DIY electric stoves for baths and saunas (380 and 220 V)

The quality of any steam room is determined by the correctness of its layout and the organization of heating of the room. You can use a brick oven, a steel or cast iron firebox, or a gas burner, but all this is unsafe and not always convenient. Experts rightly believe that the best choice would be a specially designed electric sauna heater. A relatively simple device, there will be a minimum of problems with fire or carbon monoxide, and most importantly, it is relatively easy to make with your own hands.

Sauna heaters can have a very unusual design

A good sauna requires a good electric heater.

In essence, an electric heater is an electrically heated roaster, made in the form of a small metal box and equipped with a basket for laying stones.
In the upper third of the steel box, heating elements are installed in a metal cage, on top of which rocky ballast is laid.

Often, owners of large baths, in addition to a wood-burning stove, install one or two electric heaters. One stove-stove is placed near the entrance, the second in the center of the steam room. As a result, you can raise the heat in half an hour and dry the bathhouse at the end of the procedures.

Power calculation

It is easier to calculate the power of an electric stove than a wood stove. The manufacturer indicates the power in kilowatts in the passport. The consumer can only determine the volume of his steam room in order to get his bearings. But! There is a formal volume, and there is an adjusted volume after adding coefficients - for example, for surfaces without thermal insulation, for heating adjacent rooms in winter, etc.

So, tiles, glass, stone - you need to calculate their surface area, multiply by 1.2 and add to the formal volume.

We count the glass door to the steam room separately - just add an extra one and a half cubes to the existing numbers.

Then it’s simple: for one kilowatt of stove power – one cubic meter of steam room space if the stove has heating elements, and one and a half cubic meters if there are tape heaters.

Advantages of using an electric heater

The main thing why an electrically heated device is valued and loved is the precise heating settings:

• With the help of a branded electric heater, you can manually gradually adjust the heating of the stone ballast and, accordingly, select the most comfortable temperature and air humidity in the steam room;
• Maintain certain aromas in the sauna air, change them to suit the tastes of visitors, and even treat with steam from herbal infusions;
• The process of controlling the “roll-up” of steam becomes relatively safe, without thermal shocks and burns, both for the bathhouse attendant and for ordinary bathhouse visitors.

For your information! With the help of an electric heater, it is quite possible to correct the shortcomings made during the construction of a sauna, to raise the heat in a cold and damp sauna to the level of a real Finnish sauna.

It is quite difficult to choose the right conventional wood-burning heater for a steam room; it is quite difficult to guess its location and power. Often it is necessary to insulate the walls in the bathhouse and add ventilation. Therefore, often, instead of fussing with construction, owners install a large wood-burning or coal stove in the bathhouse, most often a brick one with a fireplace, and for a steam room or hot sauna they install an electric heater.

Main characteristics of electric furnaces

Previously, people could not imagine a bath without a heater, crackling and the smell of burning wood in the stove. But now many people prefer a more convenient and functional electric heater. It is good not only because it takes up little space in the room, but also because it does not require constant intervention to maintain the air temperature in the room.

An electric sauna stove is a device that converts electricity into heat. Inside the housing there is a heating element lined with bath stones. During operation, the heating element heats up to the required temperature and warms up the stones, which then release heat into the room. This type of heater is called “electric heater”.

Its main elements are:

• heater housing;
• heating elements;
• bath stones.

Previously, electric stoves were produced for the Finnish sauna. They heated the air in the steam room well, making it very dry. Therefore, lovers of a real Russian bath did not like electric sauna stoves at all.

Electric furnace design

An important indicator is the number of bath stones in the stove. The power of the unit and the permissible voltage in the network will depend on this. For example, electric kilns with a large volume of stones that can be watered consume a lot of electricity, so they will need a voltage of 380 volts. But simple small-sized stoves can operate at a network voltage of 220 volts.

In addition, the type of heating element is considered an important indicator:

1. Tape.
2. Tubular.
3. Combined.

Tape heating elements are environmentally friendly, quickly heat the room, and also perfectly withstand repeated thermal loads. But tubular heaters do not last long and consume more electricity during operation. The most expensive are combined heating elements, combining the two previous types.

