Rating of bath stoves. Which stove to put in the bath: choose the best option The most economical sauna stove

Sauna stoves differ in appearance, internal functioning system and characteristics. Despite the fact that the models are different, they have the same goal - to heat the bath, contributing to the creation of the desired microclimate.

• Thermal power. The main selection criterion. It should be sufficient to heat the steam room and adjacent premises in the summer for half an hour, in winter with frost for 2 hours. For a furnace that is moderate in its capabilities, the average figure is close to 10 kW.
• Heat accumulator capacity. The steam must not be transparent. For normal operation, 100 g of water per 1 m 3 is sufficient. The temperature must not fall below 100°C, otherwise the steam will come out heavy and damp.
• Material. Chrome steel is the best option. There is no risk of burning oxygen. There are also models made of cast iron, ordinary steel.
• Duration of work. The oven should work at least 3-4 hours, keep warm for a long time. Quickly cooling models will have to be re-ignited each time.

• Type of fuel. Firewood, gas and electricity. The wood-burning specimen is traditional. It guarantees fast, uniform heating and a favorable microclimate. Comes with or without a chimney. In his absence, the burning goes through the vent.

Electric is the modern way. It features precise temperature control. For normal operation, a stable supply of electricity is needed.

The gas model implies complete independence. It lends itself to automation. Suitable for those who have low gas tariffs in the region.

• Stone type. With an open system, the air is heated by hot stones. Such a stove quickly heats the steam room, suitable for frequently visited baths. Closed increases the heating time of the room.
• The presence of a heat exchanger. Allows you to save firewood and maintain a high temperature in the bath.

• Design. The oven can be of any size, shade and shape.
• Price. The cost for a moderately powerful model does not exceed 20,000 rubles.

Secondary options:

The best stove for a bath with a water tank

Termofor Kalina Carbon easy to use, compact and on par with premium options in terms of features and build quality.

It has a logical and convenient arrangement of controls, all parts are tightly fitted to each other, a black body with a matte texture of structural steel - a material resistant to corrosion and scratches.

Panoramic glass for relaxation, internal loading of stones up to 95 kg using a pull-out compartment for long-term heat retention.

Chimney labyrinth to increase the efficiency of the furnace and a built-in heat exchanger for heating water in the tank.

• Volume - 30 m 3.
• Power - 15 kW.
• Weight - 96 kg.

• High power. Heats up a large area of ​​the sauna.
• Built-in heat exchanger. To improve the performance of the microclimate.

Minuses:

• Restrictions. Not suitable for a small bath, only for a large one, due to the size.
• economical material. Loses to models made of steel with chrome.

The best stove for a bath with a heat exchanger

Ermak 12 belongs to the economy class line, but this does not indicate poor quality. Material - stainless steel with chromium content. It is resistant to corrosion. The furnace has standard dimensions for its class: 425×520×690 mm. Weight - 52 kg.

The weight of the stones to be laid is 40 kg. This indicator requires a longer heating of the raw material. Remote tank and heat exchanger are included.

• Power - 12 kW.
• Working area - 14 m 3.
• Zone for stones - 40 kg.
• Firewood length - up to 450 mm.

• Rich equipment.
• Moderate microclimate. The water in the oven is hot but does not boil.
• Price. Low price.

Minuses:

• The stones heat up slowly.

The best cast iron sauna stove

Relevance Hephaestus PB-01 attributed to high power. It is able to heat a large room up to 45 m 3 . The thick walls of the structure quickly transfer heat.

The highest efficiency (87%) among sauna stoves is a key feature. The furnace withstands high thermal loads - up to 750 ̊С. Turbulent fins make it possible to reduce heat transfer in the chimney up to 300˚С.

• Power - 18 kW.
• The mass of stones is 70 kg.
• Firewood length - up to 400 mm.
• Dimensions - 71.1 × 5 × 88.7 cm.
• Weight - 350 kg.

• Reliability.
• Large working area. Suitable for a large project.
• Efficiency. Heats rooms quickly and retains heat for a long time.

Minuses:

• High price. Doesn't differ in availability.
• Big weight. The floor must be strong in the bath.
• Mandatory brickwork. Measure against heating of walls and fire.

The best stove for a bath in the country (heater)

Usually garden-cottage baths are focused on fast heating. Varvara Mini has small dimensions and weight. Differs in compactness and efficiency.

Creates the desired microclimate in the room after turning on for half an hour. Rapid heating occurs due to double convection. It warms up not only the volume of the bath, but also its walls, floor, ceiling. The weight of the stones to be laid is 40 kg. The maximum length of firewood is 30 cm.

Features include the possibility of completing with a remote / mounted tank. Both systems are stainless steel. Remote is suitable for installation on the second floor or as a passage through the ceiling. The water in it boils within an hour.

• Power - 8 kW.
• Working area - 8 m 3.
• Weight - 85 kg.

• Weight. Suitable for a small bath.
• Window on the back for easy maintenance.
• Equipment.

Minuses:

• Regular design. May appear unattractive.
• Restrictions. Suitable for country baths.

The best stove for a bath with a closed heater

Vesuvius Skiff Made of gray steel with matt finish. There are many forged decorated elements in a golden hue on the door. The built-in heater, heated up to 400˚C, allows you to get "light" steam.

To "plug" part of the convection, the oven is equipped with a grate. The element holds stones around the entire perimeter of the hull. Proper air circulation allows you to heat the room in 1 hour.

• Power - 15 kW.
• Volume - 24 m 3.
• Weight - 91 kg.

• Large heated area.
• "Light" steam. The bath will be comfortable.
• Security.

Minuses:

• Big mass. Pretty heavy model.

The best electric sauna stove

Harvia Sound M45 made of steel. Works from a network. Power supply type - 3-phase. The Finnish-made wall model comes with a built-in remote control with a thermostat and a timer.

The oven allows you to equip it with loudspeakers for music. Safe installation distance from the wall - 3.5 cm, to the ceiling - 110 cm, floor - 15 cm.

• The size of the steam room is up to 6 m 3.
• Power - 4.5 kW.
• Electric heater time - up to 4 hours.
• The weight of the stones is 25 kg.
• Weight - 16 kg.

• Compactness. Doesn't take up much space.
• Delayed start function. After the set parameters, it turns on automatically after a few hours.
• Modern technologies. It is possible to listen to music.

Minuses:

• Small work area. Designed for several people.

The best gas stove for a bath

Teplodar KomPAR 50- this is a rare type of heat generator for a bath - gas stoves are expensive, and they are purchased for commercial purposes. Installation requires permission, drawing up an individual design plan.

Product features - heating the steam room in less than half an hour, automatic temperature control, no need to clean the tank.

No need to constantly load fuel - throw firewood. The stone tray is installed on top of the structure, there is also a discharge device for combustion products.

• Heated volume - 70 m 3.
• The wall thickness of the furnace is 0.6 cm.
• Fuel is wood.
• Weight - 130 kg.

