Preparing Your Space for Your Infrared Sauna Installation

Objective

Proper preparation of your installation space is critical to ensure your Plunge Infrared Sauna functions properly, lasts a long time, and remains structurally sound. This guide outlines the key site preparation requirements to avoid installation issues and maintain the sauna's durability.

⚠️ Important: Your sauna must be leveled and positioned before assembly begins. Once it is fully built, it is not designed to be moved without disassembly. Choose your final location first and confirm it has access to the correct electrical outlet.

Contents of Article

Click on a section below to jump to the relevant information:

• Infrared Sauna Dimensions
• Required Clearances & Ventilation
• Level & Stable Surface Requirements
• Recommended Flooring
• Surfaces and Locations to Avoid
• Indoor Use & Placement
• Pre-Delivery Checklist

Infrared Sauna Dimensions

Before setting up your sauna, ensure you have enough space for installation, door operation, and proper ventilation. Find your model below.

📌 Not sure which model you have? Check your order confirmation email. "The Infrared Sauna" is the Standard; "The Infrared Sauna Pro" is sold in 2-Person and 3-Person configurations.

Infrared Sauna (Standard) — 2-Person

Sold as "The Infrared Sauna." Runs on 120V.

• Exterior: 80.5" H × 53" W × 51.75" D
• Interior: 73.5" peak height, 36" W, 44" D
• Weight (unoccupied): approximately 540 lbs
• Maximum temperature: 160°F

Infrared Sauna Pro — 2-Person

Runs on 240V.

• Exterior: 80.5" H × 53" W × 51.75" D
• Interior: 73.5" peak height, 36" W, 44" D
• Weight (unoccupied): approximately 540 lbs
• Maximum temperature: 175°F

Infrared Sauna Pro — 3-Person

Runs on 240V.

• Exterior: 84.5" H × 69" W × 55.75" D
• Interior: 77.5" peak height
• Weight (unoccupied): approximately 675 lbs
• Maximum temperature: 175°F

📌 Note: These are the dimensions of the sauna cabin itself. When planning your space, add the clearances in the next section to the exterior footprint above — the sauna needs room around it to ventilate and room in front for the door to open fully.

Required Clearances & Ventilation

Your infrared sauna is ventilated by a passive system and the control box on the roof vents heat upward. Both need open air around the cabin.

• In front of the door: a minimum of 26.5 inches of clear space, so the door can open fully.
• Sides and rear: 6 inches of clearance.
• Above: 12 inches of clearance above the highest point of the sauna.

✅ Keep the vent openings clear. When assembled, your sauna has three ventilation openings:

• A large roof vent at the front, by the glass door
• One wall vent on the upper back-left wall
• One wall vent on the lower front-right wall

None of these may be blocked by a wall, furniture, or stored items. The vents themselves are adjustable and are meant to be opened and closed during use — closed during heat-up to reach temperature faster, opened during your session for fresh air. That is normal operation and is different from obstructing them.

⚠️ Warm rooms need more room. These clearances assume a climate-controlled indoor space. If your sauna will sit in a contrast therapy studio, a gym with other heat-generating equipment, or an unconditioned room in a warm climate, add extra clearance above the unit. A warm surrounding environment reduces the control box's ability to shed heat. When in doubt, give it more room.

Level & Stable Surface Requirements

✅ Your sauna must be assembled on a completely level, solid surface. Leveling is the first step of assembly and one of the most important — a level floor ensures the panels align correctly, the door hangs and seals properly, and the sauna sits stable for years of use.

⚠️ Weight capacity requirement: The unoccupied sauna weighs approximately 540–675 lbs depending on model. Confirm the floor at your installation location can support the weight of the sauna plus its occupants.

📌 The adjustable leveling feet are designed for fine-tuning on a reasonably flat surface. They are not a substitute for a severely unlevel floor. For step-by-step instructions, see How to Level Your Sauna.

❌ Warranty notice: Failure to place the sauna on a flat, solid surface will void the Limited Warranty. See the Plunge IR Sauna Warranty for full terms.

Recommended Flooring

Your infrared sauna can be installed on any of the following, provided the surface is level and solid:

• Hardwood
• Tile
• Concrete
• Laminate

📌 Carpet is not recommended. It can trap moisture underneath the unit and is harder to keep clean. If carpet is your only option, place a rigid mat or protective board beneath the floor panel.

Surfaces and Locations to Avoid

Unlevel, soft, or shifting surfaces

• Surfaces that settle or shift over time will pull the cabin out of square, causing gaps, door misalignment, and heat loss.

Near water sources

• Do not install near sinks, bathtubs, pools, or anywhere water is present. Keep the sauna in a dry, weather-protected location.

Spaces without room to ventilate

• Alcoves, tight closets, or any position that blocks a vent, the roof control box, or the door swing.

Uninsulated or unconditioned spaces

• A garage or similar space is workable, but the sauna will work harder to reach and hold temperature in cold weather, which increases energy use. A climate-controlled room is more efficient.

Indoor Use & Placement

The Plunge Infrared Sauna is designed and warranted for indoor use. Your installation instructions require a dry, weather-protected, indoor location.

Outdoor placement voids the Limited Warranty. A narrow exception exists for certain covered installations — if you are considering anything other than a standard indoor installation, contact Plunge Customer Support before you install, and review the full terms in the Plunge IR Sauna Warranty.

Pre-Delivery Checklist

Before your sauna arrives, confirm each of the following:

• ☐ Final location chosen, indoors, dry, and away from water sources
• ☐ Floor is level and solid, and rated to support the sauna plus occupants
• ☐ Flooring type is hardwood, tile, concrete, or laminate (or a protective board is in place)
• ☐ 26.5" of clear space in front of the door, 6" at the sides and rear, 12" above
• ☐ The correct dedicated electrical circuit and outlet are installed at the sauna's final location — see Infrared Sauna Electrical Specifications
• ☐ Three people available for assembly — two can manage most steps, but three are recommended for the larger panels and the glass. Most customers finish in about an hour.
• ☐ A clear path from the delivery point to the installation location

📌 How your sauna ships: in a vertical wood crate containing five cartons. Two of those cartons are the glass panels, packed separately for protection — they are heavy and awkward to handle alone. Have two or more people on hand when the crate arrives, and visually inspect the crate for damage before signing for delivery.

Once your space is ready, continue to Manual and Setup Guide for your Plunge IR Sauna and Infrared Sauna Product Manuals.

📌 Before your first session: we recommend running one or two full heat cycles at maximum temperature for 90 minutes, with the vents open and no one inside. This clears residual new-product dust from the heating elements and wood — see Unusual Smell During First Use or Operation.