What is a barrel sauna

In this What is a barrel sauna article, I will tell you who invented the barrel sauna, what the barrel sauna is made of and how to care for it properly.

A barrel sauna is a wooden barrel from which a sauna has been made. The barrel is turned upside down, so to speak, with a stove at one end and a door at the other.

The sides are covered and the ends have ventilation openings. Behind the stove at the bottom is the supply air and on the wall of the door at the top is the exhaust air.

The legs of the barrel sauna are what are known as skids.

The stove can be electric or wood-burning. However, I personally prefer a wood-burning stove. This will give you a wonderful sauna atmosphere.

A barrel sauna can be built from many different types of wood. Just like a normal sauna. Barrel saunas are built from fir, pine, larch, aspen and red cedar, among others.

How long does it take for a barrel sauna to heat up?

The good thing about a barrel sauna is that it heats up quickly. My own Sisu Sauna heats up really quickly in about 15-20 minutes.

Who invented the barrel sauna?

The inventor of the barrel sauna is Esko Niinimäki, the old host of Kievari Rantapirtti. He invented the idea of building a sauna out of a large wooden barrel from a tar factory. He saw that the giant barrel was made for a sauna.

Being a clever man, Esko figured out that a stove would go at one end, a door at the other and benches at the sides.

At first the barrel sauna was a so-called advertising sign on the roadside. Passers-by became interested in the barrel sauna, so it was decided to start manufacturing barrel saunas in Koskenpää.

Kievari Rantapirtti is located on the shore of Lake Salos in Koskenpää, Jämsä. The tourism company was founded by Esko Niinimäki back in 1964.

So you can still find the barrel sauna in Rantapirtti and even get a taste of its tasty baths.

We have not been completely sure about the inventor of the sauna, but the inventor of the barrel sauna is now known.

I know, many sauna professionals are of the opinion that a barrel sauna is not a proper sauna because, for example, the law of the steam does not apply.

A barrel sauna is quick and convenient to build

There are many different ways to build a barrel sauna. There is the more massive barrel sauna and then there is the lighter construction.

Especially here in Germany, barrel saunas are popular because they are lightweight and can be built in one day.

You can put it almost anywhere in the yard, on a terrace, balcony or on top of tiles.

It also means that a barrel sauna does not need a building permit. In Germany, obtaining building permits and especially a chimney sweep’s permit for a wood-fired sauna is not so easy.

You can move the barrel sauna to another location if necessary or take it with you when you move.

So the solution is a barrel sauna.

The pros and cons of a barrel sauna

A barrel sauna is indeed a matter of opinion. Nowadays I have a barrel sauna myself and I can’t say that the strokes are bad – quite the opposite.

Nor have I noticed that my toes get cold – on the contrary.

Of course, there are a few disadvantages to a barrel sauna. Especially the really lightweight barrel saunas are made of thin wood and there is no insulation in between.

I’ve also heard that many cheap barrel saunas get mouldy after a few years. This is a real nuisance.

So if and when you get a barrel sauna get a decent one. Cheap is not good in this case either.

How to care for a barrel sauna correctly

To keep your barrel sauna in good condition, it is also important to look after it. The same rules of thumb as with a normal indoor sauna.

After the sauna, give the heater a few pats of wood or, with an electric heater, leave the sauna on for another 20 minutes with the door closed. However, open the air vent completely.

This will allow the sauna to dry out as if by itself. When the sauna is completely dry, you can open the doors and ventilate through them as well.

It is also a good idea to wash the sauna floor regularly. If you take a sauna once a week, you should wash your barrel sauna 3-4 times a year.

As a barrel sauna is an outdoor sauna, it is more susceptible to moisture than a regular outdoor sauna. So you have to be careful with the humidity.

Especially here in Central Europe the air humidity is higher than in Finland.

Dry, maintain and wash the sauna regularly.

It is also worth treating the sauna floor with paraffin oil at regular intervals and always after washing. This will considerably prolong the life of your sauna floor.