• Compactness. Doesn't take up a lot of space in the closet.
• Simple operation. Does not require careful maintenance.

Minuses:

• High price. It is very expensive.
• Complicated installation. You will need to go to the authorities to draw up paperwork for permission to install.

The best wood-burning stove for a bath

Kastor KO-20 features a modern design - matte surface, no frills, convenient opening systems. Differs in a practical, elegant look.

The main idea is the presence of enhanced live fire due to the glass door. It occupies almost the entire front panel.

The capacity for stones is calculated on 60 kg. The double casing is another advantage. It is needed to reduce the safe distance for accelerating air exchange.

• Power - 18 kW.
• Volume - 20 m 3.
• The maximum mass of stones is 60 kg.
• Weight - 99 kg.

• Design. Fits in a modern bathroom.
• Light steam. Creates comfort in the room.
• Relaxation. View of a burning fire.

Minuses:

• Restrictions. For kindling, use wood chips and a torch, then firewood. Do not use birch. After it, you will have to clean the firebox window.

The best stove for a long-burning bath

It has a non-standard design - in the form of an iron barrel with legs. It is capable of heating air with a volume of 150 m 3. Works on wood, cardboard. Hard coal will not work.

The firebox is the inner cylinder, the outer one is used as a convector casing. Cold air is sucked in by two holes from below. It comes out hot through a dozen top holes.

The temperature is controlled by two dampers. One of them is designed to supply air to the furnace, the other - for chimneys. Smoldering firewood contributes to the 8-hour heating of the bath with closed dampers.

When they are open, firewood burns, that is, the room quickly warms up (10-15 minutes).

• Manufacturer - Russia.
• Material - steel.
• Power - 8.4 kW.
• Weight - 48 kg.
• Service life - 20 years.

• Rapid heating of the room.
• Large working area.
• Versatility. Suitable for cottages, cities.

Minuses:

• Design. Simplicity and rough lines of the case.

The best metal stove for a bath

Termofor Geyser- This is a classic option in design and functionality. Made of heat-resistant black alloy steel - this is a reliable material. Wall, refers to the closed type. Combined fuel. The furnace is designed to produce steam and heat water.

Standard features include ash drawer, flame level adjustment. The walls of the firebox are 0.3 cm thick. It is divided by a heater into two parts - open and closed.

In the first, steam is formed, in the second it is dried. Built-in dosing valve in the funnel to prevent the ingress of large amounts of water.

• Heating volume - 18 m 3.
• The volume of the furnace is 40 l.
• Firewood length - 50 cm.
• Dimensions - 41.5 × 90 × 83 cm.
• All - 59 kg.

• Simple use. Connects to the chimney at the top, there is protection against water ingress.
• Reliable body. Made from heat resistant steel.
• Laconic style. Will fit into the bath of any idea.
• Small mass. You can easily move when arranging the territory.

Minuses:

• Noise. The hum during the active burning of firewood.
• Working area. For a small bath.

Using the example of 10 sauna stoves, we can summarize that the best option when choosing is one that quickly heats up a large volume of the room. Security is another important factor.

Many solutions require brick lining - and this is a costly business. Others are made of structural steel, a more economical material.

It is better when the firebox walls are made of steel with chrome. Such raw materials have increased resistance to corrosion and melting.

Tulinka NVU-150, Vesuvius Skif and Hephaestus PB-01 should be singled out from the list. Models can heat air with a volume of 25 m 3 or more, they are suitable for both a small bath and a large one.

They withstand high thermal loads - up to 450˚С. Easy to operate, quickly heat the room in half an hour and retain heat for a long time.

Probably, if any owner of individual suburban housing does not yet have his own bathhouse on the site, then most likely he is hatching plans for its construction and equipment. The bathing tradition in Russia is very ancient and enduring, and no modern devices and fixtures in the form of bathtubs, jacuzzi, "fancy" showers, electric heaters or steam generators can replace the real heat from a heated stove and a birch broom.

The stove is one of the most important attributes of a Russian bath or a real sauna. The required atmosphere and the required temperature both in the steam room and in the washing room directly depend on its effective operation. Currently, there are many models on sale that are specially designed for such conditions. However, many home craftsmen prefer to make a sauna stove with their own hands. This matter, although quite complicated and requiring good skills in construction or welding, is still quite feasible.

Types of sauna stoves

First of all, it is necessary to deal with the main existing varieties of bath stoves so that you can opt for one of them.

1. By material manufacturing

• For a long time, burnt bricks have been the main material for sauna stoves. This tradition has not become a thing of the past even today - many people prefer the brick oven to all others, although, of course, its construction is much more difficult than installing a ready-made one. But on the other hand, the heat in it remains much longer, and it creates a very special atmosphere in the bath.

With its construction, certain difficulties may arise. So, for a brick structure, a foundation is required that is not connected with the foundation of the bath itself. In addition, the dimensions of the building itself do not always allow placing such a furnace in it, although, of course, there are projects of very small masonry.

Another difficulty is that the construction of such a furnace requires a certain amount of experience so that it does not become a source of a potential threat to human life and health. Often the desire to have a stone stove makes the owners of the bath turn to the masters. However, you can try to fold it yourself.

• Metal bath stoves are very popular. Although they are some departure from tradition, they have a number of advantages:

- Its installation does not take a long time and does not require a lot of space.

- There are a lot of ready-made models on sale, so it is possible to choose the most optimal option for a specific bath.

- It is easier to make such a furnace on your own if you have experience with electric welding.

- For the manufacture of a metal furnace, even seemingly recycled materials are often used - pipe cuttings, old disks from trucks, obsolete gas cylinders, old barrels, etc.

In the bath, as a rule, only steel stoves are installed - cast iron is unacceptable in these conditions. Yes, it has a higher heat capacity and holds the desired temperature longer, but its fragility and instability to sudden thermal changes make it impossible, for example, to splash cold water on a hot stove - cracks may appear.

Additional information about stoves from the site:

The main disadvantage of steel stoves is their rather quick cooling after the end of the furnace, especially if an insufficiently thick metal sheet was used for manufacturing. However, a massive heater can hold heat for quite a long time.

• To reconcile supporters of brick and steel sauna stoves can be the technology of lining a metal case with a brick.

In this case, a massive foundation is not required, the tightness of the masonry joints is also, that is, the process of building walls is quite simple.

Combined option - a metal stove lined with bricks

In addition to good heat accumulation, brick cladding will protect against direct exposure to hard infrared radiation from hot metal surfaces. And yet - it can be a good interior addition to the bath, hiding the often not very pretty look of a steel stove.

2. According to the energy carrier used

The vast majority of sauna stoves are designed to fire them. There are, of course, models with the use of gas and electricity. Some craftsmen adapt liquid fuel units (for example, diesel fuel) for this purpose, taking the furnace part with the diesel fuel supply system outside.

However, we can emphasize this again, no other energy sources, except for natural, well-dried firewood, will create in the steam room that health-improving microclimate, for which, in principle, the bath is most often built.

