Far-Infrared Technology
Shopping for an Infrared sauna can be a very confusing experience. There are many claims made and arguments waged between sauna companies regarding Infrared heaters. Most of the debates between sauna companies revolve around the issue of Infrared wavelengths produced by the heaters.
The Basics of Far-Infrared Technology
Most of the debate regarding heaters is concerned with Infrared frequencies. Research into Infrared frequencies and human health suggests that Infrared in the Mid and Far-Infrared range of 4-14 microns provides the greatest health benefits. (Some studies cite the range of 2-25 microns). These therapeutic frequencies have been called the 'Vital Rays'.
Many sauna companies insist that their Infrared heaters' frequencies are significantly different than their competitors' frequencies. Contrary to many advertiser's claims most Infrared sauna heaters will produce Infrared frequencies in the therapeutic range.
Infrared heaters are made in different shapes and sizes and use different forms of carbon and ceramic. Frequency output is primarily a function of the temperature of the radiating material. When a carbon or ceramic sauna heater heats to its typical operating temperature the carbon or ceramic will emit radiant heat in the 4 -14 micron range. All sauna brands, using either carbon or ceramic heaters, will produce frequencies in the 4 -14 micron range.
Frequencies
The health literature suggests that 4-14 microns are the most beneficial frequencies to the human body with 9-10 microns thought to be of greatest benefit. To capitalize on this information, some sauna companies insist that their heaters produce a single frequency (9.4 microns is often claimed). These claims fly in the face of scientific fact that dictates that heated carbon and ceramic materials will always produce a range of frequencies.
What's Really Important? Intensity!
While infrared heaters do not vary significantly with their range of frequency output, they can differ greatly in the intensity of these frequencies. In other words, sauna heaters do not differ in the type of Infrared they produce but do differ in the amount of Infrared that they produce. Infrared heaters are made with different qualites of carbon and ceramic materials and with different manufacturing processes. Infrared heaters are no different from most products. There are cheaply made, poor performing heaters and there are high quality, high performing heaters. The test of an Infrared heater is its radiant efficiency, its ability to produce high levels of Infrared heat.
How much Infrared does a heater produce? How fast will my body be warmed up? How heavy a sweat will I have? Surely, these are the most important characteristics of a sauna and the questions that should be addressed by sauna advertisers.
The performance of a Carbon Panel heater is determined primarily by the concentration of energy/electricity in the panel. In the Infrared heater industry this is referred to as Watt Density. The carbon in a High Watt Density panel is hotter than the carbon in a Low Watt Density panel. Hotter carbon produces higher levels of Infrared. High Watt Density panels are created with sophisticated manufacturing processes involving microscopic droplets or fibres of carbon. The specialized 'Nano' forms of carbon originate in Japan and very few companies possess the technology to process the carbon and produce high performing carbon heater panels.
Carbon Panel Heaters vs. Element Heaters
Many advertisers insist that either Carbon Panel or Ceramic elements are superior over the other. The truth is not that simple.
Element heaters come in various shapes and sizes and are the original heaters used in Infrared saunas. These have small surface areas and are hot, intense sources of Infrared. IR is projected out from these small elements with an attempt to spread the IR heat and to cover the sauna user's body. Element heaters have been used for years in IR saunas but are now considered the 'old technology'. They are unable to project an even, widespread heat over the sauna user's body. They are often criticized for a producing a 'spot heating' effect.
Element heaters operate with surface temperatures of 400-700 F. In some brands of saunas it can be very uncomfortable to sit directly in front of these hot elements. Also, because of their high surface temperature, element heaters produce a significant degree of convectional heat in the sauna. This means that in addition to producing radiant Infrared heat they also contribute significantly to the air termperature of the sauna.
Heater Watt Density
High Watt Density panels are expensive to produce and are used in a select few sauna brands. Low Watt Density panels are inexpensive to produce, have lower Infrared output and are found in many Infrared sauna brands.
Low Watt Density panels are easily identified in saunas. They cover much of the inside walls of the sauna and extend high up the sauna walls. Inexpensive Low Watt heaters waste power in unoccupied areas of the sauna. High Watt Density panels have smaller surface areas and are able to concentrate the power of the sauna on the user`s body.
Most 2 Person Infrared saunas on the market use a Regular 15 Amp Outlet . Therefore, most sauna brands have the same amount of electricity available to power their Infrared heaters. Infrared saunas have the same power as many hairdryers and toasters. This is by no means a lot of power to heat 1 or 2 people quickly and induce a heavy sweat. It is critical that the sauna be intelligently designed with high quality carbon panels to provide a satisfying sauna experience.
Focused Infrared
Nano-Carbon heater panels are positioned to Focus Infrared upon your body. Most sauna brands have inexpensive 'Low Watt Density' carbon heaters. Low Watt heaters are easily recognized as they cover much of the inside walls of the sauna and extend up above the sauna user's head. These heaters waste Infrared in unoccupied areas of the sauna and produce low levels of Infrared.
Our heaters are a superior 'High Watt Density' panel that does not extend above head height and are positioned to Focus Infrared on your Front, Back, Upper and Lower Body.
The carbon in a High Watt Density panel is much hotter than that in a Low Watt Density panel. The hotter carbon produces a greater intensity of Infrared and the positioning of our panels aims this Infrared at your body.
The quality and performance of carbon panels in the Infrared sauna market varies tremendously. This can be very confusing for consumers.
If you are able to put you hand on a carbon heater and leave it there comfortably, you are in sauna with low watt density heaters and are likely to have a very slow sweating experience.
Carbon Panel Heaters
Carbon Panel heaters were introduced to overcome the spot heating problem of the element heaters, to further reduce the air temperature and improve the comfort level in the sauna. Carbon heaters are large flat panels intended to evenly disperse the Infrared and better cover the sauna user's body with an even heat. Japan, Korea and Taiwan have led the way in developing radiant carbon panel heaters that are used in saunas and many other applications. Carbon panel heaters use microscopic fibres or droplets of carbon which are incredibly efficient in producing radiant heat.
We have tested many carbon panel heaters that are inferior to ceramic elements. Many cheaply made carbon panels do not produce adequate levels of Infrared for use in saunas. On the other hand there is a small number of sauna brands, like ours, that use high performing carbon panels that are superior to element heaters for their high levels of Infrared output and comfortable even heat distribution.