High-load equipment
Sauna and spa electrical
Sauna heaters, spas and cold plunges draw more power than almost anything else in a house. We check that the service can carry the new load, run the dedicated circuit the manufacturer specifies, and get it inspected.
What the job involves
- Load calculation for the whole house with the new equipment added.
- A dedicated 240-volt circuit sized from the heater or spa manufacturer's installation manual.
- Control and sensor wiring for saunas, placed where the builder and the manual call for it.
- Ground-fault protection and a disconnect for spas and hot tubs.
- Panel or service upgrade when the load calculation says it is needed. See panel upgrades.
Built with the room
Akopi Builders designs and builds custom saunas in Los Angeles homes. VoltGen Energy operates alongside Akopi Builders, so the circuit, the heater location and the room framing are planned together. We also wire saunas, spas and plunges built by others.
VoltGen Energy operates under Akopi Builders, CSLB #1112420. Electrical work is performed by licensed C-10 electrical contractors. Check the license at CSLB.
Questions we get
What size circuit does a sauna heater need?
The heater manufacturer's installation manual sets the voltage, breaker size and wire size for each heater model. We size the circuit from that manual and from the load calculation for the whole house, not from a rule of thumb.
Will my panel handle a sauna?
Sauna heaters are among the largest loads in a house. A load calculation shows whether the existing service has room. If it does not, the options are a panel or service upgrade, or choosing a heater size the house can carry.
Do spas and hot tubs have special requirements?
Yes. They need ground-fault protection and a disconnect placed where the manufacturer and the electrical code require it. We plan those along with the circuit.
Adding a sauna or spa?
Call with the equipment model if you have it. The installation manual tells us most of what the circuit needs.