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At a Glance
- What it is: Sun Home’s first traditional (Finnish) sauna, indoor only, in 3-person and 6-person sizes.
- Price: $11,999 (Nova 3) and $15,799 (Nova 6) at the time of writing, on preorder shipping October 2026.
- The headline: real traditional heat to 230°F on a HUUM heater, and you can pour water on the stones — Sun Home confirmed that to us.
- The catch: it is hardwired 240V (30A or 40A), it is heavy, and it is so new that there are no independent owner reviews yet.
- Reader code: VERIFIEDCOMPARE takes $200 off, and Sun Home confirmed it applies to the Nova.
How We Reviewed It
We have not sat in a Nova. It is on preorder, it ships in October 2026, and we do not own one. Anyone publishing a hands-on review of it before then is either a sponsored early unit or making it up.
What we did instead was the part most reviews skip: we emailed Sun Home and asked. The specifications below are ones their partnerships team confirmed to us in writing in September 2026 — heater, maximum temperature, whether it takes water, whether our reader code applies, and when the outdoor model is due. Prices and dimensions are from Sun Home’s product pages on September 23, 2026.
Specifications
| Nova 3 | Nova 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (sale / regular) | $11,999 / $12,499 | $15,799 / $16,399 |
| Capacity | 3 people | 6 people |
| Heater | HUUM DROP 6kW | HUUM DROP 7.5kW |
| Maximum temperature | 230°F | 230°F |
| Löyly (water on stones) | Yes — dry or wet, your choice | Yes |
| Electrical | Hardwired 240V, dedicated 30A | Hardwired 240V, dedicated 40A |
| Wood | Canadian cedar | Canadian cedar |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 57.1″ × 64.9″ × 82.7″ | 68.9″ × 78.7″ × 82.7″ |
| Weight (empty) | 772 lb | 926 lb |
| Setting | Indoor only | Indoor only |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime |
| Optional extras | Secondary heater, red light therapy | Secondary heater, red light therapy |
| Shipping | Preorder, October 2026 | Preorder, October 2026 |
The Thing That Matters Most: It Takes Water
If you have been looking at traditional saunas, you already know why this row matters. Pouring water on hot stones — löyly — is the difference between a hot room and a Finnish sauna. Plenty of “traditional-style” units either do not allow it or quietly void the heater warranty if you try.
We asked Sun Home directly. Their answer: the Nova’s HUUM heater can be run dry or with water on the rocks, as a matter of personal preference. That puts it in a different category from Sun Home’s infrared range, which does not do this at all.
Who It Is For
- You want Finnish-style heat inside the house — garage, basement, a spare room with a slab floor.
- You like Sun Home but wanted steam — until now their whole range was infrared.
- You want contrast therapy from one company — Sun Home also sells cold plunges, and one supplier means one delivery process and one support line.
- Two people who like different heat — a traditional sauna is hotter on the upper bench than the lower one, and early buyers mention using that to sit at different temperatures.
Who It Is Not For
- You want it outdoors this year. The Nova is indoor only. Sun Home told us the outdoor version is due in Q1 2027 and they had no firmer date.
- You cannot easily add a 240V circuit. There is no plug. See the next section.
- You are on an upper floor and have not checked. 772 lb empty for the Nova 3, 926 lb for the Nova 6, before anyone sits in it.
- You want gentle heat. 230°F traditional heat is intense. If you find high heat unpleasant, an infrared cabin is the gentler route — see our sauna guide.
- You need independent reviews before spending $12,000. That is a reasonable position, and they do not exist yet. Waiting a few months after launch is not a bad plan.
Installation: What You Are Actually Signing Up For
Sun Home is unusually direct about this on the product page, which we respect: the Nova is hardwired with no plug. A licensed electrician installs a dedicated 240V circuit — 30A for the Nova 3 and 40A for the Nova 6 — and Sun Home recommends having it done before delivery.
- Get the electrician’s quote first. A short run in an accessible garage is one job. A long run through finished walls, or a panel with no spare capacity, is a very different one. That number can change your total by more than the price difference between the two sizes.
