How to choose a sauna stove

Periodically steam in the sauna is very good for health. It helps to deep clean the pores of the skin, relax muscles and calm the nervous system. Therefore, some are thinking about purchasing equipment for arranging their own steam room. The source of high temperature and dry, hot steam is the stove. It is joined by a chimney and a water tank. From the article you can learn how to choose these devices so that they fit the size of the room and work as efficiently as possible.

The best manufacturers of equipment for saunas - which company to choose

To quickly buy the necessary devices for the sauna, you can refer to the products of well-known companies in this area:

• Gefest;
• Termofor;
• Harvia;
• "Teplodar".

Those who want to see the advantages and disadvantages of specific models from these companies should be read. rating of the best stoves for baths and saunas. Well, in order to understand the existing parameters on your own, and to buy equipment for the sauna, the article below is proposed.

The principle of operation and the device saunas

Being in a sauna has a healing and relaxing effect due to a dry pair. The main unit of the steam room is a stove that heats the stones and the room. When water gets on hot cobblestones, then evaporating it turns out fine dry air, which does not burn like steam from a kettle, but pleasantly warms the skin.

By adjusting the temperature in the oven, you can simulate the microclimate in the room. Closing dampers retains heat and saves fuel.

The temperature of the stones in the 150-200 degrees gives more humid steam. For the "dehumidification" of the air, the flames increase, so that the cobblestones become even hotter (indicators of 300-900 degrees are permissible).

That the sauna worked correctly, its device contains the following elements:

1. steel firebox;

2. remote channel for throwing firewood;

3. oven door;

4. ashpit and cleaning box;

5. grate;

6. air supply channel;

7. chamber for stones;

8. chimney.

Additionally, the room is equipped with a shower tank, which is heated either directly from the chimney, like a samovar, or through a heat exchanger. In the second case, the tank is located in another room to save space in the steam room, and the message of water is produced through pipes.

Types of saunas

Although there is a division of saunas into “Finnish”, “Russian” and “Turkish” (Hamam), which differ in air temperature and steam humidity, equipment for this is classified according to the source of fuel.

Wood saunas

Such furnaces are powered by solid fuels. They regularly require throwing of firewood, and after the procedure it is necessary to clean the ash.

Temperature adjustment is carried out by overlapping chimney dampers and the number and frequency of supply of wooden chocks. Such stoves are convenient for remote forest houses and attached saunas or for infrequent use.

Advantages:

• wide power range;
• various design solutions with glass doors;
• the ability to get light and dry steam;
• large capacity of the stone compartment;
• optimal cost;
• robust case;
• independence from energy networks.

Disadvantages:

• you must periodically be distracted by throwing firewood;
• requires cleaning;
• heats the room for a long time;
• difficult to regulate the temperature;
• possible hum in the chimney.

Electric saunas

An excellent option for hassle-free use are electric furnaces, which give a high temperature and pleasant steam.

Power is either 220 or 380 V. For connection, good wiring in the building is required. Apply them in new homes, cottages.It is convenient for rare use. Such models can even be installed in apartments.

Advantages:

• no need for throwing up firewood and cleaning;
• control of a button or remote control;
• compact body, occupying a minimum space in the steam room;
• high quality steel;
• the ability to place in a house, apartment, take in the trunk of a new place.

Disadvantages:

• not every wiring will withstand the power of the device;
• the presence of an electrical device in a wet room requires more care;
• Some models require a three-phase network.

Gas saunas

They have a smaller firebox in which the nozzle is installed. The gas flame provides for the heating of stones and the creation of steam. Models can work both from a cylinder, and from the pipeline.

They are distinguished by rapid heating of the room and the ability to immediately take the procedure. Convenient for places where quick start-up of the steam room is required, as a rule, it is a commercial application in recreation centers, sanatoriums, resorts, city saunas.

Advantages:

• fast ignition;
• small size of the furnace;
• convenient temperature control by means of the supplied gas volume;
• no maintenance (cleaning, firebox);
• after 30 minutes you can already bathe;
• stable temperature.

Disadvantages:

• after turning off the nozzle the room quickly cools down;
• the presence of gas requires vigilance in circulation;
• gas pipeline or raw materials in containers for incineration is required.

Sauna selection options

Room volume

Furnaces are calculated on a certain volume of the room. The smallest are 9 m3. There are also huge units designed for 28-37 m3. It is worth remembering that these are cubic meters, so it is necessary to take into account the height of the room.

1. For dacha use by a family of three to five people, a furnace with a figure of 10-12 m3 will suffice.

2. In the case of more numerous companies, 5-8 people each and a spacious steam room, a device of 18-27 m3 is required.

3. For commercial use, large saunas buy stoves of 28-37 m3.

Power

This is the second indicator that determines the possibility of using equipment. 1.5 kW is designed for 1 m3 volume of the room.

1. For a country sauna on 10m3 you will need to buy a stove with a parameter of 16 kW.

2. For larger steam rooms, purchase models with 26 kW and above.

If you save in this respect, the machine will not be able to generate enough heat to produce steam for such an area.

Fuel channel

There are models with a long (150 mm) and short (50 mm) fuel channel. The elongated part allows you to install a wall between the door and the firebox itself. In this case, vacationers can enjoy dry steam, and the servicing person will be able to throw firewood without entering the sauna. This is practical for commercial use, so as not to disturb visitors.

