Which heating system to choose for your Nordic bath?

It's the first question we're asked at our Megève showroom: "And to heat the water, what do I choose?" Behind this simple question lies the true heart of your future Nordic bath. The heating method determines your evening ritual, the waiting time before immersion, what you'll pay each month, and even the location of your bath in the garden.

At Storvatt, we manufacture our Nordic baths in solid Red Cedar in the French Alps, and we offer them with four heating modes: wood stove, electric, hybrid and — the innovation that changes a lot — heat pump. Here's how to see clearly.

In short. The wood stove is made for the ritual of fire and on-demand use. Electric offers simplicity and water ready at all times. Hybrid combines the pleasure of wood and the flexibility of electric. The heat pump is the most economical solution for maintaining hot water all year round.

The wood stove: ritual in its purest form

It's the historical heating of the Nordic bath, and for many, its very soul. The Storvatt aluminum stove — a highly conductive material — heats water efficiently: expect around 1.5 to 3 hours to go from cold water to 39 °C water, depending on the air inlet setting.

Wood first appeals through its gesture: you light the fire, you listen to the crackling, you watch the smoke rise while the water warms. This preparation time is already part of the relaxation.

On the practical side, the wood stove heats on demand: you only heat when you need it, making it an economical option for occasional use. Maintenance remains simple: cartridge filtration, weekly cleaning, bromine tablets, pH control, and complete drainage approximately every three months.

For whom? Lovers of ritual, second homes, gardens without dedicated electrical connection, and those who bathe a few times a month.

Electric: simplicity in everyday life

Electric heating answers another desire: to think of nothing. The water is heated and maintained at temperature, with continuous automatic filtration that keeps the water crystal clear. You lift the cover, you get in, it's ready.

It's the mode that requires the least intervention: permanent filtration reduces manual maintenance and hot water remains available at all times. In return, maintaining hot water year-round consumes electricity — a trade-off worth making if you bathe often.

For whom? Main residences, households that use their bath regularly, those who want zero preparation constraints.

Hybrid: the best of both worlds

The hybrid is our best seller, and that's no accident. This system combines a wood stove and an electric heater on the same bath: the pleasure of fire when you want it, the flexibility of electric the rest of the time.

Concretely, electric maintains the water at a good temperature in the background, while wood offers rapid heat buildup and the atmosphere of ritual on the evenings you wish. It's also a safety feature: if you don't have time to light a fire, electric takes over.

For whom? Those who don't want to choose. Families with varied uses, and lovers of the wood ritual who also appreciate bathing without preparation.

The heat pump: the most economical option for everyday use

This is the solution that transforms the Nordic bath into an everyday comfort. A heat pump draws calories from the outside air to heat the water, consuming significantly less energy than a conventional electric heater for an equivalent result.

The benefit is twofold: you maintain hot water all year round, winter and summer, without the daily gesture of lighting a fire, and you do it while controlling your consumption, since the pump returns several times the energy it consumes.

At Storvatt, the heat pump now equips a large part of our range: electric Nordic bath with heat pump, stove bath combined with a heat pump, as well as our above-ground, built-in and semi-built-in wooden spas.

To learn more: discover how much a bath or spa with a heat pump really consumes.

For whom? Main residences, frequent or even daily use, those who want hot water at all times without skyrocketing bills, and hospitality professionals attentive to operating costs.

How to make your choice?

How often will you bathe?

A few times a month points toward wood, which heats on demand. Several times a week or every day justifies maintaining hot water: electric or, better yet, a heat pump.

Main residence or second home?

A bath that sits empty for several weeks works perfectly with wood. A bath you want ready when you come home from work calls for a heat pump.

Ritual or availability?

If lighting the fire is part of the pleasure, wood or hybrid are for you. If you're mainly looking to immerse yourself without thinking about it, electric and heat pump fulfill this role.

There is no wrong choice, only the one that matches your lifestyle. And whatever the heating, you'll find the same solid Red Cedar bath, the same depth that provides that sensation of weightlessness, and the same five-year warranty on the wood.

Want to compare models in person? Our advisors help you choose the heating best suited to your garden and lifestyle. Ask for advice or explore our range of Nordic baths.