When deciding to install an electric heater in a bathhouse, you need to weigh all the pros and cons. After all, like any other device, electric sauna or bathhouse stoves have their advantages and disadvantages. The positive points include:

• rapid heating of the room;
• space saving;
• maintaining room temperature for a long time;
• ease of maintenance of the device;
• eliminates the release of carbon dioxide, as this occurs when a wood-burning stove operates;
• safety during operation, compared to gas boilers;
• simplification of heater installation;
• does not require fuel reserves for the unit to operate;
• eliminates overheating of the device due to automation.

But the main disadvantage of such heaters is their high cost. This applies not only to the purchase of a stove, but also to maintenance, since electricity consumption is considered the most expensive heating method.

Materials and tools

When they talk about making an electric fireplace with their own hands, they first of all mean independent design and assembly by the user of the portal. In most cases, the hearth is purchased in a store.

As already mentioned, a portal is simply a box with decorative lining. It is not exposed to high temperatures, even if the electric fireplace is equipped with heaters, so almost any sheet material can be used as frame cladding:

• drywall;
• plastic;
• aluminum panels;
• steel sheets in a polymer sheath or painted with powder paint;
• glass;
• particle boards and fiberboards: chipboard, fibreboard, OSB, MDF (can be produced in laminated form);
• plywood;
• board: solid or parquet (multilayer).

The portal can also be made of piece materials - brick or stone, but due to their massiveness and high cost, these options have not gained popularity. Usually a frame is constructed, and plasterboard is used in most cases for sheathing. This is a fairly rigid material, it holds its shape well, at the same time it is easy to process, has a low weight and, most importantly, allows the use of quite impressive-looking cladding.

Decorative gypsum stone for portal cladding can also be made at home

Another useful feature: if you make a perforation in the cardboard using a needle and moisten the gypsum core through it, then you can make a curved surface from a rigid flat sheet, for example, an arched vault.

As for plywood and solid wood, these materials should be used with caution. Constantly circulating warm air can cause them to dry out with subsequent deformation. This also applies to the frame if it is made of bars and slats.

Factory production is not the only option. In a simple version, you can reproduce it yourself, although, of course, the homemade product will look less attractive.

Using candles in the fireplace you can create a real live fire

Instead of an electric fireplace, you can install in the portal:

1. Electronic photo frame with a picture of a flame. A more interesting option is a photo frame with the ability to reproduce primitive animation, into which you need to load a “cartoon” with dancing flames.
2. If the costs don’t bother you, you can go even further: install a small TV in the portal that plays video from a flash card, and record a video for it with a real fire.
3. The image of fire is combined with a system of mirrors, thanks to which the observer sees a three-dimensional illusion of flame.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Do-it-yourself bathhouse ceiling, instructions for construction

Tools

What tools do you need to prepare:

• plumb line and building level (for installation without distortions);
• metal scissors or grinder with a thin cutting disc;
• stationery knife;
• spatulas;
• sandpaper;
• screwdriver or screwdriver.

Sauna stones

An electric sauna requires special stones, which are placed between the heating elements as tightly as possible, but leaving space for air circulation.

Not all stones are suitable - a heat-resistant structure is required. The temperature of exposure to stones is very high, and ordinary stones can split and even injure a person. They should also not emit harmful substances.

It is strictly forbidden to lay stones with a smooth surface or cracks. Only on an uneven structure does water retain and evaporate evenly.

The following stones are ideal for an electric heater:

• jade;
• volcanic peridotite;
• crushed soapstone;
• Scandinavian diabase;
• Karelian gabbro-diabase.

Periodically, it is necessary to inspect the stones in the furnace - replace those that are cracked or have been in use for a long time. It is recommended to sort through stones according to the following scheme: the frequency of sorting through stones (per year) is equal to the frequency of visiting the sauna (per week). That is, if the sauna is used every day, then once every couple of months the stones need to be sorted out.

Calculation of parameters and design

To simplify the selection of the characteristics of the electrical part of the heater, use the following dependencies:

• For models equipped with a built-in supercharger or steam generator, the electrical power is selected at the rate of 0.8-1 kW per 1 m3 of steam room;
• For conventional electric heaters, the thermal power must be at least 1.5 kW/m.

