Heating your sauna

Heating the sauna with a wood-burning stove

The wood-fired sauna requires a little more effort to light, but of course you get a lot of atmosphere and character in return. Depending on the model, it is best to light the sauna an hour in advance using the Swiss firing method. With the Swiss firing method, you let the fire burn from top to bottom. This creates less smoke than the "normal" way. How exactly the Swiss way works is explained in this video

You can make the heater burn harder or softer by opening or closing the air supply further. The sauna will rise through the even heat of the stove to a temperature you find comfortable. Has that temperature been reached? Then adjust the air supply of the sauna heater so that the fire continues to simmer quietly.

This will probably be between 75 and 100 degrees. Now you can close your eyes, sit back and enjoy the warmth and the smell of burning wood. When you are done with the sauna session, close the stove's air supply so that the fire goes out.

As with the electric sauna heater, the wood-fired heater has stones. Because of this, it is also possible with this sauna heater to do a soaking. The wonderful smell of natural oils will then mix with the dry smell of burning wood and aromatic steam will spread through the sauna. All your senses will be stimulated thanks to the crackling fire, the hot steam on your skin, your favorite scents and your closed eyes.

Heating the sauna with an electric heater

Heating the sauna with an electric heater is very simple. You connect the heater to power current and you turn it on by means of control switches.

The desired temperature is often personal. For novice sauna goers, 75 degrees is a nice temperature to start. This can be slowly built up to about 100 degrees. After turning on the heater, wait about 25 minutes and you can enjoy the wonderful heat in the sauna.

During a sauna session with an electric heater, it is also possible to do a soaking session. A draw-up is a ritual in which water is mixed with essential oils. This mixture is poured over the stones in the heater with a pouring spoon, after which the sauna slowly fills with fragrant steam.

This steam not only smells incredibly nice, but also increases the humidity in the air. This gives a whole new dimension to the sauna session. Oils you can use include eucalyptus - very good for the airways and colds - or lavender, which has a calming effect. In no time, your sauna with electric heater will be completely ready for a sauna session!

After your first time heating the sauna - electric or wood-fired - and the experience of total relaxation, you will never want to go back!