It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, as many of Klafs clients know.  Klafs Sanarium for example offers a highly beneficial alternative to having to choose between either sauna or steam simply by creating a cabin delivering the benefits of both.

Sanarium creates a bathing environment where humidity and temperature are fully controllable to enable wide variations on bathing experience. The heat range sits slightly lower than that of a traditional sauna whilst the humidity levels are perfectly balanced to induce the benefits of steam bathing without necessitating the usually high levels of humidity. This flexibility works perfectly in the home and commercial environment allowing bather experiences to be tailored to need, thereby optimising the range of  health and wellness benefits available.

Another hugely beneficial but little discussed bathing experience is infrared and though usually regarded as the sauna of choice for athletes, there is a great wealth of benefits for any spa user. The shift to a health and wellness over health and beauty philosophy is bringing Infrared bathing back into focus and for good reason.

The gentle yet effective bathing experience induces deep physical and physiological relaxation, reduces heart rate, blood pressure, elongates muscles, eases tension, and stimulates healthy circulation. In fact Infrared does all a sauna can in a much subtler, gentler way which offers a safe and comfortable bathing environment particularly for those unable to withstand the rigours of a traditional sauna.

Klafs Infrared cabins combine the very latest in Infrared technology coupled with design flexibility and a choice of integrated technology.  Unlike many infrared cabins, Klafs Infrared uses gently radiating Infrared C panels, cleverly hidden within the walls to create a beautiful, practical and functional cabin.  The internal cabin walls are aspen, chosen for their knot free, resin free structure enabling even heating and heat distribution across the entire cabin.

Designing a cabin with the infrared panels integrated into the structure has enabled Klafs to combine sauna heating technology as well as Infrared capabilities within a single cabin, creating a choice of bathing options highly suited to a wide variety of home and commercial bathing environments.

Choosing an alternative to the traditional sauna or steam room options for your home or commercial spa needn’t be a headache or technically complex. Klafs offer a wealth of expertise and knowledge which can support the decision-making process within existing design and space constraints. If you are planning wellness spaces, call or email the office and we will happily talk you through the options and alternatives to help you really get the most out of your investment.

This year, the office will close on Friday 23rd December and will reopen again first thing on Tuesday 3rd January 2012.  We will be offering our usual levels of technical support and will continue to process spare parts orders up to and including Friday 23rd December.

If you require technical support during the Christmas period, please call your Klafs Engineer directly.  Calls and messages to the office will be picked up on our return on Tuesday 3rd January.

To help you avoid unnecessary difficulties during the festive break, here are some quick tips to keep things running smoothly:

• If you haven’t already done so, ensure your equipment has had its regular service before the busy December period begins.
• Check stock levels for key spare parts such as replacement bulbs, steam generator filters and seals. Re-order early to allow for any delays.
• Order extra essences to keep up with demand.
• Check door seals and hinges, tighten or replace as necessary.

Don’t forget, that spare parts and accessories can be ordered until Friday 23rd December.

2011 has been a great year for the Klafs team and we would like to extend our warm thanks to all of you who have helped to make it such a pleasurable, productive and successful year.

Predictive and preventative maintenance procedures can work hand in hand to assess, monitor and address any issues which could lead to breakdown or failure if left unattended and for most spa operators this is a key consideration throughout the year. To keep your Klafs equipment running smoothly, here’s a quick rundown of those things to consider when planning for winter ready spa checks and maintenance:

Look at things from a different perspective

If you get the opportunity out of normal operational hours, take time out to use the spa equipment in exactly the way a spa goer would, using an objective eye to assess areas for maintenance.

• Check doors to establish if they open smoothly, that the hinges are properly tightened and that the rubber seals, where fitted, work correctly.
• Assess whether the lighting systems operate fully and if any of the bulbs require replacement.
• Sit on the benches within each cabin to feel where maintenance or repair may be needed.
• Think about the environment and the actual feel within the cabin checking temperature and humidity on each bench tier to assess the need for replacement sauna rocks or steam generator maintenance.
• If essences are used take notice of the strength of fragrance and response it prompts noting the need for alteration or changes in frequency, quantity or fragrance change requirements.

Take stock, be prepared

The busier colder months requires longer operational periods and increased wear and tear so ensuring replacement parts and sundries are on-site and available will mean any unexpected occurrences can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

• Servicing your Klafs equipment now will keep things operating well and creates an opportunity to check the stock you already have on site and re-order any spare parts for use during or after the busy winter period.
• Keep at least one complete set of replacement bulbs on site at any one time to ensure cabins are fully lit at all times.
• The requirement for Essence increases and so too generally does the need for more herbal based, head and nose clearing fragrances such as peppermint and eucalyptus. Order ahead to maintain stock levels as demand and use increases.

Our team offers servicing, support, technical advice and spare part provision to help you assess and address the particular maintenance requirement of your spa environment. Call our technical team today on +44 (0)845 833 6381 and we will be happy to help you get things on track for the winter months.

