INFRARED SAUNA HEATERS EXPLAINED
Our Premium saunas use a combination of Low EMF Nano Carbon Far Infrared and crystallite-covered Full Spectrum Infrared heaters. Below is some information on Infrared heaters to help you make the right decision about your Sauna.
full spectrum heaters
Premium crystallite Full Spectrum Heaters
standard Full Spectrum Heaters
Crystallite Full Spectrum Heaters
1. Advanced Heater Construction
Heater Construction: This heater pairs a crystal quartz heating tube with a crystallite (glass-ceramic) cover, which diffuses and softens the heat output rather than emitting it directly.
Optimised Infrared Output: The quartz tube generates full-spectrum infrared heat (near, mid, and far infrared), while the crystallite cover diffuses and softens the emission, ensuring a balanced heating experience.
2. Superior Heat Performance & Efficiency
Even Heat Distribution: The glass-ceramic layer spreads infrared energy uniformly, eliminating hot spots and providing a more consistent temperature throughout the sauna.
Comfort: the diffusing cover gives a softer, more evenly-distributed feel that many customers find more comfortable for longer sessions.
3. Comfort & Durability
Durability: the protective cover means the quartz element may hold up a little longer under sustained use than an uncovered heater, though this hasn't been independently tested.
Why we use it: even heat distribution and a softer, more comfortable output made the crystallite cover our choice for RadiantZen Premium.
4. Longevity & Durability
Lifespan: quartz heating tubes are generally rated lower than carbon heaters industry-wide — commonly in the order of 8,000–10,000 hours, since they run at a higher operating temperature that puts more thermal stress on the element. This is a general industry figure rather than a Chakra-tested number.
Durability: the glass-ceramic cover protects the quartz element from direct exposure, reducing the everyday wear an uncovered heater experiences.
Crystallite-covered quartz infrared heaters offer even heat distribution and a softer, more comfortable output, making them a great choice for those seeking a refined, comfortable sauna experience for longer sessions.
Standard Full Spectrum Heaters
1. Construction & Material Quality
Lower-Cost Materials: These heaters utilise crystal quartz tubes or rods as the primary heating elements, encasing metal heating filaments. While effective, they lack advanced heat dispersion technologies like glass-ceramic covers.
Mesh-Covered Design: The quartz elements sit behind a mesh cover that passes heat through directly, producing more intense radiation and heat but lacking the diffusion benefits of crystallite-covered heaters.
2. Heating Performance & Efficiency
High-Intensity Heat Output: these heaters emit a strong, direct heat that you can feel clearly on the skin.
Comfort: with a mesh cover instead of a diffusing crystallite cover, the heater runs hotter to the touch than a crystallite-covered heater — worth being mindful of when sitting back against the cabin wall.
3. Comfort
Feel: the Standard's heat feels strong and direct, which some customers prefer for a more intense sauna experience, while others find it less comfortable for longer sessions.
Why we use it: Standard Full Spectrum heaters deliver strong, direct heat at a more accessible price point — a good fit for customers who want an intense, high-heat sauna experience.
4. Lifespan & Durability
Lifespan: the same quartz-tube figure as crystallite-covered heaters — commonly in the order of 8,000–10,000 hours industry-wide — though the mesh-covered, higher-intensity operation may mean performance degrades a little faster over time than a crystallite-covered heater under the same use.
Standard full-spectrum quartz heaters provide strong, direct heat at a more accessible price point — an effective choice for anyone who wants an intense, high-heat sauna experience.
Standard Carbon vs. Nano Carbon Heaters
At Chakra Wellness, we use Nano Carbon Heaters in GlowZen, CedarZen, and alongside crystallite-covered full spectrum heaters in RadiantZen Premium, and Standard Carbon Heaters in RadiantZen Standard. A key part of every model is the protective covering: untreated Hemlock timber shields over the carbon heating elements in all models.
1. Construction & Materials
🔹 Nano Carbon Heaters (Premium Models):
Use advanced nano-carbon film technology, which provides more even heat output across a larger surface area.