- Expect two deliveries. The cabin arrives as one freight crate; the heater, controller and stones ship separately.
- Plan for two people on assembly. An early buyer on Sun Home’s site describes it as a few hours with help.
- Check the route in. Measure doorways and stair turns against the crate, not the finished sauna.
The Real Total Cost
| Nova 3 | Nova 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price at time of writing | $11,999 | $15,799 |
| Reader code VERIFIEDCOMPARE | −$200 | −$200 |
| Price with code | $11,799 | $15,599 |
| Electrician (240V hardwired) | Get a quote — varies widely | Get a quote — 40A circuit |
| Sauna bucket and ladle (for löyly) | $85 from Sun Home, or your own | $85 from Sun Home, or your own |
Sun Home also offers Affirm financing and lists HSA/FSA as a payment option at checkout. Whether a sauna is an eligible expense under your particular plan is between you and your plan administrator — do not assume it is.
Check current Nova pricing at Sun Home →
Nova vs the Alternatives
| Sun Home Nova 3 | Renu Sanctuary 2 | Sun Home Eclipse | Sweaty Yeti Sauna | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Traditional | Traditional | Infrared + red light | Traditional, in an outbuilding |
| Price | $11,999 | ~$7,425 | from $9,999 | $29,700 |
| Water on stones | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Where | Indoor | Indoor | Indoor | Outdoor |
| Pays us | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
- Against the Renu Sanctuary 2: Renu is several thousand dollars cheaper for traditional heat indoors, and it pays us nothing. If price is the deciding factor, look at Renu first. The Nova’s case is Sun Home’s support, a wider size range, and the reader code.
- Against Sun Home’s own Eclipse: similar money, completely different experience. Eclipse is gentle infrared with red light; Nova is hot Finnish heat with steam. Decide which you want before comparing anything else.
- Against Sweaty Yeti: not really a competitor — Sweaty Yeti sells a whole garden building with a cold plunge built in, at more than twice the price. If you want it outside and you want the plunge too, that is the comparison; if you want it inside, it is not.
What We Do Not Know Yet
Being honest about the gaps is more useful than pretending there are none.
- Long-term reliability. The Nova has not been in anyone’s house for a winter yet. HUUM is an established heater maker, which helps, but the cabin itself is new.
- Independent reviews. The only reviews we found were on Sun Home’s own site — 5 for the Nova 3 and 7 for the Nova 6 when we checked, all five stars. Brand-hosted reviews on a preorder product are not the same as a year of owner reports.
- The outdoor model. Q1 2027, according to Sun Home. No specifications or price yet.
We will update this page once units are in homes and independent owner reports exist.
FAQ
Can you pour water on the stones in the Sun Home Nova?
Yes. Sun Home confirmed to us that the HUUM heater can be used dry or with water on the rocks.
Does the Nova need a special electrical circuit?
Yes. It is hardwired with no plug: a dedicated 240V circuit, 30A for the Nova 3 and 40A for the Nova 6, installed by a licensed electrician.
Is there an outdoor Nova?
Not yet. Sun Home told us it is due in Q1 2027.
Does the VERIFIEDCOMPARE code work on the Nova?
Yes, $200 off. Sun Home confirmed it. Details on our Sun Home promo code page.
How hot does it get?
Up to 230°F on both sizes.
Nova 3 or Nova 6?
Beyond headcount, the Nova 6 has a larger 7.5kW heater, needs a 40A rather than 30A circuit, and weighs 926 lb against 772 lb. If it will usually be one or two of you, the Nova 3 is the sensible buy.
Shop the Nova with code VERIFIEDCOMPARE →
Related Guides
- Best Home Saunas (2026) — infrared vs traditional, and the electrical question
- Sun Home Promo Code — $200 off, what qualifies
- Sauna or Cold Plunge: Which First?
- Best Cold Plunge Tubs for Home Use (2026) — the other half of contrast therapy