We are very proud of the fact that Far North Wellness is one of the most widely accepted brands used by doctors and other health care professionals.Far North Wellness' Medical Research and Development division is staffed by five highly respected doctors, so they have peers that they can discuss any questions that might arise.  Doctors that do their homework tend to get very excited when they find us and learn all of the testing and development that goes on with our products. From EMFR (electro magnetic field radiation), VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) testing, Emitter Output testing (spectral analysis) and our worldwide electrical approval, professionals purchase from us because they can put their minds at ease that all available precautions and safety testing has been done.Residential users receive exactly the same product that is in doctors offices accross the country.  

This is one of the most highly debated questions in the industry. The only way to tell what performance you are going to get out of a heater is through a certified spectral analysis. Unfortunately, most companies do not publish this information or some that do put up false documents to give the customer the illusion they are buying a quality product. We are one of the only companies on the market to actually test and publish our data....that's why the doctors love us. <view spectral analysis> See our Buyers Guide for much more detail on how to spot good quality vs poor quality.

It is true that you need to be cautious of the sauna unit that you buy. Many companies build low to middle end units and do not care what goes into it. The better companies out there will be able to provide you with VOC (Volatile Organic Compound Testing) on their saunas. There is a big difference buying from a big box store, hot tub dealer or low end company compared to buying from a company that specializes in far infrared technology. One of the most hypocritical things happening in the industry right now is the few companies that still produce completely in North America tend to slander and use fear mongering as a sales technique. They reference children's toys and pet food from overseas and try to draw the connection that there is a relation to sauna building. Meanwhile, even though they build in North America, they refuse to produce VOC testing on their own units. We find this highly unethical and hypocritical to say the least. We can't stress enough...ask for the results.

A: Absolutely! Far infrared light energy is beneficial and not at all damaging to the body unlike Ultra Violet, X Rays or Microwaves. Far infrared energy is everywhere and even produced by our own cells, emanating from our skin and the palms of our hands. Far infrared has been researched and used in medical practices for over a hundred years. Many maternity wards in hospitals use far infrared lamps to warm newborn babies. Sports medicine has long accepted and used far infrared to promote healing of sprains and strains. NASA has also concluded after lengthy trials in the 1980's that Far infrared therapy is the best way for astronauts to maintain cardiovascular fitness on long space flights.

A: Renowned for its natural beauty and outstanding physical properties, the Canadian Western red cedar wood is considered the best choice in wood for building saunas. It has a uniform and fine-grained texture, rich and beautiful color, and subtle aroma. Its natural oil and extractives act as preservatives to protect the wood from insect attacks and decay-causing fungi. In addition, it is dimensionally stable and boasts very low shrinkage value.

A: Cedar wood and its oil have been used from 3000-4000 years ago to prevent or cure illnesses throughout the regions. Any kind of wood, including cedar wood, might be harmful to human health if its wood dust is inhaled in an enormous amount in a closed space such as a saw mill or a wood factory. But the normal use of a sauna made with cedar wood is safe to the human body. No case has been reported to any government agencies or research institutions throughout the world regarding the health problems related to using a cedar wood sauna. If a company tells you that they are using another type of wood for any other reason then because it costs less, you are not being told the truth. The only reason not to use Cedar would be if you were allergic or did not want to pay for the premium.

A: ABSOLUTELY. Some manufacturers will use veneer sheets in place of tongue and groove wood on many parts of the sauna such as the exterior, ceiling, back panel, and floor. As a sauna heats up to 140 degrees, these veneer sheets can off-gas and cause eye irritation as well as other reactions. This can also happen with the poorer quality lines of saunas. Before you purchase, ask for a current VOC test to ensure no toxic chemicals have been used in constructions. <View our Report>  We only recommend a 100% tongue and groove sauna built with a hypoallergenic wood to those that are chemically sensitive. Speak to our specialists about what type of wood is the best for your particular situation.

A: Because Far infrared is very efficient at warming the body the power required is very low indeed. A normal 30 min session should cost about $0.05-$0.10. This will vary slightly depending on your provider and fluctuating costs, but it is very inexpensive to operate.

A: NO. Our 1,2 and 3 man saunas our designed specifically so that you can plug them directly into a standard 120 volt plug on a 15 amp circuit. (Standard house outlet) . Our four person unit is required to be on a larger circuit.  This would require upgrading your receptacle and circuit to 20 amps. Traditional saunas typically will need a larger 240V circuit as well.  If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask, we have an electrician on staff at all times.

A: Relief from Arthritic joints and lower back pain is a common benefit for many people. Research has also shown far infrared therapy can effectively manage various manners of muscular and skeletal aches and pains. One of the main reasons for its ability to do this is through the dilating of capillaries in areas associated with pain that allows oxygen rich blood to bathe the area flushing away acidic metabolic wastes that build up contributing to pain, soreness and stiffness. Many people that have had trouble sleeping from pain and stress have found deep restful sleep once again.

A: As with any form of exercise it is important to build up a tolerance. In the same way, when initially using your far infrared sauna start slowly and increase treatment time and temperatures day by day. Use a lower temperature (35C) for about 15-20 minutes 3 times a week initially. Many people once conditioned enjoy daily sessions of up to 60 minutes at top temperatures.

A: You are purchasing the highest quality sauna on the market. We build our saunas with the finest in wood, emitters and electronics. We warranty all components of our saunas for a lifetime even in a commercial setting. Try finding that anywhere else! Our units are able to be used in a commercial setting and will easily last a lifetime in a home application. Most other brands give you only a maximum of 1 year on the wood (some give none) , from 1-5 years on the controls and 3-5 years on the emitters. Please see our Warranty Page for more details.

A: "Constant emission" means that a thermostat gradually adjusts to a lower output when you reach the pre-determined heat setting. This is a misnomer. If you reduce the wattage you eliminate the full far infrared output of the heaters, rendering them useless! This is what we recommend:
1. Set the temperature at or around 40-50 degrees Celsius.
2. When you get into the sauna, raise the temperature to 66 degrees Celsius.
Within a 30-60 you will likely not quite reach that temperature, but you will have experienced the constant full output of the best far infrared heaters available and you will know it! If you do reach the temperature you can simply open the vent and let the temperature come down slightly allowing the heaters to continue to function at their maximum output.

A. Incoloy rod heaters are just regular heaters. It produces some far-infrared in the near and medium-infrared range, however, because they are steel rods, they have great difficulty producing  far-infrared. These companies are more "near infrared sauna brands" rather than "far-infrared brands". These heaters should not be used with hopes of far infrared therapy; this is essentially an adult incubator.