Harvia Cilindro Review: Tower Heater with 80kg Stone Mass Tested

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The Harvia Cilindro is a floor-standing tower heater built around an open-grid cylindrical cage design. No enclosure panels, no shrouding. The stones are fully exposed on all sides, which changes heat distribution behavior in ways that matter. We tested the Cilindro PC90E (9kW) over 11 months in a 12m3 spruce sauna to see whether the open design lives up to its engineering promise.

What Are the Harvia Cilindro PC90E Specifications?

The Harvia Cilindro PC90E is a floor-standing 9kW tower heater with 80kg stone capacity, 400V 3-phase power, and an open-grid cylindrical cage design sized for 8-14m3 sauna rooms, priced at $900-1,400 without controller.

Note that the Cilindro ships without a controller. You will need to purchase a Harvia Xenio (basic digital), Griffin (touchscreen), or a compatible third-party unit separately. Budget an additional $150-400 for the controller depending on which tier you choose.

What Makes the Cilindro’s Open-Grid Design Different?

The Cilindro’s open wire grid cage with 360-degree stone exposure produces measurably more even heat distribution than enclosed heaters, reducing the temperature differential across a 12m3 room from 14C down to just 5C.

This is the defining feature of the Cilindro, and it is worth understanding why it matters from a heat transfer perspective.

Conventional Enclosed Heaters

Most wall-mount and many floor-standing heaters enclose the stone mass in a stainless steel shell with ventilation slots or perforations. Air enters through the bottom, passes through the stone mass, and exits through the top. This creates a directed vertical airflow column that is efficient at moving heat upward but creates uneven temperature distribution in the horizontal plane.

In testing, enclosed heaters typically show a 6-12C temperature differential between the air directly above the heater and the air at the same height on the opposite side of a 12m3 room.

The Cilindro Approach

The Cilindro’s cage is an open wire grid with approximately 25mm spacing between the vertical bars. Stones are visible from every angle. Heat radiates outward in 360 degrees rather than being channeled upward through a single exit path.

The result is measurable. In our 12m3 test room, we placed six thermocouples at bench height (1.1m above floor) at equal intervals around the room perimeter. At steady state (85C target):

The Cilindro showed a maximum differential of 5C across all six positions versus 14C for the enclosed heater. That 5C spread is close to the theoretical minimum for a single-point heat source in a room of this geometry. You feel the difference: no hot spots near the heater, no cold pockets in the corners.

Thermal Radiation vs. Convection

The open design shifts the heat transfer balance. Enclosed heaters deliver roughly 70-75% of their heat through convection (hot air rising) and 25-30% through radiation. The Cilindro, with its exposed stone mass, pushes closer to a 55/45 convection-to-radiation split.

More radiant heat means you feel warmth on your skin even before the air temperature is fully up to target. This is similar to the experience of sitting near a wood-burning heater, where radiant heat from the firebox and stones reaches you directly. It is a qualitative difference that many sauna users prefer.

How Is the Harvia Cilindro’s Build Quality?

The Cilindro is manufactured in Harvia’s Muurame factory in Finland from 304 stainless steel, and after 11 months of use (approximately 300 sessions) showed zero corrosion, no cage warping, and no element failures.

The Cilindro is manufactured in Harvia’s Muurame factory in Finland. The cage frame is 304 stainless steel with 3mm diameter vertical rods welded to 4mm horizontal rings at 100mm intervals. The base plate is 2mm brushed stainless.

The heating elements are Harvia’s standard tubular elements arranged vertically inside the stone cage. Element access requires removing the top ring and unloading stones, which takes 30-45 minutes. Not ideal for maintenance, but element failure rates on Harvia units are low (published MTBF of 8,000+ operating hours).

After 11 months of use at 4-5 sessions per week (roughly 300 sessions), we observed:

• No visible corrosion on the cage frame
• Minor discoloration on the lowest element shield (cosmetic only)
• Stone cage geometry remained true with no warping
• Floor mounting bolts showed no loosening

The bottom line on build quality: this is a well-made Finnish product that will last. Harvia has been manufacturing heaters since 1950, and the Cilindro reflects that accumulated engineering experience.

