Harvia Electric Sauna Heater

Instructions for Installation and Use

These instructions are intended for the owner, person in charge of the sauna, or the electrician responsible for the installation. Please read carefully before use. The heater is designed for warming a sauna room to bathing temperature and should not be used for other purposes.

Guarantee

• 2-year guarantee for heaters and control equipment used in family saunas.
• 1-year guarantee for heaters and control equipment used in saunas by building residents.
• Guarantee does not cover faults from failure to comply with installation, use, or maintenance instructions, or use of non-recommended stones.

Contents

1. Instructions for Use
2. Sauna Room
3. Instructions for Installation
4. Spare Parts

1. Instructions for Use

1.1. Piling of the Sauna Stones

The piling of sauna stones affects safety and heating capability. Use only angular split-face sauna stones (5-10 cm diameter) suitable for heaters. Avoid porous ceramic or soft soapstones as they do not absorb enough heat, potentially damaging heating elements. Wash stones to remove dust before piling. Pile stones densely against the steel grid and loosely in the middle to allow air flow. Do not drop or wedge stones. Ensure stones support heating elements and keep them vertical. Do not create a high pile. Do not place objects inside or near the heater.

Important: Ensure heating elements are not visible behind the stones.

1.1.1. Maintenance

Sauna stones disintegrate over time due to temperature changes. Rearrange stones at least annually, or more often with frequent use. Remove stone pieces and replace disintegrated stones to maintain optimal heating and prevent overheating. Monitor for gradual settling of stones, ensuring heating elements remain covered.

1.2. Heating of the Sauna

Initial use may produce smells; ventilate the sauna room well. A properly insulated sauna should reach bathing temperature (65-75 °C) in about an hour. Stones typically reach bathing temperature simultaneously.

1.3. Using the Heater

Before switching on, ensure no objects are on or near the heater. Heater models PC70/H/F and PC90/H/F have a timer and thermostat. PC70E/HE and PC90E/HE are controlled by a separate unit; refer to its instructions.

1.3.1. Heater On

Turn the timer switch to the "on" section (0-4 hours). The heater starts immediately.

1.3.2. Pre-setting Time (timed switch-on)

Turn the timer switch to the "pre-setting" section (0-8 hours). The heater will start heating after the timer advances to the "on" section, remaining on for approximately four hours. Example: Set timer to "2" for a 3-hour walk; the heater will start in 2 hours, ready for a sauna after your walk.

1.3.3. Heater Off

The heater switches off when the timer returns to zero. It can be manually switched off anytime by turning the timer to zero. Switch off after bathing, or leave on briefly to dry wooden parts. Always verify the heater has stopped heating.

1.3.4. Setting the Temperature

The thermostat maintains the desired sauna room temperature. Experiment to find your preferred setting. Start with the maximum setting and adjust counter-clockwise if the temperature is too high. Small adjustments in the maximum range significantly affect temperature.

1.4. Throwing Water on Heated Stones (Aufguss)

Throwing water on stones increases humidity. Use a maximum of 0.2 liters per ladle. Avoid excessive water, which can cause splashing. Never throw water on stones when people are near the heater. Use clean household water (Table 1) and approved sauna aromas only.

1.5. Instructions for Bathing

Wash before entering. Stay as long as comfortable. Relax and avoid disturbing others. Do not use excessive water for Aufguss. Cool skin as needed; swimming is possible if healthy. Wash after bathing. Rest and rehydrate with water or a soft drink.

1.6. Warnings

• Prolonged stays in hot saunas can raise body temperature dangerously.
• Keep away from the hot heater; surfaces can burn skin.
• Keep children away from the heater.
• Do not let young, handicapped, or ill people bathe alone.
• Consult a doctor for health limitations.
• Consult a child welfare clinic for advice on babies in saunas.
• Be careful of slippery surfaces.
• Do not use sauna if under the influence of alcohol, medication, or narcotics.
• Never sleep in a hot sauna.
• Sea air and humidity can corrode metal surfaces.
• Do not hang clothes to dry in the sauna due to fire risk and potential damage to electrical equipment from excessive moisture.

1.7. Troubleshooting

All service operations must be performed by qualified personnel.

Heater does not heat:

• Check fuses and connection cable.
• Ensure timer is set to "on" and thermostat is set higher.
• Check overheat protector (PC/-H/-F).
• Check contactor function (PC90/H/F).

Sauna room heats slowly:

• Check fuses.
• Ensure all heating elements glow.
• Set thermostat higher.
• Verify heater output is sufficient (▷2.3.).
• Check stone piling and type (▷1.1.).
• Check sauna room ventilation (▷2.2.).

Sauna room heats quickly, but stones are not hot enough (water runs through):

• Set thermostat lower (▷1.3.4.).
• Check heater output is not too high (▷2.3.).
• Check sauna room ventilation (▷2.2.).

