How to Maintain a Sauna: 6 Essential Maintenance Tips for Traditional Sauna Heaters
Wes McMahon
You’re in the sauna after a long work week. As the steam rises, it lifts all your concerns away. Completely relaxed, you lean back on the bench.
Your steam therapy session is going just as you had imagined it. Until…the heater turns itself off before the set time. You can’t think of what could be the cause of this interruption to your me-time.
To avoid such unpleasant scenarios, it’s important to carry out proper maintenance of your sauna heater. This helps you stay on top of any developing problems and eliminates inconveniences to your unwinding sessions.
Today we’re exploring what it takes to keep the centerpiece of your sauna going strong. As we do so, you’ll discover:
- The impact of cleaning on sauna longevity
- How to care for sauna stones
- Different maintenance tips for electrical heaters and wood-burning stoves
- When it’s best to consult a repair technician for sauna maintenance
Maintaining a well-functioning sauna not only maximizes relaxation, but also provides long-term health benefits such as improved stress relief and overall wellness.
Let's look at some simple safety measures you can take to ensure your sauna heater continues to serve you well for many years.
1. Inspect Your Heater
Imagine what would happen if you used your car day after day without taking it for professional service or even checking it yourself for any issues - just like choosing the wrong materials without understanding the best sauna wood types when building your own sauna.
One day you're driving to an important meeting then your vehicle gives up in the middle of the freeway.
If only you had taken the time to perform regular inspections, you would avoid the danger, embarrassment, and inconvenience of being stuck on the highway. The same also applies to the maintenance of sauna heaters and the importance of regular use.
Expert Tip: Regularly checking your heater helps you catch any issues early and helps to prevent them from escalating into major problems both for the heater and yourself.
For example, if your electric heater develops rust on the internal elements and you allow it to spread, this can damage its structure and reduce its effectiveness in warming your sauna room.
A wood-burning stove with cracks, on the other hand, can allow smoke to escape into the steam room, posing health risks when you breathe in the fumes.
Also, a faulty heater poses a significant safety risk and increases the likelihood of accidents while using the sauna, making inspection all the more important.
Periodically check the wiring components of your electric heater to ensure everything is in good working order. If you notice any loose connections either tighten the wires or call in a professional to fix the issue.
Equally important is to test the accuracy of the time and temperature control systems. Electric heaters allow you to set a limit on the maximum temperature and minutes that they run before shutting off to ensure your safety.
Harvia’s Vega 3500, Cilindro, and Kip Electric Heaters, for instance, feature a 60-minute timer, preventing the risk of extending your sessions.
To check whether these systems are still working well, dial in the values you want and let the heater run while you're outside the sauna. Take note of when the heater shuts off and confirm if it's accurate.
Do this with different time and temperature settings so that you’re sure there are no errors at any point. After you check the control systems, remember to reset them before using the heater again.
If you have a wood-burning stove, look over its entire structure thoroughly. Ensure you check all the components:
- Chimney
- Fire chamber
- Vents
- Flue collars
- Heater legs/stand
- Door handle
Remove the sauna stones and scan the heater with a flashlight to see if you can spot any holes in the fire chamber. While small cracks can be fixed in some instances, the safest move is to replace your stove with a new one.
If the chimney is blocked with debris, consult a professional for help with cleaning it out. This saves you the time and energy of taking apart the pipe and ending up with soot all over your hands and sauna room.
For gaps in the chimney seal, reseal the joints with heat-resistant cement. However, if the pipe itself is damaged, you need to have the impacted section replaced.
With each purchase of heaters from Sun Valley Saunas, you receive an installation and operation manual. This handy document contains instructions for wiring, operating, troubleshooting, and maintaining your heater.
Using this manual as a checklist when inspecting the heater is a great way to ensure you don’t leave out any part of the device.
We recommend doing inspection checks at least once a month, whether you use an electric heater or a wood-burning stove in your sauna. This will help you spot any developing problems and give you peace of mind that your heater is in good condition.
