Gas Heaters vs. All The Rest

The first known Finnish saunas are thought to be used as early at the 5th century. These saunas were heated with rocks placed in a wood fire. The smoke from the fire engulfed the room to warm the air in the sauna then bathers would let the smoke out and sit in the sauna to enjoy the heat. Although the sought-after sauna experience for bathers has not changed since the 5th century, technology has greatly changed the method in which saunas are built and heated.

Woodstoves, electric, infrared and gas heaters are the four primary ways to heat today’s sauna. With a woodstove heater, bathers are required to continually add wood or another fuel source to keep the desired temperature. Fire risks are greatest with woodstoves as is pollution from the burning of natural resources. On the opposite side of the spectrum are the infrared sauna heaters which heat the bather inside the room giving bathers an overall lower temperature and an altered sauna experience. In fact, infrared cabins are not considered “sauna bath” and they are not endorsed by the Finnish Sauna Society or International Sauna Society.

Electric heaters give much of the same benefits as a gas heater does. They eliminate pollution and easily maintain a constant temperature. Gas heaters however do not have an element as the electric heaters do that are costly to replace if they ever go out. Electric heaters can also cost up to 50% more to operate and do not have as long of life time value as gas heaters.

The Ultra-Sauna Gas heater, formerly known as Vico, goes a step further in the design to add more benefits. Manufactured by Scandia Manufacturing, this heater is made entirely of stainless steel to eliminate concerns of corrosion and rust. The combustion chamber of the Ultra-Sauna is made of heavy gauge 321 stainless steel which is the same material used in jet afterburners. The Ultra Sauna Gas Heater is a completely sealed combustion heater with no gas or flue connections made inside the actual sauna therefore the threat of oxygen depletion or flue products leaking into the sauna are eliminated. This type of heater is also ideal for rooms with little ventilation. For more information on this heater, please visit our website at www.scandiamfg.com or call us at 1-877-467-2862.