3 Main Things to Consider While Building Your Own Custom Infrared Sauna

Building your own custom infrared sauna is a great idea if you have the desire and the means. In fact you can just purchase a portable unit and design your own sauna. Nevertheless, there are a few things you need to know before you take the plunge.

Identify the space for your sauna

The first thing you need to do before building your own sauna is to decide where it will go. An unused laundry room, an extra bathroom, or even a walk-in closet might be ideal to fit in an infrared sauna. If you already have a hot rock sauna, you can convert it into an infrared sauna. Make sure the ceiling is not above 8 feet. If it is, the room may not get heated adequately since the hot air will rise.

Choose the Type of Wood

Choosing the right type of wood is important if you want your infrared sauna to be durable, resistant to temperature, and aesthetically beautiful. You also want the wood to have a great texture so that it can feel and smell good.

Cedar wood is often the ideal choice as it is robust, resistant to moisture and comes with a good texture. Unlike other woods, it doesn’t expand or contract with fluctuations in temperature.

If you have sensitive skin that is prone to allergies, you might want to choose basswood. It is hypoallergenic with a softer feel and is also a more affordable option.

In case you are looking for something more inexpensive you can go for pine, spruce, or hemlock. However, this might affect the longevity of your sauna.

Consider the type of heater and its location

The heat for an infrared sauna comes from waves that beam from a heating system. It is more or less like a microwave that heats you from within. There is no additional humidity or steam here. You can use it even if you are suffering from any breathing difficulties.

Nevertheless, before deciding on the right heating system for your infrared sauna you will have to consider how often you are going to use your sauna and what your budget is. Explore a few infrared heaters, find out what materials are used in them, and compare the kind of energy that they produce, before deciding on the best.

Infrared heaters usually come in ceramic, carbon, and ceramic/carbon combos. Ceramic heaters tend to absorb and radiate infrared in a better way when compared to other materials. However, they can get too hot at times, making you feel uncomfortable.

A carbon heater, on the other hand, comes with a lower emissivity rating that may not be adequate enough to raise your core body temperature. An ideal heater for your custom infrared sauna would be a ceramic and carbon combo. This way you get a more emissive heater that will not make you feel uncomfortable.

So should you build your own custom infrared sauna or would you rather visit a spa that already has one? Do you have the place and the money? Make sure you consider all the above things before you make your decision.