3. According to the location of the firebox

Both brick and metal bath stoves can have different layouts:

In one version, the entire furnace is located in the steam room, that is, it has to be fired directly from here. This design is certainly cheaper, much easier to manufacture and install, but there are a number of serious drawbacks. So, for example, you can’t create a supply of firewood in a steam room - they simply become saturated with moisture. Thus, if necessary, to maintain the fire, you will have to run out after them to another room or to the street. In addition, a steam room is usually not such a voluminous room, and therefore there is a high risk of getting an accidental burn from touching a red-hot furnace door.

From the point of view of convenience and safety of use, stoves win, in which the door of the combustion chamber is placed in the dressing room, and in the steam room itself there is a heater and, possibly, a tank for heating water. In such a stove, you can keep the fire going without disturbing anyone, and the overall level of safety increases in the steam room.

4. According to the method of heating the heater

Finally, sauna stoves differ in the way the stones are heated.

• Currently, constant heating stoves are most often used. In their design, the stones do not have direct contact with the outgoing combustion products - they are placed either in a metal container welded to the stove body, or in special lattice bodies located on the walls or even on the chimney. This arrangement of the furnace is more characteristic of the Finnish sauna. The heating temperature of the stones reaches 300 - 400 degrees. Usually, stones of a fairly small fraction are used, like coarse gravel. They are not covered with soot, as they are isolated from combustion products.

The convenience of such a stove is that the process of heating and, directly, taking bath procedures are not separated in time - you can maintain the fire and, accordingly, the temperature in the steam room for as long as necessary.

• Bath furnaces of periodic heating are arranged somewhat differently. Their design implies the removal of hot gases directly through the heater, with their subsequent exit into the chimney. At the same time, stones are heated to extremely high temperatures - up to 1000 degrees. However, after heating the stove, they must wait for the fuel to completely burn out and carbon monoxide to escape - only after that you can proceed to washing. In order not to cool quickly and not give off heavy wet steam, it is usually covered with either a lid or a hinged door.

According to this scheme usually formed classical Russian bath stoves - a heated bath was enough for all family members. When water hits such strongly heated stones, it instantly turns into steam. The main condition is that they should be massive, carefully selected, rounded, of a pronounced dark gray color, and their total mass should be at least 50 kilograms. From time to time, the heater is taken apart to clean the stones from the accumulated soot and replace the collapsed ones.

Schemes of such simple periodic ovens will be discussed below.

• It should be noted that there are models of stoves that combine the advantages of both devices. In them, the heater is divided into two areas - unventilated, placed in a special channel through which the combustion products pass, and open.

In such a furnace, there are two heaters - an external ventilated and an internal one, which receives heat from combustion products.

Such stoves are quite complex in design, but they perfectly accumulate heat and give dry steam, and, if necessary, firewood can be thrown right in the process of washing.

The stove is the heart of the bath. In the absence of the proper skills, it is not easy to make it yourself. Think about what is more important: savings, most often imaginary, or the feeling of comfort that accompanies you during the arrangement of the bath and its use.

Those who prefer effective solutions should pay attention to the options for ready-made sauna stoves. Among them you will find devices that meet all the listed quality criteria, and at the same time have an affordable price.

Thus, among the leaders of the furnace market, heating installations from the Dobrostal Plant company, the winner of the competition “100 Best Goods of Russia”, can be singled out. In the assortment offered by her, such concise models of furnaces as:

• "Heat-Extra 400";
• "Heat-Lux 20".

The body material of the devices is carbon steel, one of the strongest and most heat-resistant materials. The ergonomic design of these wood-burning stoves allows them to be used not only as a heating unit, but also as a good interior solution.

The Zhara-Extra 400 model is designed for heating a steam room from 4 to 12 m 3 in size. The thickness of the roof and the weight of the furnace can also vary, based on your requirements.

Furnaces of the Zhara Lux series offer a wider range of models, with the ability to choose a device for heating a steam room area from 4 to 30 m 3.

The structures under consideration are equipped with a chimney-coil, which allows:

• make traction more uniform;
• save fuel.

By the way, the chimney can be disassembled for cleaning at any time.

The device package includes:

• grate;
• decorative elements;
• cast iron door
• closed heater with funnel for water supply;
• scoop;
• detailed installation guide.

Furnaces of the "Heat" series are able to satisfy the needs of an avid lover of a steam room, however, if the bath is not a hobby for you, but a real passion, we advise you to pay attention to the August Profi model, equipped with a panoramic glass door. The incomparable comfort of using this device will turn all parts of the bathing procedure into a pleasure.

The model in question is equipped with:

• closed-type heater;
• steam generation system.

Using the built-in system, you will be able to choose the “mode” for your steam room yourself:

• traditional Russian bathhouse;
• Finnish sauna for real Vikings;
• hammam for lovers of oriental pleasures.

The establishment of convection in the "Augusta Profi" is carried out by adjusting special dampers.

The desired model can also be purchased in simplified model variations "Standard", "Stone", however, it is the "Profi" version that is the most refined, powerful and multifunctional.

The listed designs represent only a small fraction of the Dobrostal Plant model range. We advise you to study it, and find the perfect heart for your steam room.

Prices for fireplaces and stoves

Fireplaces and stoves

How to make a metal stove for a bath yourself

There are countless options for metal bath stoves, and, by and large, anyone can come up with their own, relying on some basic models. As an example, we can cite several very simple stoves, the manufacture of which does not require any special knowledge and skills.

Periodic heating stove for a small family steam room

This is probably one h the simplest options. To make such a furnace, you need a metal sheet with a thickness of about 5 mm (steel St 3). In this case, it makes no sense to make a stove from a thinner sheet - it will burn out very quickly, and it will not retain heat efficiently.

• The dimensions of the stove are small - only 900 mm long, 800 - height with legs, and width along the front - 600 mm. It can be placed even in a very small steam room.
• For the chimney pipe, you will need a piece of pipe with a diameter of 115 mm. Its length can be different - some prefer a short pipe with a flange for connecting the chimney, others weld a long enough length on which you can put a hot water tank.
• In order for all seams to be durable, it is better to make them on a metal corner with a shelf of 30 × 30 × 3 mm. The same profile will also be needed for shelves and brackets for internal lattice partitions.
• In height, the space of the stove is divided into three unequal compartments. The lower, narrowest one is an ash pan (1) with a blower door. The size of this door is usually small, 2-2.5 times smaller than the furnace opening.
• Between the ash pan and the firebox (3), cast-iron grates are installed on brackets from the corner.

