A home sauna is your personal oasis, a place to relax and unwind after a long, stressful day. But given the home sauna cost, it's important that you don’t just spend time enjoying the sauna - you need to set aside time to care for it as well! 

A bit of sauna maintenance goes a long way not only in extending the life of your sauna and protecting your investment but in keeping your heated haven safe and enjoyable - whether you use it alone or share the experience with friends and family.

The good news is sauna care is fairly straightforward. Aside from learning how to clean a sauna heater you need to clean the rest of the room, give the stones a bit of TLC, and take steps to prevent rust and corrosion. After all, the heater is the heartbeat of your sauna.

Eventually, though, there will come a time when your heater is past its prime and needs to be replaced. Our selection of sauna heaters is here waiting for you whenever you need to make the upgrade. Shop the best brands, ranging from Harvia vs HUUM, at unbeatable prices!

The Importance of Sauna Maintenance 

We know you’d rather spend the time on sauna care kicked back and relaxing, enjoying all that your sauna has to offer - but hear us out. Regular sauna maintenance cannot be overlooked. 

Your sauna heater cannot perform at its best when dust, mineral deposits, and residue from sauna stones build up. Efficiency, longevity, and most importantly, safety will all be compromised if you aren’t performing regular sauna maintenance. 

The main risks are overheating and electrical issues, but the sauna experience can also be affected if you don’t provide the proper sauna care. Keeping your heater clean allows for more consistent heat distribution. 

But if you remember how much you paid for your sauna, the thought of having to replace it sooner than expected should be reason enough to learn how to clean a sauna heater! On that note, how much is a sauna heater? Prices start at between $750-$1,000.

From a health perspective, cleaning your sauna heater on a regular basis prevents dust and debris from building up and burning on heating elements. Do you want to breathe these contaminants in as you’re enjoying your sauna? Definitely not!

Fortunately, all these things are easy to avoid with just a bit of TLC. We’ll walk you through how to clean a sauna heater below, step-by-step, so you can safely and confidently handle this task.

How Do You Clean a Sauna Heater?

So, how do you clean a sauna heater? It’s easier than you might think! It’s way easier than trying to learn how to wire a sauna heater. Follow these steps to get your heater back toas good as new.

Turn Off and Unplug the Heater

First things first, make sure your heater is turned off and unplugged before you do anything else. Hardwired units need to have the circuit breaker switched off to cut power.

Make sure you give your sauna time to cool off completely if it was used recently before proceeding. A hot heater can be dangerous as it can cause burns, but there is also a heightened risk of damaging components. 

Remove and Inspect the Sauna Stones

Your sauna stones are where most of the dirt and debris are going to accumulate, so we recommend starting here once the heater and stones are cool to the touch:

1. Carefully lift out the sauna stones and place them on a towel or some other sturdy surface.
2. Look for cracks, chips, or excessive wear. You need to replace any damaged stones to continue enjoying even heat distribution.
3. Rinse the stones with warm water and let them air dry. Do not use any detergents to clean the stones as they may leave behind residue, which could burn off and affect air quality in the sauna.
4. You can gently scrub the stones with a soft brush to remove debris if you still see build up on after the initial rinse.

Clean the Heater’s Exterior

With the stones out of the way you can turn your attention to cleaning the heater itself. Start with the exterior: 

1. Use a soft cloth or microfiber towel to wipe down the exterior surfaces.
2. Clean stainless steal heaters using a damp cloth paired with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner. Any harsh chemicals or scouring pads should be avoided as these can damage the finish.
3. Vacuum out dust and debris from heater vents (if applicable) to keep air flowing properly.

Clean the Heating Elements and Interior

Finally, finish the sauna heater cleaning task by spending some time focusing on the interior of the heater - and of course, the heating elements themselves:

1. Use a soft brush or vacuum attachment to remove dust from heating elements. Never pour water or use liquid cleaners on electrical components.
2. Do you see mineral deposits present on metal parts? If so, gently wipe these away with a cloth dampened with white vinegar or a sauna-safe descaler.
3. Make sure there is no visible debris remaining near the heating elements before reassembling.

Reassemble and Test the Heater

There you have it, how to clean a sauna heater components! Now it’s just a matter of getting everything pieced back together. Reinstall the sauna stones and stack them loosely to allow for proper airflow and heat distribution.