1. Klafs Technical are a Klafs Gold Partner, an accolade awarded only to Klafs Partners who deliver the very highest levels of service, technical expertise and facilities. Only a handful of partners worldwide have achieved Gold status so we are understandably a rather proud recipient!
2. Our Team have been with us for a long time so they know our product and our clients exceptionally well. Personal service, expertise and a professional yet no nonsense approach is assured whatever the size of your project.
3. Our core team are based in Liverpool which means we are within easy reach of all our UK clients. The airport is just a stride away (being just 15 minutes out of the city) whilst mainline trains offer easy and efficient access to key cities across the UK. Being only 20 minutes form the M6 helps too.
4. We specialise in creating exceptional spa spaces where wellness is the key consideration, whatever shape your project takes. Wellness begins with client experience so from initial contact through to post installation support you can feel reassured that working with our team will be plain sailing not run of the mill.
5. Klafs cabins are engineered and hand-built in Germany by an expert team of crafts men and women. They also happen to be made to order so whilst you can’t buy them off the shelf, you can feel comfortable in the knowledge that your cabin is built with your personal requirements in mind.
6. Built to order means that there is no product to see right?  Wrong.  If you are a private customer or planner, our showroom here in the UK offers a private space to view and experience Klafs cabins for yourself.  Where those larger commercial projects are planned, the House of Sauna and Spa, situated at head office in Germany, offers a unique invitation to the Klafs spa experience.  Either way, you get to meet the team and the product in a way which is uniquely Klafs.
7. Sustainability is a key priority where sourcing and manufacturing is concerned but it doesn’t end there. Sustainable and environmentally aware operation is a key concern for many of our clients – which is why you can choose to integrate Klafs technology to suit your operational needs.
8. Technology is the cornerstone of Klafs quality. Extensive research and testing produces year on year advancements, improvements and new experiences in health & wellness. Sensory stimulation is carefully crafted to subtly address the needs of the spa environment and the individual spa user.
9. Spa equipment requires regular maintenance to keep things running smoothly and efficiently but making sure you get the right advice and support is important.  Here at Klafs we offer service, spare part sales and support packages to meet the needs of the private and commercial spa environment.  Our team will offer advice and service to help you or your team to keep things in good shape.
10. Klafs engineering teams are based in both the north and south of the UK to offer you convenient and efficient support when you need it.

Q: How much space will I need for a cabin?

You should allocate enough space to accommodate the cabin itself plus an additional allowance all round to allow adequate ventilation and installation.  This varies from cabin to cabin but a general guide of 100mm each side plus 250mm from top of the cabin to ceiling height should be observed.  More accurate figures will be offered when discussing your cabin in more detail.

Q: Do I need to plan for drainage?

If you are planning a sauna there is no need for drainage but a steamroom will require adequate planning for drainage. We can talk you through the requirements in more details.

Q: How many people will the cabin take?

We don’t don’t generally work in people we tend to work by the metre!  This is a really common question and our answer (or rather our question to you) is always the same; how many people will bathe at any given time, how tall is each person and do you prefer to sit or lay down on the benches? Thinking about space in terms of how it is used helps you take into account each persons preferred bathing style allowing adequate space for comfortable bathing.

Q: I favour the sauna, my partner prefers the steam room

A regular but not unfathomable problem for many households – if space and budgets allow, two cabins will easily solve the dilemma but for many only a single cabin is required. Klafs Sanarium offers the best of both worlds for each of you delivering several forms of bathing inside a single cabin. The technology creates an environment where humidity and heat can be fully controlled and although not as steamy as the traditional steam room environment, the benefits are the same.

Q: Can I order an inward opening door?

No.  Although a space saving request in those tight spaces, all cabin doors must open outwards to safeguard personal health and safety whilst bathing.

Q: How long will delivery take?

This depends on a number of factors including cabin size and special design elements but on average most saunas are delivered for installation within 6-12 weeks.  An accurate timescale can be offered based on your exact requirements.

Q: How long will installation take?

Klafs Engineers will arrive on site to accept delivery of your cabin/s. Standard single cabin installations take 3-5 days on average, longer where multi cabin or special finishes have been ordered. Details will be confirmed based on your final decisions.

Q: What about operating instructions?

Once installation is complete our Engineers will provide full instructions on use before leaving the site.  Operating manuals will be left with you but we have a dedicated office team to help you if you run into difficulties.

Q: What provisions are available for servicing or repair?

In the unlikely event that your Klafs equipment requires attention whilst under guarantee, simply call or email the office to arrange repair details. For longer-term extensive support, Klafs offer nationwide servicing, spare parts, accessories and repair available by simply contacting the office directly.

This of course is not meant to be an exhaustive list but covers key questions we often hear,  if you would like to see something else included or added, let us know.

A key facilitator for consistent continued growth in the home spa market has been our innovative developments in technology which has enabled private individuals to indulge in a spa bathing experience at home which incorporates many of the benefits that a visit to a commercial spa offers.

