The buyer's checklist

27 questions to settle before money moves. Print it, or work through it on screen — no email wall, because a checklist behind a signup form is marketing, not help.

Electrical & siting (the expensive surprises)

  1. What exact voltage and breaker size does the installation manual (not the ad) require?
  2. Does my panel have two adjacent free slots for a double-pole breaker?
  3. What did a licensed electrician quote for the run — measured on site, not by phone?
  4. If outdoor: who digs and fills the trench, and is conduit included in the quote?
  5. Does my municipality require an electrical permit? A site/structure permit?
  6. Is the surface level, drained, and rated for the filled weight (plunges: 700–900+ lb)?
  7. Outdoor sauna: what's the snow/wind rating, and does the roof kit cost extra?
  8. Result from the electrical checker recorded?

Company diligence (10 minutes that save $5,000)

  1. Reverse-image search: does this exact unit sell under other brand names? At what price?
  2. How old is the company (domain age + state registration), and is it older than its warranty?
  3. Physical address and working phone number confirmed by calling?
  4. UL/ETL listing numbers for heater/chiller/controller provided on request?
  5. What exactly does the warranty exclude — and are heater/chiller/controller covered?
  6. Who pays return freight, and what's the restocking fee, in writing?
  7. Full run of the red-flag screen passed?

True cost (the number brands never total)

  1. Unit price — screenshot taken, "sale ends" claim checked a week later?
  2. Freight to my address, curbside vs threshold vs set-in-place?
  3. Electrical quote (from #3) added to the total?
  4. Permits added?
  5. Operating cost at MY kWh rate — 5-year calculator run?
  6. Water treatment / filter / wood care consumables per year?
  7. Total 5-year figure written down next to the competing unit's figure?

Fit & life (the regret preventers)

  1. Have I actually sat in this type of sauna (gym, spa, showroom) — not just watched reviews?
  2. Cold plunge: have I done 30 consecutive days of cold showers to prove I'll use it?
  3. Health check: any cardiovascular condition or pregnancy → physician consulted first?
  4. Household check: who else will use it, and does the capacity actually fit them?
  5. Delivery day plan: gate widths measured, path clear, helpers or crane arranged?

Free to print and share. If a brand fails questions 9–15, the price doesn't matter. Not medical or electrical advice — licensed professionals for both. © 2026 SaunaClear · saunaclear.com