The infrared products make many claims, including many medical claims and cure-alls, which sound great for the customer, but which are very misleading, can not be substantiated, and might even be harmful for the user. The infrared manufacturers have used the real Sauna research and benefits to their own advantage; yet they promote their products as superior to Saunas, with much negative and false information. You might want to contact the American Medical Association concerning some of the infrared claims.

What Infrared Says About Saunas

Health Mate’s (infrared) literature states, “Traditional Saunas rely on a stove to heat the air to as hot as
220’F”

Actual Facts – an average Sauna temp can be 160’F to 190’F. In fact UL testing limits the upper
limit to 194’F. 220’F would be very hot, and too hot and uncomfortable for most people (however, some
Saunas in Finland reach temperatures of 230’F).

Infrared – “The energy they require can as much as double your electricity bill.”

Actual Facts – The 220v Sauna heater has double the speed in heating compared to the slow 110v
infrared. During 1 hr. of heating, the infrared 1600w heating units stayed on the entire time, whereas the
Sauna heater’s thermostat cycled the heater off (after about 30 min. heat-up time) and on again to maintain the temperature. Refer to Cost of Heating section.

Infrared – “The superheated air (in the Sauna) must remain tightly enclosed, resulting in a stifling, suffocating environment.”

Actual Facts – there are always two 4” x 10” vents in a Sauna (one upper and one lower) and there are 0 to 2 vents in an infrared room. The vents can be opened or closed.

Infrared – “Radiant heat is more efficient because it warms you, not the air.”

Actual Facts – Any direct heat source heats your body directly such as the heating element of the infrared or even a heat lamp, but they are spot heaters as they heat only part of your body (the part closest to the heating element. The air in the room is also heater, but only to a low temp of about 130’F (not hot enough for maximum perspiration)). The Sauna air is heater and is hotter, the entire body is heater, so the entire body benefits from over-all perspiration. The air is pure, there is no radiation, and it is safe.

Infrared – “It’s radiant heat reaches deep – while producing 2 to 3 times more sweat than other saunas.”

Actual Facts – A 65-year old man with body weight of #200 sat in the Health Mate infrared room fro 30 min. when the room was 120’F. He lost 12 oz. of body weight (water) while perspiring only from the neck and back when leaning against the wooden grille 1-1/2” away from 600’F elements. The next morning his neck and back felt like a mild case of sunburn. The same man lay down on the upper bench in a Finlandia Sauna for 30 min. when room temp. was 175’F. He lost 16 oz. of body weight (water) while perspiring over the entire body.

 

 

Infrared Room vs. Sauna


There is much confusion today among consumers who are shopping for Saunas. In the US, many products are called Saunas – steam baths, heat lamps, exercise suits, heated domes, etc. have all been called Saunas. The companies who market them capitalize on the well-advertised name and popularity of Sauna and sell the products here in America as Saunas.

SAUNA

What is a Sauna?

Sauna (which is the only Finnish word to be found in the English dictionary) is a type of bath in which steam is provided by pouring water over hot stones (according to Webster’s Dictionary). Of course, a Sauna can also be used dry, if one chooses not to use water. The Sauna room is built from softwood, it is insulated and one electric Sauna heater filled with stone provides heat. Humidity is regulated by the amount of water, which is poured by dipperfuls over the hot stones. The temperature ranges from 165’F to 194’F, when measured with a Sauna thermometer placed on the wall 6” down from the ceiling directly over the Sauna Heater (after at least 30 mins of heat-up time). The Sauna temperature varies from about 80’F at floor level to 200’F at ceiling level, as heat naturally rises. The humidity level can range from 12% in a completely dry Sauna room to 30-40% when water is used.

INFRARED

What is Infrared?

Infrared heat is described by one of the manufacturers (in their literature) as “a form of energy that heats objects without heating the air in between.” This is a misleading statement, as the same brochure states that the room temperature measures 110’F to 130’F after about 20 to 30 minutes heat-up time (so the air is definitely heated). As there are no stones, there is no means of using water to obtain humidity, so the humidity level is very low. The infrared room is not insulated, and the heating method is a series of open metal boxes with 120v cal rod elements, built into the wall in various places.


COMPARISON OF SAUNA TO INFRARED HEAT ROOM

Finlandia Sauna Room
63” x 87” x 83”
(inside Dimensions)
Western Red Cedar Room

vs.