An electric heater can become the basis for a small apartment sauna. In order to warm up a cabin with a volume of 200x100x250 cm and provide the required steam condition, you will need a heater with a power of at least 2 kW. The only thing is that for a sauna you will need an electric heater with a steam generator. There is no other way to warm up the room and get the desired temperature without the risk of fire and thermal burns.

Good ventilation in the sauna also plays an important role when connecting the stove. It will provide sufficient oxygen levels, maintain freshness and retain steam. If you organize it correctly, you will save energy, especially during warm-up.

The photo shows the optimal ventilation scheme with an exhaust hood

Typically, ventilation in a heater can be forced or natural.

• With forced ventilation, it is necessary to ensure air supply through the incoming air valve above the heater, at a height of more than 50 cm. In the diagram, this zone is shown as a hatched area with the letter “A”. This type of ventilation is recommended.
• The exhaust duct should be installed as far and low as possible relative to the heater.

• If natural air circulation is used, the air should come from the area below or next to the heater (shaded area "B" in the diagram). In this case, the hood is installed as far as possible from the heater and at least 1 meter higher relative to the supply. Usually the hood is made under the shelf, or a gap is simply left under the door.

Forced and natural ventilation

At the portal design stage, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Dimensions. The portal should have such dimensions that it and the hearth look proportional. Usually the body is made twice as wide as the hearth, and 1.5 times higher in height. Thus, if the width and height of the fireplace are 50 and 70 cm, then for the portal these same parameters will be equal to 100 and 105 cm. If you intend to install the fireplace not near the floor, but at a certain height, you should choose a wider model - with this placing the fireplace will look better. In this case, the width of the portal should not be doubled, but slightly smaller.
2. Dimensions of the combustion hole. This hole should be such that its edges do not block the fireplace’s own frame. This rule should be followed regardless of whether the frame is neutral or made in any genre. If the electric fireplace is stylized, then the design of the portal will have to be made accordingly. If you want to maintain creative freedom, look for an insert hearth - a model that has no frame at all.
3. Structural elements. The main structural element of the portal is the vents that ensure air circulation. If there are none, the heating element of the electrical fire may overheat.

It is also advisable to provide the portal with a shelf or hooks from the inside to secure the power cable.

Drawing

Although it is difficult to imagine a more primitive design than an electric fireplace portal, it is better not to limit yourself to abstract design and sketch out a detailed drawing of the product.

When designing, the drawing indicates all the executive dimensions of the future structure

Firstly, it will be easier to develop a specification - a list and quantity of all necessary materials down to the last screw. Secondly, the drawing will immediately reveal minor errors and shortcomings that were overlooked when designing in the mind.

Criteria for choosing electric furnaces

There is a huge selection of various models of electric heaters on the electrical goods market. But how to choose an electric oven among such a variety? What indicators should be taken into account when purchasing equipment? The main selection criteria are:

• type of heating element;
• type of electric furnace body;
• size of the electric heater (depending on the mass of the stones);
• unit control method;
• product design.

Among the heating elements, experts distinguish the combined type. It warms up the room as quickly as possible, but it costs a lot of money. Therefore, if you choose a good, but not too expensive heating element, choose the tape type.

Electric furnaces come in open and closed types.

Depending on the volume of the steam room, electric furnaces are selected. For this, a special calculation of the heater power is made: per 1 cubic meter. A meter of steam room volume requires 1 kW of electricity. Having calculated this, find out the maximum possible voltage (220 V or 380 V) to prevent a short circuit.

Electric furnaces are divided into three groups based on the volume of stones:

• from 20 to 40 kg (for small rooms designed for 4–5 people);
• from 60 to 120 kg (serve large rooms for 8–10 people);
• more than 200 kg (large heaters for commercial purposes).

The adjustment method depends on the presence or absence of a remote control. Models with a remote control and built-in heater housing are available for sale. The choice in this case is individual for everyone.

Moreover, they are made in different styles, just like wood-burning stoves. The body can be metal or trimmed with stone. As they say, “any whim for your money.” You can order corner models, a stove for installation in the middle of the room, or other options. The facing stone will give the product not only elegance, but also durability: inlay made of soapstone or soapstone protects the body from thermal shocks, as well as hard IR rays.

