Bath stove "Troika" - design features, popular models, details of installation and cladding

Regular visits to the sauna are a great way to relax, support your immune system and improve your overall health. That is why many of us dream of building a compact bathhouse complex on our own plot. And the “heart” of the wooden structure is the stove, the performance characteristics of which determine the quality of the steam in the steam room and the effectiveness of the bath procedure. For decades now, the Troika sauna stove has held the palm among similar designs. What is the secret of its popularity?

Troika is one of the most reliable oven equipment on the market

Strengths and weaknesses of the Troika stove

“Troika” has a number of undeniable advantages that make it stand out against the background of similar structures installed in saunas and baths. This:

the ability to load logs whose length reaches 80 cm;
cast iron doors and grates, which increase the service life of the stove without replacing metal elements;
maximum loading of stones - up to 250 kg (for the basic configuration);
ease of adjustment of hot air convection using special windows provided by the design solution;
heating speed (in winter the steam room heats up in 3 hours, in summer - in 1.5);
ease of maintenance of the removable tank.

Among the disadvantages are:

Weight. It is not easy to lift such a structure even with four people, which somewhat complicates the transportation and installation of the stove.
The need to line the stove with bricks, which becomes a significant expense item in the family budget (some models are covered with heat-resistant enamel).
The thickness of the metal is a plus, as it allows you to maintain high temperatures for a long time. But it can also be called a disadvantage if we compare the heating speed with the speed at which a stove made of thin metal sheets heats up.

One of the advantages of Troika is its attractive appearance, which can decorate the interior of the bathhouse rather than disturb it.

What is the beauty of Tver heaters

The Troika line of stoves, Tver, among similar products, stands out as particularly massive, since high-alloy steel with a thickness of 8-40 mm was used for production. Such a considerable thickness in the area of the combustion chamber significantly increases the heat transfer and service life of the product (up to 15 years), preventing the metal from burning out at high temperatures.

Since the weight of the product reaches several hundred kilograms, to facilitate movement when installing the stove, the Troika bathhouses were equipped with wheels. For lovers of the Russian steam room, stoves are made in various modifications, including with an open heater and a mesh for stones, as well as with the ability to heat water.

The large volume of loaded stones – up to 250 kg – makes the atmosphere in the Russian steam room optimally meeting the highest criteria, providing air heating to 70 ºС and a humidity level of up to 80% in 2 hours. During this time, the stones can heat up to 500 ºС. And the water, overcoming several layers of stones, is broken into small drops, which as a result produces fine, light steam for which Russian baths are so famous.

Tver furnace equipment is also the safest: furnaces lined with brick or lined with soapstone are not capable of causing burns or harm to health. Minimal maintenance functions: the channel and window are cleaned once every five years, and ash is regularly thrown out after heating. A well-written installation guide for the Troika sauna stove makes its installation as easy as possible, even for people who have never performed such work before.

Design Features

The Troika stove has design differences from other types of sauna stoves. And the first of them is the diameter of the chimney. For “Troikas” it is 159 mm. This allows the stove to operate in any weather conditions, in which other equipment may have problems filling the steam room with heat.

The cast iron door is not afraid of high temperatures. The same can be said about the grate. Some models can be equipped with a heat exchanger, which allows you to warm up not only the steam room, but also the dressing room, shower room and other rooms.

The chimney is equipped with a damper designed to comply with current safety standards. If it is blocked, carbon monoxide will still be released into the chimney. Another design feature of all Troika models is the simultaneous and uniform combustion of all logs in the firebox.

The thickness of the low-alloy steel walls deserves special attention. Metal 8 mm thick is used for the walls, the upper part is made of steel 10 mm thick. This makes the stove truly reliable and durable.

Many owners of bathhouses equipped with stoves from other manufacturers complain about the small amount of stones that can be placed in the stove - 40-80 kg. There is no such problem with Troika. You can put up to 250 kg of stone in it, which allows you to maintain the optimal temperature in the steam room for a long time and save on fuel.

A large number of stones retain the heat received from hot metal longer

Models for ofuro

For those who don’t know, ofuro is a traditional Japanese bathhouse, which is a wooden barrel filled with water. A stove is needed here to heat the water.

Ofuro

Models for ofuro can be of two types:

submersible (installed inside a barrel, working under water);
external (located on the side or standing separately).

The line is represented by only two models; let’s look at the characteristics of each of them.

Model for ofuro (first version)

High-quality oven made of AISI 340 steel (the latter is not subject to corrosion, as it is classified as food grade stainless steel). It is distinguished by the presence of stiffening ribs, ease of cleaning from ash and special legs for fastening to the floor. Model dimensions – 80x30x110 cm, weight – 50 kg. The maximum volume of water that can be heated is 2,800 liters. The diameter of the chimney pipe is 11 cm.