Paired with untreated Hemlock timber shields, ensuring natural, non-toxic protection without blocking heat.
Tested at less than 3 mG (milligauss) at the heater surface — our low-EMF heater option. GlowZen and CedarZen use Nano Carbon heaters throughout, so the whole sauna carries this rating; RadiantZen Premium uses Nano Carbon on its 2 side heaters only, so its 4 crystallite-covered heaters — and the unit as a whole — aren't EMF-rated.
🔹 Standard Carbon Heaters (Entry-Level Models):
Made from standard carbon fibre panels, which generate efficient infrared heat.
A more affordable option, used in the RadiantZen Standard.
2. Heat Distribution & Efficiency
✅ Nano Carbon Heaters:
Heat is evenly dispersed across a wider area, preventing hot spots.
Operate at lower temperatures while still delivering deep-penetrating infrared heat.
Less thermal stress on the element over time than a heater that runs hotter.
⚠️ Standard Carbon Heaters:
Efficient infrared heat from standard carbon fibre panels.
Protected by the same untreated Hemlock timber shields used across every model.
A more affordable option for customers prioritising price over the refinements Nano Carbon offers.
3. EMF & Safety Considerations
✅ Nano Carbon Heaters:
Low EMF, tested at less than 3 mG (milligauss) at the heater surface — on GlowZen, CedarZen, and the 2 side heaters of RadiantZen Premium.
Paired with the same untreated Hemlock timber shields used across every model.
4. Protective Covering: Why We Use Hemlock Timber Shields
At Chakra Wellness, we use untreated Hemlock timber covers for both heater types, ensuring:
✅ Even Heat Dispersion – wood lets infrared pass through consistently rather than blocking or unevenly absorbing it.
✅ Durability – timber holds up over years of use in a high-heat cabin.
5. Lifespan & Durability
✅ Nano Carbon Heaters:
Rated well above quartz industry-wide, often in the order of 20,000+ hours — a general industry benchmark, not independently tested by Chakra.
Less prone to thermal degradation or performance loss over time.
⚠️ Standard Carbon Heaters:
Somewhat shorter working life than Nano Carbon, though still generally longer than a quartz tube heater.
Still a durable, effective option at a more accessible price point.
Infrared sauna heater FAQs
What is the difference between full spectrum and far infrared saunas?
A full spectrum sauna, like our RadiantZen models, combines near, mid and far infrared in the one cabin. A far infrared sauna, like our GlowZen and CedarZen, uses far infrared only, the longest wavelength. Both warm your body directly rather than just heating the air, so you can get a deep sweat at lower cabin temperatures than a traditional sauna. Our recommended temperature range is 45 to 65°C, with a maximum of 70°C.
What does the crystallite cover do on a full spectrum heater?
On the RadiantZen Premium, the four full spectrum heaters use crystal quartz elements under a crystallite (glass-ceramic) cover, which gives a more even, balanced heat. The RadiantZen Standard uses the same type of crystal quartz element, 350W each, under a mesh cover, which passes the heat through more directly for a stronger, more immediate feel.
Which Chakra Wellness saunas are low EMF?
GlowZen and CedarZen use Nano Carbon heaters throughout, tested at less than 3 mG (milligauss) measured directly at the heater surface. The RadiantZen Premium has the same rating on its two side Nano Carbon heaters only, not on its four full spectrum heaters. The RadiantZen Standard does not have a low-EMF rating.
How long does an infrared sauna take to heat up?
The RadiantZen full spectrum models typically reach temperature in 20 to 30 minutes, and the Premium and Standard heat up at about the same speed. GlowZen and CedarZen take roughly 10 to 20 per cent longer. Cold weather, and outdoor installations in particular, can add to that.
Not sure which suits you? Read Which Sauna Is Right For You? or compare all four models side by side.
See the full model-by-model comparison on Which Sauna Is Right For You? Ready to choose? Browse our infrared saunas in Perth, compare all four models side by side, or read what the science says about infrared sauna benefits.