Highlight the important indicators of a good heater. Calculate electricity consumption, and also decide on the installation location of the unit. After all, an electric oven is not a cheap pleasure.

Preparatory stage

Before you start making a false fireplace, you need to think about its installation location and power supply.

Selecting a location

Work on creating a homemade electric fireplace should begin with choosing a place for it, since the shape of the portal will depend on this. The following options should be considered:

1. Wall-mounted location: this is the most preferable option - it is the wall-mounted electric fireplace that is most similar to the real one. But such an installation is possible only under one condition: the room must be quite spacious. In the wall-mounted version, the electric fireplace is made rectangular.
2. Corner: this method is used if the room is of modest size. The corner is usually the least used area, so installing a false fireplace here has almost no effect on the amount of free space. The corner portal will no longer have a rectangular, but a triangular base.

   
   A corner electric fireplace will not take away useful space from the room

3. Wall-mounted option: as you know, a floor-mounted fireplace is considered classic. But the mounted option will look good, provided that the space in front of it, at least a few steps away, is not cluttered with anything.
4. Built-in fireplace. This option will significantly save space.

   
   An electric fireplace built into the wall is ideal for small rooms.

If the problem of lack of space is so critical that none of the above options are suitable, an electric fireplace can be built into a partition or furniture. Especially for such tasks, “ultra-thin” fireplaces with a depth of only 7 cm are produced. By the way, it’s worth considering that perhaps such an almost flat fireplace could be made wall-mounted.

Some users are faced with a problem: no matter where they place the fireplace, it always ends up close to one or another piece of furniture - a table, sofa, pouf, etc. The way out of this situation is to create a wall-mounted fireplace located at a certain height. In this form it will not lose its decorative qualities. At the same time, at any distance from the wall and even under the fireplace itself, it will be possible to place a low piece of furniture.

Hanging electric fireplace significantly saves space

Electricity supply

An important point: at the preparation stage, you should think about the power supply to the fireplace. To prevent the impression of the decoration from being spoiled by an extension cord stretched across the entire room, you need to attach an electrical outlet to the wall near the installation site of the portal. In this case, it is useful to listen to these recommendations:

1. You should not install the socket so that it is inside the portal, although this option seems to be the most successful from an aesthetic point of view. A false fireplace, like any other electrical device, is potentially dangerous, and the user should be able to quickly unplug the power cord if something happens.
2. It is better to install an outlet with a switch. After installing the fireplace in the portal, the standard power button will most likely be difficult to access, and it will be inconvenient to constantly pull out and insert the plug into the socket to turn the device off and on.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Assembly of the passage of a vent pipe through the roof

Assembly technology

The manufacture of the device begins with cutting the blanks according to the prepared drawings. You can do the cutting yourself or order it from a metal warehouse. The parts are connected to each other with tacks, and then welded with a continuous seam. Welding is carried out using stainless electrodes or wire in an environment of inert gases.

Holes are cut in the finished housing to accommodate the heating elements. They are placed at equal intervals to ensure more uniform heating of the heater. Stones are placed inside the body. The terminals of the heating elements are connected with a power cable to switches or a rheostat. Switch the control unit and connect the device to the network. Be sure to ground the heater body and automation with a large cross-section wire. Control elements are located outside the steam room.

What is an electric heater with a steam generator?

A modern electric sauna stove can be equipped with a steam generator. Depending on the settings, the steam generator can fill the steam room with light or wet steam. That is, thanks to a stove with a steam generator, you can create the atmosphere of a real Russian bath, a Turkish hammam, and a Finnish sauna.

The Russian bath is famous for its healing properties. Thanks to rich and moist steam:

• skin pores are perfectly cleansed;
• Toxins are removed from the body along with sweat;
• steam, especially saturated with phytoncides, heals the respiratory system and treats a sore throat.

To get a sufficient amount of steam, a heater is built in a traditional sauna stove - a container filled with hot stones, onto which water (or, even better, herbal infusions) is supplied from time to time to generate steam. Modern electric sauna stoves can be equipped with a steam generator.

