floathouse FAQ - Float House

Policies & Etiquette

+ Cancellation Policy

You must give 24 hours notice if you wish to cancel your appointment. No shows will be charged a flat fee of $20. Rescheduling an appointment can be done without penalty within the 24-hour window.

+ Arrival Times

Please arrive 5 minutes early for your first appointment. This gives us time to show you around and answer any questions you may have.

+ Noise Levels

Please be respectful to other guests by not speaking too loudly while in the lounge or reception area.

+ Mobile Phones

Disconnecting from mobile devices is actually a wonderful thing to do! We endorse this practice while in our center.

+ Membership Cancellation

Cancellations can only be done via email to info@floathouse.ca. A written membership cancellation request must be received at least 1-month in advance of your next billing cycle (example: if you are scheduled to be charged February 14th and you want to cancel for the month of February, you must submit your cancellation request by January 14th.).

Float Therapy

+ What is Float Therapy?

Enter into 10" of water with 1000 lbs of Epsom salt. Float therapy is a tool to reset the mind and body. It removes external stimulation for the mind. And it creates a weightless effect on your body.

+ How clean is the water?

There are ~1000 pounds of medical grade Epsom salt dissolved in each of our tanks. Salinity is on average around 1.27 grams per cubic centimeter. The higher the salt concentration, the lower the ability for microorganisms to thrive in water. This automatically gives floatation tanks a leg up on cleanliness when compared to public pools and hot tubs. After each session, the entire volume of the solution is filtered through a potent filtration and sterilization system. You can find a more detailed explanation in the section below! In addition all clients are required to shower prior to entering the tank.

+ Hair Dye

Brightly coloured non-permanent hair dye is not allowed in our tanks unless a swim cap is used. Hair dye can stain our white float tanks and often requires draining, sanding and polishing procedures to repair. Permanent (natural coloured) hair dye is fine and won’t be an issue.

+ Water Contamination

Contamination of our water is a serious offence and carries a financial penalty of $1000. This represents the costs of shutdown and replacement of the solution. Essential oils, soap, hair dye and bodily fluids are strictly prohibited.

+ Tattoos

Floating and fresh tattoos do not mix! Not only could floating with a fresh tattoo be painful in the salt water but the solution could cause fading or discoloration of your tattoo and permanently ruin its aesthetic appeal. How long you should wait before floating depends on the tattoo and how quickly it heals, but tattoo artists/floaters we have talked to have suggested waiting 4-6 weeks.

+ Do I need a bathing suit?

You can wear a swim suit in the tank if you like. However, most people choose to float naked as a suit can feel tight around your body and may be distracting during your session.

+ What if I'm claustrophobic?

Our float cabins are very spacious and offer plenty of ceiling height. Remember you are in complete control of your float experience; you can also keep the light on during your float session.

+ What if I fall asleep?

It’s not dangerous to fall asleep in the tank. In fact, it is very normal to doze off into light stages of sleep during a session. Some people even use floating for this purpose! One hour of sleep in the tank is roughly equivalent to 4 hours of regular sleep.

+ Can I float while pregnant?

Yes! In fact, pregnant women probably get more relief from the float tank than anyone else. Just lying on a bed can be extremely uncomfortable for a woman in the later stages of pregnancy due to the massive gravitational strain placed on the body. The float tank is a wonderful haven for pregnant women. We do, however, recommend that pregnant women avoid floating during the first trimester. If you have any concerns about the effects of floating on your pregnancy, we ask you to consult and get permission from your physician before you float.

+ What if I can't swim?

The water in our tanks is only 10″ deep so you can sit up comfortably without having to swim. Since the water is saturated with Epsom salts you simply float on the surface when laying down.

+ I have some cuts, can I still float?

Absolutely! But if you don’t cover them up with our special ointment first they are going to really sting! If you are recovering from a surgery, we suggest waiting until your incisions are fully healed.

+ I recently shaved or had a body wax, can I still float?

We suggest waiting one day after shaving and a few days after getting a body wax before coming in to float.

+ What if I get water in my eyes?

To be frank, it's going to sting! But don’t worry, you can just open the door, grab a towel, dab the salt from your eyes, then get back in the tank. You can also hang a face cloth from the interior handle of the lid so it’s available to use just in case.

+ Will my skin get wrinkly?

No. The high Epsom salt content of the water means that the water will not draw the salt from your skin and cause wrinkles like a long bath does. Epsom salt has been used for centuries as a medicinal treatment for various skin conditions. It is non-toxic and is not harmful if swallowed (although it does not taste good!). Epsom salt is actually quite nourishing for the skin, which is why many people feel silky smooth after their float session.

+ Do I have to stay in the whole time?

You aren’t locked in, so you can get out anytime. That said, the 75-minutes usually goes by a lot faster than you’d expect.

+ Can I leave the door open?

Yes. Many first time floaters prefer to leave the lid open for the first few minutes to help them orient to the tank. It is not recommended to leave the tank open for the entire session as the air temperature can change altering the overall experience.

+ Can I float with my partner?

All our tanks and cabins accommodate only one person. We do have multiple rooms though so you can bring your partner and still float at the same time (but in different rooms).

Float Water Sanitation

At Float House Vancouver, water sanitation is our top priority so we can provide a safe experience for every client. Our treatment process ensures maximum cleanliness and complies with Vancouver Coastal Health standards. At the end of your float, a soothing wake-up song will signal the end of your session. As you exit and step into the post-float shower, our filtration cycle begins.

+ Micron Filtration

The Micron Filtration System`s custom X-100 filter is able to filter particles from the water to 1 micron in size and is both NSF 50 and FDA compliant for drinking water (Class 1 Filtration). Our filters are 25 times finer than standard swimming pool filters.

