Choosing a Sauna Heater: Electric or Wood-Burning, How Many kW?

It operates with a button or a timer, maintains a constant temperature, does not require a chimney and fits easily indoors. It is possible to precisely adjust the temperature and duration with the control panel and have the sauna ready at a certain time. It has a wide range of uses, from apartment to hotel spa.

Wood-burning stoves offer the atmosphere of a traditional Finnish sauna and the unique warmth of a wood fire. Since it is not dependent on electrical infrastructure, it is advantageous in rural areas, by lakes or in places where electricity is limited. On the other hand, the chimney system requires additional planning in terms of regular wood supply and fire safety. For this reason, it is mostly preferred in detached buildings or garden saunas.

When making your decision, ask yourself: do you want to use the sauna quickly and conveniently, or are you looking for a more traditional experience where the ritual of lighting a fire is part of it? Electric for interior, practicality and most home uses. Wood is generally more suitable for detached, traditional and areas where chimneys can be installed.

For example, for a cabin with an internal volume of 6 m³, a stove around 6 kW is generally the starting point. This is an approximate reference. The final selection depends on the characteristics of the cabin.

There are factors that affect this basic calculation: large glass surfaces, uninsulated or stone/tiled walls and cold surfaces facing the external wall increase heat loss and require higher power. A well-insulated, wood-clad classic cabin stays close to the basic bill.

Although choosing the power as small as possible may seem like energy saving, a stove that is insufficient for its volume can never raise the cabinet to the ideal temperature and will wear out by constantly operating at full load. An overly large stove consumes unnecessary energy. Therefore, we recommend that you make the right power selection along with the cabinet dimensions, without relying on guesswork. In our projects, we clarify the power according to the cabin drawing and insulation details.

Models holding more stones accumulate a higher heat mass. This means softer, longer-lasting steam and a more even temperature feeling when the water is poured. Compact models with fewer stones heat up quickly, but their steam comfort lasts for a shorter period of time.

Wall-mounted compact stoves save space in small cabinets. Cylinder or tower type stoves that sit on the floor are preferred in large cabins and intensive use due to their higher stone capacity. In some models, the stove can be hidden under the bench to provide aesthetic integrity.

Sauna stones are also a consumable material. Over time, they crack with the heat cycle and their efficiency decreases. Periodically checking the stones and renewing them when necessary preserves the air flow and steam quality of the stove.

The separate panel offers the ability to adjust temperature and time from outside the cabin, delayed start, and remote/app operation on some models.

Delayed start and time setting features allow you to have the sauna ready before the customer arrives home or at the business; so you don't have to wait for it to warm up. Thanks to the thermostat, the temperature is kept constant at the specified value.

It is important to choose the remote control according to your usage scenario. In home use, a practical panel is often sufficient. Time scheduling and central control features greatly facilitate operation in hotels, spas and heavily used businesses.

Therefore, installation, electrical connection and safety distances must be done professionally. The minimum distances specified by the manufacturer should be maintained between the stove and wooden surfaces, benches and the ceiling, and a protective fence should be considered around it.

Electric stoves must be connected with cables of appropriate cross-section, correct fuse and grounding. Since it is a wet environment, leakage current protection should not be neglected. Models with safety functions such as overheating protection and automatic shutdown should be preferred. In wood stoves, chimney draft, fireproof floor and safe wood feeding are critical.

The air vents of the stove should not be closed, and towels or flammable objects should not be left on it. We plan the safety details of the saunas we have installed since 1993 at the project stage, and we select the stove together according to the cabin volume and usage type. You can consult us to choose the stove and power suitable for your cabin.