Home Infrared Sauna Buying Tips

I don't sell saunas, on this site or elsewhere. Also, I'm not going to recommend any particular brand or model. I'm just offering some things to think about when you shop.

  • You are working with a dealer, not a manufacturer. The vast majority of home infrared saunas sold today are made in China. You may never know who built your sauna. So, buy from a reputable dealer. Recognizing a reputable dealer:
    • How long have they been in business?
    • Does the Better Business Bureau have complaints about them?
    • Does a Google search of their company name reveal a lot of problems?
    • What kind of warranty and service do they provide?
    • Do they have a trustworthy website? The website should list a phone number, place of business, and a way of contacting them.
    • Call or send them an email on their website and see if a human being responds.
  • Shop around. Prices vary a lot. The problem here is that every dealer sells different models - it's hard to make an exact comparison. However, you can do a pretty good feature-by-feature comparison and see who's offering the better deals. Common features:
    • Heater type. Ceramic, carbon fiber, etc. I'm not getting into a debate on the relative merits of the different types, but your price comparisons should probably include this.
    • Number of heaters. More heaters cost more, but heat you up faster and more evenly.
    • Extra features like mp3 players, radios, fancy lights, etc.
    • Type of wood, styling, etc. This is a personal choice.
  • Keep it small.
    • Lower electrical requirements. Many 1 and 2 person saunas can be plugged into a 15-amp circuit, which is typical for most modern construction. Bigger saunas need a 20-amp circuit or more. This will seriously limit the choices you have for placing the sauna, or require you to get an electrician to run a special new circuit for the sauna.
    • Lower cost. Obviously, in general, smaller saunas sell for less.
    • Smaller saunas are easier to move and assemble.
    • Besides the electrical requirements, you can put a smaller sauna in more places than a larger one.
  • Consider all costs.
    • Price. Shop around for coupons, discounts, etc.
    • Tax.
    • Shipping. This can be a significant expense. If the dealer is not including it in the cost, make sure you have an accurate estimate and factor it in yourself.
    • Installation & assembly. If you have to hire a helper, it will cost you. If you have to hire an electrician, it will cost you more.
  • Buy a used sauna? You can find saunas listed for sale on Craigslist and similar places, or you may have a friend of a friend who's looking to get rid of their own. Here are some things to look for:
    • "Let the buyer beware." I don't need to tell you about all the ways you can get screwed buying expensive items from unknown people.
    • Everything works. All heaters, all controls, lights, and any other features such as a built in mp3 player should be working.
    • No damage. Also, no significant modifications.
    • You and the seller have a plan for how the sauna will be disassembled, moved, and reassembled.
    • I don't see enough activity in the used sauna market to say what you should expect to pay. There is no 'Blue Book' value. Compare the used sauna to a new one with similar features and drive your own bargain.
Submitted by joe on Sat, 09/03/2011 - 10:21