Top 7 Mistakes To Avoid During Sauna Installation

Getting a sauna installed at home is a big decision - one that comes with many considerations. Though the long-term benefits of a home sauna cannot be denied, you must ensure that your sauna installation process is backed by careful planning and execution. This involves avoiding common mistakes that can help you save time, money and effort - both in the long and the short term, if we take maintenance into account. At A.S. Electrical Services Ltd., we take great care to ensure your sauna is installed perfectly while avoiding any of the following common mistakes.

Common Sauna Installation Mistakes We Avoid At All Costs

1. Improper Planning

Rushed installations without adequate planning can be a recipe for disaster. A hastily installed sauna might give rise to issues later, such as parts that come off easily or poor fittings that do not function as expected. That’s why it is crucial to hire professional electricians in Toronto, like us, as our planning involves:

• Assessing your space: This entails picking out the right location - indoors or outdoors - so your chosen sauna has adequate space for installation. 

• Choosing the type of sauna: From dry to wet as well as home steam rooms - we can help you choose the right type of sauna for you based on your preferences and budget.

We spend a good amount of time and effort to chalk out every step of the journey, including looking up local building codes and safety regulations to ensure even the smallest details are accounted for. This leaves no room for erroneous installations.

2. Selecting The Wrong Spot

We briefly touched upon it in the previous point, but let us expand it further. Choosing the wrong spot for your sauna can have disastrous consequences, ranging from reduced accessibility to decreased functionality. Let us explain.

• Reduced accessibility: Be it indoors or outdoors, a sauna located in a difficult-to-reach spot may lead to infrequent usage. This can lead to your precious sauna feeling like a wasteful expense. 

• Faster wear and tear: Installing an outdoor sauna in an area that is frequently exposed to the rigors of the weather can lead to faster wear and tear. The same holds true for poorly ventilated indoor spaces as well, which cause your sauna to develop mold. We ensure that your sauna is placed in an adequately airy and shady spot so that nature’s elements do not harm it.

Convenience, accessibility, structural integrity and safety - these are the four guiding pillars we use when selecting the right location for your sauna.

3. Incorrectly Estimating Electrical Requirements

Saunas require specific electrical settings to function well. Especially as far as lighting, heating and controls are concerned. Most electricians end up making the following mistakes in this regard:

• Not using a dedicated circuit: When it comes to a sauna, a standard outlet just won’t do. Saunas require a dedicated, high-voltage system that typically ranges from 220-240V. That said, it is important to check your individual sauna model to know its specific voltage requirements. 

• Incorrect heater placement: The heater is one of the central components of a sauna. Improper heater installation can result in uneven heating as well as damage different parts of the sauna.

That’s why you need to place your trust in master electricians like us as we will never make these mistakes. We take great care to ensure every individual electrical component is taken care of before sauna installation.

4. Improper Insulation & Sealing

Just like electricals, it is vital to ensure proper insulation and sealing. They help with heat retention so your sauna can stay warm without expending extra energy. Common errors in this department include:

• Using the wrong materials: Sauna installation is complex work. It requires the usage of specific insulation materials so it can run smoothly. We suggest insulation materials such as fiberglass with foil vapor barriers as they have the capacity to withstand higher temperatures. 

• Gaps in the seal: If your sauna room has gaps in the sealing used around windows, doors or even walls, it can lead to heat loss and excess energy consumption. Both of these can drive up your electricity bills. 

• Omitting vapor barrier installation: In the absence of a vapor barrier, moisture can seep through your sauna into the surrounding walls, leading to damage.

It’s important to use high-quality insulation materials so your sauna is ready for use without causing any potential damage to you or your property.

5. Disregarding Ventilation

Since sauna rooms are typically enclosed spaces, ventilation often turns into an afterthought. However, keeping your sauna well-ventilated is important for a number of reasons, including preventing damage and maintaining air quality. You might encounter these common ventilation mistakes:

• Overlooking airflow planning: Having an airflow design prevents your sauna from feeling stuffy and uncomfortable when in use. Intake and exhaust vents should be strategically placed so you can avoid feeling suffocated in your sauna. 

• Incorrect vent placement: Vents placed close to the heater not only reduce efficiency, but can also cause temperature fluctuations. 

• Ignoring ventilation for outdoor saunas: Not having a ventilation system in place for outdoor saunas can lead to condensation and moisture build-up, which can further damage the equipment that makes your sauna run.

You can trust our master electricians when it comes to the proper installation of vents and exhausts. They will do a thorough job so using your sauna is nothing less than a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

6. Underestimating Regular Maintenance

Planning for regular maintenance during sauna installation is key to ensuring your sauna is up and running for years to come. Failure to do so can make repairs difficult down the line. Mistakes that should be avoided in this regard include:

• Implementing a difficult-to-clean design: Crevices or corners that are hard to reach can turn cleaning and maintenance into a nightmare. 

• Skipping the drainage system: Lack of a proper drainage system can lead to the accumulation of water in your sauna, which in turn, can cause damage to the system. 

• Neglecting heater maintenance: The heater of your sauna also needs regular cleaning and maintenance. Hence, it should be installed in a way that makes this job easy instead of a hassle.

Being mindful of the overall design and schematics of your sauna is key to ensuring easy maintenance as well as preventing damage. In short, every component should be easily accessible for maintenance.

7. Ignoring Safety Protocols

Just as with every other type of electrical installation, safety should be at the top of the list when installing saunas too. A common oversight when it comes to maintaining safety protocols include:

• Maintaining minimal clearance around the heater: Ensuring clear space around the heater makes both installation as well as maintenance easy. One should be mindful not to place any combustible materials too close to the heater either as this can serve as a fire hazard. 

• Inappropriate flooring: Slippery flooring materials are both a fall hazard as well as a discomfort to use on a regular basis. Using proper flooring material - ideally anti-skid flooring - can help you use your sauna without any risks. 

• Omitting emergency features: Emergency features such as central power shutdown and proper lighting are key to ensuring your sauna experience is safe and risk-free.

As licensed electricians in Toronto, we take safety very seriously. We follow the installation instructions given with your sauna down to the smallest details, thus ensuring all safety concerns are adequately addressed.

Conclusion

Installing a sauna can be a great boon to your overall well-being. However, it is important to avoid common installation mistakes so that you land up with a sauna that is comfortable to use. At A.S. Electrical Services Ltd., we can help you with end-to-end sauna installation in the Greater Toronto Area. We stick to your timeline and budget, and have extensive experience working with the best sauna brands in the business. Contact us to know how we can help you or call us at (905) 887-7632 to book an appointment.