The big advantage of an electric furnace with a steam generator is that all processes in the heating unit can be automated.

The main task of the unit with a steam generator is to convert the water poured into the device’s reservoir into steam. There are several ways to do this:

• water can be heated using heating elements;
• for heating, a current is used that is passed between two electrodes;
• Induction is used to convert water into steam (similar to microwave ovens).

Furnace models equipped with a steam generator allow you to adjust the parameters of the steam produced. The device is capable of producing steam of different temperatures, the temperature range is from 30 to 95 degrees.

As a rule, the design of a unit with a steam generator includes the following elements:

• a reservoir into which water (or herbal infusions) is poured;
• block for water preparation;
• pumps: for pumping water and releasing steam;
• the steam generator itself;
• automation and control unit.

Please note: the automation unit for ovens with a steam generator includes a safety system. In case of deviation from the normal operating mode, the sensors will turn off the steam supply.

Modern models of units with a steam generator are very economical; they consume a small amount of energy (the exact value depends on the power).

On the market of special equipment for a bath, there are a huge number of offers of electric heaters for every taste and color. There are designs with an additional fan that blows air through the hot stone. Many bathhouse owners like systems with drip addition of aromatic liquids, from beer to linden infusion. In order not to be distracted by the heating process, you can choose an electric heater model with remote control and programmable bath heating time.

Most often, for a small bathhouse, connoisseurs and connoisseurs of steam choose more advanced models equipped with a steam generator. The question often arises: why install a device in a steam room that produces a stream of hot water vapor, if you can get by with an ordinary electric fryer or, at worst, a wood-burning sauna stove.

The fashion for black-style bath procedures is long gone; only a few enthusiasts are able to fight the smoking and smoky stove in a Russian bath. Most owners prefer a comfortable stay in the steam room.

The steam generation system evenly distributes air heated to the required temperature, aromatized and saturated with hot water vapor, in the space of the sauna or bathhouse.

Essentially, a steam generator is a coil or closed circuit equipped with an external heater, for example, an electric coil or a ceramic element. A fan blows air through the heat exchanger while simultaneously supplying a precisely dosed amount of purified water. The output is perfectly pure steam without splashes of boiling water.

At the same time, an electric heater with a steam generator for a sauna is a good way to change the thermal conditions of the room. Instead of the dry, overheated atmosphere of a Finnish bathhouse, the generator will help make it stronger, richer in steam and less hot, like in a Russian bathhouse. Well, for lovers of oriental, Turkish or Roman baths, it is quite possible to control the electric heater with your own hands and choose a cooler, more gentle mode, as in thermal baths or hammams.

Oven operation

• Do not exceed the air temperature in the steam room more than 100 degrees. This temperature is not only harmful to health: it dries out the skin and respiratory tract, but also provokes the release of harmful substances from the wood.
• You cannot add essential oils to the water for applying to the stones. It is necessary to use special compounds that evaporate and do not burn out. Simply place a container of hot water in a corner and drop a little oil into it.
• Follow fire safety regulations. Do not dry clothes even when the stove is turned off.

Modern models of electric heaters

The appearance of modern electric sauna roasters amazes with the variety of design of the heating system and elegant design solutions of the body. Almost all models are made in a modern design, with beautiful shapes and contours, but this is not the main thing. The equipment operates on mains power, so it may pose a certain threat to people.

Experts recommend paying attention to easy access to some parts of the electric heater:

• The temperature sensor on the heating elements burns out first, so you will have to change it several times, especially since even expensive branded models of sauna heaters have cheap Chinese heating sensors. The price of the product is at least 70 dollars;
• Device for monitoring the water level in the steam generator. You will have to monitor it and periodically check its operation, otherwise you can burn out the steam generator;
• Panel and remote control. They often fail due to improper storage and use. The device is not cheap; for some models the price for the control unit can reach $400.

In addition, you will need to regularly rinse the steam generator container and clean the stones from plaque. On average, full maintenance of an electric heater with a steam generator for a bath takes no more than 1-2 hours of time per year, so an electric stove is considered more convenient than a wood stove.

If necessary, you can make an electric heater for a bath with your own hands, or look for a branded industrial model with a corner, central or wall location. The case is most often made of stainless steel or special zirconium enamel is applied. Paintwork for heaters is rarely used due to the high price of heat-resistant powder paints.

