Company background
HUUM was started in Estonia by Siim Nellis and Henrik Ling. Their first heater, the DROP, was ready for production in 2012, and the company HUUM OÜ was registered in Tartu County in October 2013. It is still an independent company, not part of a larger sauna group.
The brand built its name on design. The DROP took a Red Dot product design award in 2015, and the CLIFF heater and UKU control won Red Dot awards again in 2021. In North America HUUM is often the heater people ask for by name after seeing it in a photo of a modern sauna.
What makes a HUUM heater different
Most heaters hide the stones inside a steel box. HUUM turns that around: the heating elements sit inside an open cage, and the stones form the outside of the heater. You see a rounded pile of rock rather than a metal cabinet.
That design has practical effects as well as visual ones:
- A large share of the stones is exposed to the room, which gives soft, even löyly when you throw water.
- The heater holds more stone for its size than many box heaters, so it takes a little longer to warm up and stays hot longer after it switches off.
- Stone placement matters. HUUM asks owners to use its own stones and to stack them as shown in the manual; the warranty can depend on it.
Electric heater lines
| Series | Form | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| DROP | Round, wall-mounted | The original design; home saunas of small to medium size |
| HIVE, HIVE Mini | Stone tower | People who want a heavy stone mass; the full-size HIVE suits larger rooms |
| CLIFF, CLIFF Mini | Stone-clad body | Red Dot winner in 2021 and an alternative shape to the round DROP |
| STEEL, STEEL Mini | Steel-clad body | A more conventional look with HUUM controls |
Each heater is paired with a control. The UKU is the Wi-Fi control that connects to the HUUM app, so you can switch the sauna on from your phone and see the room temperature.
Wood-burning stoves
HUUM also makes the HIVE Wood and HIVE Flow, wood-burning stoves that carry the same stone-tower look as the electric HIVE. They suit cabins and outdoor saunas where you want the HUUM style without a 240 V supply.
Buying a HUUM heater in Canada
HUUM runs a separate Canadian site at huum.ca, and its official importing partner in Canada is Backcountry Recreation, which keeps stock in Delta, British Columbia and Laval, Quebec. LeisureCraft in Ontario also carries HUUM heaters. See all Canadian stores on where to buy sauna heaters in Canada.
Only buy the North American version of a HUUM heater. Check the label for a cUL, cETL or CSA mark before the electrician wires it in; our guide to wiring a 240 V sauna heater in Canada explains why.
HUUM or Harvia?
This is the comparison most buyers make. HUUM wins on looks and on the amount of exposed stone. Harvia offers many more models, more service points and lower-priced options. The full breakdown is in Harvia vs HUUM. Another Estonian option built around even heat rather than stones is Saunum.
Questions buyers ask
Where are HUUM sauna heaters made?
HUUM is an Estonian company. HUUM OÜ was registered in Tartu County, Estonia, in 2013, and its first heater, the DROP, was ready for production in 2012.
What app works with HUUM heaters?
The HUUM app, through the UKU Wi-Fi control. A HUUM heater needs the UKU control to be run from a phone.
Who imports HUUM heaters into Canada?
Backcountry Recreation is HUUM's official importing partner in Canada, with warehouses in Delta, BC and Laval, QC. HUUM also runs a Canadian website at huum.ca.
Does HUUM make a wood-burning stove?
Yes. The HIVE Wood and HIVE Flow are wood-burning stoves built in the same stone-tower style as the electric HIVE.
Sources
- HUUM, about the company
- HUUM, awards and certificates
- Estonian business register, HUUM OÜ
- Backcountry Recreation, HUUM in Canada
Last checked November 8, 2026. Facts come from the brands' own sites and documents. How we check