Company background
Kuuma stoves are made by Lamppa Manufacturing in Tower, Minnesota, near the Canadian border. The Lamppa family built its first stove in the 1930s, introduced the Kuuma sauna stove in the 1970s, and the business is now run by the fourth generation. The stove gained UL approval in 2004. "Kuuma" means hot in Finnish, a nod to the Finnish settlers of northern Minnesota.
Built for cold-climate cabins
Kuuma stoves are designed for the conditions many Canadian cottage and cabin saunas face: a building that sits cold for days between visits and outside temperatures far below freezing. The stoves are heavy steel units that carry a large load of rock.
Models
| Model | What stands out |
|---|---|
| Kuuma Classic / Legacy | The traditional Kuuma wood stove |
| BluFlame | Wood gasification firebox, glass door and up to 275 lb of rock |
| Low Profile | About 250 lb of steel and 250 lb of rock in a lower body |
Gasification, used in the BluFlame, burns the gases released by the wood as well as the wood itself. The aim is a cleaner, more complete burn from the same armload of fuel. Lamppa also makes a wood furnace called the Vapor-Fire for heating buildings.
Planning a Kuuma install
- Weight. A stove with hundreds of pounds of steel and rock needs a solid, non-combustible floor and base.
- Chimney. Use a chimney system rated for the stove and follow the clearances in the manual. Your insurer may ask for proof.
- Local rules. Some Canadian municipalities limit wood-burning appliances or require a permit. Check before you build.
Our guide to electric vs wood-burning sauna heaters goes through the questions to settle first.
Kuuma and the other wood-stove makers
Kuuma is the American answer to the Finnish wood stoves from IKI and Narvi, and to the Harvia Legend. Its strength is a heavy, cold-climate design from a family maker close to the Canadian market. Compare all four in the brand comparison table.
Questions buyers ask
Who makes Kuuma sauna stoves?
Lamppa Manufacturing, a family company in Tower, Minnesota, now run by its fourth generation. The Kuuma sauna stove dates from the 1970s.
Is the Kuuma stove UL listed?
The Kuuma sauna stove received UL approval in 2004.
What is the Kuuma BluFlame?
A Kuuma wood stove with a gasification firebox, a glass door and room for up to 275 pounds of sauna rock.
Sources
- Timberjay, the ultimate sauna
- Twin Cities Business, Lamppa Manufacturing expansion
- Lamppa Manufacturing, Kuuma Low Profile
Last checked November 8, 2026. Facts come from the brands' own sites and documents. How we check