Wood-fired or electric stove — which should you choose?

This is the question we get the most emails about. Our saunas come with a stove in the standard package, and you choose yourself whether it is wood-fired or electric. Both work well. The choice comes down mostly to where the sauna stands, and how you are going to use it.

Wood-fired stove

Points in its favour

• The heating itself needs no electricity. For many cabins, that settles it.
• The sound, the smell and the sight of the fire are part of the experience. Plenty of customers choose wood for exactly that reason.
• No control unit to deal with. You put the wood in and light it.

What you have to reckon with

• You have to be there. The sauna does not heat up while you are on your way to the cabin.
• Wood has to be fetched, stored dry and carried in.
• The ash has to be emptied, and the stove cleaned regularly.
• The stove needs a flue, and the flue needs clear space around it.

We supply Harvia wood-burning stoves for the saunas. Which model suits depends on how many cubic metres the sauna room is — each stove is listed with a volume range and an output in kW. See the range under stoves and equipment, or ask us and we will suggest a model for the sauna you are considering.

Electric stove

Points in its favour

• You switch it on and walk away. No wood, no ash, no flue.
• The temperature stays steady throughout the session.
• With a control unit, you can start the sauna before you arrive.
• Easier for more of the family to use, and easier if the sauna is let out.

What you have to reckon with

• You need electricity brought to the sauna, with enough capacity for the stove.
• The electrical work has to be done by an electrician. More on that below.
• You pay for the electricity every time you use it.

The insulated square sauna comes with a stove from Harvia, and the HUUM Drop can be chosen instead. The price of the stove and the control unit depends on the combination you choose, so you get that in the quote.

What does a control unit actually do?

A control unit is the panel you set the temperature and the time with. The simplest version sits on the wall. Then there are control units with Wi-Fi, and that is where the questions come.

With a Wi-Fi control unit you connect the stove to the network and control it from your phone. You can switch the sauna on while you are driving, so that it is ready when you arrive. If the cabin is a couple of hours away, that is the whole point.

These are the control units we offer for the insulated square sauna in Mini, Midi and Maxi:

• Xenio XW — external control panel with Wi-Fi.
• Harvia Fenix FX110 Wi-Fi Core — Wi-Fi control unit from Harvia, with an IPX5 ingress protection rating.
• HUUM UKU Wi-Fi Glass — Wi-Fi control unit from HUUM, 18 kW.

If you are considering a different sauna model, ask us what can be supplied for that particular one.

If you let the sauna out, you can also have an Igloohome smart lock with handle, so that your guest can get in without you having to turn up with a key. If the stove is to be controlled from a booking system, tell us which system you use when you request a quote, so that we can check it before you order instead of afterwards.

The electrical work is done by an electrician

A sauna stove is not a job for an extension lead. The installation of the electric stoves and the control units is carried out by certified electricians from Krøderen Elektro AS.

That is not a formality. The installation has to take the load and be properly fused, and you need everything in good order should anything happen. If you have your own electrician you want to use, say so when we confirm the order.

What about the hot tub?

Our hot tubs are heated with a wood-burning stove. There the choice is not between wood and electricity, but where the stove is placed: inside the tub or beside it. We have written about that here: Should your hot tub have an integrated or an external stove?

If you already have a hot tub and need a new stove, we sell the wood-burning stoves separately — see stoves and equipment.

How to choose

In short:

• A cabin without electricity, or you want the fire to be part of the experience: wood-fired.
• A long drive, the sauna should be warm when you arrive, or it is to be let out: electric with a Wi-Fi control unit.
• You use the sauna often and want as little work around it as possible: electric.

Both types of stove come in the standard package, so you do not pay extra to choose the right one. If you are still unsure, call us on 406 02 349 and tell us where the sauna is going. We have had that conversation many times, and it takes five minutes.

To take it from there, see what has to be ready before delivery in What does a hot tub need to stand on?