Many new portable sauna users feel their portable sauna is not getting “hot enough.” Naturally, this can leave many disappointed, especially if they had prior sauna experience.
One important thing to note is that portable saunas were designed to run at lower temperatures than traditional ones. This was done on purpose, since they were designed to be used at home and indoors. Having them less intense is one way to ensure that the portable sauna is safe for use.
- Why Your Portable Sauna Might Not Feel Hot Enough
- Preheating: The Most Overlooked Step
- Use Your Sauna in the Right Environment
- Improve Heat Retention (Small Changes, Big Impact)
- Adjust Settings the Right Way
- What You Should NOT Do
- When It’s a Product Limitation And Not User Error
- FAQ
- How can I make my portable sauna hotter?
- Why doesn’t my sauna feel hot enough?
- Can I increase the maximum temperature?
- Does steam feel hotter than infrared?
- Conclusion
However, you can make your portable sauna hotter. There are a few practical tips that can improve heat performance. It will still remain within the designed heat limits, but the experience can be improved.
In this guide, we will share some setup tweaks and usage habits that can help. We will also highlight some common mistakes that new users make, and that affect heat.
Why Your Portable Sauna Might Not Feel Hot Enough
First, let’s list some of the most common reasons why your sauna might not feel hot enough. The most common of all is skipping the preheat stage. We will talk more about that soon.
Many also make the mistake of using their sauna in a cold room. Then, there is oversight regarding zippers and gaps in the tent’s fabric. These can often act as escape routes for the heat that is meant to be kept inside.
Finally, as mentioned earlier, many of the new portable sauna users have unrealistic expectations. Those who have experienced a traditional sauna expect the same experience. But the experience of the portable sauna was milder, which caused disappointment.
It also matters whether you purchased a steam or infrared sauna. The two differ in a lot of ways, with intensity being the most noticeable. Steam saunas feel hotter due to the humidity caused by the steam. Infrared models were designed to offer dry heat, which is much gentler.
Typically, an infrared sauna actually uses hotter temperatures (up to 150°F) than a steam sauna (120°F). However, due to humidity, the steam sauna feels much hotter. That goes to show that the user’s perception of heat does not depend on the actual temperature.
Preheating: The Most Overlooked Step
The most overlooked step and the most common reason why the sauna doesn’t feel hot is preheating.
As you may know, the proper use of a sauna requires you to turn it on for a while before going in. Typically, it needs 10-20 minutes to preheat, depending on the steamer strength and tent size. Unfortunately, most users tend to underestimate the necessity for preheat time.
They usually enter too early, and as a result, they are met with a weaker experience. The preheat time is important as it lets the steam build for portable steam saunas. If you use an infrared sauna, preheat time allows the panels to warm up properly.
Either way, you need to wait for the right temperature and leave the tent door closed during the process.
Use Your Sauna in the Right Environment
The other big mistake is using the sauna in a cold room. In order for the sauna to achieve the highest possible temperature, it needs to be in the right environment. Sitting in a cold room means that the cold air from the outside will keep weakening the warm air inside the tent.
Room temperature matters greatly, and a cold room is nothing but heat loss. That’s why the best setup is to use your sauna indoors in a warm room.
However, you do need proper ventilation, so make sure to open the windows or use the AC. Avoid using your portable sauna in garages or balconies in cold weather, as they are sure to cool it faster.
Improve Heat Retention (Small Changes, Big Impact)
Another tip for making your sauna as warm as possible is to ensure that the heat stays in. Most saunas come with zippers, windows, and, of course, the tent door. All of these can act as potential escape routes for the heat.
Make sure that everything is zipped up and closed fully during use to prevent heat escape. Also, while inside the sauna, make sure to sit properly while inside. You can use a towel or a mat to insulate the base and prevent loss of heat from below.
If your sauna has a head opening, you should also make sure to keep that controlled. Don’t leave it wide open for steam and heat to escape – keep it as tight as possible while still being comfortable.
Adjust Settings the Right Way
Whether you use a humid steam sauna or a red light therapy of infrared sauna, make sure to use the highest safe setting. This is the only way to increase the heat safely.
If you still need a more intense experience, you can try gradually increasing the length of the session. Don’t try to max out everything right away. Remember that infrared panels take time to heat up, and steam saunas can heat up, turn off, and then back on again later.
This is normal behavior, as they are trying to maintain a certain heat, not go as hot as possible. So, if you notice that your steam sauna has turned off, don’t try to force it back on. You want to use the settings to your advantage, but not overdo it and risk damaging the equipment.
What You Should NOT Do
A lot of users tend to try to “think outside the box” when they aren’t satisfied with the heat of their sauna. Some have come up with their own solutions, many of which can be harmful.
As a result, we do not recommend doing things like trying to modify the internal components. Don’t try to block ventilation either, as the sauna needs to “breathe.” Ventilation systems were designed to let some of the heat out for safety purposes.
Also, do not try to go beyond the built-in limits, as this is also not safe for you. The same goes when it comes to the session length. Even if the experience feels underwhelming, don’t stay in longer than you are supposed to.
And, whatever you do, don’t try to add external heat sources to boost the heat of your sauna. All of these “solutions” might seem clever and practical, but they will only endanger you.
When It’s a Product Limitation And Not User Error
Finally, it is fair to admit that sometimes, the lower heat is not due to the user error. Sometimes, it is simply a limitation of the product.
You can expect this to be the case with lower-end units that typically come with weak heaters. Their steam can be inconsistent, which is why the experience can be underwhelming.
You can typically tell that this is the case if it takes a long time for the sauna to heat up. Also, if the steam output is weak even at the highest settings, that’s the steamer’s fault.
If this is the case with your sauna, there is not much you can do other than switch to a better model. Not all saunas are built the same, and the less money you pay, the less of an experience you can expect.
FAQ
How can I make my portable sauna hotter?
Respect the preheating period, seal heat leaks, and use your sauna in a warm, but ventilated room.
Why doesn’t my sauna feel hot enough?
Often, a sauna can feel underwhelming due to the environment or setup flaws. Sometimes, with lower-end units, it might not be powerful enough to reach higher temperatures.
Can I increase the maximum temperature?
No – these devices are limited for safety purposes. You should stick to the limitations for your safety.
Does steam feel hotter than infrared?
Yes, but only because of humidity. In other words, you perceive it as hotter, even if the actual temperature may not be higher.
Conclusion
To make your portable sauna hotter, you need to focus on improving your setup. Forcing the unit to go beyond its limits is a bad decision. Those limits were set in place for your safety.
However, sometimes, it is simply the limitation of the sauna model. If you have a cheaper sauna with weak components, there is not much you can do to make it hotter.
This is why it’s important to have realistic expectations and invest into quality when buying. If you wish to see our top picks here are the best portable saunas for home use. However, if you are on a budget, check out the best portable saunas under $200.
