Your questions answered
IKI Faq
Useful tips on sauna and usage of IKI products.
Sauna
General
With IKI heaters and saunas stoves, the ideal bathing temperature is approx. 60-75 degrees Celsius.
In the case of inconsistent heat distribution, the cause is often in ventilation. It is likely that the supply air vent is located near the floor and the exhaust air vent on the ceiling. As a result, the steam rises towards the ceiling and does not “rotate” downwards. In saunas with an electric heater, we recommend having supply air vent on the wall right near the ceiling and exhaust vents located both up by the ceiling as well as near the floor. Ideally, the upper exhaust air vent can also be closed during bathing.
First, you should unload the stones and check the condition of the heating resistors. It is almost always possible to visually recognize a broken resistor. It is also possible that the stones have shifted and are packed too tightly. In which case, unloading and reloading should help.
Tips and tricks
We recommend installing a safety rail, especially in saunas frequented by children. A rail is not mandatory, but in new construction sites, some building inspectors may require railing to be installed. (The rules vary in different municipalities).
The conversion can be done, but it requires rewiring the base of the heater, which needs to be carried out at our manufacturing site. If anyone other than IKI-Kiuas makes modifications to the heater our warranty ceases to apply.
Electric heaters
General
In domestic use, we recommend rough cut olivine stones or olivine diabase sauna stones, sized 5 to 10 cm. In commercial or shared use (communal saunas in apartment buildings, swimming halls etc.), we recommend using KERKES ceramic interspace sauna stones around the heating elements.
This depends directly on the frequency of use. The stones should be unloaded, and their condition inspected at least once a year. Old stones turn porous and erode fast and need to be replaced.
With the right ventilation and correct heater/stove size in relation to the cubic volume (m3) of the sauna room, it takes about an hour for the sauna to be properly heated. The volume of any glass or stone surfaces should be added on top of the room size when calculating heater power requirements. For example, if the sauna room is sized 2×2×2.5 metres, totalling 10 cubic meters, and there is a 5 square metre glass wall (2×2.5), then the total cubic volume comes to 15 m3 and the correct heater size should be based on this figure.
When unloading the stones, it is advisable to wear gloves as well as a long-sleeved shirt, as the edges of the heater’s frame may be sharp. The frame consists of two parts (excl. Pillar-IKI 6.6 and 7.5 kW). First unload the stones from the upper section, then lift the frame off. After this, the stones at the bottom are easy to unload.
Installation
We recommend installing a safety rail, especially in saunas frequented by children. A rail is not mandatory, but in new construction sites, some building inspectors may require railing to be installed. (The rules vary in different municipalities).
The conversion can be done, but it requires rewiring the base of the heater, which needs to be carried out at our manufacturing site. If anyone other than IKI-Kiuas makes modifications to the heater our warranty ceases to apply.
The thermostat sensor is included with the delivery of the heater’s control unit.
The most significant difference is in the wiring. The Wave comes with a separate power unit that holds the circuit board. With Finlandia, the circuit board is located at the bottom of the heater. You can refer to the installation instructions to see how the wiring differs:
Wave Control Unit’s Installation Instructions >>
Finlandia Control Unit’s Installation Instructions >>
The Finlandia Control Unit can be used for max. 10 kW heaters. The Wave control unit is for max. 9 kW heaters. However, with an additional S2-30 power booster, the Wave can also be used with more powerful heaters.
The PRO-B2 control unit is specially designed for commercially used saunas (in apartment buildings, swimming halls, etc.). A weekly timer, for example the Theben Simplexa, can be connected to the Pro-B2 control unit, which can also be connected to building automation systems.
A CE marker sticker, located at the bottom of the heater, lists the heater model and its output power capacity.
The procedure requires the heater to be disconnected from the power mains, which requires the use of a licensed electrician.
Wood Burning Stoves
General
In domestic use, we recommend rough cut olivine stones or olivine diabase sauna stones, sized 5 to 10 cm. In commercial or shared use (communal saunas in apartment buildings, swimming halls etc.), we recommend using KERKES ceramic interspace sauna stones around the heating elements.
This depends directly on the frequency of use. The stones should be unloaded, and their condition inspected at least once a year. Old stones turn porous and erode fast and need to be replaced.
With the right ventilation and correct heater/stove size in relation to the cubic volume (m3) of the sauna room, it takes about an hour for the sauna to be properly heated. The volume of any glass or stone surfaces should be added on top of the room size when calculating heater power requirements. For example, if the sauna room is sized 2×2×2.5 metres, totalling 10 cubic meters, and there is a 5 square metre glass wall (2×2.5), then the total cubic volume comes to 15 m3 and the correct heater size should be based on this figure.
Installation
You may; installation of the pipe requires no special licenses.
The pipes are essentially stainless steel, a silvery colour. It is possible to have sections of the pipe painted for an additional cost. In such cases, be prepared for an extended delivery time.
The standard option is black, but the grommet kit can be ordered in other colours (e.g. brown, brick red, grey). The price remains the same for all colours, but the delivery time may be extended for non-standard options.
The standard pipe packages are 2000 mm, 2500 mm and 3000 mm. Additional extension modules come in 250 mm, 500 mm and 1000 mm, and 45 and 90 degree angles. No maximum length has been calculated, so long as the pipe joints are properly supported.
The package includes all necessary parts for one roof pass-through. If there are several layers to pass through, ceramic insulating wool and ceiling collars will also be required. The pass-through kit for the water roof is not included in the standard package.
You can see the full list of contents here >>
Yes, taking into account the outlet pipe diameter during installation.
The pass-through hole in the ceiling needs to be 350 mm. The safety distance to combustible structures is 50 mm measured from the outer edge of the pipe.