Panel or material near heater blackens quickly:

• Check safety distances (▷3.2.).
• Check stone piling and type (▷1.1.).
• Ensure heating elements are not visible behind stones.
• Refer to section 2.1.1.

Heater emits smell:

• Refer to section 1.2.
• Hot heater may amplify existing air odors (paint, glue, etc.).

Heater makes noise:

• Ticking sound from timer is normal (PC/-H/-F). If ticking occurs when off, check wiring.
• Occasional bangs may be from stones cracking due to heat.
• Thermal expansion of parts can cause noise.

2. Sauna Room

2.1. Sauna Room Structure

Proper insulation (50-100 mm wool) is crucial. Use moisture protection (e.g., aluminum paper with glossy side facing the sauna, taped seams). Maintain vent gaps (approx. 10 mm between moisture protection and panel, 3 mm between wall and ceiling panel). Typical sauna height is 2100-2300 mm, depending on heater model. Ensure adequate space between the upper bench and ceiling (max 1200 mm). Use heat-resistant floor coverings like ceramic tiles with dark grout. Avoid materials that can be stained by sauna water or stone particles.

NOTE: Consult fire authorities regarding firewall insulation. Do not insulate active flues. Light protective covers can be a fire risk.

2.1.1. Blackening of the Sauna Walls

Wooden surfaces may naturally darken over time. This can be accelerated by sunlight, heater heat, wall protective agents with low heat resistance, or fine particles from sauna stones.

2.2. Sauna Room Ventilation

The air should change six times per hour. Supply air vent location depends on ventilation type: above heater for mechanical exhaust, below or next to heater for gravity exhaust. Supply air pipe diameter: 50-100 mm. For PC-E/HE, ensure air flow does not cool the temperature sensor. Exhaust air vent should be near the floor, away from the heater. Exhaust pipe diameter should be twice the supply pipe diameter. An optional vent can be used for drying. If exhaust vent is in the washroom, ensure at least a 100 mm gap under the sauna door. Mechanical exhaust ventilation is mandatory.

2.3. Heater Output

Heater output depends on sauna volume and wall/ceiling insulation. Non-insulated walls increase required output (add 1.2 m³ per m² of non-insulated wall). Log walls require multiplying volume by 1.5. Consult Table 2 for appropriate heater output based on sauna volume.

2.4. Sauna Room Hygiene

Use bench towels to prevent sweat transfer. Wash benches, walls, and floor every six months with a brush and sauna detergent. Wipe heater with a damp cloth and remove lime stains with 10% citric acid solution.

3. Instructions for Installation

3.1. Before Installation

Review installation instructions. Ensure heater output and type are suitable for the sauna room (follow Table 2). Verify supply voltage compatibility. Check location suitability (▷3.2.). Only one electrical heater is permitted per sauna room.

3.2. Place and Safety Distances

Adhere strictly to minimum safety distances shown in Figure 6 to prevent fire risk. Use heat-resistant floor coverings. If embedding the heater into a bench using an embedding flange (HPC1), follow the flange's installation instructions.

3.3. Electrical Connections

All electrical connections must be made by a qualified electrician according to current regulations. The heater connects semi-stationarily to a splash-proof junction box (Figure 7: A) on the sauna wall, max 500 mm from the floor. Use rubber cable type H07RN-F or equivalent (Figure 7: B). PVC-insulated wire is forbidden due to poor heat resistance. If cables are installed higher than 1000 mm, they must withstand 170 °C. Electrical equipment above 1000 mm must be approved for 125 °C (T125 marking).

PC/-H/-F heaters have a connector (P) for electric heating control. The control cable runs to the heater's junction box and then to the heater's terminal block.

3.3.1. Electric Heater Insulation Resistance

During final inspection, a "leakage" might be detected due to moisture absorption in heating elements during storage/transport. This moisture dissipates after a few heating cycles. Do not connect the heater power feed through an RCD (residual current device).

3.3.2. Installation of the Control Unit and Sensor (PC-E/HE)

Refer to the control unit's instructions for mounting. Install the sensor (WX248) as shown in Figure 8. If the heater is more than 100 mm from the wall, install the sensor on the ceiling. Ensure the supply air vent does not cool the temperature sensor.

3.4. Installing the Heater

Connect cables (▷3.3.). Place and vertically adjust the heater using adjustable legs. Secure the heater to the sauna structure using the provided fixing kits (2 pcs).

3.5. Resetting the Overheat Protector

If the sauna room temperature becomes dangerously high, the overheat protector will permanently cut off power. It can be reset after the heater cools down. The reset button is inside the connection box (Figure 10). Only authorized personnel should reset it. Find and fix the cause of the fault before pressing the button (e.g., check stones, heater usage, thermostat sensor, or if the heater was banged/shaken). For PC-E/HE, refer to control unit installation instructions.

4. Spare Parts

Information on spare parts is not detailed in this section of the manual.