薪サウナの魅力

Wood-Fired Sauna

Wood-fired saunas are the oldest and most traditional form of sauna. Due to their convenience, electric saunas are far more common, and most spas in Japan are fitted with electric saunas. Similar to a wood-fired stove vs an air conditioner, the wood-fired sauna requires a bit more work compared to flipping a switch. But many find the ambiance of the crackling fire and aroma worth the extra effort, and some true sauna enthusiasts swear the heat and loyly are cannot be beat.

Why Choose a Wood-Fired Sauna?

Below are some of the benefits of a wood-fired sauna:

Ambiance: There is nothing more soothing than the visual of a fire burning with the sound of a crackling fire. We certainly recommend a sauna heater that has a glass door for the fire chamber. Also, wood fires give off a unique aroma that adds to the overall experience. Lighting and maintaining the fire may be an extra hassle, but we view it as part of the meditative ritual experience.

Type of Heat: As the heat source is different for wood-fired saunas vs electric saunas, heat is transferred to the sauna stones and the room in a different way. Many sauna enthusiasts argue that the heat from a wood-fired sauna is more “soft” and penetrates the skin better. This may be because wood fires produce more radiant (infrared) heat. Many sauna enthusiasts also argue that the way sauna stones are heated with a wood-fire produce far better Loyly.

Natural Air Ventilation: By design, wood-fired stoves produce natural air circulation, as the fire burns fresh oxygen for fuel and sends off smoke through the chimney. The natural air circulation means the air in the room is more fresh and does not get stale. This is another reason why many find wood-fired saunas produce “softer” heat.

Difference between an electric and wood-fired sauna

Electric saunas are the most common type of sauna in Japan. Sauna stones are heated through an electric heater that is connected to a power source, that in turn heat the room. Electric saunas have the potential for safety hazards, especially if using water for loyly, so it is important to purchase a heater dedicated for sauna use from a trusted manufacturer.

Benefits of an electric sauna include:

• Easier maintenance
• Can install in indoor spaces / no need for a chimney
• No need to procure fuel

Meanwhile, some drawbacks of an electric sauna are:

• Need for electrictrician (電気工事）
• Most European saunas have different voltage, so custom configuration may be required
• Potential electric safety hazard if not maintained properly
• Less natural air ventilation

Wood-fired saunas use wood as the power source. Dry wood is fed into a fire chamber, and a fire heats up the sauna stones, which heat up the room. The fire chamber must be air-tight to avoid any toxic gases from leaking into the sauna room. For this reason, it is important to purchase a heater dedicated for sauna use from a trusted manufacturer.

We outlined some of the benefits of a wood-fired sauna above. Some of the drawbacks include:

• Need for regular cleaning of ashes
• Need to maintain fire / difficult to control the temperature precisely
• Need to install a chimney, making it difficult to install in certain homes
• Produces smoke, so is not suitable for densely populated neighborhoods
• Requires procurement of wood (can be purchased online or at many home centers, if not naturally available)

Convenience and practicality make electric saunas the most popular option. However, if you have a suitable location and are amenable to the extra work involved, a wood-fired sauna may be the choice for you.