Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- How to Safely Add Water to Your Electric Sauna
- Benefits of Pouring Water on Your Electric Sauna Heater
- How to Infuse Aromatherapy into Your Wet Sauna Experience
- Safety Tips for Using Electric Saunas with Water
- Troubleshooting your sauna heater after pouring water on your stones
- Product Recommendation: The Best Electric Heater for Your Urban Sauna
- FAQs
- Final Take
Electric sauna heaters have become increasingly popular in urban areas, offering homeowners a cozy and authentic sauna experience without the need for a chimney or wood-burning stove.
By heating stones with electricity, these modern devices create a warm, relaxing environment and can easily produce steam by adding just a bit of water. Yet, many still wonder if it’s truly safe to splash water onto an electric heater—and the answer might surprise you.
Thanks to thoughtful engineering and safety standards, many contemporary electric sauna heaters are designed to handle water without issue. You can confidently pour water onto the hot stones, turning it into a rejuvenating, humid steam.
This moisture heightens the therapeutic benefits of your sauna session, allowing you to breathe more easily, sweat more efficiently, and enjoy a more authentic sauna atmosphere.
Before proceeding, it’s wise to verify that your electric sauna heater is rated for such use. Checking the product specifications, ensuring it’s UL-listed or CE-marked, and following the manufacturer’s guidelines will help you achieve a satisfying, worry-free sauna experience.
Key Takeaways
The steam sauna experience offers respiratory, joint, and muscle relief, stress relief, skin rejuvenation, and better circulation.
Pouring water into electric sauna heaters is safe, but you must do it properly to avoid safety issues and extend the heater’s lifetime.
Always use filtered water, wait until the stone is hot, pour small amounts sparingly, and pour onto sauna stones instead of the heating elements.
Aromatherapy, such as peppermint and eucalyptus for energy or jasmine and lavender for stress relief, can enhance your steam sauna.
Always read the manuals and do regular maintenance to avoid safety issues.
The best high-end, water-safe electric sauna heater is the Huum Drop Series.
Pouring water onto your electric heaters is generally safe, but it should be done properly. Use filtered and clean water, check the stone’s temperature before pouring, pour small volumes at once, pour sparingly, avoid pouring onto the heating elements, and pour only onto the sauna stones.
You can enhance your experience with aromatherapy, but follow our guidelines on incorporating it safely.
Steam saunas can enhance physical and mental wellness by relieving stress and improving circulation. Check out our collection of huum sauna heaters for more options, and you can have your own authentic steam sauna experience at home!
How to Safely Add Water to Your Electric Sauna
Most electric sauna heaters are now designed to take on water, but there are proper ways to do it so that your heaters can last longer. Here’s how you can safely add water to your electric sauna:
Choosing the Right Water: Use clean, filtered water. Unfiltered water can be mineral-rich or have a high water hardness, which could create deposits and shorten the heater's lifetime.
Ideal Humidity and Frequency Guidelines: When introducing moisture into your electric sauna, it’s helpful to use a hygrometer—a simple device that measures humidity—to guide your approach. A comfortable humidity level typically falls between 20% and 40%. If the reading dips below 20%, consider adding a ladle of water to the stones to gently raise the humidity.
Conversely, if it climbs above 40%, pause before adding more water to prevent a stifling environment and unnecessary stress on your heater.
As for timing, pouring water too frequently can quickly oversaturate the air and cool down the stones. It is advisable to wait approximately 5–10 minutes between each small pour.
This interval allows you to enjoy a steady release of steam and maintain the ideal climate without overwhelming your sauna. By tracking humidity levels and pacing your water application, you’ll create a balanced environment that enhances the sauna’s therapeutic benefits without compromising itsCheck stone temperature: Make sure the stone and the room are warm enough before you pour the water; check it by throwing a spritz of water first to see if it evaporates. Electric saunas need about 30 to 60 minutes to reach optimum temperature, depending on the room and heater sizes.
Use the correct technique when pouring: Pour a small amount only; don’t dump a large quantity as it may collect on the bottom or create standing water. Pour one small ladle or a cup at a time so you don’t go overboard.
Avoid pouring too often. Again, don’t go overboard. Monitor the humidity level and pour after waiting for at least 10 minutes at a time.
Avoid pouring directly onto heating elements. Heating elements are not designed to handle sudden changes in temperature. You may disrupt its process and shorten its lifetime.
Benefits of Pouring Water on Your Electric Sauna Heater
Now that you know pouring water onto your electric sauna heater is safe, let’s talk about the benefits of doing so:
Provide respiratory relief: The increased moisture can help open your airways and relieve conditions such as asthma or a blocked nose.
Skin rejuvenation and hydration: With higher relative humidity, you can open your pores and hydrate your skin, ultimately improving skin health.
Joint and muscle relief: Moist heat can help soothe sore muscles and joints, which is perfect after a workout.
Improve your circulation: The higher moisture and temperature can improve blood flow and cardiovascular health.
Improve mental wellness: A steam room experience can lead to relaxation and reduced stress levels, improving your mental wellness.
How to Infuse Aromatherapy into Your Wet Sauna Experience
If you’re thinking about having a wet sauna experience, it’s now time to enhance it with additional features. One way to do it is to add aromatherapy into the mix by adding essential oils or aromatics to your water.
There are three ways you can incorporate aromatherapy into your wet sauna: place a few drops of essential oils into your ladle and mix with water to pour over the stones, place on your body, or use battery-powered diffusers.
We need to warn you that essential oils can be a fire hazard when poured directly onto the stones, so always dilute them. You should also check whether or not the essential oils or herbal infusions are sauna-safe and purchase them from reputable sources.
Here are some of the most popular aromatic suggestions you should try:
Lavender: One of the best aromas for relaxation, especially before bedtime.
