Frequently asked questions
Find answers to our most common questions
Sauna Heater
Where can I find the nearest distributor?
Answer: See the page Find a dealer to search for your nearest dealer or click here
How do I calculate the sauna volume, when installing an electric sauna heater in the sauna?
Answer: Multiply the height by the width and length. Add the volume of cold surfaces to the previous result: i.e. calculate the stone and glass surface are and multiply by 1.5. The result is in cubic metres, you then add this to the volume of the sauna. Select a sauna heater output according to the result.
How do you choose a heater with the right output?
Your choice of heater will depend on how large your sauna is. Always choose a heater that provides the maximum output in relation to the size of the sauna. The greater the output in relation to the volume of the space, the easier it is for the heater to heat the sauna and maintain the temperature. It also means that energy consumption is minimised.
You will need a heater with a higher output if the walls inside the sauna are made of a heavy material, such as concrete, glass, tiles, etc. To calculate the required output, add one cubic metre to the total volume of the sauna room for every square metre of heavy wall material.
Is a consumer allowed to install an electric sauna heater?
Answer: No. Only an authorised person is allowed to connect a sauna heater to the electrical network, according to the electricity regulations in force.
Where can I find information about what kind of heater I have?
The data rating plate is located furthest down on one of the ends of the heater. This shows what model it is, the serial number, the power rating of the heater and the year/month of manufacture.
Where can I find information about the minimum safety distance for my heater?
Details about minimum safety distances are given in the operating instructions that come with each product, User's Manuals and Brochures. You can also consult your nearest distributor.
Do I need to have stones in my heater?
Answer: Several of our heaters have a feature of being optional with how much stones are suitable for that heater. Please see technical specification for your chosen heater.
What is the best stone for sauna heaters?
Answer: The best stone is always tested by the sauna heater manufacturer. Helo recommends vulcanite mineral, this stone quality is appropriate for the sauna heater and it is safe. Please read the technical specification for your chosen heater.
Why is the use of ceramic stones not permitted in sauna heaters?
Answer: Ceramic stones will destroy the resistors and shorten their operating life considerably.
How often is it necessary to reset the sauna heater stones in normal use?
Answer: The stones should be reset according to the following principle: if you use the sauna once a week, the stones should be reset once a year, if you use the sauna twice a week, the stones should be reset twice a year. When resetting the stones, broken and sand-surfaced stones are removed and replaced by new ones. As they are used, the stones gradually break down and become more compact. It is therefore important to restack them occasionally to allow the air to flow freely between the stones. Good air circulation is required to ensure the heater works properly and to maximise the life of the heating elements.
The stone compartment in a public sauna, which is used continuously, should be inspected once a month and the stones replaced when necessary.
Should my heater be covered in stones?
Answer: Several of our Helo heaters have a feature of beining optional with how much stones are suitable for that heater. Please see technical specification for your chosen heater.
What do I do if there are problems with the sauna heater?
Answer: Call the nearest service company.
How often should the stones in a sauna be replaced?
That mainly depends on how often the sauna is used. If it's a private sauna that is used twice a week on average, you should replace the stones once a year. As they are used, the stones gradually break down and become more compact. It is therefore important to restack them occasionally to allow the air to flow freely between the stones.
Good air circulation is required to ensure the heater works properly and to maximise the life of the heating elements. We generally recommend replacing the stones once a year in a public sauna, if it is used once a week on average. Twice a week, twice a year, and so on... The stone compartment in a public sauna, which is used continuously, should be inspected once a month and the stones replaced when necessary.
Can I pour water onto the heater?
When your heater is hot, you can pour water over the stones to increase the humidity in the sauna. The amount of water you pour on the stones each time will depend somewhat on the size of the heater. One scoop of water, about 15 cl. is fine. If the water runs out of the bottom of the heater, it means that you've poured too much water or the stones are not hot enough. Wait a few minutes before you pour on more.
Why does the sauna not heat up enough?
Answer: First check the fuse box to see whether a fuse has blown. Look to see if all the heating elements are glowing when the heater is turned on. If they are not, it might be because the heater's overheat protection has tripped.
Other factors that affect the heating in the sauna are ventilation, position of the temperature sensor, how well sealed and insulated the sauna is and whether the heater's output is correctly sized for the sauna. Don't forget that if your sauna walls are made of materials such as stone, tiles, concrete or glass, a greater output is required to heat the sauna than would be needed for an insulated wooden sauna.
If everything seems to be in order but the sauna is still not heating up properly, contact the dealer where you purchased the heater.
Why do you go into a "cold" sauna with a heat-storing sauna?
If the sauna heater breaks down, during the guarantee period, whom do I contact?
Answer: Contact the nearest contract service company. Click here to find a dealer or distributor close to you
How long is the guarantee for sauna heaters?
Private use: The Helo electric sauna heaters have a two-year guarantee; the spare parts have a one-year guarantee. Wood burning sauna heaters have a one-year guarantee.