Here we take a quick look at the top three innovations that are keeping our private clients happier and healthier:

Klafs SANARIUM®

This discreet technology has become a firm favourite amongst our clients and not without good reason. For many, bathing at home means a choice between sauna or steam – either through preference or because dedicated space at home allows room only for a single cabin. Klafs SANARIUM® technology bridges this gap to offer bathers a choice of bathing environments inside a single cabin, creating a flexible and highly beneficial at-home spa experience.

SANARIUM® offers the best of both worlds where heat and humidity can be easily controlled and adjusted according to requirement and whilst not providing the high level of moisture experienced in a stand-alone steam cabin, the benefits are exactly the same.  This high level of environment control means that each family member can choose an individual bathing programme suitable for their own health and wellness needs or to suit the needs of the family as a whole.

SANARIUM® technology is available with Klafs Compact, Bonatherm and Majus heaters making it an idea choice whatever the style of home sauna you choose.

Klafs TOUCHCONTROL®

Controlling a single cabin or several is made really easy with Klafs TOUCHCONTROL®. The touchscreen control surface allows pre-set programming of preferred bathing environments enabling the easy management of temperature, humidity, lighting and bathing duration.

Klafs TOUCHCONTROL® also offers a wealth of informative and useful health information plus suggested bathing programmes suited to your requirements. Set individual programmes for each family member and enjoy your at-home spa exactly the way you want it.

Klafs GREENSAUNA®

With increasing environmental awareness our private clients are wanting to extend their buying choices beyond sustainable purchasing through to heightened sustainable operation once their spa equipment is installed. Klafs GREENSAUNA® package provides the perfect option for clients wishing to take their home sauna (and environmental commitment) from really good to really great.

The Klafs GREENSAUNA® package incorporates simple technology with specialist insulation designed to deliver the same heat and experience for less energy. When activated through the GREENSAUNA® touch plate, the cabin will become operational only when occupied, maintain optimum temperature for longer and switch the lights off in between bathing cycles. A clever little bit of kit which is making savings for the environment and for our clients wallets.

These are just our top three innovations which are helping our clients make the most of the home spa experience. To read more click here.

This chilly time of year sees an increase in the numbers of frequent visitors, particularly to the sauna and steamroom so there are plenty of considerations to observe in maintaining the health of your equipment.  Here are our quick top tips:

• Handles and hinges get particularly hard hit with the increase in traffic so check weekly and tighten or adjust as required to prevent strain or breakage.
• Check door seals are in good order with no cracking, tears or hardening.  If they no longer seal the door correctly, heat or steam will escape leading to operational inefficiencies.
• Give your sauna heating appliance a regular once over to check for debris or build-up.  The sauna stones should be given a check up too, top up or replace as necessary.
• An interim service for the steam generator will keep steam output efficiently high. Do it yourself or contact our team for extra support.
• If your sauna benches are looking a little worse for wear, a light sanding will remove staining and    dark patches.
• Care for your clients as well as your equipment by checking those essence levels. High quality natural essences not only enhance the bathing experience but can help to ward off those winter germs too.

Long term maintenance

Klafs Service and Maintenance Packages have delivered outstanding levels of service and cover year on year, 2011 is no different.  Our core services remain unchanged,  ensuring that we continue to offer the same three great levels of cover in the form of FIX IT, SPA ASSURED and SPA ASSURED Premium.

The ICE KIT has also proven to be a valuable asset to an increasing number of our sites, reducing the instances of breakdown, call outs and emergency parts dispatch.  These handy kits have been carefully tailored to meet the needs of each individual piece of equipment thereby avoiding excessive parts storage whilst maintaining adequate levels for continued operations.  Impressive indeed.

Full details of all our packages can be found on the Service and Support Section of the Klafs Website but if you need support in human form, please do call the office on +44 (0)84 833 6381 and our Technical Manager will be happy to help.

There will be limited Technical support during the Christmas break in the form of John one of our fabulous Technical Engineers. If you don’t have his number already, call the office and we will happily advise.

Thank you to you all for what has been a great 2009.  Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2010.

There is an excited buzz in the office this month with Dan one of our Directors returning from his trip to Head Office holding a small, inert brown box. What exactly is so exciting in such a plain and drab little box you might ask. Well I will tell you! Inside was the long awaited fresh off the press  new products information catalogue offering a sneak preview of  the latest ‘fruits of our labour’.

Innovation and experience, cornerstones of Klafs philosophy shine through the three beautifully simple and understated sauna designs. A fresh faced yet distinctly grown up range of saunas has emerged where small and personal details make the experience unique and individual. Outwardly simple but each with its own style and function, they truly are a trio to be admired.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, a new business sector has been formed offering pool design and build services meaning Klafs Quality can be experienced in a whole new way.

To get a copy call me personally on + 44 (0) 845 833 6381 and I will be happy to forward copy.

Get a sneak preview for yourself:  http://mocoloco.com/fresh2/2009/11/03/biorhythm-sauna-by-klafs.php