That is one of the most common questions we hear at Nordic Energy from customers who are in the market for a new sauna. Both saunas have equally beneficial characteristics – it really all depends on your needs/desires.
Here’s a simple breakdown to help you make an informed decision on what’s right for you.
wooden steam room in sauna
ELEMENTS OF A TRADITIONAL SAUNA
- A wood-burning or electric heater.
- Can reach high temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Celsius.
- Has a cavity somewhere in or on the heater to stack a collection of sauna stones
- Can be enjoyed as either wet or dry. “Dry” meaning that you simply get the heater going and leave it as is and “wet” meaning that once the room is nice and hot, you sprinkle water over the heated stones to generate a burst of steam. Once the steam dissipates, you can either go back to enjoying a dry sauna or you can keep adding water periodically to keep things humid.
ELEMENTS OF AN INFRARED SAUNA
- Uses carbon fiber or ceramic emitters to generate heat.
- Heats the body directly without making the sauna room itself very hot, which means it produces a much milder temperature, less than 60 degrees Celsius.
- Is used exclusively as a dry sauna.
- Infrared sauna treatments may be available at different levels: far, mid, and near infrared wavelengths.
The modern sauna in a luxury apartment
Again, there is no better type of sauna, it all depends on your needs.
If you enjoy relaxing heat and like to have the ability to adjust the humidity of the sauna, you’re likely in the market for a traditional sauna.
A custom sauna might be just the right solution for your home. Learn more here.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a sauna that remains dry and if you don’t enjoy such high temperatures yet still want a heat therapy option and deep detoxification, your best bet is an infrared sauna.
Regardless of the type you select, you will find that regular sauna use will provide you with these amazing benefits:
- Flushes out toxins from the body: All that sweating is super detoxifying.
- Strengthens the immune system: Regular users of saunas have been shown to have a higher count of white blood cells, which helps people stay healthier and if illness does occur, the healing begins much faster.
- Helps with weight loss: One of the main benefits of being a regular sauna user is the weight loss that comes with minimal effort. Scientific calibrations suggest that a 20-minute session at around 80 degrees Celsius burns over 500 calories.
If you need help narrowing down all the different options, Contact Nordic Energy and we’ll guide you toward the best sauna option for your budget.