• If they could not be found, then you will have to weld a lattice of parallel bars with a diameter of at least 10 — 12 mm. The distance between the bars is kept the same - about 10 mm.
• The upper compartment is a heater through which combustion products are removed during heating of the stove (5). Gases pass freely through the grate (4), heat the stones and are discharged into the chimney (6).
• The doors of the combustion chamber and the blower-ashpit are broadcast on welded hinges and are necessarily equipped with latch valves.
• The rear part of the heater is welded by one third with a metal sheet (300 × 600 mm), in the center of which a hole is cut, where the chimney pipe is welded, which goes down by 100 - 120 mm.
• The diagram does not show the lid that is used to cover the heater during the heating of the sauna stove. It is easy to make it from thin metal (0.8 - 1.0 mm) in such a way that it completely covers the heater and slightly lies down on the body walls. This cover will not allow the stones to cool quickly, and in process the pre-heater of the bath will prevent the direct exit of combustion products into the room, directing them into the chimney pipe. Of course, good traction must be provided for this.

Immediately before the start of bath procedures, this cover is removed and the heater remains in the open position. However, sometimes they also provide a hinged hatch, which is opened when it is necessary to give steam, and the lid is constantly in place, keeping the heat of the stones longer.

• When the stove is fully welded, a thorough cleaning and check of the seams, removal of burrs and metal irregularities are carried out. It is recommended to cover the outside of the structure with a heat-resistant varnish specially designed for fireplaces and stoves.

Stones are laid in the compartment intended for them later, after the stove is installed in place in the bath and connected to the chimney. This will be discussed a little later.

The heat from such a stove after heating it should be enough for a full-fledged bath procedure for 2 - 3 people.

Periodically heated metal stove with additional brick walls

Another version of the open type stove, which, however, is somewhat more difficult to manufacture, but its ability to accumulate heat is much higher.

“Double” technology is already being used here - a metal case and internal brickwork. In this case, steel is not needed too thick - sheets of 1.5 - 2.0 mm are enough. Heat-resistant fireclay bricks are used for masonry, and as a mortar, it is best to purchase a ready-made dry mortar specially designed for stoves and fireplaces, and knead it in accordance with the preparation instructions.

• To begin with, a base is being prepared with legs welded to it with heel pads so that the design of the furnace is stable.
• Then, on this basis, the first continuous row of bricks is laid out. All other rows are made in a "half-brick" in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe firebox, and in a "quarter" - in the area of ​​​​chimney channels.
• After the camera is laid out ash pan-blower(1), a cast-iron grate is installed between it and the firebox (2). To leave openings for the blower and the loading window during masonry, it is fashionable to use jumpers from a metal corner 20 × 20, but only so as not to disturb the evenness of the inter-row seams.
• Above the combustion chamber, a grate of metal rods (Ø 12 mm) is installed, on which stones will subsequently be laid.
• On the left or right side of the masonry, at the level of the heater, a window (5) is left, which will serve to load the stones, for their regular inspection and cleaning, and in the process of bathing procedures - for steam generation - water from the ladle will splash into it.
• The sinuous chimney channel contributes to the most complete heating of the entire furnace structure and complete afterburning of all combustion products. In the back of this channel, at the level of turning it up, an inspection window is left, where a valve will then be mounted to maximize heat retention after the furnace has been fired.
• The upper two rows of bricks are made solid, only with a window for the exit of combustion products - in this place the chimney pipe will then be welded.
• When the brickwork is finished, and the mortar has set well enough, it is possible to sequentially weld the walls of the metal case to the base, which in this case plays the role of a kind of “case”. To facilitate this task, and at the same time to achieve tightness of the welds, a corner of 20 × 20 mm can be put on top of the joints.
• When marking the workpiece for the front wall, openings for the ash pan and the loading window of the combustion chamber are immediately outlined and cut out. After the front wall is in place, hinges are welded on which the doors of both chambers with locking devices are hung. The door leafs themselves should be 10–15 mm wider in each direction than the recessed windows in order to ensure tight closing. It would be useful to install an asbestos seal around the perimeter or even over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe inner surface of the firebox door.

• During the installation of the side wall, from the side of the steam window left in the masonry, a opening and a metal door with a seal is installed. It is better to make it fold down and equip it with a “cold” handle so that you can open it during washing to give steam.
• The stove cover is welded last with a pre-cut hole for the chimney pipe. Then a piece of pipe with a diameter of 100 mm is welded.
• The stove will be loaded with stones after it is installed in the bathhouse at the prepared place.

Constant heating stoves with an open heater

It is even easier to build such stoves from a metal sheet or other available materials.

The figure shows an easy-to-manufacture stove made from trimming a metal thick-walled pipe with a diameter of 325 mm.

The pipe cavity itself is divided into two compartments by a grate. The upper, main one, serves as a firebox, the lower one serves as an ashpit-blower. Both compartments have their own doors, respectively, for laying firewood and providing air supply and cleaning.

Closer to the far, completely muffled end of the pipe, a chimney pipe with a diameter of 100 mm is welded.

A metal box is welded on top of the cylindrical body, which will be filled with stones. In order to ensure maximum heating of the stones, it is possible to make the chimney in this area not straight, but with a curved elbow - the contact area of ​​the hot pipe with the heater will increase significantly.

It will not be difficult to make a similar stove in the form of a parallelepiped, using metal sheets as blanks.

Very often, these stoves are equipped with hot water tanks. In the photo of the stove from the pipe, it is placed on the back plug, which is also the wall of the water tank.

In the manufacture of rectangular structures, there are much more options - tanks are placed on either side, on top, or even make a semblance of a “water jacket” from several sides, with a tie-in of cold and hot water supply pipes.

Another convenient option for solving the issue of heating water can be the installation of a special heat exchange tank on the chimney pipe.

Such water heaters can be made independently, but it is also possible to purchase a finished factory product that has a ton of a certain standard diameter. All that remains is to embed this tank into the vertical part of the chimney above the stove and connect the water supply and withdrawal pipes.

Such tanks can themselves have sufficient volume, or serve only as a heat exchanger and be connected to the main water tank.

Video: an interesting simple design of a metal stove for a bath

Preparing the site for installing the stove

Making your own stove for a bath is only half the battle. It is necessary to carefully prepare a place for its installation directly in the room.

Even just a metal stove is a fairly massive structure, especially if you add to its own weight the weight of the stone laying and the weight of the filled hot water tank. Thus, it is necessary to prepare the base - a kind of podium on which it will be installed. It is best to provide your own foundation for it.

• To do this, a small pit (up to 500 mm deep) comes off in a selected place.
• A sand layer up to 100 mm is laid on the bottom, then, after tamping, another 200 mm gravel and crushed stone backfill.
• A layer of cut-off waterproofing is laid - usually roofing material is used for this.
• Then a concrete solution is poured to the ground level with a filling of sand and fine gravel.

• After this site has completely solidified (at least 3 weeks), a layer of roofing material is laid on top of it, and then a continuous laying of baked bricks is performed
• The masonry is carried out either to the level of the "clean" floor of the bath, or even a little, 100 - 150 mm higher, thus constructing a raised podium for installing the stove.

It is impossible to put the oven on a concrete base - for all its seeming solidity and strength, it will certainly begin to crack and crumble in conditions of high humidity and high temperatures.

