Everything you need to know about an outdoor or backyard sauna.[read]


ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUTDOOR SAUNAS
All saunas are rooms created for relaxation, detoxification, and purification through wet or dry heat therapy. For the most part, saunas built for the outdoors function in the same way as indoor saunas, but with a few differences.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUTDOOR SAUNAS
The outdoor sauna has a long history, and has evolved over thousands of years, from a means of survival and purification to a therapeutic temple of sorts. Today, saunas are enjoyed for the variety of health benefits they provide, including detoxification, improved heart function, and weight loss.
If you are considering buying an outdoor sauna, you probably have a few questions about how they came to be. This article will answer those questions!
You will get clarity on the various types of saunas designed for the outdoors, and how they are built to withstand the elements. You will also discover how your outdoor sauna will compare to an indoor version of the same type.
In short, this article will cover everything you need to know about outdoor saunas, which are also sometimes referred to as “backyard saunas.”
WHAT IS AN OUTDOOR SAUNA?
All saunas are rooms created for relaxation, detoxification, and purification through wet or dry heat therapy. For the most part, saunas built for the outdoors function in the same way as indoor saunas, but with a few differences.
Both traditional indoor and outdoor saunas can create steam, using a heat source, sauna stones, and water. Infrared saunas, which give off a dry heat, can be obtained for outdoor use, but are more commonly found indoors.
Saunas designed for the outdoors are built with special materials that are perfect for dealing with the effects of the weather and drastic changes in temperature. There are a few other factors that set outdoor saunas apart from their indoor counterparts:

  
Most indoor saunas come in a standard box or cube shape, whereas saunas for the outdoors are available in a wider variety of designs.
  
It is easier to vent an outside sauna than an indoor one, but installation can be more complicated. Local building codes must be followed when you build a sauna outside the home - particularly regarding the wiring and the chimney.
  
Saunas made for indoors are usually a lot more compact than those intended for the outdoors.

THE ORIGIN OF THE OUTDOOR SAUNA
Nobody knows precisely when and where the use of outdoor saunas began, but scientists believe that it may have been around 2,000 BCE, somewhere in northern Europe.
The very first saunas were probably something like a man-made cave, closed up with water-resistant animal hides to keep out the wind, snow, and rain.
Here are a few interesting facts about the saunas of ancient history:

  
Due to their long-lasting heat and the sterilizing qualities of the smoke, sauna rooms improved the health and hygiene of their occupants, helping with everyday survival.
  
The saunas of yesterday often served more than one purpose. For example, they were used as birthing rooms, washrooms, kitchens, gathering spaces for celebrations, and even mortuaries where the dead were prepared for burial.
  
They often served as homes, too, as they were easy to keep warm, increasing the chances of the occupants surviving the extremely cold winter months.
  
The healing and therapeutic benefits of these saunas led to them becoming traditional holy spaces, and some cultures believed in sauna spirits who would aid in the healing. Even today, some believe that saunas have magical properties.

TYPES OF OUTDOOR SAUNAS
There are three main ways in which backyard saunas differ from one another:

  
The heat source.
  
The shape.
  
The size.

HEAT SOURCE
Saunas produce heat in one of two ways - traditionally or “non-traditionally,” which just means any sauna with an infrared heater. Here is some insight on how these heat sources work:
THE TRADITIONAL SAUNA
Traditional saunas function in a very similar way to the previously-mentioned ancient saunas, and are known as “wet saunas” or “steam saunas.” Here’s how you use this particular type of sauna:

  
You place sauna stones on top of the sauna heater to warm up.
  
Once the stones are hot, you can sprinkle water on them, creating steam.
  
The steam circulates within the room, raising the temperature and causing you to perspire.

Many fans of outdoor saunas prefer the traditional option, because it provides a more authentic feel. Modern versions of traditional saunas can be heated in two ways, either with a wood-burning heater, for a very authentic experience, or with an electric heater.
WOOD BURNING STOVE

  
Saunas with this heater type use firewood in the wood-burning stove to heat the rocks.
  
Users will find themselves surrounded by an aromatically pleasing ambience.
  
No wiring is required for use of this sauna type.
  
A chimney must be installed for this sauna type to function.

ELECTRIC HEATER

  
In these saunas, an electric heater is used to heat sauna rocks.
  
Electric heaters are the standard option in Almost Heaven Saunas.
  
Electric sauna heaters have a faster heating time than wood-fired saunas.
  
With electric heated saunas, you can control the temperature at any time.

THE INFRARED SAUNA
Infrared saunas have a more focused, modern approach to heat therapy. Rather than heating the whole room, like a traditional sauna, an infrared sauna creates radiant heat with its infrared heater. Although the temperature of the room will not be as high, your body will absorb this radiant heat, and you will sweat. Infrared saunas are proven to be seven times more effective than traditional saunas at detoxifying the body.
SAUNA STYLE
Whether you are looking for a simple, quaint sauna that will add a cottage-like look to your yard, or for something more modern and stylish, there are a large variety of styles to choose from for your new sauna.
Источники:
Источник - https://mysaunaworld.com/blogs/my-sauna-world-blog/outdoor-or-backyard-sauna-guide