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Traditional Vs Infrared Saunas
Saunas are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and it’s easy to see why. Often taking up less space than a swimming pool or hot tub, saunas offer a touch of luxury to any household while also providing a range of health benefits to their users.
Generally, people have two choices when it comes to what sauna they would like: a traditional sauna, or a modern infrared alternative. While both versions aim to offer the same service, there are notable differences in how they are operated and the experience they provide.
There are advantages for both versions, meaning that what is best for you might be different from what’s best for someone else. Here, we’re going to look at the facts, helping you to make an informed decision on your sauna.
Traditionally, saunas are wooden, box-shaped rooms that, through the use of heated stones and water, create a hot and humid environment.
Saunas have been around for centuries and have taken on many different forms over the years. A traditional sauna is sometimes referred to as a Finnish sauna after where this popular version originates.
An infrared sauna seeks to mimic the appearance and experience of a traditional sauna. However, while a conventional sauna uses stone and water, this version uses infrared lights to create heat.
Infrared is a natural ray of energy that we perceive as heat. It is produced naturally by the sun and other sources of heat, such as fire. It is a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to ultraviolet and visible light, and as such can be artificially produced through the use of infrared lamps.
Infrared saunas will often use infrared heat lamps to create the sensation of heat, similar to that experienced in a traditional sauna.
As you can probably imagine, a traditional sauna does give you a more authentic experience than most infrared alternatives.
The most significant difference between the two is the heat and humidity. Traditional saunas can often reach a temperature considerably higher than their infrared counterparts. Meanwhile, the heating method used – stones and water – also creates the humidity that many people associate with the sauna experience. This humidity is less apparent when using infrared saunas.
Because of the different heating methods, it is also possible to sit and lie wherever you like in a traditional sauna. In infrared saunas, you often have to sit in-line with the built-in lamps.
One of the reasons why traditional saunas reach a higher temperature than infrared ones is that they require considerably more power to operate. While conventional saunas need hard wiring, many infrared saunas can work through a simple plug socket.
These differences in wiring provide a significant advantage for the infrared sauna. Infrared versions are notably easier to install and cheaper to run, as well as having a shorter heat-up time.
One of the biggest questions when it comes to traditional or infrared saunas concerns health. The majority of people purchasing a sauna are doing so for health benefits, so it’s a question that needs answering. However, countless myths and falsehoods are told by companies looking to promote their version over the competitor, which has muddied the waters.
The biggest myth to expel here concerns infrared rays. As they are in a similar group to x-rays and microwaves, some believe that it could be harmful to expose yourself to infrared lights over many years. In reality, infrared is an entirely natural product and will produce no further health complications compared to using a traditional sauna.
The best way to explain this is to compare infrared rays to rays of light, as they are comparatively similar. Light itself, natural or artificial, does not cause any health issues (unless we stare at the source for too long, which can harm the eyes). It is the same for infrared light - the only problems that could arise stem from excess exposure to high temperatures, which is experienced in any sauna.
Sunburn and associated skin complications are caused by ultraviolet rays, which are not the same as infrared.
The health advantages gained when using a sauna all derive from the heat that they create. By increasing the body’s external temperature, you promote muscle relaxation, blood flow and perspiration. In this sense, the health benefits between traditional and infrared saunas are identical.
There is a slight difference in scale between traditional and infrared saunas due to the differences in heat. As traditional saunas reach much higher temperatures, the benefits are often amplified, while their humidity also promotes sweating much more than an infrared alternative.
While health benefits are extended in a traditional sauna, there are not many unique benefits that cannot be gained through infrared alternatives. Here, many of the benefits are either psychological due to the sauna’s more natural feel, or have been so contradicted by competing viewpoints that they are now hard to prove.
Ultimately, what sauna choice you go for will almost certainly come down to price. Most people that can afford it will decide on a traditional sauna for that authentic experience. However, if that is slightly out of your price range, rest assured that infrared saunas provide much the same experience while being more convenient to run.
Here at 1st Direct Pools, we offer a range of infrared saunas that are ideal for those looking for a simple but effective sauna solution. While we made our name in the swimming pool industry thanks to our expertise in installation, chemicals and swimming pool solar covers, we have also been trusted for many years when it comes to delivering great saunas for UK households.
If you have any questions about our range or the information provided in this article, feel free to get in touch with our team who will happily answer any questions.