Health Mate Infrared Room
34” x 45” x 66”
(Inside Dimensions)


Radiation and the Electromagnetic Field.

Electric elements produce radiation which can be dangerous to your health. E.g. A normal TV screen measures under 13%. Newer computers measure 0%.

Finlandia Sauna – A large supply of rocks filters any radiation produces from the electric elements. A tester measured 0% radiation at the metal heater casing when the heater had been on for 30 minutes.

Health Mate – Radiation level was tested at the metal safety grille which surrounds the cal rod heating element. The radiation level measured 33.4%. The bather’s body would be affected by this high radiation level, as the body is about 1-1/4” away from the element when the bather reclines against the wooden grille. Surface temp. of the actual cal rod heating element measured 590’F to 625’F. (Note! Radiation readings were measured with a Sperry EMF 200A electromagnetic field radiation tester.) Infrared has been compared to the heat of the sun. As we know that direct sun rays can be dangerous to a person’s skin, what might the effect of Infrared be on a bather’s skin?

Humidity – How important is it?

When humidity is added to the dry, hot air, the atmosphere becomes more comfortable, it is easier to breathe, and it is a valuable aid to the perspiration process in flushing toxins out of the pores.

Sauna – Humidity range is from 12% in a dry, heated room to 35% when 2 to 3 dippers full of water are poured over the heated stones. The humidity in the Sauna can be adjusted to the bather’s liking by the amount of water that is poured over the stones.

Infrared – Humidity is low as the room is totally dry. There are no heated stones; there is no facility for water, so the benefits of humidity are lost. As humidity is a major requirement of a Sauna, the infrared cannot be called a Sauna.

Cost of heating

Cost of heating is controlled by many factors – size of room, height of ceiling, insulation of room, location of room, etc.

Sauna – An average residential Sauna requires about a 30 min. heat-up time. A 6’ x 6’ x 7’ room (4 person size) requires a 220v 6kW electric heater. If the cost per kWh is $0.10, the heating cost per hr. is about $0.60. As the heater cycles off and on, cost would actually be less. The Sauna rocks store heat, which makes the operation even more economical. If the Sauna is used every day for an hour, and the EverReady Sauna heater (by Finlandia-Harvia) is used, the cost per hr. at the rate of $0.10 per kWh is only $0.025 per hour.

Infrared – Cabin size of 34” x 45” x 66” (1 to 2 person size) with a power source of 120v, has a total output of 1.6kW. If the cost per kWh is $0.10, the total heating cost per hour is $0.16. There is no heat storage, no insulation, and the elements are on all the time.

Wiring

Sauna – Operates on 220-240v 1ph or 208v 3ph power with a dedicated service from its own breaker (very small rooms use 120v 1ph). Heat-up time is about 30 minutes at sea level to 175’F.

Infrared – Operates on 120v heating unit which is plugged into wall outlet. Heat-up time is about 30 mins. To maximum temperature of about 131’F. If the average infrared room uses about 1600w of service, it draws 13.3 amps which should have #12 wire and 20 amp breaker – a dedicated service. Check with the National Electric Code, as your service must be 20% higher than the actual draw of your product. Many new homes are wired with only #14 wire and 15 amp service. If an Infrared is plugged into a wall outlet, it should be the only electric appliance using that service.

Comfort Level

Sauna vs. Infrared You enter the Sauna in comfort through a door high enough to walk through rather than bowing your head to enter through the 59-1/2” Health Mate door. A normal 7’ ceiling gives full standing room compared to the 5-1/2’ infrared ceiling. Two levels of benches in the Sauna let you choose your heat level. You may recline or sit on the upper bench for greatest heat advantage, or you may sit on the lower bench at a cooler temperature. You are pampered with air heated to your own comfort level, and with humidity adjusted to your own comfort level. Infrared offers only semi-hot, dry air. In the Sauna your body is far away from the electric heater, while in the Infrared, your body is 1-1/2” away from hot elements. You can use the Sauna for aroma therapy but that is not a possibility with the Infrared.

If still in doubt, sit in an infrared room for 30 minutes and lean against the wood grille in front of the elements. Then sit in a Sauna for 30 minutes. Try both the upper and lower benches, pour a little water on the hot stones and experience true Finnish Löyly!*




 


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