How Does the Cilindro Perform for Stone Capacity and Loyly?

The Cilindro’s 80kg stone mass handles repeated 200ml water throws while maintaining stone temperatures above 300C through five consecutive throws, with recovery times averaging under 3.5 minutes and 360-degree water access for more even thermal distribution.

At 80kg, the Cilindro carries significantly more stone mass than most wall-mount heaters (typically 20-55kg). Only always-ready units like the Harvia Forte (100kg) and some custom wood-burning stoves carry more.

Stone Loading

The open cage design makes stone loading straightforward. No panels to remove. You stack directly into the cage from any angle.

For the Cilindro, Harvia recommends a three-layer approach:

1. Bottom layer (around elements): Large stones, 10-15cm diameter. Arrange them loosely to protect elements while maintaining airflow.
2. Middle layer: Medium stones, 7-10cm. Fill gaps but don’t pack tightly.
3. Top layer: Smaller stones, 5-8cm. Create the throwing surface.

Total loading time is approximately 25-30 minutes. The open cage makes it easy to see and adjust placement. With enclosed heaters, you are often working blind through a narrow top opening.

See our complete sauna stones guide for stone type recommendations. The short version: olivine diabase is the standard choice, peridotite is the premium upgrade.

Loyly Testing

We tested loyly production using the same protocol as our other heater reviews: 200ml water throws at 5-minute intervals from a cold start at steady state (85C air, 370C stone surface).

The 80kg stone mass handles repeated water throws better than any wall-mount we have tested. After five consecutive throws, stone temperature remains above 300C, which is still solidly in the quality loyly range. Recovery times are fast, averaging under 3.5 minutes.

The open cage design has an additional loyly benefit: you can throw water from multiple angles. With a wall-mount, you are limited to the front face. With the Cilindro, you can throw from any direction, hitting a larger surface area of the stone mass. In practice, this means the thermal load of each water throw is distributed more evenly across the stones.

How Fast Does the Harvia Cilindro Heat Up?

The Cilindro PC90E reaches 85C air temperature in 50 minutes in a 12m3 room with 80kg of stones, which is reasonable given the open design allows air to circulate freely through the entire stone mass simultaneously.

Despite the 80kg stone mass, the Cilindro heats reasonably fast because the open design allows air to circulate freely through the entire stone mass simultaneously rather than flowing through a constrained channel.

Heat-Up Curve (12m3 room, R-15 insulation)

Reaching 85C in 50 minutes with 80kg of stone mass is a reasonable result. The trade-off compared to lighter heaters is clear: the HUUM Drop (55kg stones) reaches the same temperature in 45 minutes. But the Cilindro brings 25kg more stone mass to the session, which translates to better sustained loyly.

If you want your sauna ready faster, reference our sizing guide to check whether upsizing to the 10.5kW or 11kW Cilindro models makes sense for your room volume.

What Models Are Available in the Harvia Cilindro Range?

The Cilindro comes in four models from 6.8kW to 11kW, with the larger 10.5kW and 11kW versions offering 100kg stone capacity for rooms up to 20m3. All models require 400V 3-phase power.

The Cilindro is available in four power ratings:

The 10.5kW and 11kW models step up to 100kg stone capacity with a taller cage. For rooms over 14m3, these are the way to go. All models require 400V 3-phase power. See our electrical requirements guide for wiring details.

What Controller Options Work with the Harvia Cilindro?

The Cilindro is compatible with the Harvia Xenio ($150-200) for basic digital control, the Harvia Griffin ($300-400) for WiFi touchscreen control, and third-party controllers for home automation integration. The Xenio is sufficient for most users.

Since the Cilindro ships without a controller, here are the compatible options:

Harvia Xenio (CX110)

Basic digital controller with temperature display, timer, and weekly programming. No WiFi. Reliable and straightforward. ~$150-200.

Harvia Griffin (CG170)

Touchscreen controller with color display, WiFi connectivity, and the Harvia MyHarvia app. More features, higher price. ~$300-400.

