Which type of sauna stove or sauna heater is best is truly a matter of opinion. Sure, one type of heater may be better than another in certain conditions and circumstances, but the bottom line seems to be that wood burning sauna stoves, gas sauna stoves, and electric sauna stoves each have their own appeal.

According to sauna authority Mikkel Aaland, "Whether to use an electric, gas, or wood burning stove is the first decision in sauna building.” And the author contends that it's a decision that may be influenced by geographic location.

"If you live in the country where firewood is plentiful and fires have minimum of environmental impact,” writes Aaland, "the wood burning stove is the best performer and must be considered the first choice.”

Few people would contest the claim that wood burning sauna heaters help to create an almost seductive ambience for the sauna bather - one of soft heat, a pleasant outdoorsy aroma, and the calming sound of a crackling fire. The use of wood burning stoves can also encourage a more intimate relationship with nature - one in which the sauna bather may cut and carry his or her own wood and tend to the fire.

In many areas, however, local building codes, insurance costs and regulations about wood burning stoves may prevent you from using or owning this type of sauna heater. If that is the case, you may have to choose between an electric and gas sauna heater. The resulting ambience will likely be less alluring for some people, but others will appreciate the added convenience, especially when the time comes to clean the heater. Unlike wood burning stoves, electric and gas sauna stoves create no ashes.

Logic suggests that you may want a gas sauna heater if you live in a gas-heated home and an electric sauna heater if you heat your home by electricity. However, give some thought to the argument that gas sauna heaters may offer some economic advantages over their electric counterparts.

One advantage is that the heat in a gas sauna tends to be more consistent and easier to regulate, making the gas sauna heater more user-friendly. As well, there may be areas where it's difficult to get electricity to your sauna, so a gas heater might be the more practical choice.

Although wood burning sauna stoves and gas sauna heaters each have their own following, the electric sauna heater is by far the most popular type of sauna stove available, especially in urban areas where electricity is universally utilized. Marketed on their efficiency, sleekness, safety features and wide range of sizes, electric sauna heaters are also noteworthy because, unlike wood burning sauna stoves and gas sauna stoves, they don't give off any odor when they are operating.

Electric sauna heaters, wood burning sauna stoves, and gas sauna heaters each contribute in their own special way to make bathing in the soothing setting of a personal sauna an experience worth repeating again and again. To find out which type of sauna heater is right for your needs, seek out a qualified sauna manufacturer or retailer. But be warned, if they can't answer your questions about sauna heaters, they really don't know that much about saunas either.

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