Advice! If the water used in the bath contains a lot of calcium salts, then it is best to choose an enameled model with a matte finish.

For amateurs, electric heaters are made with lining from the most popular bathing stone, chalcopyrite. It turns out very beautiful and at the same time reliable, since any broken fragment of the finish can be easily returned to its place using heat-resistant glue.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Do-it-yourself frame-panel bathhouse - how to make it (photo)

Electric sauna heaters can be divided into two groups according to heating method:

• Classic version with basket loading at the top of the body. This option is convenient in that the main flow of hot air is directed under the ceiling in a strictly vertical direction;
• Open electric heaters are used in baths with a large steam room volume. As a rule, they are installed on opposite sides of the sauna walls and adjusted so that the entrance to the room warms up more, and a stable temperature is maintained on the shelves.

The latter option is considered more effective, but less safe to use. In addition, you need to think about what are the best stones for this type of electric heater. If you don’t know what to choose, it’s best to order a special set of crushed calcite or chalcopyrite. As a last resort, you can use crushed light pebbles or pebbles of silicon-containing rocks as stones for an electric heater.

Furnace installation

Furnace installation rules

• An electric sauna heater can be installed either in the corner of the room or in its center.
• It must be installed on the floor or a flat base using special bolts that are included in the kit.
• When fastening, you must maintain the clearances specified in the instructions.
• Only 1 stove can be installed in the steam room.
• The surface of the walls behind the stove must be covered with a thermal protective screen. Light protection, for example, asbestos boards, is absolutely not suitable for this.

Thermal shield on the wall

Network connection

• The connection must be made using heat-resistant wires in a sleeve through a separate circuit breaker with a residual current device.
• To do this, you can use rubber-wrapped wires, for example A07BB (VSB) or H07RN (VSN), but in no case with PVC insulation. The table contains data for calculating the power and number of fuses and wire cross-section.

Power calculation table for electric oven

• All control elements, switches, distribution boxes are moved to another room. In the sauna itself, only the heating element and thermostat sensor remain.
• The temperature sensor is mounted next to the stove in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. The sensor wire cannot be extended using ordinary wires.
• Using a sensor, heating operation will be suspended when the dangerous temperature is exceeded. Therefore, it is important to install it correctly.
• As an additional measure of protection, it is recommended to use a fire extinguishing system.

Stones for the stove

Laying stones

• Large stones are laid down, and small ones on top. Do not pack them too tightly or forcefully, otherwise air circulation will be impaired. The heating elements must be securely covered with stones. You cannot turn on the stove without stones.
• Once a year, go through the stones: clean them and remove small crushed stones so that heat exchange is not disturbed. But you can’t load the first cobblestones you come across instead: this can not only reduce the efficiency of heating, but also become harmful to health.

The interior design of the bathhouse is the second most important process for those who like to take a steam bath and at the same time prefer to do everything with their own hands. In addition to thermal insulation and the design of the bath interior, a special role in the functionality of the steam room is played by the heater stove, which heats the room and creates steam during bathing. Most often, installing a stove in a bathhouse is done first, but there may also be exceptions to this rule.

Installation of stoves in a bathhouse is ideally carried out by a professional stove maker who knows all the intricacies of the installation process. The oven has a complex structure with several cavities inside, which must have a carefully adjusted structure, since uniform heating and traction force will depend on this.

Bath stove: photo

Lack of professionalism in this matter is fraught with unpleasant consequences:

• soot,
• frenzy,
• bad traction
• slow heating, etc.

However, if you are building a sauna “from scratch” with your own hands, then it is quite logical to want to install the stove yourself. Considering that the cost of installing a stove in a bathhouse will be very impressive, the price of a specialist’s services will have an impact, which in this case can be about 50% of the total cost of the material used.

Having certain skills and being guided by a clear scheme, you can easily carry out this process yourself.

Installing a stove in a brick bathhouse

In this article, you will be provided with step-by-step instructions on how to install a stove in a brick bathhouse yourself. With its help, you can carry out this process completely independently and get a worthy result of your efforts.

