Electric or wood-fired: choosing the right heat source

Deciding whether to opt for a wood-fired or an electric stove is often one of the first things to consider when it comes to the design and usability of your sauna. While the final choice usually comes down to either a clear personal preference or is driven by obvious practical considerations, there are some key factors to consider that will likely influence the decision-making process. In this article, we’ve explored some of the key distinctions between wood-fired and electric saunas and asked some of the Heartwood Saunas team to share insights to help clarify the benefits of both options.

Start with the why

While delving into the differences between an electrically heated sauna and a wood-fired sauna is often an essential part of the research phase, you can also be guided in the right direction by first considering your sauna ‘why’. If the primary intention is to spend more time immersed in nature and to benefit from the sensory rewards of being outdoors and physically connecting to the elements through collecting and preparing kindling and logs, then a wood-fired sauna would likely be the right choice. Alternatively, if your intention is to maximise opportunities to use the sauna and reap the health benefits of sauna bathing on a regular or daily basis, then the convenience and speed of an electric sauna may be a better option.

Finding clarity on what is most important to you and understanding what is driving the purchase of a sauna early on in the decision-making process can usually make it easier to choose which heat source is most suitable. Knowing the ‘why’ can also guide the wider design consultation by ensuring choices are always rooted in the original intention for the sauna, which means it’s more likely to be enjoyed consistently over the long term.

“If our clients are ever in doubt as to which stove to choose, my advice is to go with the one that will help them to use the sauna on a regular basis”, Olly, founder.

Wood-Fired

A wood-fired stove is certainly the more traditional choice of heat source and has been central to sauna culture for centuries. Choosing a wood-fired stove connects you to this lineage, invites a slowing down and offers a more intimate connection with nature through the primitive ritual of sourcing wood then building and maintaining the fire. Requiring no power supply, wood-fired saunas are also 'off-grid' and, as such, offer greater flexibility for less accessible or rural locations, which can also create a more adventurous dimension to the sauna experience.

For those who choose a wood-fired option, the ceremony of preparing the fire and heating the sauna manually, tweaking and adjusting the heat to get it just right, adds to the more profound, meditative practice of sauna bathing. The tactile aspect of handling the organic texture of the wood and the resulting ambience conjured up by the smoke and the visuals of the flames helps the mind disconnect from the busyness and ‘always-on’ headspace we largely operate from in our daily lives.

While wood-fired saunas score highly on a more sensory level and offer a direct shot of nature, on a practical level, there are a few things to consider with wood-fired stoves.

Location is key. A remote sauna setting may predicate a wood-burning stove due to an absence of a power source, however, if the sauna is being situated in a private garden, it may be necessary to consider neighbouring properties or other practical factors which might prohibit the use of a wood-fired stove. If installing a sauna in an urban area, for example, DEFRA regulations in the UK relating to smoke control may need to be reviewed and considered. A first step to finding out what’s possible would be to look at the DEFRA Smoke Control Area Interactive Map (defra.gov.uk) to understand what the local rules are in your area.

While for some, the additional time and preparation implicit in the heating up of a wood-fired sauna is an integral part of the experience, it’s worth considering whether it’s possible to sustain this level of time investment and whether, in the long term, this might impact on the regularity with which the sauna is used.

“Wood-fired saunas require a bit more forward planning if you want to get the best from the experience. Gathering the firewood and building up the fire to get it to temperature takes time. A really large sauna such as the Arden will take approximately 90 minutes and the more compact Vapor will heat up in 75 minutes, so this needs to be factored in to the decision making process.” Robin, workshop manager.

When it comes to running costs of a wood-fired sauna, this will depend on where the wood is sourced. In order to ensure maximum efficiency and protect the long term health of the sauna and stove, be sure to source the best quality wood which is either well-seasoned or has been kiln-dried.

Electric

With digital heating controls that can be set remotely by an app, an electrically heated sauna can integrate more seamlessly into the fabric of contemporary life. The clear key advantage of an electric stove is the convenience and ease of heating up the space, supporting regular usage of the sauna.

“When guiding our clients on the decision to go electric or wood-fired, we’ll discuss how and when they intend to use the sauna. The HUUM electric stoves used in our saunas can be pre-set to be heated to temperature by a certain time, meaning your sauna can be ready to step into as soon as you arrive home from work. Ultimately, it’s about what feels right for each individual, but certainly from a convenience perspective, an electric sauna is less labour and time intensive.” Kam, Operations Manager.

In addition to the efficiency of an electric sauna, there are other advantages, including the fact that they are low-maintenance and easier to keep clean. There is also a subtle difference in the steam created by the electric stove, thanks to the greater stone capacity which yields a gentle, long-lasting steam.

When it comes to the location of your electric sauna, the main factor to consider is access to a power supply and how this would reach the sauna.

The cost of heating an electric sauna will be influenced by the current cost of electricity and your chosen provider, but as a guide, the unit costs for electricity multiplied by the kW output of the stove (for example 12kW in an Aire+) would give an idea of the cost per kW hour. An electric sauna can also be an environmentally responsible choice when paired with an energy supplier that sources power exclusively from renewables.

A personal choice

Remaining true to your original vision and intentions of how you’d like to use your sauna, will ultimately guide you to make the right decision. It can also be helpful to remember that whether you choose an electrically heated stove or a wood-fired stove, the wider health benefits of a sauna are the same and regardless of the heating element, the real joy comes from having access to a space dedicated to relaxation and well-being.

“It can be easy to get caught up in analysing the benefits of one heating source over the other. The team here is really familiar with helping clients navigate this choice and are always on hand to guide and advise on optimising your sauna design, whichever heating route you choose to go down." Olly, founder.

For more information on the HUUM stoves used as standard in our saunas you can visit HUUM sauna heaters and sauna controllers – HUUM.

You’ll also find the available heating options for each of our pre-designed saunas on their website pages.