Editorial policy

This page is the longer version of the method we summarise on every guide and on our about page. It applies to everything we publish.

What a guide is based on

Our guides are desk research. We read:

• UK retailer product pages and published price lists
• Manufacturer installation manuals and support articles
• Official guidance, such as the Planning Portal, Approved Document P, Ofgem, GOV.UK, the NHS, the RNLI and RoSPA, where it is relevant

Every guide lists the sources we used, with a link, and the date we checked prices or re-read those sources. Retailer links in the sources list are plain reference links, not affiliate links.

What we have and have not done

• We have not tested the saunas, ice baths, heaters or blankets in our buying guides unless a page says otherwise, in which case it will say exactly what we did.
• Sizes, heater ratings, capacities, warranties and running-cost examples taken from a listing are the retailer's or manufacturer's figures, not measurements of our own.
• We do not invent owner reviews, star ratings, "lab tests" or quotes.
• Where we do our own arithmetic (for example, kWh × the Ofgem unit rate, or ice cost × sessions per week), we label it as an estimate and show the assumptions so you can change them.

How we choose what to include

We include products that are sold by UK retailers and that help a reader compare options in a category (for example, barrel saunas under £5,000, or standalone chillers). Inclusion is not for sale. A retailer cannot pay to be added or to appear higher up. We also include products from retailers we may not earn a commission from, when they are relevant, and we say when a cheaper option exists.

A "best" or "compared" headline means "compared on the published facts we could check", not "we tested these and picked a winner".

Advertising and affiliate links

Buying guides that are mainly about products we link to are labelled as advertising, with an Ad marker before the recommendations. Information guides (costs, planning, electrics, safety, maintenance) are editorial; any affiliate link in them is marked Ad next to the link. Details are on our affiliate disclosure.

Commission rates do not decide what we recommend or the order we present products.

Health, electrical and planning statements

• We do not make health claims for saunas or cold water. Where we mention risks, we cite official UK guidance (for example the RNLI, the NHS or the British Heart Foundation) and we suggest you speak to your GP if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
• Nothing on this site is medical, legal, planning or electrical advice. Electrical work must be done by a qualified, registered electrician. Planning questions should be checked with your local planning authority.

Updates and corrections

Retailer prices, stock and specifications change, especially around sales. Each guide shows when we last checked prices. If you spot an error, email [email protected] with the page and what has changed. We will check it against the source, correct it if needed, and note the date.

We aim to re-check featured prices after major sale periods and when the Ofgem price cap changes.