5 Myths About home Infrared Home Saunas

TL;DR The popular myths about home infrared saunas are debunked below

1. Unaffordable/waaay too expensive (FALSE)
2. Need a special electricity supply (FALSE)
3. Too expensive to run (FALSE)
4. Need special ventilation (FALSE)
5. Need to be close to the shower (FALSE)

Infrared saunas have become increasingly popular in Ireland and the UK, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic where the emphasis on wellness and being at home has become even more significant. The NPD Group reported that sales of home saunas increased by 38% in the UK in 2020, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing interest in wellness and self-care.

This trend is expected to continue as more people become aware of the numerous health benefits of sauna use. The use of saunas has been linked to numerous health benefits, including improvement in cardiovascular health, reduction in the risk of dementia and depression, pain relief, and even improvement in symptoms of arthritis. A study conducted by the University of Eastern Finland found that regular sauna use can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and a recent meta-analysis of 20 studies found that sauna use is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Additionally, a review of over 20 studies conducted by the University of Utah found that sauna use can provide pain relief for those with chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, and osteoarthritis.

Despite these well-documented health benefits, many people in Ireland are still unaware of the advantages of sauna use.

This is in contrast to countries like Finland, Eastern Europe or Russia, where the benefits of sauna use have been known and appreciated for hundreds of years. Below we have listed all the “myths” that go around due to poor marketing in the home sauna industry in Ireland.

I remember when my wife started to talk about getting a sauna. I thought that the idea was at least unrealistic. When she persisted, we started to look closer into the whole “let’s have a sauna at home” thing. In the beginning, as a semi-advanced DIY, I started to think about the logistics, practicalities, power supply and ventilation. We even consulted our friendly electrician, who rolled his eyes when the idea was introduced to him.

Firstly I thought it would be super expensive, take a lot of electricity with more than a standard 220V socket, need ventilation ( same as a bathroom), and need to be close to a shower so limited in options where it could go. Fortunately, all of the above were simply not true and we are happy owners of an infrared home sauna.

Let me list out my old concerns:

Unaffordable/waaay too expensive (FALSE)

One of the main misconceptions about infrared saunas is that they are unaffordable or way too expensive for what they are. We had set a budget of €6,000 for a 1-2 seater sauna and were nicely surprised with the final price of €2,500. The prices of saunas in Ireland are more reasonable than many people think

The cost of an infrared sauna in Ireland can vary depending on size, features, and brand of the sauna. The cost of a basic, 1-2 person infrared sauna can range from €2,000 to €3,500. Larger, more luxurious saunas with additional features can cost upwards of €5,000 or more. Still, this is an excellent price for a product that offers so much health and welness benefits and came in much lower than we initially budgeted for. Here is a table with average prices as of February 2023

Need a special electricity supply (FALSE)

Another common misconception is those infrared home saunas require a special electricity supply. This is not the case, as they can be easily plugged into a standard household socket (220V). After a consultation with our electrician, we were told that we will need special wiring to accommodate the sauna, a “safe box” to disconnect the sauna when the electric shower is in use etc. It was a nightmare. Turns out… The infrared sauna plugs into a standard 220V socket

Too expensive to run (FALSE)

There is also a belief that saunas are expensive to run, but this too is a myth. In fact, the cost of running an infrared sauna is significantly lower than that of a traditional Finnish sauna. For example, the cost of running a 1.5 kW infrared sauna for an hour is estimated to be €0.76, compared to €1.77 for a traditional Finnish sauna of similar size. This is because traditional saunas require a much larger heater, typically 3.5 kW, whereas the smaller size of the heater in an infrared sauna makes it much more cost-efficient to run.

I have put together a quick table to show you how much it would cost to run a 1-2-seater sauna with 1.5 KW heater power.

The prices are as per https://www.bonkers.ie/compare-gas-electricity-prices/ as of 1^st Feb 2023.

Turns out that a standard 1.5KW two-seater would cost you around €23 per month in electricity. Use the below calculator to estimate your usage

Need special ventilation (FALSE)

Another common myth is that infrared saunas require ventilation. This is not true, as infrared saunas do not generate much steam and therefore do not need to be specially ventilated. They also will not cause any dampness, as might be the case if a shower was not properly ventilated. There is no need to carve ceiling, install vents, run pipes etc. Infrared saunas are also equpped with a devise to clean the air after use

Need to be close to the shower (FALSE)

Finally, some people believe that infrared saunas need to be located close to a shower. In reality, they can be installed anywhere in the home, and bedrooms are becoming popular locations for their installation. We have installed our unit right in the middle of the master bedroom. Although, it is right next to the shower but we use another shower after the sauna, which is located a good few steps away. In general, there is no need to worry about dripping moisture, slippage or anything like that. It is ok to walk from a sauna to a shower nearby with no problem

In conclusion, infrared saunas offer numerous health benefits and are a better alternative to traditional exercise for those who are looking to improve their overall health and well-being. The low cost of running an infrared sauna, combined with its ease of installation and versatility in terms of location, make it an attractive option for those in Ireland who are looking to improve their health and well-being.

The myths about infrared saunas are simply that – myths – and it’s time for people in Ireland to become more informed about the many benefits that sauna use can provide.