Rental warranty facts

What it says: 5 years from delivery on sauna rooms, kits and showers, for residential use; void after commercial use.

"This warranty is void if the SAUNALIFE product has been subject to alteration, misuse or abuse, commercial use, or if any repairs on the sauna are attempted by anyone other than an authorized representative of SAUNALIFE."

Also: "Sauna heaters and added components are not covered by this warranty."

Source: SaunaLife Limited Warranty, Rev 260915 (PDF), linked from SaunaLife's own Technical information page. It replaces SaunaLife's older warranty document.

What it means for a rental: "commercial use" isn't defined, and a rental is a business. Plan as if a SaunaLife sauna at a rental has no maker's warranty, unless SaunaLife confirms otherwise in writing. The HUUM heater you pair with it has HUUM's own warranty (below).

What it says: limited lifetime, which in practice is 5 years on the wood structure, control panel and lights. The stove has its own maker's warranty.

"This warranty does not apply if the unit has been subject to full commercial use, negligence, alteration, modification, misuse, abuse, ..."

"Limited Lifetime Warranty of Sauna Products is 5 years on wood structure (when properly maintained), control panel, and applicable control panel harnesses and lights from the date of purchase. Stove/heater is covered under its manufacturer's applicable warranty."

It "extends to the original purchaser at the original site of installation only."

Source: Golden Designs hybrid and outdoor sauna warranty

The owner's manuals for three of our Golden Designs models give a commercial period:

"Limited Lifetime Warranty of Sauna Products is 5 years for residential use and 1 year for commercial use on wood structure (when properly maintained), control panel, and applicable control panel harnesses and lights from the date of purchase."

Sources: Arlberg and Vorarlberg owner's manual (p.35), Gargellen owner's manual (p.43). The Klosters and Kaarina manuals keep the "full commercial use" line. Every Golden Designs manual also calls the sauna "non-commercial" and asks for one hour off after every four hours on.

What it means for a rental: on the Arlberg, Vorarlberg and Gargellen, plan on the 1-year commercial cover. On the Klosters and Kaarina, "full commercial use" isn't defined, so it isn't clear whether a rental counts. Don't count on the cover there until Golden Designs confirms it in writing. The cold plunge is listed with a 1-year warranty; we haven't seen its terms on commercial use, so ask us and we'll get them in writing before you order.

What it says: heaters, wood stoves and controls get 3 years for private use and 1 year for commercial use.

"For the purposes of this warranty, a "Commercial use" is defined as either (i) a registered business entity using the product for commercial purposes or (ii) a private user, using the product for commercial purposes or (iii) a private user, using the product for more than 1500 hours during a 12-month period."

Heating elements of electric heaters are excluded, and damage has to be reported "no later than 7 days after the receipt or delivery".

Source: HUUM warranty terms

What it means for a rental: the cover isn't void, it's shorter. Expect 1 year on a HUUM heater, stove or control at a rental, with heating elements excluded.

What it says: shorter periods for commercial use, and the period ends if the use changes.

"The Warranty Period for any Product shall expire immediately if the primary intended use of the Product changes during the Warranty Period from family use to non-consumer, or vice versa."

Commercial periods: electric heaters, steam generators and control units 2 years (heating elements excluded), heating elements 6 months, wood heaters 6 months, saunas 1 year.

Source: Harvia warranty terms

What it means for a rental: settle whether the heater is for family or commercial use before you install it, because switching ends the period. At a rental, plan on the commercial terms.