Model for ofuro (second option)

Model for ofuro (second option) Model for ofuro (second option with an open door)
The characteristics here are almost the same, the oven differs from the previous one only in weight (46 kg), dimensions (58x44x60 cm) and maximum water volume (2,300 l).

Performance characteristics

“Russian steam” in the steam room is provided due to the presence of a water supply receiving bowl in the lower section of the heater. The temperature in this section of the structure reaches 650 degrees, which allows you to get maximum wet steam with a minimum of effort on the part of the bathhouse attendant.

Important! If necessary, the stove operates in dry steam supply mode, which is typical not for baths, but for saunas. It is enough to learn how to control the convection flow.

The heater is located separately from the firebox. This means you won't have to regularly clean soot-covered stones.

Models in soapstone

Elite "Troika" stoves, designed for use in Russian baths. Soapstone is a stone of natural origin, characterized by good heat capacity, increased thermal conductivity and aesthetics. This material itself is neutral, so people suffering from allergies tolerate it well. The category includes four stoves.

Model No. 06 (rounded facing)

An excellent model that, with a weight of 330 kg and a power of 35 kW, is capable of heating a room with a volume of up to 30 m³. The lining itself weighs 600 kg, the maximum weight of loaded stones is 200 kg. When operating the stove, you can load logs up to 75 cm long. The dimensions of the model are 72x95x145 cm.

Water is supplied to the bottom of the heater. 2 cm heat plate. Cost – 162,580 rubles.

Model No. 06 (rectangular finish)

Dimensions are 62x74x145 cm, weight - 280 kg (plus 550 kg soapstone). The maximum weight of loaded stones is 140 kg, the power of the device is 27 kW. The stove is designed for heating steam rooms with a volume of 12-20 m³. Cost – 154,520 rubles.

Portal with two shelves

There is not much to say here, as the name speaks for itself. The dimensions of the product are 80x180 cm, and the weight is about 330 kg. The warranty period is three years. Cost – 86,400 rubles.

Model range overview

Almost all stoves from the Tver manufacturer are designed for subsequent brick lining. Some buyers are put off by the prospect of extra expenses and the need to build a solid foundation. But such models also have their advantages. The structure becomes truly monolithic, and the brick casing makes the microclimate in the steam room soft and maximally beneficial for the body.

Stoves come in a wide range of designs and sizes. The volume of water tanks also varies. For example, models marked 01 and 05 are capable of heating up to 72 liters of water. The tank of model 02 is designed for 80 liters of water. In any case, the tanks are located in the front of the stove, which simplifies the process of filling with water and allows the stove to be installed in rooms with low ceilings.

"Troika" 05 - an affordable and reliable solution for a small bathhouse

Don’t want to complicate the task of equipping a bathhouse with a brick screen? It is worth paying attention to models that do not require a protective casing. For example, the Barrel 1P model, designed for full heating of a steam room with an area of 30 cubic meters. The design of the stove is made of low-alloy 10 mm steel and painted with a special enamel that is resistant to maximum temperatures. The dimensions of the stove, despite its heavy weight (360) kg, are quite modest - 80x70x150 cm, which allows it to be installed in a small room.

"Troika" 04 differs in the finishing method. Soapstone is used as a finishing material, making the air in the steam room almost healing. The stove weighs 220 kg; after cladding, the weight of the structure reaches 450 kg. Installed in steam rooms with an area of 10 to 20 cubic meters.

Are you looking for the most compact solution for your home bath? The best option would be model 07. The Troika’s dimensions are only 50x50 cm. It does not have a remote firebox; the water tank is installed on a pipe. Convection is also provided, creating a unique bath microclimate in the steam room.

Troika models equipped with a mesh are also deservedly popular. Instead of brickwork, stones serve as protection against aggressive heating of metal, allowing the air in the steam room to be heated efficiently and evenly.

Are you setting up a sauna inside a residential building? Then you should opt for the Troika, which runs on gas rather than wood. There are several advantages to such solutions:

no need for special maintenance;
four degrees of protection (from attenuation, voltage surges, surges in fuel pressure, lack of draft necessary for optimal operation of the stove);
the ability to control the operation of the Troika using a temperature sensor, which is set to the required temperature and can maintain it for several days.

"Troika" running on gas

Advice! Gas models are relevant not only for home but also for commercial use. “Troika” operates in standby mode (at a temperature of 55-60 degrees), and before the arrival of visitors it warms up to the required temperature in the shortest possible time.

