Steam rooms and saunas are both used for relaxation and can be found in health clubs, gyms, and spas. However, they differ in their heating systems, materials, and humidity levels. Saunas are heated by a traditional or infrared heater, while steam rooms use a steam generator. Saunas are made of untreated wood, while steam rooms are made of impermeable materials. Saunas have lower humidity levels, while steam rooms have 100% humidity. It is important to stay hydrated and not stay in either for too long.
Steam rooms and saunas have many similarities in that both involve heat and are used for relaxation. Both steam rooms and saunas can be built in a private home or are easily found in health clubs, gyms, and spas. Although most people know that steam rooms are wet and humid, and saunas are dry, there are many other differences between a sauna and a steam room.
First of all, a steam room has a steam generator located outside the room, where it is not seen by the people using it. A sauna heater is located inside the sauna, either a traditional sauna heater or an infrared heating system. Whereas a steam room gets its heat from water being heated and injected into the room as steam, a sauna gets its heat in a different way. A sauna heater heats the air inside the sauna. Air is ventilated through intake and exhaust vents.
Normal temperatures inside a sauna range from 120° to 150°F (49° to 66°C), while those in a steam room are generally lower; below 130°F (54°C). Although temperatures are cooler in a steam room, the humidity is generally 100 percent, unlike a sauna, which keeps the humidity around 40 percent.
The interior of a sauna looks very different from that of a steam room. Saunas are traditionally made of wood that is not treated and dried in the sun. Saunas do not have to be waterproof and usually have a distinctive pleasant smell of wood when heated. On the other hand, steam rooms are usually made of ceramic tiles, glass blocks, or other impermeable, non-porous materials that are smooth and hold up in a humid environment.
Since condensation can be a problem in a steam room, they often have sloped ceilings, to divert condensation that might otherwise collect. Saunas, on the other hand, should be built with flat roofs to keep the heat more evenly dispersed in the room. Because steam rooms are humid, a floor drain is needed, while saunas do not need a drain.
Whether you prefer a steam room to a sauna or vice versa, it’s important to be safe, avoid dehydration, and stay in the sauna or steam room only as long as your body can handle it.
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