2. Clean Your Sauna Heater Properly
Picture yourself at the end of your sauna session, feeling like you’re floating on clouds. Your mind and body are relaxed, and your worries all melted away. Only to notice a gritty feeling on your skin.
Where could the grime have come from?
Most likely, some components in your sauna have accumulated dirt buildup, one of them being the heater.
Keeping your heater clean helps to ensure a clean sauna experience for you and your family, as well as extend the heater’s life while maintaining optimal heat distribution.
Before cleaning your heater, ensure it’s completely turned off and cool to the touch to avoid burning your skin. For an electric heater, use a soft brush or vacuum attachment to carefully remove dust, cobwebs, or debris from the interior.
If you're using a wood-burning stove such as the Harvia M3, remove the ash and any wood remaining from the previous session with a broom and dustpan.
The exterior of your heater also needs some TLC. Over time, moisture streaks and limescale may form on the outer frame. While these don't affect the performance of the heater, they take away its visual appeal which waters down your unwinding experience.
To clean your heater, it’s safe to use one of the following options:
- A water and vinegar solution
- Citric acid powder
- Mild soapy water
Wiping the surface gently with these cleaning agents and a soft cloth does the trick. Within minutes, your heater will be looking good as new.
3. Take Care of the Stones
You might be wondering what kind of care sauna stones need since they don’t have any technical components.
As you enjoy your sessions, the rocks accumulate oil and sweat on the surface. This turns into a layer which affects heat distribution throughout your steam room.
Also, because of their exposure to temperature and humidity changes, the structural strength of these stones changes over time, leading to cracks and eventual crumbling.
As such, it’s essential to inspect them regularly to ensure they’re in great condition.
Once a year, clean the rocks using warm water and a soft brush to eliminate dust and debris.
Pro Tip: It's actually a lot easier to just buy new sauna stones than clean them.
After all the rocks are clean and dry, reseat them in your heater.
They should be loosely surrounding the heating elements, allowing enough room for air flow. Placing the stones too closely together restricts air movement, causing your sauna to take much longer to heat up.
If your heater is electric, such as the Harvia Kip, carefully restack the stones so as to not damage the heating elements. Lay larger stones closest to the heating elements to support them and prevent bending or move freely.
Learn how to arrange sauna stones in the video below:
Ideally, you should place smaller stones on the top wherever water can be sprinkled.
Harvia’s Cilindro models, pillar heaters, and electric heaters with large stone capacity, for instance, feature a wide surface area for throwing steam.
In wood-burning heaters, the same principle applies. Arrange larger stones at the bottom of the heater and smaller stones towards the top. This ensures that larger stones closer to the fire box retain heat better and keep the room warm for longer.
Smaller stones at the top create better steam, since water is poured onto a larger surface area with more free space in between the rocks.
If your sauna heater shuts itself off after repacking the stones, it’s probably not getting enough air. Try resetting the rocks more loosely, covering the tops of the elements with only one layer.
Apart from cleaning the rocks, you need to replace them when they start falling apart. We recommend doing this after 300 hours of use, which is approximately one year.
The grit produced by crumbling rocks can damage the stainless steel of your heater elements, leading to costly repairs or replacements.
Note: Remember to only use rocks from the supplied heater brand. Otherwise, you could void any warranty on your heater in case the stones damage it. If you’re unsure where to buy new sauna rocks, we’ll be happy to offer guidance.
Brand-specific sauna rocks are customized for use in steam rooms, and crushed to the appropriate size thus allowing for the best airflow around the heating elements.
4. Ensure Proper Ventilation
In saunas, adequate ventilation is key for preventing the buildup of excess moisture within the room. This not only protects the walls and benches of the sauna, but the heater as well. A lack of ventilation is generally more of an issue for indoor saunas in humid basements, but pre-built indoor traditional saunas generally have two vents for adequate air flow. No external venting is needed with these saunas.