From walls, especially wooden ones, the stove should be located at a distance of at least 200 mm. The walls must be sheathed with heat-resistant material - stainless steel sheet or "Isover" - foil thermal insulator based on harmless basalt mineral wool.

Izover is an excellent material for thermal insulation of bath walls at the installation site of the stove.

Very often, metal stoves are “dressed” in brickwork. This gives a number of advantages - there is less risk of getting burned on hot walls, plus brickwork will be another fairly capacious heat accumulator.

You can learn more about this process from. Here are just a few important notes:

• The distance from metal walls to brickwork is recommended to be kept at 100 mm. This is necessary for normal air circulation - a powerful convection flow will be created, contributing to uniform and rapid heating of the steam room. For the same purpose, special windows must be provided below the masonry. The metal walls of the stove, lined with bricks on the outside without a gap, close, due to a violation of normal heat transfer, will burn out very quickly.

• For masonry, only natural clay oven mortar or special building mixtures designed specifically for such purposes, with pronounced moisture and moisture properties, can be used. thermal stability.
• The brick lining of the stove must be thought out in advance - this is taken into account when pouring the foundation and laying out the brick podium.

Refractory brick prices

Refractory brick

Stone laying

The efficiency of a home-made bath stove will also largely depend on the stones - the correctness of their selection and laying out in the heater.

Even a small stove requires no less than a 50-kilogram stack, but it’s still better to focus on 80 for a family bath. — 100 kg.

It is better to choose cobblestones with a rounded shape, even gray color, without surface flaws (cracks or breaks). It is desirable that the stones be of various sizes - from 50 to 150 mm.

Granite for sauna stove absolutely useless. Firstly, its structure is unstable to frequent processes of strong heating with simultaneous exposure to steam - destruction will begin very quickly. Secondly, granite always contains mica inclusions, and when heated, they are capable of emitting quite toxic fumes.

Jadeite is one of the best options for a heater. In addition to its natural beauty, it is also credited with medicinal properties.

The best materials, in addition to the usual natural cobblestone, are talc chloride, basalt or jadeite. Such stones of various sizes can be purchased at specialized stores.

It is very important to lay the stones correctly. The layout begins in such a way that the largest, most massive of them are at the bottom. They will not prevent the passage of heat to those located above and will create a powerful supply of heat. Then stones of medium size are laid out, and only at the very top - small in size.

This order will provide the upper layer of stones with heating to a temperature of 300 - 400 º - exactly what is needed for dry steam. When water hits well-heated stones, evaporation occurs literally instantly and is accompanied by a characteristic crack.

If the stones are flattened, then when laying them, their spatial orientation must also be taken into account. With their long side, they should be located along the main heat flow, otherwise a kind of “locking” will occur when the lower stones overheat and the upper ones do not reach the required temperature regime.

Neglecting the rules for laying stones will drastically reduce the overall healing effect of the bath. The steam will begin to “get heavier” very quickly, and although, perhaps, the overall temperature in the steam room will not decrease significantly, staying in it will do more harm than good - there is simply nothing to breathe in a waterlogged room.

Video: how to properly lay stones in a sauna stove

Prices for various types of stones for furnaces

Stones for stoves

So, a do-it-yourself sauna stove is a completely feasible task, if all technological nuances are taken into account during manufacture, and the established safety requirements are observed during installation. But a self-made stove will not only help save a fairly significant amount, but will also become the pride of the owner when it becomes possible to invite his friends to the bath.

Only the best stoves for baths and saunas will provide the steam room with the necessary heat and good steam, create an optimal microclimate here and organize access to hot water for vacationers. It can be both cast-iron models and steel products, but they must have good reviews. It was on their basis that we compiled this rating, selecting the most worthy options, taking into account their pros and cons. Check them out and choose the design that suits you best!

This rating presents the products of the 6 largest and most famous manufacturers of the best sauna stoves. They are chosen for both commercial use and home use. Each company in the TOP has a good reputation and many positive reviews.

The list of 6 best sauna stove companies includes:

• Hephaestus– the company is engaged in the production, sale and installation of stoves and fireplaces for baths and houses. In its assortment there are fireplace inserts and cast iron, cheaper and designer models, premium class. Basically, here are devices that require firewood to work. Its products perfectly retain heat in the premises, are easy to maintain, and save on raw materials. Products create an ideal microclimate in the bath and maintain an optimal level of humidity.
• Harvia- each heater from this brand is a handmade design masterpiece. She creates wood-burning and electric stoves for heating saunas. Its designs heat up quickly and retain heat for a long time, making visiting the steam room comfortable. There are options both with a transparent glass door and closed models. Products are made of cast iron or steel.
• TMF- the basis of the assortment of this company is made up of heaters, gas and wood-burning stoves for the steam room. On average, their power is 16 kW, which allows you to heat a bath area up to 20-25 square meters. m. They have a well-thought-out system of vaporization, which makes their use efficient and comfortable for humans. Products are compact in size, do not take up much space in the room and are affordable.
• Feringer- one of the products of this company are stoves for baths and saunas. Basically, we are talking about wood-burning models that are environmentally friendly. They are absolutely easy to operate and maintain, and also have a long service life, because they are made from quality materials. There are options both with a deep firebox and with a not very roomy one, which allows the air to warm up faster.
• Vesuvius- the company offers the best wood-burning stoves for baths and saunas in terms of price and quality. They are designed to produce warm water, comfortable steam and keep the room warm. Most models are made of steel, withstand high humidity and are resistant to corrosion. The minimum number of welds eliminates heat loss and makes these sauna stoves the best on the market.
• Volcano kit. When developing stoves for a steam room, the company pays attention primarily to the needs of customers. There are options for commercial use, with a large capacity of stones and high power, as well as simpler models for home use. The manufacturer provides products that have been thoroughly tested. Some designs are suitable for installation in areas up to 30 square meters. m. On average, their weight is 100 kg.

Rating of the best stoves for a bath

• Production material - metal or cast iron;
• Product weight;
• The presence of a water tank and its volume;
• Is there a chimney and its parameters;
• Installation method;
• Ease of maintenance;
• Duration of heat retention;
• Wall thickness;
• Door type - transparent or regular;
• Type of raw materials used - firewood, gas, etc.;
• The capacity of the firebox and the possibility of its removal;
• Economy of consumption of raw materials;
• The volume of the ash drawer;
• The amount of steam generated.

A special parameter for selecting the best stoves for wood-fired saunas was the ratio of price and quality, and indeed the cost of such products.

The best cast iron sauna stoves

Cast iron products are interesting in that they can hold high temperatures for a long time. At the same time, for such purposes, you do not need to burn more firewood. They are also relevant because of their heat resistance, and also because of their resistance to corrosion. The case made of such material does not rust and easily tolerates moisture. Due to this, such structures do not need special care. Let's name further two best furnaces for a cast-iron bath.

