® Barrel Sauna Installation & Owner’s Manual In addition to reading this manual through to the end before proceeding with assembly you may find our instruction video helpful. You can find it at: youtube.
® Read this entire manual through to the end before proceeding with the assembly. Congratulations on your purchase of an Almost Heaven barrel sauna! The barrel sauna is unique to Almost Heaven, and has been our most popular product for over 40 years. We are delighted you have decided to partake in the sauna tradition! A WORD ABOUT BARREL SAUNAS While there are various barrel sauna models with different features, this manual is designed for all Almost Heaven barrel saunas.
ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS All electrical wiring must be performed by A QUALIFIED LICENSED ELECTRICIAN. Costs of an electrician can vary greatly depending on several factors, including your sauna’s distance from your electrical service box, where you live and cost of materials. We always recommend you get quotes from two to three different licensed electricians before you begin installation in order to get the best possible service and price. Use copper wire with 90C insulation.
FLOOR ASSEMBLY Begin assembly by placing the cradles on the ground (1). For optimal assembly, it is important that the cradles are parallel to each other. Fasten the drain stave directly in the center of the cradles using 2” screws so the stave extends over the end cradles by approximately 4” (2-4). (For barrel saunas with more than two cradles, space the remaining cradle(s) evenly between the two end cradles. Secure the staves into these cradles as well.
ROOM ASSEMBLY It is now time to assemble the barrel ends. Take the three front end pieces, including the door and two side pieces, and line them up so so that the A stickers align with each other, and the B stickers align with each other (11-13). Gently tap the two side pieces in place into the door piece with a rubber mallet (14). Secure the pieces together using the predrilled holes found on the edge of the barrel - you should use four screws to secure the front panel pieces together (15-17).
ROOM ASSEMBLY continued With the front and end pieces level and placed, begin placing staves up the sides of the sauna. Tap each board with a rubber mallet (23). Hammer a 2” nail through every second or third stave into the front and back end panels to keep them from falling out (24). The fewer nails you use, the easier disassembly will be should you ever need to take down the sauna. Stop using nails about halfway up the sides (25-26).
MOUNTING THE HEATER Note: You may decide to mount your heater to the back panel at this point. However, you may wait to do this until your electrician arrives to connect the heater to the power source. There is a set of four lag bolts to mount the heater, two long and two short. These are found in the heater box with the “caution” signs. Drill two holes on the back panel of your sauna centered between the two benches, so that the base of your heater sits 5-7” off of the floor of your barrel sauna.
BAND ASSEMBLY Each band assembly includes the following components: • Stainless steel band w/brackets • ½” nuts (2) • 5 1/4” threaded rod • Black vinyl caps Position the bands around your sauna, evenly spaced (45). (On non-canopied barrel saunas the two end bands should cover the nails used to hold the lower staves in place. On canopy models, evenly spaced bands won’t cover the front nails.) Insert the threaded rod through the bracket and tighten the nuts by hand evenly until no longer able (46).
Optional accessories for your sauna, including a back rest, robe hook and much more are available at almostheaven.com/sauna-accessories/. For canopied models only: Fasten the two supports together and align it with the cleat to ensure they are level with each other (53). Once level, secure each board on the support assembly to the barrel using the predrilled holes and 2” screws (54-55).
