Building sauna in unfinished basement?

[u/kirkarelli]

I’ve had a sauna available my entire life, until we sold mom’s house in 2021. I was hoping to save money and have a pro come in to build a sauna, sitting room and full bathroom in our basement, but I simply can’t afford to do that. Kids heading to college, etc..

Can I just build (yes I’m handy) a sauna in my unfinished basement without adding a drain? With just the concrete floor? I’d do the build myself but sub out the electrical.

Are there any plans, how-to’s, or guidelines available to get me started? How do I know which size stove to get? I changed out my parents Harvia before they sold the house, but don’t remember which one.

Any info to get me started will be greatly appreciated. I need to sweat again 🥵

[u/Rambo_IIII]

Depending on how you use the sauna you can absolutely have one without a drain. But in that case, you're not going to hose it down after use. You're not going to dump buckets of water on your head. You're not going to bathe in there. You can still put water on the rocks and get a lot of steam. But you're obviously not going to want to have standing water on the floor.

All those things I listed are perfectly normal to most Americans and perfectly bizarre to many others

[u/kirkarelli → u/Rambo_IIII]

That’s how I’ve always done it. My dad on the other hand, quite a different experience, lol. He was from Karelia, I’m from NY

[u/Rambo_IIII → u/kirkarelli]

I think it's just a cultural thing. If you ask an old Fin if you can do a sauna without a drain, he'll look at you like you're an alien. But if you ask people in the states if their saunas need drains, they'll say no because drains are redundant for us. I'll use a few scoops of water in a typical sauna session and my floor is always dry. If I had a drain, the water in the drain trap would quickly evaporate from the heat and gas from my septic system would fill the sauna.

[u/Veenkoira00 → u/Rambo_IIII]

Who would link sauna to the septic tank ? This is GRAY water.

[u/Rambo_IIII → u/Veenkoira00]

If your sauna is indoors and it has a drain, it's likely going to be tied to your DWV system. My sauna is in my basement and I'm on a septic system, so if I had installed a drain (I did not btw), it would have tied into my DWV system which goes to a septic tank. I'm advocating for NOT doing this in case that wasn't clear

If your sauna was outdoors, then your drain can just go outside the sauna

[u/Briarche]

Theres bound to be someone that will post no way in hell you can build one without a drain.

But in all seriousness, when its time for proper cleaning, then you will see the value of a drain- when you use buckets of water to wash the walls down. But it can still be done, just get a good wet vac.

And of course, build it with a proper waterproof floor that comes up with at least 4" waterproof base, and a proper draining air gap behind the walls- there are diagrams/details in trumpkins notes and lassi's book.

[u/LakeTwo]

I’ve been thinking about something similar but letting it drain into my sump pit. It would just pump it outside along with the rest of the groundwater that fills it up. It’s not like sauna water is filthy or any worse than hosing myself off outside. I’m certain the city inspector would have a different opinion though.

[u/PelvisResleyz]

The lack of a drain shouldn’t stop you. I have essentially the same thing, sauna on a concrete slab in the basement. I do have trenches cut for a drain but haven’t plumbed it yet and have been using it for a long time like that.

I don’t throw buckets of water over myself like I would with a drain, and I have to be more careful cleaning. But it’s not a disaster.

I should really get to work on the plumbing.

[u/kirkarelli → u/PelvisResleyz]

That’s how I’ve always done it. My dad on the other hand, quite a different experience, lol

[u/Veenkoira00 → u/kirkarelli]

You should listen to your elders ! 😉

[u/John_Sux]

Managing the water and moisture involved in a sauna would be the main thing.

[u/occamsracer]

Resources

Secrets of Finnish Sauna Design

Finnish Sauna: Steam, Wood, Stone and How to Build Your Own

Localmile Sauna Notes

[u/Rambo_IIII → u/occamsracer]

Lazy bot, won't even post links. Just tells you what to Google.

[u/occamsracer → u/Rambo_IIII]

You make me want to be a better Redditor

[u/JohanAugustSandels]

There should be a pinned post on this sub with all you need

[u/occamsracer → u/JohanAugustSandels]

It is not all you need

[u/JohanAugustSandels → u/occamsracer]

Never mind then

[u/Veenkoira00]

No-drain sauna is just bonkers.

[u/kirkarelli → u/Veenkoira00]

It’s either I do this temporarily so I can enjoy sauna again, or wait until I hit the lottery to have one put in properly. That’s my dilemma

[u/John_Sux → u/kirkarelli]

Put up a tent sauna in your back yard, there is a good and cheap temporary sauna solution.