According to customer reviews, this model makes this model the best stove for a bath because it warms up the air well for an effective visit to this room. To do this, you need to load firewood into it, with the purchase of which there are usually no problems. This design is suitable for heating an area up to 28 sq. m., which is quite good for the low price of the product. The firebox has sufficient depth so that it is not often filled with raw materials. The cast iron from which the stove is made has excellent corrosion resistance, which increases the shelf life of the stove.

Advantages:

• Remote firebox;
• Fast heating of the steam room;
• Keeps warm for a long time;
• Gives fine, "light" steam;
• The walls do not burn through, being cast iron;
• Easy flame arrester replacement.

Disadvantages:

• Weight in 190 kg;
• Difficult installation.

In the reviews, buyers focus on the capacity of the heater, where you can load firewood with a length of more than 50 cm.

Like Hephaestus PB-03, this is a cast-iron sauna stove with a transparent door that opens up a view of the blazing fire. The design has a well-thought-out combustion system, which makes it possible to increase the temperature of the walls. Thus, its efficiency increases and fuel consumption is reduced. The chimney provides good heat dissipation, allowing you to warm up the room well and maintain the desired temperature of steam in the air for a long time. Of particular note is the excellent anti-corrosion properties of the material.

Advantages:

• After the wood burns out, the high air temperature remains in the bath for a long time;
• Beautiful design;
• Thick walls;
• Going elementary;
• Service life more than 30 years;
• Good joint sealing.

Disadvantages:

• Weight 178 kg;
• Not low price.

The best steel sauna stoves

The advantage of such structures is their resistance to high temperatures, which are mandatory in the steam room. They do not melt as a result of heating, do not become rusty and do not get very hot. But if all this affects them for a long time, then it becomes possible to oxidize the material and weaken the seams. Metal stoves are cheaper, so they are often considered better than cast iron ones.

One of the main advantages of this model is the lower weight, compared to other sauna stoves in the ranking of the best, which is 95 kg. The power of the product is 10 kW, which allows you to create good steam in a room up to 20-25 square meters. m. The depth of the firebox is 67 cm, so it can accommodate even large logs. It is possible to save on their consumption due to the optimization of the combustion process due to the thickness of the turbo furnace of 10 mm. The cast-iron grate makes it possible to load even wet firewood here.

Advantages:

• Convenient form;
• There is a tank for heating water for 25 liters;
• Reliable protection against infrared radiation;
• Stable burning even of damp firewood;
• Ease of maintenance;
• Increased heat capacity;
• High quality steam.

Disadvantages:

• Not a low price;
• There is no glass on the door.

Despite the good preservation of the temperature in the bath with the help of the Elbrus Volcano 20 furnace model, its walls do not become unbearably hot, and it is impossible to burn yourself on them.

This stylish heater is designed to heat small saunas and baths up to 13 sq. m. It contributes to the uniform distribution of heat in the room and provides excellent air circulation, due to which it becomes comfortable to bathe. The product creates a good atmosphere, as it has transparent doors through which the flame can be seen. An additional argument for including this stove in the rating was its small weight of 45 kg and high thermal power of 16.5 kW.

Advantages:

• High speed heating of the bath;
• Economical consumption of firewood;
• It is not difficult to maintain a high temperature in the steam room;
• Quality assembly;
• Good materials;
• The walls don't get very hot.

Disadvantages:

• The ash removal scheme is not very well thought out;
• There are gaps near the door, which can increase heat loss.

Outwardly, this one of the best sauna stoves resembles a fireplace, which creates a cozy atmosphere in the room. This is facilitated by transparent glass in the doors, which, by the way, is protected from the formation of soot, which makes it easier to care for the product. The ash box is quite large, so there is no need to clean it very often. The firebox is made of steel and with quality connections that minimize heat loss. The product weighs 100 kg, so it is inconvenient to install it yourself.

Advantages:

• Ease of connection to the chimney;
• Quality materials;
• Thick walls, up to 1.2 cm;
• transparent door;
• Long-term maintenance of high temperature in the bath;
• Creation of soft steam, comfortable for the person.

Disadvantages:

• The maximum heating area is 22 sq. m.

The stove for the bath "Vesuvius Skif 22" has the best value for money according to reviews. Due to the additional thickness, the walls are not burned through, which increases its service life.

In the rating of the best stoves for a bath, this model should be included primarily because of the good heating of the air in the room. To do this, it is enough to load firewood once into the firebox, which is very spacious here, 34 liters, and after the raw material has burned out, the heat lasts for a long time. If necessary, if it becomes hot or there is not enough steam, you can adjust the strength of the flame. The presence of a wide chimney ensures reliable removal of carbon monoxide and does not spoil the air quality. The product is made of corrosion resistant steel.

Advantages:

• Upper, fairly simple connection to the chimney;
• The width of the loaded firewood can reach 50 cm;
• Does not take up much space in the room;
• Spacious ash drawer;
• Economical consumption of firewood;
• Fast removal of products of combustion.

Disadvantages:

• Do not use in a bath with an area of ​​​​more than 18 square meters. m.;
• The wall thickness of the furnace is 0.3 cm.

In terms of power, this is one of the best wood-burning sauna stoves in our rating, as it generates up to 16 kW. With such parameters, it can heat a room up to 20 square meters in size. m., which is an average. The body of the structure is made of steel, which can withstand the negative effects of high moisture and is protected from corrosion. The product is very compact and in wall mounting does not stand out from the overall design. A reliable chimney allows combustion products to leave the room on time.

Advantages:

• Glass, transparent doors through which you can see the fire;
• No heat loss;
• Long-term high temperature support;
• Large chimney;
• Durable materials;
• Creates an excellent microclimate.

Disadvantages:

• Weight in 100 kg;
• The stones heat up more slowly than other models in the ranking.

Which stove for a bath is better to buy

For those who are looking for an option with a cheap coolant, it is best to choose a wood-burning stove, which are described in this rating. They are environmentally friendly and therefore safe even with frequent use. But at the same time, if they are installed, it will be necessary to equip a chimney to remove combustion products.

The budget models include steel, and the premium products are cast iron, and it is they who keep the heat the longest. Just such furnaces are recommended to be installed in large rooms. In terms of power, the best option is an indicator in the region of 10-16 kW. If firewood will be laid from another room, then the product must have an elongated firebox.

• Hephaestus PB-03 is ideal for a sauna, which produces soft, healthy steam.
• In large rooms, up to 30 sq. m., it will not be a mistake to buy a stove from the Vesuvius brand called Legend.
• In a Russian bath, you can safely put the Elbrus product from the Volcano brand, which gives a pleasant steam and good heat.
• For small rooms up to 13 sq. m. The best choice would be Harvia M3, which allows you to quickly heat the stones and, accordingly, in a short time to achieve the desired steam.
• Those who are looking for a good option for a Finnish bath should pay attention to Vesuvius Skiff 22.
• If the priority is the economy of firewood consumption, then TMF Geyser 2014 will be the best choice.
• For small steam rooms, the size of which does not exceed 16 sq. m., you should choose the product "Fehringer mini".

