Saunas are slowly gaining popularity among health and fitness enthusiasts. Due to their numerous physical and mental health benefits, many homeowners are choosing to install an outdoor sauna in their backyard. This not only provides convenience, but also provides cost-saving benefits in the future. However, many homeowners are confused when deciding whether to invest in a traditional sauna or an infrared sauna. Both options are extremely popular, but they work very differently. If you are looking for a home sauna, you can browse Smonda's website to check out our options!

Learn how each sauna works
The main difference between sauna heaters and infrared sauna panels is how they work. Sauna heaters work much like any traditional electric heater. They are plugged in and produce hot air that circulates through the sauna, raising the temperature to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Infrared saunas, on the other hand, are very different from heaters. These saunas heat the body directly through infrared light, and the air in the sauna is kept at a more neutral temperature. The temperatures in these saunas are generally not as high as traditional saunas, and the humidity is much lower than in saunas equipped with traditional heaters.
Benefits of both saunas
Both traditional sauna heaters and infrared saunas offer numerous health benefits to users, however, depending on your needs, one option may be more suitable for you than the other.
Benefits of Traditional Sauna Heaters
- Since the sauna heater heats the air inside the sauna, it promotes a lot of sweating, which is very beneficial for detoxification.
- Sauna heaters allow the sauna to reach very high temperatures, which are particularly beneficial for cardiovascular health.
- The intense heat within a traditional sauna helps optimize mental health benefits, including increasing dopamine and serotonin and decreasing cortisol.
- Most sauna heaters can also provide steam when used with sauna stones.
Benefits of Infrared Saunas
- Infrared saunas heat the body directly, deep into the muscles and tissues. This makes infrared saunas particularly beneficial for muscle recovery and joint pain relief.
- Because infrared saunas operate at lower temperatures and have lower air humidity, they are suitable for most people, especially those who are sensitive to high temperatures.
- Infrared saunas use less energy than traditional sauna heaters, so they cost less to run, and they heat up faster.
Choose your perfect sauna heater at Smonda
If you are considering installing a home sauna or outdoor sauna for your property, you should seriously consider which heating method is best for you. Both options offer significant benefits, however, if your main goal is muscle relaxation and recovery, infrared heaters may be more suitable for you. In most other cases, sauna heaters are more preferred. However, to get the best of both worlds, you can actually install both infrared panels and heaters to maximize the benefits. Browse the Smonda website today to customize your home sauna!