Note! In this case, we will consider installing stoves in a bathhouse with a built-in tank and a heater, since this is the most common analogue today.

Furnace installation

Making an electric fireplace: step-by-step instructions

The question arises, how to make an electric fireplace with steam with your own hands? Let's figure it out. Models of electric fireplaces are different and they are made from different materials. For example, such as: plasterboard, stone, noble wood, chipboard, plywood and many others.

To create an electric fireplace with your own hands, no special skills are required, the main thing is to strictly follow the instructions

After all the preparatory work has been done, you can begin making the electric fireplace itself.

The pedestal is a tabletop laid on a frame made of a metal profile about 50 mm high. The tabletop can be made from various materials:

• thick plywood or several thin plywood sheets glued together;
• solid wood or a shield made from several boards;
• chipboard.

The most attractive look are countertops made of laminated MDF (the board is enclosed in a plastic shell). Such a product can easily be found on sale.

The pedestal for an electric fireplace can be made from chipboard

The tabletop for a wall-mounted fireplace has the shape of a rectangle, for a corner one - a pentagon. In size it should be several centimeters larger than the dimensions of the portal. A plinth of the same color as the table top is installed as side walls around the pedestal.

As already mentioned, the frame is best made from a metal profile specifically designed for the installation of plasterboard structures. It comes in two types:

• rack-mount (for a portal you will need a variety with section dimensions of 50x50 mm);
• guide (use standard size 50x40 mm).

To fasten profile sections together, you should use special short self-tapping screws 11–13 mm long, which are popularly called “bugs” or “seeds.”

Installation of the frame is carried out in the following sequence:

1. The section of the wall that will be covered by the portal is covered with a fire-resistant screen. For this purpose, it is better to use a sheet of tin with a basalt cardboard lining; a less successful option is an asbestos layer (has carcinogenic properties).
2. According to the drawing, markings are applied to the wall and table top, while the vertical/horizontal lines are controlled by a plumb line and level.
3. Using dowels (to the wall) and wood screws (to the tabletop), a guide profile measuring 50x40 mm is attached according to the markings.
4. A 50x50 mm rack profile is screwed to the guide profile using self-tapping seed screws, so that the result is a parallelepiped.

   
   It is better to mount the electric fireplace frame from a metal profile designed for plasterboard

5. The frame is strengthened by installing ties from the same rack profile in each side face in increments of 20–25 cm.

On the front side, sections of the profile are attached that limit the opening, and inside there is a frame on which the hearth will be installed (if one is provided for in the project).

Dimensions

The smaller the sauna, the more important the size of the stove becomes. Low-power heaters are usually very modest in size. An example is the Harvia Compact stove - its width is 24.5-30 cm, depth 22 cm, height 54 cm. It weighs only 9 kg (without stones). Another model from the same company - Vega Compact - weighs even less: 7 kg and has dimensions: 28x29.5x50.5 cm.

IMPORTANT! Information on sizes is essential for selection, therefore it is always indicated in catalogs.

Yes, and one more interesting point: ovens of the same size (within the same line) can have different power. This allows the manufacturer to reduce production costs, and the consumer to choose a standard-sized heater for the volume of the steam room.

Further information will be useful to those who have already purchased a stove and need information on how to properly install and connect it.

Make an electric heater with your own hands

Building a brazier-heater for heating a steam room in a bathhouse is not particularly difficult, even for a person unfamiliar with its structure. First of all, you will need to install and install a protected electrical wiring system designed for high power in the steam room.

For a standard electric heater, you will need to use a three-phase network with a core cross-section of at least 10 mm2. If you are afraid of the presence of high voltage in the bathhouse, then you can get by with just a steam generator mounted in the bathhouse, as in the diagram.

A standard heater is made in the form of a perforated steel box or basket mounted on a heat-resistant base.

Such a basket can be cut from a sheet of stainless steel or welded using argon welding from a medical tube. It makes no sense to use conventional fittings, even with galvanic coating; the metal will still rust over time.

The second step is to select a heating element. For an electric heater in a bathhouse, one or more heaters from an electric stove or oven are suitable. Spirals from boilers, boilers, and kettles cannot be used to build an electric heater; they quickly burn out due to the high heating temperature, reaching 180-200oC.

