The Real Story Behind Infrared Saunas

By Peter, Master Electrician | PRO Electric plus HVAC | Electrical Panel Upgrades

I have spent more than twenty years inside electrical rooms, crawl spaces, attics, and mechanical closets.

I have wired every type of system you can imagine.

From heavy commercial equipment to delicate home electronics that stop working if you look at them the wrong way.

Nothing surprises me anymore. But in the last few years, something new has exploded in popularity and it has become one of the most common homeowner questions I get.

Infrared saunas.

Everyone wants one. Everyone has heard the claims. Better sleep. Deep relaxation. Pain relief. Detox. Improved circulation. Lower stress.

A spa right in your home. I get it. The idea is appealing. The heat feels good. The glow looks inviting.

And after a long day, who would not want a private space to step into and let the world melt away?

But here is the part most homeowners never think about.

The part almost no one talks about until something goes wrong.

Infrared saunas are not just wooden boxes that get warm.

They are advanced electrical systems sitting right in the middle of your home.

They have heaters, controllers, wiring, emitters, transformers, and sensitive electronics.

When you sit inside an infrared sauna, you are inches from the electrical heart of that system.

And if the system is poorly built or poorly installed, your body feels that before anything else.

I have seen it firsthand.

What You Do Not See Inside an Infrared Sauna

Most customers only see the wood.

The lights.

The gentle red glow of the heaters.

They sit down and feel the warmth spreading through their muscles.

That is the visible part.

What you do not see is the electrical network hidden behind the panels.

Every heater draws power. Every control board regulates temperature.

Every wire sends signals and current. And anytime electricity moves, one thing appears every single time.

Electromagnetic fields. EMF.

You do not feel EMF. You do not smell it. But it is always there.

Just like the electric fields from your phone, your laptop, your router, your appliances, and the lines outside your house.

In an infrared sauna, the distance between you and the source is minimal.

Which means the sauna’s design matters.

The engineering matters.

And the installation matters even more.

Let me explain it from a professional perspective.

Why EMF Matters Inside a Sauna

When electricity flows, EMF forms around it.

This is not a mystery.

It is simply physics.

In most situations, distance protects you.

For example, your refrigerator produces EMF.

But you stand several feet away from it.

Your television produces EMF but you sit on a couch.

Inside a sauna, your body is only inches from the heating elements.

If the sauna is poorly designed, the EMF levels can be many times higher than what you would ever be exposed to in a kitchen or living room.

That is why low EMF saunas have become the new gold standard.

The best manufacturers do not guess.

They test everything.

They shield their wiring.

They redesign heater panels.

They isolate drivers and controllers.

They eliminate unnecessary electrical noise.

I have seen low EMF saunas that test under one milligauss.

That is extremely low for something sitting right in front of you.

But here is the truth many homeowners do not realize.

Even the best sauna can perform poorly if it is installed incorrectly.

That is where the electrician comes in.

What You Need to Know Before Buying a Sauna

If you are thinking about buying an infrared sauna, here is what I tell every single customer.

One. Look for independent EMF testing. If a company refuses to show numbers, skip it.

My job involves dealing with real measurements, not marketing claims.

Two. Make sure the sauna uses quality heating panels. Carbon and ceramic both work well, but they must be engineered correctly.

Cheap systems look the same on the outside but behave very differently on the inside.

Three. Plan the electrical installation before you order the sauna. Not after.

This is the step that saves you the most headaches and the most money.

I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to a house where someone ordered a sauna that needed a dedicated twenty amp circuit, but the homeowner only had room for a fifteen amp circuit.

Or they placed the sauna in a basement corner that had no safe way to run the wiring.

Or they tried to power the sauna from a shared circuit that was already overloaded.

The sauna never caused the problem.

The lack of planning did.

This is why a professional installation matters.

What I Have Seen Go Wrong with DIY Sauna Wiring

I respect people who want to do things themselves.

But saunas are not the place to experiment. I have seen it all.

Homeowners splice wires with cheap connectors that melt when the sauna reaches full temperature.

People run saunas on extension cords because they think it is fine for a short period of time.

Circuit breakers trip every ten minutes because the sauna was installed on the wrong size breaker.

Some saunas overheat because the branch circuit is undersized.