Where can I buy spare parts for the sauna heater?
Answer: Contact your Helo dealer to buy spare parts. Click here to find a dealer close to you.
Where can I find a Helo guarantee service company?
Answer: See section Distributors / Contract Service Companies. Click here to find your service company.
Can there be stone and glass surfaces in a sauna with a heat storing sauna heater?
Answer: Yes, but all the walls and ceiling must be thermally insulated.
I have an older model of heater and one of the coils has stopped working. Is it possible to fit new coils in the heater?
Yes, in most cases it's possible to replace the heating coil elements. Contact a Helo dealer for more information. Click here to find your dealer.
Control panels
Is the connection of an old control centre to a new sauna heater permitted?
Answer: No. The sauna heater and the control centre are always type approved with each other.
Is the connection of a new control centre to an old sauna heater permitted?
Answer: No. The sauna heater and the control centre are always type approved with each other.
Why does the temperature shown in the electronic control centre differ from the sauna's own mechanical thermometer?
Answer: The electronic control centre is more accurate than the mechanical thermometer. The measurement locations are not the same.
Are there sauna-heater models where you do not have to go to a gloomy sauna and crouch down to turn the mechanical controller?
Is it permitted to install the control panel inside the sauna?
Answer: Control panel Pure and Elite can be placed inside the sauna provided it is a Helo built sauna room. Follow the instructions given in the manual for each product on installing the control panel inside the sauna room.
Can the control panel be installed inside the steam room?
Answer: Control panels Pure and Elite are both approved to be placed inside the steam room.
Where should the temperature sensor be placed?
Where the temperature sensor should be placed is depending on what model of control panel you have. The sensor should never be placed directly above the heater nor to far from it. Follow the instructions given in the manual for each product.
In a steam room, the sensor should be about 180 cm from the floor and well away from the steam head.
The sensor cable is too short
Answer: The sensor comes with a four-meter-long cable. If necessary, it can be elongated with a two-wire cable.
Wood burning
How do I calculate the volume of the sauna, when installing a wood burning sauna heater in the sauna?
Answer: Multiply the height by the width and length. Add the volume of cold surfaces to the previous result: i.e. calculate the stone and glass surface are and multiply by 2. The result is in cubic metres, you then add this to the volume of the sauna. Select a sauna heater output according to the result.
When a wood burning sauna heater is installed in the sauna, how is the ventilation to be arranged?
Does it matter what sort of stones I have in my wood-fired sauna heater?
Can I reduce the safety distance from my wood-fired stove to combustible surfaces?
Answer: In some cases it is possible to reduce the distance by installing metal sheets or fibre cement boards with an air space behind. The installation manual for each model provides instructions on how to do this and states the required safety distances.
What are the ventilation requirements for a wood-fired sauna stove?
Answer: The incoming air for a wood-fired stove, unlike an electric heater, must be some distance from the stove. You don't really need an outlet since the chimney acts as the sauna's air outlet.
You can have an outlet vent that will provide ventilation when the sauna is not being used, but remember to close the vent when you're using the sauna.
The glass on my wood burning heater has broken and I need to replace it.
Steam Generator
Can I use Prisol tubing to conduct the steam to the steam room?
Answer: You can use Prisol tubing, but the plastic coating around the tube may become brittle and crack after some time due to the high temperatures which reach 95-98 degrees. We recommend using rigid, insulated, copper tubes. Make sure there are no sharp, angular bends in the tubes.
Can I install the steam generator inside a cupboard?
Answer: Yes, you can. Provided there is sufficient space around the steam generator so that it can be serviced and maintained. You must also make sure that it is well ventilated. There should be about 50 cm of space all around a VA steam generator to allow for it to be serviced. We recommend 30 cm of space around the sides and 50 cm above a VB steam generator.
Can I install the steam generator inside the steam room?
Answer: No, you can't. It must be installed in a dry, well-ventilated space.
Does the steam generator need descaling and why?
Answer: Yes, the steam generator has to be descaled. How often will depend on the water quality and how long the generator is in operation. You can find specific instructions in your product manual. When water boils, the steam that leaves the generator is pure water vapour. Any calcium and minerals that are in the water remain inside the generator and form a layer of deposits that can eventually damage the generator if not removed.
Infrared panels
How hot does it get in a infrared sauna from Helo?
Answer: The temperature varies depending on the size of the room and the ambient temperature. The temperature inside an infra-red cabin does not matter a great deal because you feel the infra-red rays warming your body.
Can I have an infrared sauna made-to-measure?
Answer: Unfortunately, we do not offer custom-made cabins at this time. Our infrared cabins are available in four sizes.
One alternative is the possibility to add infrared panels to your sauna room to be controlled together with Sense Elite heater.
See the Infrared product page on our website for more information.
How long is the connecting cable to the infra-red cabin?
Answer: It is two metres long and has a 230V plug.