Since ancient times, saunas have been a common feature of numerous cultures, from Russian banyas to Turkish baths and Native American sweat lodges. For the 5 million people that reside in Finland, where saunas are a common practice, there are 2 million saunas! A hot tub in your backyard opens the door to many fantastic advantages. Your social life, physical health, and even emotional health can all be enhanced by a hot tub. What better way to accomplish it than by performing a complete hot tub installation?
In a traditional sauna, a room filled with wood is heated to a temperature that typically ranges from 80°C to 100°C. Pouring water on heated pebbles inside the sauna will help add humidity. Yet, unlike a steam room, it usually has dry heat (less than 20% humidity). Infrared saunas, a more recent variety of sauna, are also gaining popularity. If you’ve ever used a sauna, you know how humid the environment may become. You may even feel as though you are exercising without moving your body since your heart starts to race and your skin becomes greasy. Like exercise, extensive research points to the long-term health advantages of routine sauna use.
Similarity Between Saunas And Hot Tubs
Both hot tubs and saunas serve the same objective of heating the body to promote relaxation and health. Both can provide a sense of well-being and help reduce joint and muscular aches.
Saunas and hot tubs are excellent locations to unwind, reduce stress, and spend quality time with the family. Either one can be used as a tranquil setting to meditate or visit with loved ones to discuss the day’s happenings.
Difference Between Saunas And Hot Tubs
A sauna is different from a hot tub in many ways:
In Terms of Aesthetics
In terms of aesthetics, hot tubs are more adaptable than saunas. A well-planned hot tub can be the deck or backyard’s architectural centerpiece. There are cabinet alternatives to suit the owner’s preferences and décor. The ambiance is created both inside and outside the spa by dramatic lighting effects. Meditation and relaxation have long been linked to the calming sound of bubbling water. Music and a TV monitor for watching movies while unwinding in the spa are optional sensory add-ons.
White noise is not produced in saunas. A passerby may be unable to see anything inside an indoor sauna; similarly, an outdoor sauna typically prevents visitors from seeing inside. Anybody not participating in the activity will not notice any extra illumination or features.
Massage Options
Hot tubs provide the added benefit of massage. Hot tub jets can be deliberately directed to difficult areas on the body, depending on the hot tub model. You can fall asleep more quickly and have better quality sleep by relaxing in a hot tub before bed. Your circulation can be improved, headaches and congestion can be relieved, and hot water and jet massage can help you feel less anxious and in pain. Rheumatoid arthritis discomfort can be reduced with heat therapy in a hot tub.
Together Time
Hot tubs provide the ideal setting for a quiet escape or a romantic getaway in your backyard. To spend quality time interacting with the people that matter most to you, head to your hot tub. Your hot tub can be used for gatherings with friends and family, playing hot tub games in the water (especially if the model allows the temperature to be reduced to swimming levels), sharing laughs, and catching up on life. Gather a good book and some calming music for a romantic evening at home with your partner, take a break from your daily obligations, and rest in the spa together. As hot tubs don’t get as hot as saunas, they can be suitable for a larger age range.
Couples frequently enjoy saunas, but they are not typically connected with entertainment or social gatherings. Hot tubs operate at lower temperatures than saunas, which may be more comfortable for kids or teenagers.
Installing a Hot Tub VS Sauna
Installing a hot tub is easier than it may seem, but many customers choose to hire a professional. There is no plumbing required for a hot tub. You can just use your yard hose to fill it. The hot tub’s filtration system circulates the water. The hot tub indeed needs electricity. The easiest option is a 110V model, sometimes called a “plug and play,” because all you have to do is connect it to a grounded household outlet. Much like you would for a dual fuel range or electric clothes dryer, you need to contact a licensed electrician to modify the wiring if you get a 220V model.
Prefabricated saunas are available, and materials resistant to moisture and mold can be used to construct them. A sauna needs to be placed in a way that allows heat and moisture to escape properly so that they don’t get trapped in the walls and foster mold formation. An improved ventilation system is typically needed for an indoor sauna. Like owners of hot tubs, many sauna owners favor having installation handled by a professional. Depending on the size, plumbing, electricity, and other aspects of the installation, the cost of the unit may increase or even treble. A wood-burning stove or an electric heater can be used to heat a sauna. Depending on what kind of sauna you have, you might have to install a detector for carbon monoxide or a chimney.
Maintenance
What benefits do you get from saunas but not hot tubs? Lower maintenance. The best hot tubs demand minimal maintenance costs when taken care of properly. Weekly water testing is typically needed in spas to ensure the correct chemical balance. Water pollutants are eliminated using hot tub filters. The filters should be washed once a month and changed occasionally. Some filters can be washed in the dishwasher, while others can be sprayed with a garden hose to clean them. Don’t forget a hot tub will require a cover to retain its heat when not in use.
After each use, experts advise brushing the inner surfaces of a sauna to keep it clean. Moreover, it would be best to sand the interior completely and frequently hose down the entire interior. To remove stains and mildew, more cleaning agent scrubbing is necessary. Moving parts may need to be periodically sanded due to wood swelling. A spa generally requires weekly water tests to ensure the proper chemical balance. Outdoor saunas should occasionally have their exteriors pressure washed and stained.
Are Hot Tubs and Saunas Harmful?
People, in general, can benefit from using the hot tub. However, staying too long in there could lead to fainting due to the drop in blood pressure. While a sauna can cause harm, this is generally due to excessive heat exposure, which can be managed by carefully controlling the temperature and time you stay in.
Saunas can only have such high temperatures due to their low humidity. If you tried to run a steam room at the same temperature, the moisture would be so hot that it would be too dangerous for humans to enter. Usually equipped with multiple tiers of wooden benches, saunas can also be a social occasion or simply for quiet relaxation.
Conclusion
When you’re comparing a hot tub vs sauna – they both offer things that you’re going to love, both have health benefits, and both can be affordable. Both require the owner’s attention to regular maintenance tasks for optimum results. Your choice depends on your goals. But if you’re looking for fun – the hot tub definitely wins!
Muscle tension decreases with heat. An individual can experience faster muscle recovery and improve cardiorespiratory fitness. Besides, hot tubs and saunas help people lose weight as heat burns more calories. Also, both activities are great for achieving a deeper sleep at night. Hot tubs provide cardiovascular health benefits for regular users because they increase the heart rate, like getting exercise.
For pricing, an outdoor sauna generally is more expensive than an indoor sauna yet cheaper than installing a steam room.
At Aqua Living Stores, we will install the highest quality hot tubs and saunas at your place! Whatever kind of hot tub or sauna you want, we have them all. All our customers are happy with their purchases from us. Contact us today and get your very own hot tub installed today!