Then you can reconnect the power and turn on the heater to make sure it’s working correctly. Any sort of uneven heating, strange smells, or unusual noises are cause for concern. There could be an obstruction somewhere or a misplaced stone.

Give the sauna heater a few minutes to run before you actually get back inside the structure, and leave the door open during this period. This will burn off any remaining moisture or cleaning residue and allow it to escape out the door.

How Often Should You Clean Your Sauna’s Heater?

The more often you clean your sauna heater the less intensive the task will be. This isn’t something you need to do every time you use the sauna, of course. A light cleaning every few weeks is typically more than enough for proper sauna care.

However, stones need more focused sauna maintenance every 2-3 months - more if you use your sauna daily. A full heater inspection and cleaning 3-4 times a year is a good idea to catch performance problems early before they snowball into bigger issues. 

More Sauna Care Guidelines to Protect Your Investment

Understanding how to clean a sauna heater is just one aspect of a more comprehensive sauna care regimen. Here are some more tips for keeping your sauna working its best for years to come, enjoying safe, comfortable sessions every time.

Keeping Sauna Stones in Good Condition

We already talked about cleaning the sauna stones since this is where most of the dirt and debris will build up. Aside from that, and checking regularly for cracks and crumbling, what else should you do?

It’s a good idea to rotate your stones every few months as this prevents excessive wear on specific stones. It also keeps airflow consistent and heating efficient. Still, you’ll need to replace your sauna stones every 1-2 years.

Preventing Rust and Corrosion on the Heater

Those who bring steam into their sauna room need to take extra precautions to prevent rust and corrosion from taking hold of the heater. This goes back to proper installation. Hopefully, you installed your sauna with optimal ventilation in mind!

Be careful about how you apply water to the stones to generate steam, too. Try to avoid splashing any water on the heater’s metal surfaces. This is how rust makes its way onto your heater. We recommend drying your heater’s exterior surface area after use as well.

Take note of any rust forming on electrical components as well, as this can impact both performance and safety. A professional consultation may be necessary if you discover this issue.

Cleaning and Maintaining the Sauna Room

We talked about how to clean a sauna heater, but what about the rest of the room? The wood, flooring, and ventilation system need a bit of sauna care as well:

• Wipe down benches and walls: Use a damp cloth after each session to remove sweat, oils, and bacteria buildup. Remember to steer clear of harsh chemicals, these can seep into the wood and release fumes, or at the very least, discolor your sauna’s wood.
• Deep clean every few months: Scrub benches and walls with a mild sauna-safe wood cleaner to keep stains and mildew at bay.
• Keep the floor clean: Sweep or vacuum regularly to eradicate dust, dirt, and debris. This prevents these contaminants from settling on the stones and burning into the air. Dry the floor after use to prevent mold growth if moisture accumulates.
• Maintain proper airflow: Keep air vents unobstructed for fresh air circulation and to prevent stale, humid conditions that could degrade wood or contribute to mold.
• Use towels or seat covers: Placing a towel on benches minimizes moisture absorption into the wood, making cleaning easier and extending the life of your sauna’s interior.

It doesn’t take much to keep your sauna in good working condition for years to come. Follow these sauna maintenance tips to prevent bigger issues down the line and to enjoy all your sauna has to offer!

Closing Thoughts on How to Clean a Sauna Heater

That does it for our detailed sauna care guide. From understanding how to clean a sauna heater to maintaining the ventilation system and the structure itself, we hope you feel confident in how to best care for your sauna.

But eventually, all good things come to an end - even if you follow the best sauna maintenance routine. Fortunately, you won’t have to look far for replacement stones or even a new sauna heater. Nordica carries the top brands in the industry at unbeatable prices.

We have all the different types of sauna heaters you could be interested in upgrading to, be it a wood sauna stove for a rustic feel or the convenience of electric sauna heaters. 

You don’t have to stress about finding the right fit for your sauna dimensions, either. Our sauna heater size calculator simplifies your shopping. But remember, world-class customer service is just a click or call away, too! 

So, take a look at our Harvia heater or HUUM sauna heaters collections today and see for yourself how upgrading your heating system can elevate the sauna experience.