Excess moisture causes rust to form on the frame and internal elements, which could damage the entire heater if left unchecked.
Leaving the sauna doors and windows open when not in use helps to air it out and prevent it from remaining damp.
Using a towel to wipe surfaces after your sessions also goes a long way in keeping the sauna room dry.
Don’t forget to clean the exhaust fan located at the outflow vent. A fan that’s weighed down with dirt is inefficient at drawing out humidity from the sauna, pausing the risk of damage to the heater.
"Works great. Cranks my 6x6 sauna up to 190 with ease!" - Kevin Deckard
As for the heater itself, ensure you clear any dirt from the air inlets in the case of a wood-burning stove. This creates a clear path for air to reach the burning wood and provides you with a soothing experience as the sauna room warms up.
Preventing Mold and Mildew
High humidity is part of the sauna experience, but it can also invite unwanted guests like mold and mildew if you’re not careful. To keep your sauna benches, walls, and sauna room spotless, make ventilation a top priority. After each session, leave the sauna door open to let fresh air circulate and excess moisture escape. If your sauna is used frequently, consider installing a dedicated ventilation system for even better airflow.
Regular cleaning is essential—wipe down all the surfaces, including benches and walls, with a sauna-safe cleaner or a solution containing tea tree oil, which naturally fights bacteria and mold. Make it a habit to inspect your sauna for any signs of mold or mildew, especially in corners and under benches, and address any issues right away. With these simple steps, you’ll keep your sauna clean, fresh, and ready for relaxation.
Sauna Bench Upkeep
Your sauna benches are where you unwind, so keeping them in top condition is essential for both comfort and hygiene. After each use, clean the benches with a soft brush and warm water to remove sweat stains and debris. For deeper cleaning, lightly sand the wood surface to eliminate any stubborn marks or rough spots. If you notice any signs of wear, such as cracks or splinters, inspect the benches closely and replace them if needed to avoid safety risks.
To help absorb excess moisture and prevent mold, sprinkle a little baking soda on the benches before cleaning. Regular use of the sauna actually helps, as the heat kills off mold and mildew spores before they take hold. By making bench maintenance part of your sauna routine, you'll ensure a clean, comfortable and long-lasting seating area for every session - and further enhance your sauna experience.
5. Seek Professional Help
Sometimes, the issues you’ll find when inspecting your sauna heater could be way beyond your level of being able to handle them. In such instances, it's best to consult a professional technician.
They have the expertise to fix such issues safely and quickly, saving you the hassle of spending much time doing guesswork during the heater troubleshooting process or getting the repairs wrong.
Examples of serious problems with sauna heaters include:
- Worn out electrical wires
- Damaged heater elements
- Blown out circuit breakers or fuses
- Large cracks in wood burning stoves
- Malfunctioning electrical control units
- Overheating or underheating with no obvious cause
Remember to deal with a technician whose specialty is sauna heater maintenance and repair. This way, you'll be able to rest easy knowing that your heater is in good hands. After all, sauna heaters don’t come cheap.
At Sun Valley Saunas, our traditional heaters come with our ten year warranty, not including the heating elements and stones. This gives you peace of mind knowing that if your heater develops any problems within this time, you're covered.
Also, we love to help our customers not only at the time of purchase but also afterward. If you have any concerns about your sauna heater, we’ll be happy to guide you on what steps to take to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with regular sauna maintenance, occasional issues can arise. If you notice mold or mildew on the sauna benches or walls, act quickly by cleaning the affected areas with a sauna-safe product and ensuring the room is well-ventilated. For problems with your sauna heater—such as inconsistent heating or failure to turn on—inspect the unit for obvious signs of damage or wear. Sometimes, a simple cleaning or resetting can resolve minor issues, but if the heater is still not working, it may be time to repair or replace it. Damaged benches should be replaced to maintain safety and comfort. Regularly inspecting all the surfaces, including the heater, benches, and walls, helps you catch problems early and keep your sauna in peak condition.