For country use it is not very convenient to run out of the steam room to throw firewood, so here they buy stoves with a shortened channel and heat them directly from the room with steam.

Type of fuel

1. Wood saunas are comfortable with their autonomy and are applicable everywhere. But their use requires regular tossing of a field and cleaning the ash pan, so they are convenient for use once a week.

2. Electric saunas are suitable for rare use in a new private home or fitness center. They have no emissions and they do not require maintenance. They are even installed in apartments, in rooms with appropriate decoration.

3. Gas models are practical for commercial use (sanatoriums, recreation centers, city saunas) due to simple equipment maintenance and clean conditions.

The thickness of the metal furnace

Since the temperature in the sauna is high, the life of the furnace depends on the thickness of the steel. There are models with firewall walls in 3-5-6-8-10 mm. The more frequently the device is used, the more the metal is exposed.

1. For home use, where the steam room is heated once a week or less, a thickness of 3-6 mm is sufficient.

2. For commercial everyday use, steel 8-10 mm is needed.

The presence of a steam generator

This is a separate patented technology, placed on the furnace body, and allowing to increase the volume of the produced steam.

Devices with this function are more expensive and will be justified in the case of a large number of visitors to the sauna (city baths, establishments at the plant). In the home steam room enough steam from the stones.

Availability of water tank

In some models, a water tank is fixed on the back wall. Since after the parks want to wash, then this element will have to spend money anyway. But if the sauna has been functioning for a long time and has a separate reservoir for heating the liquid, and now only the furnace is changing, then this can be saved.

In small rooms, you should not take a place in the steam room with a tank and it is advisable to purchase and install it separately.

Type of steel

For furnace furnaces, heat resistant steel is used, which is able to withstand prolonged exposure to high temperatures. For this purpose, it is alloyed with chromium up to 13%.

1. For giving or a private house is just such an option.

2. If the sauna is used very often (resort, near the hotel, a recreation center), then it is worth buying a stainless steel firebox.

Type of compartment with stones

There are two types of placement of stones in the furnace:

1. Open implies a layout of stones in the compartments outside. This gives quick warm-up and steam generation. This option is convenient for busy people who want to quickly take a sauna.

2. The closed compartment contains stones protected by additional layers of steel. For their warm-up requires preliminary heating and 2-3 hours of time. But they keep warm and help to enjoy the visit for a long time. It is convenient for a relaxing family holiday or exploitation throughout the day (at the pool).

Chimney connection

To remove the products of combustion (in the case of gas or wood) requires a chimney. The most common type is vertical. But if the structural features of the steam room do not allow to make a hole in the roof (slanting roof of a log house, there is no support to fix the pipe at the top), then use the horizontal method of connection.

Nutrition

In the case of electrical equipment for saunas, it is necessary to take into account the parameters of the power source.

1. 220 V models are cabled to the panel (there should not be sockets in the steam room).

2. For 380 V furnaces, an appropriate three-phase network and wiring of sufficient cross-section is required so as not to cause a fire. Such powerful units should be used only in new homes or public recreation areas, built according to the latest rules of SNiP.

Mass of stones

From 5 to 90 kg of stones can be placed in the furnace. The volume of steam produced depends on their mass. In order for everyone to have this cleansing agent, it is necessary to choose from the rate of 5 kg per 1 m3.

1. For small steam rooms enough models for 15-20 kg.

2. For saunas more need a mass of stones 30-80 kg.

Warranty

Manufacturers provide for equipment for saunas warranty, which is 12-30 months. The longer this period is, the more one can be sure of the long-term operability of the furnace.

What kind of sauna to choose

1. For a family sauna in the country, which has a small steam room, the model is suitable for wood, designed for a volume of 10-12 m3, with a mass of stones of 25 kg, and a shortened channel. The power of the device will need about 16 kW. Due to its use once a week, steel thickness of 3-5 mm is sufficient. To enjoy longer, you can choose a stove with a closed compartment.

2. To relax a large campaign of relatives or friends will need a spacious sauna and a powerful 26 kW wood stove, designed for a room volume of 20 m3. The mass of stones in such an apparatus can reach 60-80 kg. It is reasonable to choose a firebox with a metal thickness of 6 mm. The channel for supplying firewood is needed to be extended, since a separate designated person in the next room is required to maintain the stove.

3. For a new apartment or fitness center, an electric furnace with a capacity of 5.5 kW and a mass of stones of 20 kg, designed for a small steam room up to 8 m3, will be suitable. It is advisable to find a model for 220 V with a warranty of 30 months.

4. To serve the visitors of the SPA-salon or another institution, you need a sauna with a stove on gas, designed for 10-20 m3 (depending on the number of clients), with a capacity of 16-30 kW, a mass of stones of 25-40 kg, a wall thickness of the furnace 8-10 mm stainless steel and external fuel channel for easy connection. Practical will be a closed compartment with stones and the presence of a steam generator.

How much does a sauna cost

1. A stove for a country sauna will cost 12,000-18,000 rubles.

2. For the arrangement of the sauna for a large company of friends will need a device worth 25000-35000 rubles.

3. To place an electric oven in an apartment or a fitness center will have to pay 12000-20000 rubles.

4. The device on gas for a public sauna costs from 25,000 to 50,000 rubles.