Third-Party

The Cilindro uses Harvia’s standard contactor wiring, which makes it compatible with most aftermarket sauna controllers. If you want home automation integration (Home Assistant, etc.), third-party options give you more flexibility.

For most users, the Xenio is sufficient. The Griffin is worth the upgrade only if you specifically want app-based pre-heat scheduling or remote monitoring.

What Are the Installation Requirements for the Harvia Cilindro?

The Cilindro is floor-standing with a compact 320mm diameter footprint, requiring 100mm side clearance, 1000mm to ceiling, and an insulating layer under the base on wooden floors since the mounting plate reaches 70-90C during operation.

The Cilindro is floor-standing, which simplifies mounting (no wall studs required) but introduces a floor contact consideration. The base gets hot during operation, reaching 70-90C at the mounting plate. Harvia includes a protective base plate, but on wooden floors, an additional insulating layer (stone tile, ceramic pad) underneath is recommended.

Minimum clearances per Harvia’s manual:

• All sides: 100mm to combustible surfaces
• Top: 1000mm to ceiling
• Front: 500mm to nearest bench

The 100mm side clearance is tight enough to fit in most room layouts without dominating floor space. The 320mm diameter footprint is actually quite compact for an 80kg-capacity heater.

What Is the Harvia Cilindro’s Thermal Score Breakdown?

The Harvia Cilindro earns a 9.2/10 thermal score, excelling in stone mass/loyly quality (9.5) and build quality (9.5), with the controls score (8.0) reflecting the additional cost and selection decision of a separately sold controller.

Rounded to our published score: 9.2/10. The controls score reflects that the controller is sold separately, adding cost and requiring a selection decision. Everything else is top-tier.

What Are the Pros and Cons of the Harvia Cilindro?

The Cilindro excels in even heat distribution, high stone mass, and competitive pricing, but requires a separately purchased controller, 400V 3-phase power, and has a 50-minute heat-up time.

Pros

• 80kg stone capacity in a compact floor-standing form factor
• Open-grid design produces measurably more even heat distribution
• Higher radiant heat ratio creates a more natural-feeling sauna experience
• 360-degree water access for loyly
• Finnish manufacturing with excellent build quality
• Competitive pricing for the stone capacity offered

Cons

• Controller sold separately adds $150-400 to the total cost
• All models require 400V 3-phase power
• 50-minute heat-up time is longer than lighter heaters
• Floor-standing design takes up room floor space
• Element access requires full stone unload

Who Should Buy the Harvia Cilindro?

The Cilindro is the best choice for builders who want even heat distribution, high stone mass, and a floor-standing design, particularly for larger sauna rooms of 12-20m3 where wall-mount heaters struggle with uniform temperatures.

The Cilindro is the best choice for builders who want even heat distribution, high stone mass, and a floor-standing design. It is particularly well-suited for larger sauna rooms (12-20m3 with the bigger models) where wall-mount heaters struggle to deliver uniform temperatures.

If you prioritize wall-mount convenience with maximum stone mass, the HUUM Drop is a better fit. If you want an always-ready heater for frequent use, the Harvia Forte offers that with even more stone capacity. If budget is a concern, see our budget heater roundup.

What Is the Bottom Line on the Harvia Cilindro?

The Harvia Cilindro is an excellent tower heater that solves the uneven heat distribution problem of enclosed units, delivering 80-100kg of stone mass with 360-degree radiant heat at a competitive price point for medium-to-large sauna rooms.

The Harvia Cilindro is an excellent tower heater that uses its open-grid design to solve the uneven heat distribution problem that plagues enclosed units. The 80kg stone mass at the 9kW tier (100kg at 10.5-11kW) delivers sustained loyly quality through extended sessions, and the 360-degree radiant heat profile creates a noticeably more comfortable sauna environment. Factor in the separate controller cost when budgeting, and make sure you have 3-phase power available. For medium-to-large sauna rooms, the Cilindro is one of the strongest choices on the market.