Others cause lights to flicker because the wiring was never balanced correctly across the panel.

And the worst thing of all.

No one notices the EMF spike caused by poor connections, unshielded wires, or improper grounding.

A sauna is supposed to heal.

Not stress your electrical system. And not stress your body.

Why I Care So Much About Low EMF Saunas

I have spent a career protecting homeowners from electrical hazards.

I have seen fires that started from simple wiring mistakes.

I have repaired systems that were one spark away from disaster.

That is why I care so much about low EMF design.

A well built sauna, installed correctly, is one of the safest relaxation tools you can own.

The heat is therapeutic.

The air is clean.

The environment is calming.

But when the wiring is loose, undersized, or unprotected, the harmony disappears.

I always tell my customers this. You invest in a sauna for your health.

Make sure the electrical installation supports that goal, not works against it.

How PRO Electric plus HVAC Handles Sauna Installations

At PRO Electric plus HVAC, we install infrared saunas almost every week. We know exactly what each brand requires. We know the current draw, the breaker size, the conduit layout, the grounding needs, and the best placement for panels.

Before I ever connect a sauna, I check the entire electrical system. I make sure the panel can support the load. I make sure the grounding path is clean and strong. I make sure the wiring run is safe, protected, and properly sized. I test everything before you ever sit inside the sauna for the first time.

You should never have to wonder. You should never have to worry. You should only feel the heat, the calm, and the comfort you paid for.

Final Thoughts

And the most important part

Infrared saunas are incredible tools for wellness when they are built well and installed correctly.

They help your body recover. They help your mind relax. They become a sanctuary inside your own home.

But remember this. An infrared sauna is an advanced electrical device.

You want it wired by someone who understands both sides of the equation. The health benefits and the electrical safety.

If you want your sauna wired correctly, with clean power, safe grounding, and proper EMF protection, call PRO Electric plus HVAC.

I will take care of everything, and you will feel the difference every time you step inside your sauna.

Why I Highly Recommend the Sun Home Luminar Sauna

As a master electrician who installs saunas for homeowners throughout Northern Virginia, I am very particular about which models I trust.

I care about build quality, heater design, electrical layout, and most important of all, the true EMF levels measured inside the cabin.

One sauna consistently stands out above the rest, and that is the Sun Home Luminar Sauna.

If someone asked me which infrared sauna I would put in my own home, this is the one I would choose.

The Sun Home Luminar Sauna is engineered with care from the inside out. When I first inspected one, the wiring layout immediately caught my attention.

The internal routing is clean, the components are placed with intention, and the system is designed to keep electrical fields incredibly low.

This matters more than most people realize.

Your body sits only inches from the heating elements during every session.

The closer you are to the source, the more important low EMF engineering becomes.

Many sauna companies talk about low EMF but never show real data.

Sun Home Saunas is different.

They publish independent testing and the numbers are excellent.

When I test these units myself, the readings match what the company claims, which tells me the engineering is trustworthy.

The heat quality is outstanding. The Sun Home Luminar warms quickly, holds temperature evenly, and delivers a smooth comfortable heat that feels natural.

Nothing harsh. Nothing inconsistent. The entire experience feels calm and balanced, which is exactly what you want from a wellness product you will use regularly.

Another thing I appreciate is the craftsmanship.

The materials are sturdy and the assembly is precise.

It feels like a sauna built to last many years, not just a few seasons.

That is important because electrical components perform better and stay safer when the structure around them is solid and stable.

If you want a sauna that protects your wellbeing, keeps EMF extremely low, and operates with clean efficient power, the Sun Home Luminar Sauna is one of the best choices you can make.

And if you decide to install one, PRO Electric plus HVAC will ensure every connection, breaker, and circuit is done correctly, safely, and to full code.

Your sauna deserves a professional installation so you get the comfort, performance, and peace of mind you are paying for.

Ready To Install Your Sun Home Luminar Sauna?

I would be happy to size your circuit, pull the permit, and install everything to code so your sauna is safe and ready for daily use.

If you live in Northern Virginia, call PRO Electric plus HVAC at 703-225-8222 and ask for Peter.

I will get you on the schedule and make it easy.

📞 Call 703-225-822 now or book online while you’re thinking about it.