Saunas are well-known for being a place of meditation and relaxation. When entering a sauna, you expect a calm and safe place to get hot and sweaty! This is why it’s so important to choose the right kind of lighting for your sauna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lighting can enhance your sauna experience, but it can also take away from it too. Saunas need dim, relaxed lighting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lights you choose will also need to be able to withstand high heat and humidity. Otherwise, you risk damaging the lights (and potentially hurting yourself) in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re looking at lighting options, you’ll have come across using LEDs. However, you may be wondering if these lights are safe to use in a sauna and if there are better alternatives! That’s why this article will cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s take a look!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, you can use LED lights in a sauna. However, the exposure to high heat will damage the lights over time. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This means you’ll have to replace them frequently, which isn’t very cost-efficient! It might be better to consider an alternative or find LED lights designed for saunas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll need to consider whether the LEDs you choose can withstand high temperatures. A traditional sauna reaches temperatures between 170 to 210\u00b0F, so you\u2019ll need to find lights that work well under these conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, the lifespan of LEDs decreases in temperatures over 140\u00b0F. The lights will degrade over time, meaning you\u2019ll have to replace them more frequently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you\u2019re looking to light up an infrared sauna, an LED light might be a good option. Infrared saunas typically don\u2019t get much warmer than 140\u00b0F, which is within the safe zone for LED light bulbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n LED lights are more applicable because the infrared lights point at the occupants, not the lighting. This means your lights won’t degrade as fast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we\u2019ve discussed some issues related to LED lights, let\u2019s look at some other lighting options you can consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the more solid side of lights, you may consider using bulkhead lights. Bulkhead lights have a rigid structure consisting of cagey metal surrounding a central bulb. This makes them a very durable kind of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The thick glass used in these lights also makes it harder for steam and heat to get in and deteriorate the electronics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The only downside is that bulkhead lights tend to be bright. However, this could be a bonus if you\u2019re looking for a well-lit sauna!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another good lighting option is fiber optic lights. These lights are generally heat resistant, which makes them perfect for saunas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The lights comprise a core and cladding, with a system that transmits light from an outside source to a separate location. It’s completely airtight, meaning it can withstand the high heat of saunas and steam rooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fiber optic lights are long-lasting, which makes them cost-effective for you! They\u2019re also highly customizable \u2013 you can create whatever mood you like!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for accent lighting, a spotlight could be the answer. These lamps will project a beam of light into a certain place and are easily adjustable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Spotlights are also fairly heat-resistant, which makes them a good option for saunas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recessed downlights are mounted into the ceiling, casting their light downwards. They\u2019re a good option if you\u2019re looking to light up the ceiling of your sauna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can typically buy recessed downlights made for saunas. These will be heat and moisture-resistant, making them a safe option for traditional saunas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you try LED light strips, you\u2019ll need to think carefully just as you would for any other LED light bulb. A light strip is more bulbs all lined up together, meaning they\u2019re still just as susceptible to heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that some LED light strips are designed especially for saunas! These strips will be waterproof, meaning they won\u2019t get damaged by steam and moisture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Try installing them close to the ground where it\u2019s slightly cooler \u2013 this will help them last longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve decided to use LED lights in your sauna, you\u2019ll need to take a few things into account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While hot temperatures will decrease the lifespan of LED light bulbs, humidity will cause more lifelong damage if moisture gets into the wiring and circuits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes it dangerous if you need to fix something at any point. Having LEDs in steam rooms is therefore a bad idea! A good safeguard is making sure you choose waterproof bulbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LED lights are very bright, so they might not be the best option for a sauna if you want an inviting and cozy vibe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, a simple solution is to simply install a dimmer alongside your lights. That way, you can adjust the brightness and create mood lighting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another alternative for lighting your sauna is using candles. Candles cast a soft glow around the sauna, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can even buy candles that are explicitly for use in a sauna. They\u2019re designed with essential oils and other pleasant aromas to enhance your sauna experience. However, make sure to never leave candles unattended or near flammable materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to building a sauna, it’s important to consider all of your options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n LED lights may sound like a good option, but you’ll need to weigh up the risk factors before you jump right into using them! <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, it may be a good idea to consider some of the other options I’ve suggested in this article.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Can LED lights withstand the hot temperatures of a sauna? They can, but they might not be the best option.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":146,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":519,"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144\/revisions\/519"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olighting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Potential damage from high temperatures <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Compatibility with infrared saunas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lighting Options for Saunas and Steam Rooms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bulkhead Lights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Lights <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Spotlight <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Recessed Downlight <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
LED Light Strips <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Considerations for LED Lights in Saunas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can humidity damage LEDs? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dimmer lighting options <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Candlelight as an alternative <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion <\/h2>\n\n\n\n