When selecting the best stoves for baths and saunas, we focused on customer reviews, so this rating can be called the most objective and useful.

Choosing a stove for a bath is not difficult if you specifically understand what kind of atmosphere in the bath you prefer: a sauna or a Russian steam room. All other issues are often related only to ease of use and available energy options for the operation of the furnace.

How to choose the right stove for a bath

Despite the huge confusion in the descriptions and advertising of dozens of different models and designs available on the market, the sauna stove must be selected in the following order:

Advice! Do not buy a stove on the advice of friends or just because you like its appearance until you have seen it work in practice and are convinced that you can choose it for use in your bath.

If the issue of choosing a specific model and its cost is not of particular importance to you, it is better to instruct a specialist who is professionally involved in the construction and installation of heating equipment for a steam room to buy and check the stove in operation. Naturally, you should have the most good reviews about a specialist.

If you are an experienced steam bather, then you probably know exactly how best to choose the conditions in the steam room for a good rest. Most of the beginners to build or built a bath often do not differ much in the conditions in a sauna and a Russian bath. To better understand the difference in designs, you need to thoroughly spend more than a dozen hours in both types of steam rooms, only then choosing a stove will not be difficult.

How to choose a stove for a bath

Usually the arrangement of the steam room largely depends on the temperament and preferences of the owner of the bath. For people with a high pace of life and time-limited opportunities, the Finnish type of bath is better suited. For measured and unhurried people, it is better to choose the Russian version. It requires unhurried preparation, the stove heats the sauna for a long time, and the atmosphere in the bath, unlike the sauna, is designed for a long stay.

The main parameters of the sauna stove

For any type of bath, it is important to choose the required heat output, which must be ensured by the operation of the stove. The formula sounds something like this: for one cubic meter of a heated room, one kilowatt-hour of thermal energy is required. The calculations take into account the presence of insulation on the walls, the quality and intensity of the ventilation, the presence of a warm dressing room and a rest room, and about 5-6 more main characteristics of the bath. As a result, the calculation, as it were, is more adjusted to the recommended power than is actually calculated.

It is rather difficult and not always possible to make a real calculation and choose a stove for a bath according to the specific parameters of the room. Even if you are offered any calculation method, take such advice with a great deal of distrust. There are too many nuances that are very important for obtaining accurate numbers, but it is very difficult to take everything into account.

There is a simple method for determining the required power of the stove to heat the bath. Its results have been verified in practice, but it does not find recognition among “serious” experts because of its primitiveness. Its essence is as follows. Electricity is connected to the finished room of the steam room and it is heated using a thermal fan gun. A standard power of 2 kW should be enough to heat the room up to 50 ° C for half an hour. In this case, 16 kW of thermal power will be enough for the steam room. If you spent more time warming up, then the heat output of the sauna stove should be adjusted in proportion to the spent time + 10%.

Accordingly, when measuring in summer, the calculated data are corrected by minus by 15%, and in winter - by plus by 15-20%. Sometimes, in order to improve the accuracy of the calculation, they resort to test measurement of the heating time with a heat gun in the room of the operating steam room. The data obtained are compared with the power of the installed furnace and the error is determined. When measuring in a new steam room, this error is respectively added to the calculated data on the power of the future sauna stove. But the figures obtained will be valid only for a specific model and how it is installed.

How to choose a sauna stove

The sauna differs from the Russian steam room in a higher steam temperature with low humidity. Not everyone is equally suited for an air temperature of 90-100 ° C and a humidity of 20-25%. The load on the body turns out to be extreme, and it is better to know in advance about such surprises of relaxation in the Finnish sauna.

The stove in a Finnish sauna works more like a heater than a steam generator. This has its advantages:

• The air and the room in the bath warms up for a maximum of an hour of work, about the same amount you can steam after entering the mode. But the steam room also cools down to a cold shiver in just half an hour from the moment the heating stops;
• The sauna stove is very simple in design, it is easy to make it even with your own hands, according to reviews, such homemade products are practically not inferior to branded products;
• The design of the sauna stove is designed for up to 12 years for expensive models and 5-7 for simple products. It is easy to clean and maintain, you can do your own repairs and modification of the structure without the use of expensive equipment - only if you have welding and a grinder;
• The stove on average weighs no more than 50 kg and does not require a heavy foundation slab for installation in the steam room.

In fact, a sauna stove is a high-quality version of a conventional potbelly stove, designed to work in difficult conditions.

Among the many offers of metal stove options, you can safely choose Finnish or Baltic products. They cost a little more than domestic counterparts, but they are pleased with the quality of production and durability. For interest, you can look "live" at both, and make a comparison of the quality of metal processing or coating. I must say that there are many domestic high-quality bath heaters on the market, and they are cheaper than imported ones.

The heat output of the furnace, indicated by the manufacturer in the passport data, is an average indicator when the device is operating in a bath on relatively high-quality fuel. Many experts advise it is better to choose a sauna stove with a power margin of at least 30%. This will help to properly heat the bath even on the coldest days on slightly damp wood.

Design features of steel sauna stoves

There is one drawback in the design of steel sauna stoves - they are poorly controlled and, when they enter the regime, they can quickly overheat the steam room. In this case, you have to regularly be distracted and control the valve in order to select the desired mode and better keep the heating dynamics more or less uniform. This is not always convenient.

Therefore, almost all steel or cast-iron sauna stoves are either lined with bricks or have a special niche around the iron body, into which stones, rubble or even sea pebbles are loaded. They shield the hot body and increase the cooling time of the steam room. If you wish, you can easily find and choose a sauna stove model already lined with stone, for example, calcite or jadeite. Such a finish is better in appearance and reduces the effect of overheating, but such models for a bath are much more expensive.

If in the bath, in addition to the steam room and dressing room, there is a rest room or dressing room, it is better to choose a stove model with a tunnel for loading. The stove is installed in close proximity to the inner wall separating the steam room and the dressing room or rest room, where the loading window is displayed. This option allows you to better heat the room, fully relax and, if necessary, choose the most economical mode of operation.

Stone stoves for baths

The brick heater has become synonymous with the stove for the Russian bath. A large mass of red-hot stone in a closed space produces a huge amount of hot and humid steam. The temperature in the Russian bath is from 60 to 80 o C, but with very high humidity. The conditions in the steam room can be chosen softer than in the sauna, so the hot atmosphere is easier to bear.

Choose a stove for a steam room in the Russian manner

For a steam room in a Russian bath, it is difficult to choose a design better than a brick stove. First of all, because of the design of the heater. A large mass of stones must be constantly heated to a temperature of at least 250 ° C, otherwise the steam will be cold and difficult to breathe. You can heat the stone with an iron potbelly stove for 10-15 minutes, and then a slow cooling will begin. A large mass of brickwork gives out 6-7 times more heat than when working with a steel box.

