Company background
Tapani Harvia built his first sauna stoves in Jyväskylä, central Finland, in 1950. The company later moved its base to nearby Muurame, where the head office still is. Harvia Plc has been listed on Nasdaq Helsinki since 2018.
Growth since then has come largely through acquisitions:
| Year | Company | What it added |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sentiotec | Austrian sauna controls and heaters |
| 2018 | Almost Heaven | US maker of barrel and cabin saunas |
| 2020 to 2022 | EOS Saunatechnik | German premium heaters, fully owned from 2022 |
| 2021 | Kirami, Sauna-Eurox | Finnish hot tubs and sauna components |
| 2023 | Phoenix El-Mec | Electronics for heater controls |
| 2024 | ThermaSol | US steam shower and steam generator brand |
For a North American buyer this matters in two ways. Harvia has its own US operation in Lewisburg, West Virginia, and a wide network of dealers, so parts such as elements, contactors and stones are easier to find than for smaller brands.
Electric heater lines
| Series | Type | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| KIP | Wall-mounted, built-in controls | Small and medium home saunas; one of the most common heaters in North America |
| Vega | Compact wall-mounted | Very small rooms and cabins |
| Cilindro | Floor-standing tower | Larger stone mass and softer steam; ETL listed in the US |
| Virta, Virta Pro, Virta Combi | Floor-standing, separate control | Home and light commercial; Combi adds a steam function |
| The Wall | Slim wall-mounted panel | Modern rooms where floor space is tight |
| Spirit, Forte | Design and quick-heat models | Forte is built to heat up fast and keep warm between sessions |
| Club | Heavy-duty | Gyms, hotels and condo amenity saunas |
Most models need a separate control panel. The Xenio WiFi and Fenix panels connect to the MyHarvia app, which lets you start the heater, set the temperature and check the room from a phone.
Wood-burning stoves
Harvia's wood range covers cabins, cottages and outdoor saunas. The Legend series has a tall steel-mesh stone cage that holds a lot of stones for long, even steam. The M3 is a compact, inexpensive stove often used in small barrel saunas. Both are sold with or without a glass door and can be paired with Harvia chimney kits.
Certification for Canada and the US
Harvia's North American declaration of conformity cites UL 875 (the US standard for electric sauna heaters) and CSA C22.2 No. 60335 for the Virta, Club, Cilindro, The Wall, Vega and Forte families, plus the Xenio control. In practice that means:
- Buy a model sold for North America. These run on 208 V or 240 V single phase and carry a cETL or cUL mark.
- Do not import a European 400 V heater. It will not match Canadian household supply and will not pass an electrical inspection.
- Have a licensed electrician size the breaker and wire. Our guide on wiring a 240 V sauna heater in Canada explains what to expect.
Warranty
Harvia's general warranty terms give two years on heaters and one more year if you register an electric heater. North American terms and commercial use can differ, so check the warranty card that ships with your model or ask the dealer before buying.
Where to buy Harvia in Canada
Harvia sells through dealers rather than directly. The official dealer list is on harvia.com. Canadian stores that stock Harvia heaters include:
- LeisureCraft, Melancthon, Ontario
- Backcountry Recreation, Delta, British Columbia and Laval, Quebec
The full list by province is on our page about where to buy sauna heaters in Canada.
How Harvia compares
The brand most often weighed against Harvia is HUUM from Estonia. Buyers usually pick HUUM for its look and Harvia for the wider choice of models and the bigger service network. Read the full Harvia vs HUUM comparison, or see every brand in one comparison table.
Questions buyers ask
Where are Harvia sauna heaters made?
Harvia is based in Muurame, Finland, where the company started making stoves in 1950. The group also owns brands outside Finland, including EOS in Germany and Almost Heaven in the United States.
Are Harvia heaters approved for use in Canada?
Harvia sells North American versions of its main electric heaters. Its declaration of conformity lists the UL 875 and CSA C22.2 No. 60335 standards for Virta, Club, Cilindro, The Wall, Vega and Forte. Buy the North American model number, not a European one.
What app controls a Harvia heater?
MyHarvia. It works with the Xenio WiFi and Fenix control panels, so a heater needs one of those controls to be run from a phone.
Is Finlandia the same as Harvia?
Some heaters sold in the US under the Finlandia name are Harvia units built for that sauna maker. The heater carries Harvia model numbers, such as the FLB-80 based on the KIP.
Sources
Last checked November 8, 2026. Facts come from the brands' own sites and documents. How we check