How to choose a sauna heater is influenced by factors such as the size of the sauna, the layout of the benches, and the desired heating and control methods. It’s also good to ask yourself a few questions, such as what kind of steam you want to get from the heater to ensure that your choice is correct. The best sauna heater is one that takes into account both, the characteristics of the sauna and the preferences of the sauna users.
Mondex's sauna heater selection consists of electric sauna heaters and wood-burning stoves, which can be further divided into four groups: wall-mounted heaters, floor heaters, soapstone heaters and wood-burning stoves. The heaters are available in various power ratings and are suitable for many sizes of saunas. After reading this guide, choosing a sauna heater will be easier for you!
The size of the sauna determines the power of the electric sauna heater
Choosing a sauna heater with the appropriate power is a crucial part of a successful sauna experience, so it's essential to size the sauna heater correctly. When the heater is neither oversized nor undersized, the sauna heats to just the right temperature, warming from the toes to the ceiling. If the sauna volume is on the boundary of two power classes, it’s advisable to choose a heater from the higher power class.
When selecting an electric sauna heater, it’s best to initially narrow down the options to those heaters that are suitable for your sauna in terms of power. You can use our sauna heater selector for this purpose. Just enter your sauna's dimensions into the sauna heater selector, and it will tell you which heaters from our selection might suit your sauna in terms of power. Also read: Electric Sauna Heater For a Small Sauna – 4 Options made in finland!
Safety Distances and Layout of the heater in the Sauna
If you are renovating or building a new sauna, you must strictly adhere to the safety distances of the heater to ensure safe sauna. The safety distances vary depending on the type of heater and the installation location. It is extremely important to check the instructions that come with the heater and the manufacturer's recommendations, as they can differ between different models and manufacturers. Additionally, local building regulations and safety standards must be considered when installing the stove. Remember that only a qualified electrician may install an electric sauna heater!
In addition to the safety distances of the heater, it’s essential to consider where in the sauna the new heater fits best – should the heater be installed in an open space, or should it be embedded in the bench? Nowadays, many people want plenty of bench space in the sauna, so embedding the heater in the bench structure can be a good solution. Mondex sauna heaters fit well in various saunas, with many power options available, and most heater models can either be installed in an open space or embedded in the bench.
If you decide on a corner model for your stove, the Aura corner stove is a suitable choice for a sauna when you want to use sauna's squares effectively. The Aura is designed to fit perfectly in the corner of the sauna, thus utilizing the square footage that would otherwise go to waste. The Aura is available with E2 or E2 WiFi control. Mondex Aura and several other sauna heater models from our selection can be embedded in the bench. For embedding, you need to purchase an additional embedding collar, except for the Kaira E2/E2 WiFi. The unique design of the Kaira allows embedding without an embedding collar, with a safety distance of only 4 mm at the inlet point!
Control Method of the Stove: manual Control, separate Control, or WiFi?
An essential part of choosing a sauna heater is also selecting a suitable control method. Our electric sauna heater selection consists of manually controlled and separately controlled heaters as well as WiFi heaters. The manually controlled heater has knobs for adjusting the timer/on time and temperature. Manually controlled heater are generally slightly more affordable compared to equivalent separately controlled heaters. Both separately controlled and manually controlled sauna heaters can be embedded in the bench, but with manually controlled heaters, special attention must be paid to the location of the knobs and their accessibility by hand.
The separately controlled E2 and E2 WiFi sauna heaters can be operated either from a separate controller or, when choosing the WiFi version, also from a computer, phone, or other smart device. The E2 and E2 WiFi heaters come standard with a separate controller with a 10 m control cable. The separate controller can be placed on the wall of, for example, a washroom or changing area, from where the heater can be easily turned on. The user interface/app of the E2 WiFi heater allows for completely remote control of the heater. The user interface of WiFi heaters also provides interesting statistics about usage frequency and power consumption, as well as keeping track of when the sauna heater stones need to be replaced. Also read: The renewed Mondex WiFi is more than just a sauna heater.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST WOOD-burning STOVE FOR YOUR SAUNA?
When planning a wood-burning sauna, choosing a suitable stove is also important. The best wood-burning stove is one that takes into account the requirements and limitations set by the sauna.
Our selection includes wood-burning stoves Klapi and Motti. Klapi is a beautifully shaped, round wood-burning stove that fits even in a smaller wood sauna. Motti, on the other hand, is a square wood-burning stove that is available with or without a water tank. Thus, Motti is also a suitable choice for a sauna without running water, as wash water conveniently heats up in the tank on the side of the stove. Both stoves feature a glass door through which the flickering flames, along with the sound of burning wood, create a cozy atmosphere in the wood-burning sauna.
how to choose a sauna heater is also influenced by the desired steam
At the core of our sauna heater design is perfect steam, so you can surely find the right heater from Mondex's selection. Perfect steam can vary depending on whom you ask – that’s why the steam from our sauna heaters is adjustable. The perforated shell of many of our stove models allows for water to be thrown in different directions around the stove, making the steam adjustable. Pouring water over the sauna heater creates harder steam, while throwing water onto the sides and lower parts of the heater results in more soft and moist steam.
The Appearance of the heater is part of the sauna's interior design
We have invested in the design of our sauna heaters, focusing not only on practicality and safety but also on their form and appearance, so that selecting the right heater for you is as easy as possible. Ideally, the best sauna heater is a perfect choice for your sauna in terms of features, steam, and appearance. Most of our sauna heaters are available in two different colors, stainless steel or black, so you can choose a heater color that suits your sauna. Additionally, our selection includes the design heater Rakka. The unique rough stone structure of the Rakka heater is patented, and the heater appears to consist of only stones, creating a unique atmosphere in the sauna. The large amount of stones ensures good steam, similar to that of a wood-burning stove.
In summary, we can say that the best sauna heater is one that is chosen thoughtfully, taking into account both the characteristics of the sauna and the preferences of the sauna bathers.