The stove in the bath heats up for a very long time, the process can drag on for a whole day. It is impossible to disperse it, like metal, in a couple of hours; from such heating, the masonry can crack. It is better to choose a gentle mode of gradual heating. Sometimes electric heating is laid in the design of the heater for accelerated heating of the stone, but the atmosphere in the bath still remains cool.

If you choose a brick oven for the steam room, you need to be prepared for arranging a capital foundation and, possibly, for a long and difficult process of laying bricks. Therefore, choosing a brick model is always more difficult and expensive, sometimes the finished structure has to be sorted out, made better and adjusted to the parameters of the pair department.

Conclusion

Experience and practice show that for a small bath for five or six people in 15-20 m 3, it is better to choose a hybrid of a brick heater and electric heating. This option is cheaper and more practical than a simple wood-fired design and better than a purely electric option for heating a steam room. The stove is heated with wood and electricity, the latter allows you to choose the best temperature in the bath and heat the stones to the required condition. The stove heats up faster, but before entering the steam room, it is better to turn off the electric heating and take a steam bath, only using the heat from burning wood.

It is better to leave stoves for a bath on a solarium or other liquid fuel for mobile versions of baths; there is nothing special to choose in field conditions. Such options are extremely dangerous at work, and it is better to refuse their use at home.

The choice of a stove for a bath is a responsible matter. Not only the fire safety of the steam room, but also the softness of the heat, the saturation of the steam and the rate of heating of the steam room directly depend on its type, form, type of fuel use.

What parameters to look for when choosing a furnace?

In general, if there are any specific criteria for choosing a sauna stove, then the most important of them is this: the stove must have sufficient thermal power and, preferably, a wide dynamic range of regulation of this power.

But what can be called sufficient thermal power? Here it all depends on the size of the steam room. Usually, it will take about half an hour to warm up this room to 50 degrees, and adjacent rooms in summer, and about an hour in winter. In addition, the kindling time also depends on whether it is a frame bath or a log cabin.

Here is a simple example of calculating the required power of the stove: the cost of heating a total area of ​​​​22 sq.m. (floor, walls, ceiling) will be 4 kW. If we take into account the heating of the stove itself, its stones, a tank of water, then this figure should be multiplied by another 3, which will be 12 kW. This is for a steam room, upholstered. But if its walls are a bare log house, then you will have to multiply by another 1.5, which will result in 18 kW. If you need to warm up adjacent rooms, then another x2, which will give 26 kW. But, if you do not spare time for warming up, then this sufficient power can be completely reduced by one and a half times.

As for the dynamic range, 1:10 will be enough for a sauna stove - then it will be able to provide both 2 kW and 29 kW equally well. The easiest way to do this is in gas and electric stoves, with firewood - a little more difficult.

• by regulating the supplied fuel for a certain period of time;
• limitation of air volume;
• release of excess heat into the environment.

As for wood stoves, the first method is difficult for them - all because of the inertia of combustion. But the second one is much more effective if you think carefully about the special designs of dampers, ash pans, etc. But with the third method, you will literally have to chill the steam room, opening the doors to the street.

But how to find out the thermal power of the furnace if it is not indicated in the manufacturer's passport? It is easier to do this with a tape measure - calculate the internal volume of the stove. Its power is proportional to the volume of the furnace, and it can even be calculated using the following formula:

Furnace power = 0.5 x V (furnace volume in liters)

In general, a standard furnace with a furnace volume of 30 liters usually has a power of 15-18 kW.

Why is dynamic range so important? Yes, because in order for the furnace to heat up quickly enough, the thermal regime was stable, but then overheating did not happen. For wood stoves, according to experts, this range is 1:5.

Comparison of microclimate readings in various types of baths

In addition to good thermal power, the sauna stove must also meet the following standards:

• The stove should have a good heat accumulator and a steam generator so that you can easily create the desired mode and turn the steam room into a dry Finnish sauna or a real Russian bath according to your mood.

• In the furnace, means of convection control must be thought out.
• There should be no significant surfaces on the oven, the temperature of which is higher than 150?C.

The size of the firebox and the furnace itself is already an individual matter, but the register-heat exchanger will definitely not hurt either.

And the best sauna stoves that are produced today have all of the above items.

Additional but important options

In addition to the performance of the furnace itself, when choosing it, it will not be superfluous to pay attention to such details:

1. Material of manufacture

Its service life completely depends on the quality of the brick, steel or cast iron of the furnace and the thickness of the walls of its furnace. But what kind of sauna stoves are better in terms of material of manufacture? To date, modern chromium steel units are considered the most durable, which have the highest design reliability and the production of "clean air" - they do not oxidize chemically inert material, and therefore oxygen in the room is not burned out. It is this steel that is used by domestic manufacturers Termofor and Feringer, Swedish Tylo and Finnish companies Kastor, Harvia and Helo.

If we talk about how to choose a stove in a steel bath, then the highest quality ones are produced by Finnish companies. Their assembly, seam processing and metal welding itself are deservedly considered exemplary.

But stoves with a real cast-iron firebox today are already a rarity, although cast iron is actually an excellent material. So far, its only option on the modern market is Sudarushka M, manufactured by the Russian plant Inzhkomtsentr.

As for brick ovens for baths, it is worth noting that their laying in Russia at all times was a real art. Even in those days, not many people knew the secrets of building a brick oven, and today a real stove-maker cannot be found at all with fire. You can, of course, guided by our website, fold such an oven yourself. But it is better to familiarize yourself with its disadvantages in advance - it is difficult to melt it, it heats up for a long time, and even before construction begins, you need to take care of a high-quality separate foundation - and after all, the zero cycle is considered the most difficult and costly in construction. In addition, to get steam on such a stove, you also need to splash water, and the wet brick does not smell very fragrant. That is why, if the design of the steam room initially assumed only a brick stove, you can go this way: purchase a modern compact metal stove - wood-burning or electric - and complete it in the form of a screen with beautiful decorative bricks of various colors.

2. Location of the furnace and type of fuel

Today, heaters are available with only two options for the furnace - an elongated one, for installation in a wall opening, and a regular one. The first option is used so that the stove can be heated from an adjacent room - this is much better in terms of the microclimate of the steam room and its fire safety.

As for the type of fuel, firewood is far from the only option for modern sauna stoves. Oddly enough, and despite the warnings of particularly meticulous experts, more convenient gas and electric designs are becoming more and more fashionable. The main thing is that the result of their firebox does not depend at all on the quality of the available firewood or the skill of the firebox. On the other hand, the installation of a gas furnace can only be carried out by specialists and with special permission, but an electric one, on the contrary, is much easier to install than the construction of heavy brickwork with a serious foundation.

3. Steam source

The answer to the question of which stove to choose for a bath also depends on such a factor as the steam it produces. For a real Russian bath, you need really high-quality dry steam - this is its most important recognizable attribute. But not all heaters are capable of producing it in this way - modern models are closer in design to sauna stoves. But there is a way out: in extreme cases, you can additionally purchase an electric steam generator for a bath - that's the whole solution to the problem.