+ Ozonation + UV Light

Ozone is injected automatically into the system for 15 minutes during each filtration cycle. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer, destroying dangerous organisms and pathogens including chlorine resistant contaminants. During the entire filtration cycle, UV-C lamps are used to help sterilize the solution. UV-C is a clean technology. The only active disinfectant is rays of light. No additional chemicals, gases or oxidants are added to the solution. Using natural rays of light, UV-C prevents the spread of microorganisms, harmful bacteria, viruses, cysts and protozoa.

+ Multiple Filtration Cycles

Our filtration system is activated for 20-30 mins between each client, which effectively performs 4-6 full cycles through our treatment cycle.

+ Chemical Usage

We maintain a low residual level of chlorine to comply with Vancouver Coastal Health guidelines. Our staff manually test and balance the water multiple times per day to uphold optimal conditions.

Hot-Cold Therapy

+ What is Hot-Cold Therapy?

Cycle from heat to cold, and repeat. Hot-Cold therapy is a tool for recovery and mental clarity. Take your day to the next level with a sweat and plunge.

+ How hot is the sauna?

The temperature of our hot-cold full spectrum infrared sauna gets up to 65 degrees Celsius or 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Approximate 15% of full spectrum output is absorbed by the air to create the 65 C/150 F temperatures while the rest is being directly absorbed by your body. This results in greater benefits liked higher production of heat shock proteins when compared to traditional steam or dry saunas that may run at a higher temperature.

+ How cold is the cold plunge?

The temperature of our cold plunge gets down to 3 degrees Celsius or 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Brrrr!

+ How many people can use it at one time?

The hot-cold room is only ever booked for one reservation at a time, but the individual who made the reservation can bring a max. of 1 other person with them for an extra fee of $10.

+ What should I bring?

We ask our guests to bring a shower towel and water bottle. We provide a bench & sweat towel, robe, hair dryer, along with organic body wash, shampoo and conditioner.

+ What should I wear?

Feel free to bring clothing you're comfortable to sweat in, but since you have your own private room, most people prefer to do their sessions without any clothing.

+ Is it clean?

Yes our hot-cold sauna is thoroughly sanitized with special non toxic cleaning agents before and after each use, plus the intense infrared waves kill 99% of all bacteria. The cold plunge water is in compliance with Vancouver Coastal Health guidelines.

+ Should I do anything special before or after?

Avoid alcohol before and after your session. If you feel ill or have a fever, we recommend to wait to use the therapy until you're feeling better. The infrared heat will cause you to sweat heavily so we highly recommend that you replenish with lots of water.

Infrared Sauna

+ What is Infrared Sauna?

Do cardio without the cardio. Infrared sauna is a tool for detox and recovery. Near, mid, and far infrared waves absord deep into your body. This allows you to get big benefits in a short period of time.

+ Infrared sauna vs regular sauna

In traditional heating technology hot air heats the air first to eventually penetrate the skin, this requires much higher temperatures, which are much less tolerable. Infrared technology skips the middle man and penetrates the body to directly heating you. This allows people to stay in longer and achieve a higher internal temperature; therefore greatly increasing benefits. Less suffering, more benefit.

+ Is infrared safe?

Yes absolutely, in fact your body emits infrared. Our equipment has also emits zero E.M.F. (electromagnetic fields) and is V.O.C. (volatile organic compound) free.

+ How hot is the sauna?

The temperature of our sauna gets up to 75 degrees Celsius or 167 degrees Fahrenheit. With our True Wave™ full spectrum infrared technology and the nature of the near, mid and far infrared waves that are being absorbed deep into your body compared to traditional infrared saunas we are able to achieve higher internal body temperatures. Approximate 15% of full spectrum output is absorbed by the air to create the 75 C/167 F temperatures while the rest is being directly absorbed by your body. This results in greater benefits liked higher production of heat shock proteins when compared to traditional steam or dry saunas that may run at a higher temperature. Lastly our unique technology lets you get these deeper benefits fast and comfortably!

+ Why are sessions only 40 mins?

Our infrared sauna is one of the most powerful in the country. Even for experienced infrared and traditional sauna users find 15 to 20 minutes in our chamber way more than enough. You have the room to yourself for 40 mins, we encourage people to stay in the sauna for approximately 20-30 minutes unbroken. This allows your body to receive the full benefits of infrared therapy. 20-30 consecutive minutes is the time period that science has found where you get the most benefits from infrared. A short period doesn’t provide the same benefits, a longer period of time starts showing diminishing returns.

+ How many people can go in at one time?

The chamber is only ever booked for one reservation at a time, but the individual who made the reservation can bring a max. of 2 other people with them for an extra fee of $10/person.

+ What should I bring?

We ask our guests to bring a shower towel and water bottle. We provide a bench & sweat towel, robe, hair dryer, along with organic body wash, shampoo and conditioner.

+ What should I wear?

Feel free to bring clothing you're comfortable to sweat in, but since you have your own private room, most people prefer to do their sessions without any clothing.

+ Is it clean?

Yes the entire sauna is thoroughly sanitized with special non toxic cleaning agents before and after each use, plus the intense infrared waves kill 99% of all bacteria.

+ Does infrared sauna burn calories?

You burn calories from the heat induced cardiovascular work out, but Infrared therapy is meant to be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and fitness plan, not as a replacement.

+ Should I do anything special before or after?

Avoid alcohol before and after your session. If you feel ill or have a fever, we recommend to wait to use the therapy until you're feeling better. The infrared heat will cause you to sweat heavily so we highly recommend that you replenish with lots of water.

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