I like:
- The style of this one
- The fact that it has two levels plus a floor to sit on for people who want different temperature/steam levels
- I think the rectangle shape is actually a better use of space than a barrel shape
Some constraints:
- It needs to go outdoors, the one pictured has glass which seems like it wouldn’t insulate well outside
- My yard will get down to 0-15f or -17C to -10C when I want to use it
- Dry but snowy climate, Western Colorado
- Backyard is quite small, using space efficiently is important
Big issue:
- My panel only has 100 amps and only a 110v exterior outlet. It’d be horribly expensive to upgrade the panel, I already looked into it. And expensive to install an exterior 220/240v outlet.
- Propane heating element seems best for me. I’m not into wood.
Summary:
- Need a 3-4 person outdoor sauna, preferably propane heating element. Any suggestions?
While I agree that this layout/design is probably better than many barrels in terms of quality of heat, this seems to be an indoor sauna kit. Those generally have minimal insulation and are not designed in a weatherproof way. In your climate I would expect a bad result – we have heard from numerous people in r/sauna who set up an indoor sauna like this in an uninsulated garage (which mitigates the weather issues) but still expressed dissatisfaction with draftiness and difficulty getting to temp in the winter. You could essentially build an insulated and weatherproof structure around it but at that point it seems like you’d end up with a weird sauna and much of the cost savings of a kit would likely be lost. At that point you might as well just do a DIY sauna, which would have the added benefit of being able to use a higher ceiling and bench height.
If you want a propane heated sauna, I am only aware of Scandia’s heaters. It is worth noting that they are not cheap (the small one is $3,600), so it might make sense to do a full cost analysis for a less expensive electric heater with the electrical work you would need versus a Scandia unit. Electric could still be less expensive, particularly if you are willing to do any trenching yourself.
Yeah, I figured all the glass suggested that model was designed as an interior sauna, and insulating it would be a pain.
You’re right, there are a few other propane heater models after searching online, but they seem less mass produced and only a little less expensive, say $2800.
My panel may have space for a new breaker, it’s just the overall panel is only 100 amps. Seems like I should get an estimate from an electrician! And great idea about trenching myself.