Today's Technology And You

Today's
TECHNOLOGY AND YOU

Saunas reduce heat — and stress — load

Q: I set my thermostat lower to save electricity, but I often feel chilled to the bone and set it up again. What can I do, without driving up my utility bills, to stay warm with the thermostat set lower? - R. R.

A: Your chilled-to-the-bone feeling is not uncommon with a furnace thermostat set back, but don't panic and set it back up. Whenever you feel chilly and get the urge to set up the thermostat, remember that, depending on your climate, each degree that you lower your thermostat shaves two to three percent off of your heating bills.

One of the best methods to maintain your comfort without driving up your heating bills is to create one small "warm spot" in your home. This can be just a small room or a mini home-size sauna or steam room kit. Visit this warm area whenever you sense that chilly feeling coming on.

The cheapest method to create a warm spot is to use a small electric heater (one with a built-in thermostat) to keep one small room warm. Select a room with the fewest outside walls (not a corner room). This minimizes the heat loss to the outdoors. Keep this room about five degrees warmer than the rest of your house.

A do-it-yourself mini-sauna kit is about the most comfortable and efficient method to create your warm spot. All of the heat it loses just reduces the heating load on your furnace. A visit to the sauna can make you feel warm for hours. It is also relaxing and healthful, supposedly cleansing the body of toxins by perspiration and aiding in weight loss for dieters.

There are many designs of small home-use sauna kits. Several one and two-person portable models literally snap together in minutes and apart again for storage — no tools needed. Some of these personal saunas use a small 1.7 kilowatt electric heater (with rocks) that plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet. This uses not much more electricity than a hair dryer.

Portable models, some on casters, are ideal for home use. The kits come with completely insulated wall sections, built-in benches and they fasten together with clips or cam locks. The door has a window and the heater is pre-wired. Just plug it in.

Family-size do-it-yourself sauna kits are available in two designs, modular and precut. Modular kits include insulated and wired walls, floor and roof panels, heater, rocks, controls and accessories. They are easily bolted together in an hour or so. A precut kit is less expensive and has all the materials and accessories, but the separate pieces need to be assembled.

The control features make a big difference in the convenience, comfort and efficiency of using a sauna. Fully electronic computer controls allow you to program the on-times and temperatures. Optional electronic air fresheners automatically sprinkle the hot rocks with scented water for the proper low humidity level.

Another relaxing efficient option is a small one-and two-person steam room kit. If your budget is extremely limited, just add a special steam room door kit to your existing shower or bath. Using a mini steam room can also add needed humidity to the air to make your entire house feel more comfortable.

The temperature in a steam room is ideally about 118 degrees, not extremely hot like a sauna. A small 2.2 to 3-kilowatt steam generator is often adequate for a one-person steam room kit. Once the steam room gets up to the desired temperature, the heaters in the steam generator cycle on and off. Overall, the electricity needed to operate one is not great because the heat generated reduces the load on the furnace.

Several of the complete steam room kits have contemporary designs and fit into a corner or recessed bathroom area. High gloss acrylic, polycarbonate or synthetic cultured marble are often used. These materials are durable and provide natural insulation to reduce electricity costs.

It is important to have a well-sealed steam room. The kits all use some type of weatherstripping around the door. When converting an existing shower, make sure to install a special steam room door with weatherstripping.

Write for, or instantly download at www.dulley.com, Utility Bills Update No. 458 — buyer's guide of 10 home-use sauna kits, sizes, features, prices and a cost-to-use chart and Utility Bills Update No. 896 — a buyer's guide of 14 steam room kits, features, prices and sizing chart. Please include $2 (with checks payable to Jim Dulley) and a business-size SASE. Mail to: Jim Dulley, Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708.

James Dulley is a mechanical engineer who writes on a wide variety of energy and utility topics. His column appears in a large number of daily newspapers.

18 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING JANUARY 1998