Wood-fired or electric sauna?
The short answer
An electric heater is the default in Irish garden saunas: switch it on, often by timer, and it costs about €2.54 to €3.81 a session at today's electricity price. A wood-burning stove needs no heavy electrical circuit and gives a softer, smoky heat, but you light and tend it every time, and need dry wood, a safe flue and neighbours who don't mind the smoke.
Side by side
| Electric | Wood-fired | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting it | A switch or timer | Light and feed the stove |
| Electrics | A dedicated circuit, often 6 to 9 kW | Lighting only |
| Running cost | €2.54 to €3.81 a session | The wood you burn, about €5 a bag |
| Extra kit | Control panel | Flue, spark guard, wood store |
| Neighbours | No smoke | Smoke when lighting and topping up |
| Availability | Standard on most models | An option or upgrade on some |
One Irish supplier, for example, fits an electric 9 kW Harvia heater as standard and offers a wood-burning stove as an upgrade.
Running costs
An electric sauna's cost is predictable: about €3.81 a session with a 9 kW heater at 40.64c per kWh, from a 40-minute warm-up and a 45-minute session. A wood-fired sauna's cost is the wood. Kiln-dried hardwood sells for about €5 a bag from one Irish supplier, but how much a session burns depends on the stove, the sauna and the weather. Track your first few sessions to find your figure.
Living with a wood stove
- Use dry, seasoned or kiln-dried wood. Wet wood burns poorly and smokes more.
- Follow the stove's clearances for the flue, walls and benches, and fit the flue exactly as the manufacturer says.
- Think about smoke. Site the sauna so smoke drifts away from your house and your neighbours', and away from overhanging trees.
- Plan for the warm-up. You'll be lighting and feeding the fire before every session.
Common questions
Is a wood-fired sauna cheaper to run than an electric one?
It can be. An electric sauna with a 9 kW heater costs about €3.81 a session at 40.64c per kWh. A wood-fired sauna costs whatever wood it burns: at about €5 a bag for kiln-dried hardwood, it's cheaper only if a session burns less than about 0.8 of a bag.
Do I need planning permission for a wood-fired sauna?
The planning exemption for garden buildings applies to the building, whether it is heated by wood or electricity. Check the chimney or flue height against the height limits, and think about where smoke will drift.
Sources
More in choosing a sauna
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