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Infrared Sauna Heater Types

Sauna heaters have two basic functions --- to create steam and heat. The sauna heater must also produce a temperature that is consistently high. Stones are piled on top of the heater, which retains the heat and produces steam when water is poured over them. One type is the infrared sauna heater, which provides a type of light. The body absorbs the light and transforms it into energy in the cells. Different infrared sauna heaters have different heating elements.

  1. Ceramic

    • Ceramic infrared heaters have been used for years. When the ceramic element is heated, it produces infrared wavelengths that are in the optimal micron range for the body, according to Infrared Sauna Zone. The ceramic infrared wavelength is not as long as the one created by the carbon sauna heater; however, the ceramic heater produces a lot of infrared heat and promotes sweating. Ceramic heaters have an estimated life of 10,000 hours of operation, bounce nearly 90 percent of the rays back into the room to be absorbed in the body, and have a 93 percent emissivity. Emissivity measures an object's ability to emit low, middle and far infrared energy, with the best infrared heaters emitting 90 to 95 percent emissivity.

    Carbon

    • Carbon infrared heaters are new on the market when compared to the ceramic types. This type of infrared heater is usually flat, with carbon panels that are lighter and more durable. Carbon infrared heaters also have a lower surface temperature, which results in a longer infrared wavelength. The infrared heat produced, however, may not be hot enough to heat a sauna cabin, according to Infrared Sauna Zone.

    Combination

    • One company makes a combination carbon and ceramic infrared heater. By combining the two, this new technology offers the best of both types of heaters. The carbon in the heater allows the infrared sauna to produce long-wave, far infrared heat. This type of heat helps penetrate deeper into the body and the heat is more readily absorbed. The ceramic in the heater provides a very high infrared output, so heat is concentrated directly to the body. The patented technology provides heat that is gentler, yet deeper and more penetrating, according to Infrared Sauna. This combination heater type reaches the optimal temperature in the sauna in less than 10 minutes.

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