Category Archives: Hot Tubs and Saunas

Hot Tubs and Saunas

The Health Benefits of Home Saunas

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Home Infrared Sauna

For years, many people have chosen to pay membership fees to gyms just so they can use the sauna and enjoy its many health benefits.  Home sauna usage, however, has been increasing more and more in recent years.  Home saunas have traditionally been seen as a luxury that only the wealthy could afford. Today’s home saunas, though, are affordable, easy to assemble, require very little space, and offer the same health benefits as saunas found in public facilities.

Some of the health benefits that can be attained by using a home infrared sauna include the following:

  • Infrared saunas increase circulation in the body, which helps improve the body’s overall function.
  • Infrared waves penetrate the body and provide soothing relief for aches and pains without causing any harmful effects to the skin.
  • The soothing heat, which can reach up to 141 degrees, helps the body relax and allows stress and tension to melt away.
  • Regular sessions in an infrared sauna can help relieve ailments such as asthma, nervous tension, arthritis, bronchitis, rheumatism, sports injuries, joint stiffness, depression, anxiety, acne, the common cold, migraine headaches, muscle pain, and influenza.
  • Spending just 30 minutes in an infrared sauna can burn up to 600 calories, making it an effective component in any weight loss regimen.
  • Time spent in a sauna helps improve the look, feel, and overall health of the skin.

Besides health benefits, home saunas offer an additional benefit that no gym sauna can — privacy. Many people would agree that complete relaxation is hard to achieve when sharing sauna space with strangers. Whether you choose to use the sauna at home or at the gym, though, drinking plenty of water during and after a session in the sauna is essential for replacing fluids lost through perspiration.

Hot Tubs and Saunas, Pool and Spa Safety

Residential Pools May Have Hidden Danger

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Compliant Drain Covers for Pools and Spas

That hidden danger could be unsafe drain covers in pools and spas.  Why are pool and spa drains so dangerous? Because if the drain cover is flat, any object or body part that covers that drain can become trapped by a powerful suction from which escape is difficult, and sometimes impossible. Luckily, the Pool and Spa Safety Act, also known as the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, was signed into law in 2007. This law requires that every public pool and spa in the U.S. be “equipped with anti-entrapment devices or systems that comply with the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 performance standard, or any successor standard.” Flat pool drains are assumed to be a thing of the past in public pools and spas. The law does not apply, however, to residential pools and spas, and, unfortunately, this is where a majority of entrapment injuries and deaths occur.

Anti-entrapment drain covers for residential pools and spas are readily available and easy to install. The difference is in the design. Anti-entrapment drain covers are not flat, but domed, or shaped in some way that prevents objects or bodies from completely covering the drain and creating a dangerous suction. They offer an inexpensive and simple solution to a serious and sometimes deadly problem.

Hot Tubs and Saunas, Pool and Spa Safety

Ensure Safe Swimming on Your Winter Vacation

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Are you planning to take a vacation to an indoor water park over this winter break, or will you be staying at a hotel equipped with a pool?  Did you know that many public swimming facilities are still not in compliance with the 2008 Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act that requires public pools and spas to replace old, outdated, and dangerous drain covers with newer, safer drain covers?

Non-compliant drain covers can cause entrapment of hair, clothing, and body parts, so ensuring that the pool or swimming facility you visit this year has complied with the law is essential before you or your kids jump in.  So, how can you tell if the drain covers in the pool or spa you will be enjoying this season are safe?

Learn more about safety drain covers for pools and spas in this helpful and informative video created by the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely campaign.

Hot Tubs and Saunas

Choosing Between Carbon and Ceramic Heaters in Infrared Saunas

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Infrared Home Sauna

Infrared saunas for the home are rising in popularity as availability increases and cost declines. Selecting which sauna to bring into the home may seem like a simple decision initially — most are beautifully constructed wood enclosures with comfortable seating, sound systems, and other luxurious extras. The choice of heating element, though, is where most homeowners get stuck. Infrared saunas are available with either a ceramic heater or a carbon heater. What’s the difference? Both have their advantages and drawbacks, but understanding the basics of each heating option should provide homeowners with enough information to make the best individual decision.

Warm Up Time and Distribution of Heat

In general, ceramic heaters are quicker to heat up than carbon heaters, but with ceramic heaters, more intense warmth tends to be concentrated closest to the heating elements. With carbon heaters, the heat is more evenly distributed throughout the sauna and provides a body with even heat exposure. Heat that is not as evenly dispersed will warm the body unevenly, but it can be an effective way to focus the more intense heat on specific areas of the body that may need more attention.

Some homeowners prefer carbon heaters for larger saunas because uneven heat distribution is more noticeable. Some, however, prefer the subtle variations in temperature in a sauna that uses a ceramic heater because it allows for a less intense experience.

Durability

An important consideration when comparing home saunas is durability of the heating elements. Both ceramic and carbon heaters are considered durable. Ceramic rods, though, can be fragile, so carbon heaters are generally able to endure more abuse. The durability of the sauna’s construction should be considered, too. A well-constructed sauna will help provide safe a sturdy housing for the heating elements, so they can remain in good condition over many years.

Energy Efficiency

Infrared heating, in general, is very energy efficient, so it should come as no surprise that ceramic and carbon heaters both score high for energy efficient performance. Either choice would provide homeowners with a sauna that operates at a low cost. Carbon heaters, though, are usually more efficient than ceramic, which means operation costs would be even lower than with ceramic heaters.

Cost

The overall cost of home saunas is certainly a consideration for homeowners in the market for one. Saunas that use carbon heaters are usually more expensive to purchase than saunas that use ceramic. Before making the final decision, though, homeowners should weigh all of the different characteristics of carbon and ceramic heaters to determine which offers the best fit for the individual. Homeowners should also compare other sauna features, too. Quality of construction, ease of assembly, size, and creature comforts can make a significant difference in final cost.

Understanding the main differences between ceramic and carbon heaters for infrared saunas is crucial for making the most informed purchasing decision. When the desired heating components and sauna features match the homeowner’s expectations and desires, the result is a more rewarding and satisfying experience.

Hot Tubs and Saunas

A Healthy Argument for Home Saunas

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Home Infrared Sauna

In the past, many people have paid membership fees to gyms just so they could use the sauna and enjoy its many health benefits. Home saunas, until recently, have been a luxury that only the wealthy could afford. Today’s home saunas, though, are affordable, easy to assemble, require very little space, and offer the same health benefits as saunas found in public facilities.

Besides health benefits, home saunas offer an additional benefit that no gym sauna can — privacy. Many people would agree that complete relaxation is hard to achieve when sharing sauna space with strangers. Whether you choose to use the sauna at home or at the gym, though, drinking plenty of water during and after a session in the sauna is essential for replacing fluids lost through perspiration.