Following on from the last post here is a bit more information about the different types of heaters and stoves that can be selected to generate the sauna’s heat.
Firstly, saunas require a hot dry low humidity heat. This means that the kind of dry heat produced by a naked flame or fossil fuels is best, however this is rarely practical in a home environment. The safe and clean alternatives are an electric stove or an infrared powered heater.
Stoves
Most heaters for sauna kits and home based saunas use an electric stove. This kind of heat has a hot plate that is heated to a very high temperature and rocks (known as hot rocks) are place on this heated plate. The result is that the rocks fill the room with a hot dry heat that would not be bearable if humidity were introduced.
This kind of stove is clean and energy efficient to run and it requires no special flu or ventilation. The only necessity is an electric supply. It is easy to clean and different power outputs of stove will work with different room sizes.
Infrared heaters
Infrared heaters work in a totally different way. The heater does not warm the air or generate any convection heat at all. Instead it uses a mild and healthy form of radiation that heats up any object that its rays fall upon. This means that by having infrared heaters directed towards the benches where the participants sit it is possible to make the sauna goers feel hot in the same way that direct sunlight makes the skin feel warm.
An added bonus of this form of heating is the low running costs and immediate effect once the heaters are switched on. The sauna room will also remain at a normal temperature even when the heaters are all on.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Saunas
15 years ago, anyone wishing to enjoy a sauna had to visit a club, Spa, or leisure centre. Home saunas were new and very expensive. Today though, a home sauna is affordable and practical. There are different stoves and heaters and they are very affordable provided that you have the room to fit one.
In other parts of the world you can buy a sauna kit that takes the form of a material component sauna kit, or a prefabricated sauna kit with walls and a roof. Both types can be fitted into a room, or built into an outbuilding, loft or cellar. These kits are flexible and easy to assemble and adapt to any space. You can buy them off the internet or from shops and stores.
The cheapest and most popular sauna kit is called a “material component kit” and it is made up of timbers that are cut to size. These components are then trimmed and they fit to the walls, ceiling and floor. Kits of this type include everything required to assemble the sauna plus a stove or infrared heater.
It is necessary to have some wood working or DIY skills to undertake a sauna building project, but the self-build tasks are simple ones.
An alternative to stove heaters are the new infrared heaters. These are low energy (cheap to run) heaters and they use infrared rays to heat up the skin.
Sauna material kits can be built in two or three days. Prefabricated saunas can take little more than a couple of hours to put together. Both need a power supply, but ventilation is rarely necessary.
The cost of a sauna kit will vary depending on its area, number of seats and type of heater (or heaters). Enhance the sauna with features like bench backrests, towel rails and lighting etc will add to the cost.
In other parts of the world you can buy a sauna kit that takes the form of a material component sauna kit, or a prefabricated sauna kit with walls and a roof. Both types can be fitted into a room, or built into an outbuilding, loft or cellar. These kits are flexible and easy to assemble and adapt to any space. You can buy them off the internet or from shops and stores.
The cheapest and most popular sauna kit is called a “material component kit” and it is made up of timbers that are cut to size. These components are then trimmed and they fit to the walls, ceiling and floor. Kits of this type include everything required to assemble the sauna plus a stove or infrared heater.
It is necessary to have some wood working or DIY skills to undertake a sauna building project, but the self-build tasks are simple ones.
An alternative to stove heaters are the new infrared heaters. These are low energy (cheap to run) heaters and they use infrared rays to heat up the skin.
Sauna material kits can be built in two or three days. Prefabricated saunas can take little more than a couple of hours to put together. Both need a power supply, but ventilation is rarely necessary.
The cost of a sauna kit will vary depending on its area, number of seats and type of heater (or heaters). Enhance the sauna with features like bench backrests, towel rails and lighting etc will add to the cost.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Custom made mobility aids
Most mobility aids are perceived as equipment like scooters, bath rails and other apparatus that take away the need for, or assist in the achievement of, some form of activity. This is not however always the case and a good example is that of footwear.
Although the modern world has seen many advances and the cost of many products reduce, it has also seen a reduction in the quality and build of those same products and shoes are but one example.
Most people have two feet of different sizes and poor fitting shoes actually accentuate those difference by leaving one foot loose and the other overly tight. This can result in injuries, abrasions and long term changes in the shape of the feet.
The way to overcome this is to have shoes that are purpose and custom made, i.e. handmade shoes based on the size and shape of the individual feet. Naturally this is not a cheap option, however it ensures that the shoes have a perfect fit and in the case of people who experience pain or discomfort with their feet, they can be a God send.
Handmade shoes rely on the experience and expertise of a craftsman to assess and measure the recipients feet and than mark out and cut the fabrics and materials from which the footwear will be made. All of this is a time intensive process that costs money, but the result is a pair of shoes that will be a perfect fit.
This approach to getting shoes is most beneficial to anyone with foot problems that affect their mobility – either as a result of pain or affecting the way that the feet and legs can work.
These custom shoes can have special areas of padding, include extra targeted areas of support, and they can be built for walking or general comfort.
If you have a long term foot related problem it will be advisable to seek medical advice on the options for treatment and orthotic solutions.
Although the modern world has seen many advances and the cost of many products reduce, it has also seen a reduction in the quality and build of those same products and shoes are but one example.
Most people have two feet of different sizes and poor fitting shoes actually accentuate those difference by leaving one foot loose and the other overly tight. This can result in injuries, abrasions and long term changes in the shape of the feet.
The way to overcome this is to have shoes that are purpose and custom made, i.e. handmade shoes based on the size and shape of the individual feet. Naturally this is not a cheap option, however it ensures that the shoes have a perfect fit and in the case of people who experience pain or discomfort with their feet, they can be a God send.
Handmade shoes rely on the experience and expertise of a craftsman to assess and measure the recipients feet and than mark out and cut the fabrics and materials from which the footwear will be made. All of this is a time intensive process that costs money, but the result is a pair of shoes that will be a perfect fit.
This approach to getting shoes is most beneficial to anyone with foot problems that affect their mobility – either as a result of pain or affecting the way that the feet and legs can work.
These custom shoes can have special areas of padding, include extra targeted areas of support, and they can be built for walking or general comfort.
If you have a long term foot related problem it will be advisable to seek medical advice on the options for treatment and orthotic solutions.
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