Stainless steel models

The updated models, made of stainless steel, are distinguished by the fact that their heat-transfer surface area is approximately doubled.
In the manufacturing process of such Troika furnaces, high-quality scale-resistant steel is used, which is sufficiently ductile so that cracks do not form on the body. Thanks to all this, the weight of the devices was halved, but the service life remained the same. In addition, the structures are additionally equipped with stiffening ribs that increase their strength. Important information! Such stoves are designed for brick lining. A convection control function is provided, which means that the climate of a real Russian bath is created in the steam room.

This model range consists of four items; let’s look at their characteristics.

Table No. 4. Comparative characteristics of models made of stainless steel

Name	power, kWt	Weight, kg	Weight of loaded stones, kg	Allowable steam room volume, m³	Dimensions (WxDxH), cm	Cost, rub.
Model No. 06N18	20	125	90	8-16	31x70x135	44 350
Model No. 06M18	20	135	140	12-20	53x75x130	58 300
Model No. 06N	37	170	200	20-30	40x80x145	68 770
Model No. 04N20	20	120	120	20	45x75x125	46 320

Installation features

Installation of Troika cannot be called a simple process. This is due to the large weight of the structure - from 120 to 360 kg. That is, you cannot do without a foundation that is strong and resistant to increased loads. If the foundation was not built during the construction of the bathhouse, an alternative can be a reinforced concrete slab, the thickness of which will depend on the mass of the stove - from 15 to 20 cm.

When laying a foundation, the width and length of which should be 15 cm greater than the dimensions of the structure, it should be taken into account that it will be necessary to maintain a distance between the wall and the lined stove - about 30 cm. If this is not possible, the walls are protected by installing a sheet of asbestos cardboard.

To ensure the necessary waterproofing, the foundation is covered with two layers of roofing material. After this, they begin laying out the basement or underground part of the furnace. For this, any brick (solid) can be used. The bricks are connected to each other using cement-sand mortar. If the project provides for a supply ventilation device, a ventilation pipe is installed in the base.

To construct a chimney, it is best to use a “sandwich” pipe, which is subsequently lined with bricks to maintain the unity of style with the stove

Models in soapstone

Model No. 06 (rounded facing)

Water is supplied to the bottom of the heater. 2 cm heat plate. Cost – 162,580 rubles.

Model No. 06 (rectangular finish)

Portal with two shelves

There is not much to say here, as the name speaks for itself. The dimensions of the product are 80x180 cm, and the weight is about 330 kg. The warranty period is three years. Cost – 86,400 rubles.

Model No. 4 (soapstone finish, coil)

Another good model weighing 220 kg and a total cladding weight of 450 kg. Oven dimensions – 64x95x110 cm, power – 20 kW. The product is intended for heating steam rooms with an area of 10-20 m³.

Furnace lining

In addition to laying the foundation, direct installation of the stove structure and its connection to the chimney, installation work in most cases includes lining with refractory bricks.

At the first stage, a clay solution is prepared, which is used to make spherical samples, which are shaped into a cake and left to dry for 10 days. Samples are made in different ratios of clay and fine-grained sand, preferably mountain sand and carefully sifted from debris. The proportions are as follows:

1 sample: clay;
2 sample: 9 parts clay and 1 sand;
3 sample: sand and clay in a ratio of 1 to 3;
4 sample: 3 parts sand, 1 part clay.

Dried samples are tested for strength. To do this, each cake is raised 1 meter above a hard surface and released. An unbroken sample is the optimal mixing option for brickwork. The solution is mixed, filled with water and left for 3 days to impart the necessary elasticity.

You can also use a ready-made mixture, sold at any hardware store. The clay-sand composition is convenient to use, but it has a significant drawback - the ratio of components is not always stable. In this case, the composition is brought to the ideal level by adding pure clay (if the solution turns out to be “lean”) or sand (if the solution turns out to be greasy). To increase the strength of the masonry, you can add cement to the solution - 400 grams per bucket. The average consumption of the finished mixture is 1 bag per 80 bricks.

Before starting work, the material is moistened with water. This will improve the quality of adhesion between clay and sand and brick.
The solution is applied on top of the previous level.
The first level of quality refractory bricks is made from whole bricks. They start from the far corner. At the next level, use ¾ of the block, subsequently observing this order. This makes it possible to connect the rows with the highest quality possible.
During the finishing work, all additional furnace elements are installed.
An opening necessary for further maintenance of the stove is left in the sash area.
The masonry is carried out up to the upper level of the stove structure, but it is necessary to leave a small gap between the brick wall and the metal structure (8-10 cm). The gap is necessary for uniform heating of the brick screen and proper air circulation.

The stove is started after installing the chimney, starting at low temperatures for 20-30 minutes

Important! At the 2-3 level of masonry, it is necessary to leave several gaps of half a brick, necessary for ventilation and additional heating of the room.

Instructions for lining a sauna stove are presented in the video: