How to Retrofit an Existing Sauna to an Infrared

A traditional sauna uses heat and humidity to encourage sweating in users, which flushes out toxins. An infrared sauna uses a dry heat to do the same thing. It is often less expensive to operate than a regular sauna, and easier to maintain. Retrofitting a regular sauna to run on an infrared heater is a simple procedure.

Things You'll Need

• 6 screws
• Screwdriver
• Infrared heating unit
• Wall mounting bracket

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Instructions

• 1

  Unplug the heater in your traditional sauna. Let it cool down completely before you remove it. If you use a rock-based sauna, let the rocks cool overnight before you handle them.

• 2

  Pull the bench in your sauna away from the wall and move it to the middle of the space. You need to rotate while using an infrared sauna so you expose all of your skin's surface to the heat. Sitting in the middle of the room makes this easier.

• 3

  Attach the bench to the floor in the middle of the room. Drive a screw into each of the four legs. Insert the screws at a 45 degree angle into the floor.

• 4

  Place screws in wall for mounting bracket. Screw screws into the wall of the sauna, two feet from the bench and three feet from the floor. Place the screws close enough together that the mounting bracket can slide over both.

• 5

  Remove the adhesive cover from the back of the mounting bracket and press it onto the back of the infrared heating unit. If your unit is larger than two bulbs, you may need two brackets and four screws in the wall. Lower the bracket over the screws so the heater is mounted to the wall.

• 6

  Run the electrical cord to an internal plug or out an air vent to a plug outside the sauna. If there is no vent, drill a small hole into the wall and feed the cord through it to a plug.

• 7

  Leave your traditional heating system in the sauna if your space is larger than 4 feet by 4 feet. You can use it to pre-heat the space when you want to use the sauna. If your sauna is smaller than that, you can remove the traditional heater because the infrared bulbs will get the space warm enough.