Which sauna heater: electric 230/400 V or wood-fired?
The heater is the heart of the sauna and the most important configuration decision. The choice comes down to three questions: what supply do you have, how often do you sauna, and is lighting a fire a pleasure or a chore for you?
Electric Harvia and HUUM heaters: everyday convenience
A 9 kW electric heater brings an 8–10 m³ cabin to 90 °C in 45–60 minutes and needs no attention beyond switching on. The Harvia Cilindro PC90 with 90 kg of stones gives gentle radiant heat and strong steam, while the HUUM DROP with the UKU controller can be started from an app on your way home.
The requirement is a three-phase 400 V supply with 3×16 A protection. If your plot only has 230 V, the realistic maximum is a 4.5 kW heater – enough for cabins up to 5 m³, but in the Maata panoramic sauna with its glazing we recommend the full 9 kW.
Wood-fired stove: ritual and independence
A wood-fired stove such as the Harvia Pro 20 heats the sauna in 60–90 minutes and creates the soft, "living" climate purists appreciate. It needs no electricity – the only option for recreational plots without a grid connection.
One session takes 2–3 kg of dry hardwood. Mind the regulations: in Germany the installation is approved by the chimney sweep; we factory-fit the certified twin-wall chimney and roof penetration.
Running costs compared
An electric session (9 kW, 2 h including heat-up) uses about 12–14 kWh, roughly €4–6 at typical household rates. A wood-fired session costs €1–3 with bagged firewood – or practically nothing with your own supply. The difference only becomes material above about 100 sessions per year.
In practice the supply and your usage style decide, not the costs. You can pick either variant in the quote configurator – heater and installation prices appear immediately in the summary.
TIKKA recommendation
Got a 400 V supply and sauna after work? Electric with Wi-Fi control. A recreational plot without power, or you love tending a fire? Wood-fired with a factory-fitted chimney. Either way, we size the output to the volume and glazing of the specific model.