Eucalyptus: A refreshing and classic aroma that can help open up your airways and relieve stress.
Peppermint: an energized aroma that can help you focus and improve cognitive responses, perfect to start the day.
Jasmine: Another relaxing option that can improve your mood and help you sleep better.
Safety Tips for Using Electric Saunas with Water
Pouring Water on Sauna Stones
To make sure you have the best experience and your heaters last longer, follow these safety tips when you add water to your electric saunas:
Regular maintenance: Always do regular maintenance at least every year on your electric sauna heaters. Check on the wiring, heater, stones, and body. Don’t forget to clean the stones when you need to, once a year, or when you start to suspect issues such as long heating time.
Avoid overloading the heater: As we said earlier, never overload your heater, and follow our instructions on the amount and frequency allowed. Overloading your heater may lead to water damage or malfunctions.
Children and pet safety: Keep your children and pets away from heaters during use, or supervise your children’s safety when they’re inside the sauna.
Always read the manuals: Every electric heater is different, so always check the manufacturers’ specific do’s and don’ts for that particular heater to avoid unwanted malfunctions.
Troubleshooting your sauna heater after pouring water on your stones
Identify the Issue:
Pay close attention to any unusual odors, uneven heating, or crackling sounds that occur after adding water. Determine the nature of the concern—whether it’s purely sensory (strange smells), performance-related (temperature discrepancies), or mechanical (odd noises).Stop Adding Water:
If you notice any warning signs, immediately refrain from adding more water. Give the sauna time to stabilize and return to its normal operating state.Check humidity and temperature levels:
Use a hygrometer and your sauna’s temperature gauge to ensure the humidity and heat levels are within recommended ranges (approximately 20–40% humidity and the manufacturer’s suggested temperature). If levels are off, consider adjusting your water application frequency or volume.Allow the stones to dry thoroughly.
If crackling noises or odors persist, open the sauna door and let it air out for a few minutes. Give the stones time to dry and cool down—this often resolves minor issues caused by sudden moisture contact.Inspect the stones and heater.
Once the sauna has cooled, carefully examine the stones for cracks or unusual discoloration, and look over the heater’s exterior. If anything appears damaged or out of place, proceed with caution.Adjust pour frequency and volume:
If no visible damage is found, consider adjusting how often and how much water you add. Pour smaller amounts at longer intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes) to reduce stress on the heater and stones.Consult the manual or contact a professional:
If problems persist after making these adjustments—especially if you notice persistent odors, ongoing uneven heating, or persistent noises—it may be time to consult your heater’s manual or reach out to the manufacturer or a certified technician. Professional assistance can help ensure your sauna remains safe, efficient, and enjoyable to use.
Product Recommendation: The Best Electric Heater for Your Urban Sauna
Ready to invest in an electric heater that lets you enjoy the authentic wet sauna experience? Here are the best electric heaters for urban saunas in our collection.
HUUM DROP Series Electric Sauna
Huum DROP Series Electric Sauna Heater - 9kW
$1,618.00
$2,022.50
The DROP electric sauna heater from HUUM is inspired by the purest element in nature – a drop of water. Its handsome and artistic rounded design compliments and softens the angular interior of a classic sauna, creating a more elegant… read more
Available SKU | 4.5 kW, 6 kW, 7.5 kW, 9 kW |
Price | US$2,605 - US$3,011 |
Room Sizes | 106 cu ft to 530 cu ft |
Stone Capacity | 122 lbs |
Features | Compact and wall-mounted Award-winning design Big stone capacity Efficient |
If you want to invest in a top-quality electric heater for your sauna room, the Huum Drop series should be your first choice. The heater received a Red Dot award for its cutting-edge technology and how it blends modern minimalist style with nature. It’s also compact and wall-mounted, making it perfect for small to medium-sized urban saunas.
Just like a typical HUUM heater, the HUUM DROP features a big stone capacity. This means the heater can provide even heat and steam throughout your sessions. It’s compatible with UKU controllers, so you can remotely control the sauna’s temperature and time. Additionally, it’s UL-listed and safe to use for wet saunas.
FAQs
Are electric sauna heaters safe to pour water on?
Yes, they are safe to use with water, but we recommend you check their specifications and manuals first, as well as if they have extra certifications such as UL listed or CE marked for extra precautions.
Can I Use Tap Water for Steam in My Electric Sauna?
We don’t recommend using tap water, as it has high water hardness and is chlorinated. This can lead to deposits and damage to your heaters in the long run. We recommend using filtered water to extend the lifetime of your heater and provide a safer experience.
What Happens if I Accidentally Pour Too Much Water on My Electric Sauna?
Pouring too much water can damage the heating element and the heater. The temperature will also drop due to water cooling off the rocks quickly, disrupting your experience.
Are all electric sauna heaters compatible with aromatherapy?
Not all electric sauna heaters are compatible with aromatherapy. For safety reasons, always read the manual or ask the sales associates. If it’s not aromatherapy-safe, try applying aromatic oils to your body or use a diffuser instead.
How do I maintain my sauna stones for optimal performance?
Use filtered water, pour moderately, and do maintenance checks. You should check, clean, and restack the stones at least yearly or whenever you feel that they're not performing optimally.
Final Take
It’s generally safe to pour water onto your electric heaters, but it should be done properly. Use filtered and clean water, check the stone’s temperature before pouring, pour small volumes at once, pour sparingly, avoid pouring onto the heating elements, and pour only onto the sauna stones.
You can enhance your experience with aromatherapy, but follow our guidelines on how to incorporate it safely.
Steam saunas can enhance both physical and mental wellness, such as stress relief and improved circulation. Check out our collection of electric sauna heaters from Huum, harvia and other trusted brands for more options and you can have your own authentic steam sauna experience at home!
