Carbon Fibre Panel Sauna Heaters versus Ceramic Sauna Heaters
Carbon panel emitters are mostly just radiant heat similar to the radiant heat pads that are put under tile flooring. They are not focused far infrared. Carbon panel emitters will heat you up and make you sweat, giving you some detoxification benefits from sweating, but they do not radiate true far infrared, or very little, if they do at all. Because carbon fibre panel heaters do not emit true far infrared, you will not get the benefits of soft tissue healing like you do from the ceramic heaters.
The far infrared energy is the part of the light spectrum referred to as the vital light spectrum, as scientists have found the body uses this energy to aid in healing itself. Carbon panel heaters are found primarily only in the saunas marketed for recreational use. Manufacturers that build their saunas for therapeutic use, all still use ceramic heaters. Some people claim that because the carbon panels are all around you, you get more infrared directed around you. That is not true, however, as all saunas have pretty much the same wattage or same emittance for the size of the sauna room.
So, even though you have five heaters in a two-person sauna, you will get the same amount of energy in the room with the same wattage. Another detriment to the carbon fibre panel heaters is that they cover most of the inside of the walls, so instead of being able to appreciate the look of beautiful wood inside the sauna, you are stuck looking at the black carbon panels. Our far infrared sauna’s at the Sauna Shop all use only 100% ceramic heaters.
