JUDGING FAR INFRARED SAUNAS

We believe that the best consumer is an educated consumer.

Key Note: Heat alone does not equal far infrared benefit.

BOTTOM LINE: Too many manufacturers are taking your money and giving you only the illusions of great benefit from their far infrared saunas.

If you are looking for true far infrared benefit, use these tips to look for a well designed unit. Analyze, evaluate, study, scrutinize, compare and judge for yourself. Approaching your purchase with the expert valuable information we are sharing you will be able to evaluate the correct features to make an educated investment in your health.

SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1) Numer of Emitters Make sure there is the proper number of far infrared emitters per sauna unit. There should be seven 163watt emitters for a one person unit and ten 163watt emitters for a two person unit. Lower wattage emitters give our bodies the ability to better absorb and use infrared over the hotter heaters. Also, the proper number of heaters gives more body coverage which maximizes body cleansing, detoxification and general infrared therapy.

Manufacturers often save a great deal of money by reducing the number of emitters by raising the wattage of the ones they do install in order to meet the industry standards of wattage per cubic foot of space.

A common statement they make: the far infrared bounces off the ceiling, floor and walls filling the sauna with wonderful far infrared benefit. This sounds great. However, just a little research into the characteristics of infrared tells us that infrared doesn t bounce off wood well, the wood absorbs most of the far infrared energy. You will feel the heat from the walls, but there is an illusion of actual infrared benefit.

Keep in mind there should be two emitters in the back where you sit, properly spaced, two, or ideally three, in the front of you on your left and two/three on your right also properly spaced which should line up under where you are sitting, not off to one side, and one under the seat.

2)   Types of Infrared Emitters Use of large flat, convex and tube emitters- these heaters give a wide, 180 to 360 degree, emitting pattern which waters down the infrared it radiates to the body from each emitter. Even with their claim of high output and reflectors, these designs are wasting most of the far infrared on the walls, ceiling and floor. Keep in mind a sauna is not the sun with unlimited far infrared. Each emitter has a certain amount of infrared to give out. The sauna design should not waste that limited amount of far infrared on the structure. When the infrared is absorbed by the walls, etc., most of the infrared is lost and you end up with just the passive heat from the walls,etc. The important question to ask is: how much of the body is actually getting the infrared?  Again you may appreciate the warmth, but you will be under an illusion of actual infrared benefit! The infrared sauna only uses about the same amount of electricity as a hair dryer. It is important to be efficient with that energy. Learn more..read on.

3)  Emitter Housings Lots of manufacturers use a one size fits all, 20 to 26 inch, emitter housing, with two emitters too close together in each. This housing unit does not really fit properly anywhere you install it, under the bench, in the front or in the back. Why do they use one size fits all? You guessed it, more profit, it is more expensive to make several different sizes of emitter housings than just one. They gain, you loose. Location and spacing of the far infrared emitters is integral to performance. Heat Therapy Products, Inc. was the first (and still only one) to offer three different emitter housing sizes.  The 'one size fits all' doesn't work with the other key infrared characteristics for effective, proper, infrared body coverage!

4) The Back Emitter Some brands put only one emitter in the back. You sit too close to the emitter to receive complete back area benefit. Most of the energy is aimed at the center of your back. Even with two emitters in the standard 20 and 26 inch housing, unless you're very short or a child, your upper shoulders and neck get limited exposure.

5) Front Exposure Look out for saunas that have no emitters at all in the front. These are usually designed with wonderful large windows across the front of the sauna, these sauna designs are basically the old hot rock saunas of the past, and are not designed for infrared use. They look great, but this layout gives little or no front body exposure. When there are front emitters the industry standard places one emitter flat in the front wall near each of the corners; again you are getting only a fraction of the far infrared available. Even using that 20 to 25 inch housing with two emitters, the top of the emitter housing is about waist high leaving the top part of your body with very little exposure.

6) Size of Unit Beware of larger far infrared saunas - 3 to 4 person or larger that use benches facing across from each other. These are generally designed with one back emitter for each person ,simply poor heater placement, Picture it, with everyone seated, they block the far infrared front body exposure from each other! Basically, the larger saunas units will always give reduced actual infrared benefit compared to the a well designed 1 or 2 person sauna. Again, remember, heat does not equal far infrared benefit.

7)  Micron Control  In most saunas: you turn it on and there is a setting for time and heat.  The emitters heat up, keep the heat level for the duration of the session.   What we discovered from our research is that different types of therapy are most effective at various micron settings!  Back over 7 years ago Heat Therapy Products, Inc. began developing variable micron controls.  We now offer individual emitter controls, which enable you to turn some on, and some off, and set each one to the level you desire/need.  Also, our latest innovation is a full sauna micron controller which sets all the emitters to the micron level you want/need.  These breakthrough upgrades enable the very ill or elderly to experience the benefits of detoxification therapy for the first time ever.  Because of heat sensitivity and other issues, they have been left out of the opportunities that infrared saunas provide. The settings are adjusted for the comfort level and micron level that allows these users to stay in session for the time necessary for effective detoxification therapy. 

We've found that, because of the tendancy to fall asleep during infrared sessions, our optional tapered back rest prevents injury, and provides comfort not found in other infrared saunas.  Especially designed for the sick and elderly, but great for anyone!!

In conclusion

We really want you to understand the product/s you are purchasing.

Check out infrared 101 and emitters 101 , if you have not already,
for more valuable information!

For viewing our products and purchasing information
along with our Hot Summer Specials: click here

Let us design a great sauna for you, any size
Far Infrared or Far Infrared and Hot rock Combo Unit

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Heat Therapy Products, Inc. Specializes in:
FAR INFRARED SAUNA KITS in standard & custom sizes
(full, wood included, kits, and component packages)
&
Planning and Components or full, wood included, kits for ComboSaunas:
HOT ROCKS WITH FAR INFRARED DETOX SECTION All-in-one unit  &

email for all the details or with question:s   saunadesign@mac.com
or call toll free: 877-624-1249
Heat Therapy Products, Inc.
Howell, MI 48843
local: 517-552-1249

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