6 kW electric sauna heater consumes about 7–9 kilowatt-hours over a two-hour period on average, as the heater usually does not run at full power continuously. However, many factors affect this, such as the size of the sauna, the set temperature, and ventilation. If electricity costs, for example, 15 cents per kWh, the price of heating the sauna is therefore €1.05–€1.35 per session.
Sauna electricity consumption is therefore an essential part of everyday life, so it is only natural that sauna users are also interested in the cost of heating their sauna. More and more people are paying closer attention than before to how much electricity their household consumes overall. The electricity use of various appliances is monitored more carefully today, and some devices may be used more sparingly due to the fluctuations in electricity prices in recent years. For this reason, the electricity consumption of the sauna heater is also under close scrutiny for many.
However, sauna bathing is one of the most important ways for Finns to relax, and it is often linked to social occasions, such as a sauna evening with friends. It goes without saying that the sauna is an exceptionally important place for us Finns. So can I do something to reduce the sauna heater’s electricity consumption without having to compromise on the sauna experience itself?
Mondex's tips for reducing the electricity consumption of the sauna
Proper sizing of the sauna heater is important.
One of the key factors in managing a sauna’s electricity consumption is choosing the right sauna heater. If the heater is too powerful for the volume of the sauna, electricity consumption may increase unnecessarily, as the same sauna could be heated with a lower‑powered heater. To help with selecting a suitably sized heater, you can use our heater calculator. Please note that, for example, glass walls in the sauna increase the calculated volume and therefore raise the required power output of the sauna heater.
Did you know that Mondex Teno wall heater has unique spiral heating elements? The spiral shape increases the heating surface area of the elements, making sauna heating fast and energy‑efficient!
Take care of your heater
A well-maintained sauna heater is safe, works properly, and keeps electricity consumption at the right level. A well‑maintained sauna heater is fully intact and contains an appropriate amount of sauna stones. A stone surface that has sunk downward is a clear sign that the sauna stones need to be replaced immediately. Crumbling sauna stones block air circulation around the heating elements and can damage the heater’s heating elements. Therefore, keep an eye on the condition of your sauna heater and replace the sauna stones regularly, approximately every 100 sauna sessions. For more detailed instructions for changing the sauna stones can be found here.
A suitable target temperature reduces the sauna’s electricity consumption.
A suitable target temperature for a sauna is 60 to–70 degrees. The higher you heat the sauna, the more electricity the heater consumes. You can already go into the sauna when the thermometer shows 5–10 degrees less than the target temperature. Reaching this point typically takes about 35–50 minutes, depending for example on the sauna’s ventilation. It is therefore not worth waiting until the thermometer reaches the target temperature before entering the sauna. This way, the heater’s operating time is shortened and the cost of heating the sauna is reduced.
Optimize the temperature of the sauna
Make sure that sauna bathers are ready to go in as soon as the sauna is heated. To help schedule the sauna’s heating time, you can use a separate control unit, a manual timer, or the user interface of our WiFi‑enabled sauna heaters. Sauna from Finland’s study shows that going into the sauna immediately once it has heated up is one of the most common ways Finns reduce the sauna’s electricity consumption.
You can turn off the sauna heater slightly before the end of your sauna session, as a heater with a generous amount of stones continues to release heat for a long time after being switched off. The heat stored in the stone mass is enough to provide good steam until the end of the session and also helps to dry the sauna afterward.
Monitor your sauna’s electricity consumption via the WiFi heater interface.
Mondex WiFi heaters' interface also offers the ability to monitor the heater’s electricity consumption, among other features. The interface displays electricity usage in kilowatt-hours and allows you to enter the current electricity price. This gives you clear, factual information about your sauna’s energy consumption and its cost—and lets you track how changes in your sauna habits affect the heater’s electricity use. WiFi‑enabled sauna heaters are available from our retailers across Finland as well as online.