Your questions answered
SAUNA FAQ
Useful tips & tricks on sauna usage and IKI products.
Sauna
General
With IKI heaters and saunas stoves, the ideal bathing temperature is approx. 131-167F (55-75C).
In the case of inconsistent heat distribution, the cause is often in ventilation. It is likely that the supply air vent is located near the floor and the exhaust air vent on the ceiling. As a result, the steam rises towards the ceiling and does not “rotate” downwards. In saunas with an electric heater, we recommend having supply air vent on the wall right near the ceiling and exhaust vents located both up by the ceiling as well as near the floor. Ideally, the upper exhaust air vent can also be closed during bathing.
First, you should unload the stones and check the condition of the heating resistors. It is almost always possible to visually recognize a broken resistor. It is also possible that the stones have shifted and are packed too tightly. In which case, unloading and reloading should help.
Tips and tricks
We recommend installing a safety rail, especially in saunas frequented by children. A rail is not mandatory, but in new construction sites, some building inspectors may require railing to be installed. (The rules vary in different municipalities).
The conversion can be done, but it requires rewiring the base of the heater, which needs to be carried out at our manufacturing site. If anyone other than IKI-Kiuas makes modifications to the heater our warranty ceases to apply.
Electric heaters
General
In domestic use, we recommend rough cut olivine stones or olivine diabase sauna stones, sized no larger than 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. In commercial or shared use (communal saunas in apartment buildings, swimming halls etc.), we recommend using KERKES ceramic interspace sauna stones around the heating elements.
This depends directly on the frequency of use. The stones should be unloaded, and their condition inspected at least once a year. Old stones turn porous and erode fast and need to be replaced.
The heating time of an IKI heater is approximately 60-75 minutes to get the saunastones ready for the appropriate temperature. This can vary depending on the starting temperature and the ventilation of the sauna room. Recommended bathing sauna temperature to enter the saunas with the IKI is approximately 131-167F (55-75C). Then by adding water to the heater you can increase the temperature to a preferred level. Pouring water on the heater increases temperature and humidity. You can control the heat and humidity by pouring the water to different parts of the heater. You can adjust the feel of the heat and steam from soft to sharp by throwing water either to the side of the heater or by pouring water on top of the stones at different places.
The volume of any glass or stone surfaces should be added on top of the room size when calculating heater power requirements. For example, if the sauna room is sized 2×2×2.5 metres, totalling 10 cubic meters, and there is a 5 square metre glass wall (2×2.5), then the total cubic volume comes to 15 m3 and the correct heater size should be based on this figure.
When unloading the stones, it is advisable to wear gloves as well as a long-sleeved shirt, as the edges of the heater’s frame may be sharp. The frame consists of two parts (excl. Pillar IKI 6.6 kW). First unload the stones from the upper section, then lift the frame off. After this, the stones at the bottom are easy to unload.
Installation
We recommend installing a safety rail, especially in saunas frequented by children. A rail is not mandatory, but in new construction sites, some building inspectors may require railing to be installed. (The rules vary in different municipalities).
The conversion can be done, but it requires rewiring the base of the heater, which needs to be carried out at our manufacturing site. If anyone other than IKI-Kiuas makes modifications to the heater our warranty ceases to apply.
The thermostat sensor is included with the delivery of the heater’s control unit.
The procedure requires the heater to be disconnected from the power mains, which requires the use of a licensed electrician.
Wood Burning Stoves
General
In domestic use, we recommend rough cut olivine stones or olivine diabase sauna stones, sized no larger than 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. In commercial or shared use (communal saunas in apartment buildings, swimming halls etc.), we recommend using KERKES ceramic interspace sauna stones around the heating elements.
This depends directly on the frequency of use. The stones should be unloaded, and their condition inspected at least once a year. Old stones turn porous and erode fast and need to be replaced.
The heating time of an IKI stove is approximately 60-75minutes to get the saunastones ready for the appropriate temperature. This can vary depending on the starting temperature and the ventilation of the sauna room. Recommended bathing sauna temperature to enter the saunas with the IKI is approximately 131-167F (55-75C). Then by adding water to the stove you can increase the temperature to a preferred level. Pouring water on the stove increases temperature and humidity. You can control the heat and humidity by pouring the water to different parts of the stove. You can adjust the feel of the heat and steam from soft to sharp by throwing water either to the side of the stove or by pouring water on top of the stones at different places.
The volume of any glass or stone surfaces should be added on top of the room size when calculating heater power requirements. For example, if the sauna room is sized 2×2×2.5 metres, totalling 10 cubic meters, and there is a 5 square metre glass wall (2×2.5), then the total cubic volume comes to 15 m3 and the correct heater size should be based on this figure.