Sauna Maintenance Schedule
Consistency is the secret to a long-lasting, enjoyable sauna. Establishing a sauna maintenance schedule ensures that your sauna heater, benches, and sauna room stay in excellent shape. Start with daily tasks like wiping down benches and floors, and making sure the sauna is aired out after each use. Once a week, give the benches and walls a thorough cleaning to remove sweat and dirt. Every month, inspect the sauna for signs of mold, mildew, or any wear and tear, and address any issues right away. By sticking to this routine, you’ll keep your sauna clean, safe, and ready for relaxation at any time. Regular maintenance not only extends the life of your sauna and heater but also guarantees a healthy, inviting space for you and your guests to enjoy.
6. Use the Sauna Regularly
All work and no play is no fun! One of the easiest ways to help your heater stay free of problems is to use your sauna often.
By using the sauna at least two times a week, on a regular basis, you prevent excess moisture from accumulating, which keeps mildew at bay. Consistent operating ona regular basis is important to maintain sauna hygiene and performance. High humidity and the presence of mildew reduce your heater's efficiency and lifespan.
Under these conditions, an insulating barrier forms around components of the heater, thus obstructing heat distribution and causing uneven temperature levels in the sauna room.
Also, a buildup of moisture and mildew growth can affect the heater's safety features, such as overheating protection systems and electrical grounding. This poses heat injury and electric shock risks to sauna users.
Our Recommendation: Keep your sauna sessions between 30 and 40 minutes. This allows enough time for air to circulate within the room, eliminating any stagnant air and excess moisture from previous use.
So, take every opportunity you get to indulge in a therapeutic sauna session. Your body, mind, and heater will be all the better for it.
Keep Your Sauna Heaters in the Best Condition With Proper Maintenance
Sauna heaters are robust pieces of equipment, but they need proper upkeep for them to work at their best. A well-maintained heater will provide you with many happy years of enjoying the goodness of steam therapy.
The best part is, caring for your heater doesn't require you to do a lot of work. With a few simple measures, your heater will remain in great shape. Using high-quality sauna wood for construction ensures durability and minimal maintenance, while routine practices like drying or cleaning the floor and exterior walls help prevent moisture damage and mold.
Quickly troubleshoot common issues with your traditional sauna heaters using this comprehensive table, outlining potential causes and maintenance solutions.
| Symptom | Possible Causes | Maintenance Solutions |
| Insufficient Heat | Worn-out heating elements | Replace faulty elements |
| Uneven Heating | Blocked vents, damaged parts | Clean vents, repair or replace components |
| Excessive Smoke | Dirty or clogged chimney | Clean chimney, ensure proper ventilation |
| Electrical Issues | Faulty wiring, loose connections | Address wiring problems |
| Inaccurate Temperature | Faulty thermostat | Calibrate or replace thermostat |
| Rust and Corrosion | Moisture exposure, lack of maintenance | Sand, treat, and repaint affected areas |
If you have any questions about issues with your sauna heater, please reach out to us today. Our friendly team is always available to help and will be delighted to walk you through how to ensure your heater stays in the best working condition.
"I found this company to be very professional with prompt service, high-quality products, and they guarantee them. I highly recommend Sun Valley Saunas." - Cynthia White
Wes McMahon, is the founder of Sun Valley Saunas and a seasoned ski town sauna enthusiast. In early 2021, Wes transitioned from being an attorney and sauna aficionado in Sun Valley, Idaho, to founding Sun Valley Saunas. His deep appreciation for the Finnish sauna tradition has helped him understand and select high-quality, hand-built saunas for customers throughout North America. Combined with his understanding of the therapeutic and communal benefits of sauna culture, he advocates for the wellness practices that saunas can bring to your overall health. Got questions? Get in touch by calling 1-855-963-5665 or info@sunvalleysaunas.com
Important: The information provided in our articles about saunas and related topics is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare practitioner before using saunas, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are pregnant. Individual health needs vary, and what benefits one person may not be suitable for another.