Frequently Asked Questions
Q – What are the different types of sauna construction?
A – There are two main types of sauna construction
1) The custom cut sauna which is made to fit an exact size and built
at the job site.
2) The Panel/Modular units which are built in sections at the Sauna
manufacturer’s factory.
Q – How do these two types of saunas vary?
A – The custom cut sauna is framed out with a stud wall and then
the insulation and cedar tongue and groove boards are applied to
these walls. The panel/modular saunas are pre-built at the factory
in sections approximately 3’ wide. To keep weight down for shipping
and installing, the manufacturers use smaller framing members and
less insulation.
Q – How much insulation is used in these two types
of saunas?
A – The custom cut sauna usually uses 3 ½” (R-11) in between the
studs.
The panel/modular saunas usually are framed with the narrow section
of the stud (1
½”) and use 1 ½” (R - 4.7) of insulation
Q – How are heater sizes determined to heat these
saunas?
A – Just about all sauna manufacturers and “dealers” use a simplified
calculation. They measure the volume of the room in cubic feet and
then divide it by 50. This number is supposed to determine the heater
size in kilowatts (kw’s). As an example, a 5’ x 7’ sauna that is
7’ high measures a total volume of 245 cubic feet. That volume divided
by 50 = 4.9 so they would use a 5 kW heater.
Q – This method does not seem like the best way to
determine heater size. What other alternatives are there?
A –Professional companies like Bay State Sauna have engineers that
perform thermal calculations on a case by case basis to determine
the correct heater size required.
Q – With rising energy costs and the concerns about global warming,
are these units energy efficient the way that they are built?
A – No, these units are not built as efficient as they need to be.
When choosing a sauna you should use energy efficient doors and
windows with thermo panes like Saunacore supplies and have the sauna
properly design by a qualified company like Bay State Sauna.
Q – Are there other ways to increase the thermal efficiency
of a sauna?
A – Bay State Sauna has developed an energy saving design concept
called the “The Green Sauna”. This design saves significant amounts
of energy over typical sauna installations.
Q – How much energy can I expect to save by using
“The Green Sauna” method during installation.
A – Based on a typical sauna size of 5’ x 7’ with a 5 kilowatt heater,
a panel/modular sauna can save over approximately 2,700 watts of
energy per hour. A custom built sauna can save over 1,200 watts
per hour.
Q – Are there any other benefits to installing “The
Green Sauna?”
A – Being much more energy efficient than the typical sauna, the “response
time” or time to heat the sauna up to normal operating temperature
is considerably shorter. The response time can be reduced to 50% of
the typical sauna, reducing the total operating time and hence the
amount of energy ($$) used during that time.
Q – What are normal response times for Saunas to meet operating temperatures?
A – With Bay State Sauna following “The Green Sauna” technique during
installation a sauna should heat up to normal operation temperature
(~ 180 degrees) in 20 minutes or less. The typical sauna install could
take an hour or possibly even longer to gain these temperature. This
assumes that the sauna is installed correctly. Some poorly designed
and installed saunas will never achieve operating temperature, forcing
the heater to operate continuously during use.
By consulting a Bay State Sauna advisor for your sauna
you can be assured that your new sauna experiences will meet all
of your needs and expectations.