All that remains is to mount the elements inside the body of the electric heater, connect them in a parallel circuit through the control device and fill the container with crushed granite. The heating quality of a homemade electric heater will be no worse than that of industrially manufactured models.

Electric sauna stove - why is it better than others, how to choose and install it?

For some, there is nothing better than the smell of firewood cracking from the fire and the feeling of real, natural warmth, but for others, on the contrary, they are ready to sacrifice the original Russian attributes of a bathhouse and give preference to comfort and functionality. In this regard, electric sauna stoves are an ideal option: they do not need to add fuel from time to time, they do not smoke or smoke, and thanks to their compactness and lightness, the interior of even a very small steam room can be made quite attractive.

Modern electric stoves for baths are good not only because they take up little space - they do not need to be installed with a chimney, and therefore their installation will cost several times less than any other stove. In addition, only an electric heater has a fairly wide temperature range. And thirdly, the area around electric stoves is always perfectly clean: no ash, no dust, no smog.

Modern electric sauna stoves are much stronger and more durable than conventional wooden ones. They also have a number of rather pleasant advantages:

• They are extremely easy to use - just press a button and you can prepare for bath procedures.
• If desired, you can use voltage of different phases: either 220V or 380V.
• You can place such a stove in a steam room anywhere - be it near a wall or in the center.
• A modern electric stove is absolutely safe for a bath: it has a well-thought-out cyclic operation, automation and protective shutdown of its heating elements.

• Many models of such stoves are designed to maintain the desired temperature in the steam room without additional energy.
• Most modern models of electric furnaces have a built-in or even remote control panel, which is very convenient.
• With such a stove, the steam room warms up quickly, the heat is soft and uniform.

Decorating an electric fireplace

You can decorate the portal of a false fireplace with stucco molding, which is fixed with glue. If the frame and cladding are strong enough, real plaster decor is used. It is better not to overload the plasterboard structure - use a lightweight imitation of polyurethane stucco.

A strong impression is made by the ambience created with the help of objects usually accompanying the fireplace. Tongs, a poker, a scoop for removing ash, a broom, etc. are hung on the portal or a stand next to it. Some of these items, for example, a scoop and a poker, can be installed next to the fireplace - as if they had just been used.

You can hang torch-shaped lamps on the wall on both sides of the portal.

Another trick from the same opera is to install a woodpile next to the fireplace. It is a box, quite high, but shallow - the bottom is cut in almost at the very top. Several real logs or dummies made of plastic or ceramic (sold in stores) are placed on it.

The surroundings in the form of a woodpile make the false fireplace more realistic

You can make a rather naturalistic dummy yourself using corrugated cardboard as a material. Here's how it's done:

1. Parts are cut out of cardboard, which are then rolled into cylinders of various lengths and diameters. Larger cylinders will act as logs, while smaller cylinders will act as knots.
2. Using wide tape and glue, we attach the “knots” to the “logs”.

   
   You can make logs from corrugated cardboard that are very similar to real ones.

3. The finished dummies need to be painted and placed in a woodpile.

   
   To make cardboard firewood look realistic, you need to paint it

A fireplace, even a fake one, significantly enriches the interior and brings into it a charming atmosphere of ancient romance from the times of chivalry. But such decoration will only be exclusive if the user makes it himself. We hope our ideas and tips will help you with this.

The most common malfunctions

Sometimes you can deal with some defects in the operation of the furnace yourself.

If suddenly the stove does not heat the sauna, you can try to solve the problem as follows:

• First you should turn on the oven;
• then adjust the heating using the control unit;
• you need to make sure that there is voltage to the oven. The cable may be damaged somewhere and should be replaced;
• It is also necessary to check the temperature sensors. Maybe they are faulty and turn off the oven automatically;
• and most importantly, you need to check the fuses.

The second fairly common malfunction, which you can also deal with on your own, is insufficient heating of the sauna

It is important to remember that under normal conditions the air in the steam room should warm up completely within one hour

If this does not happen, then you can do the following:

• the heating temperature should be increased;
• Check the stones for damage, that they are laid correctly and that they are in sufficient quantity. The main thing when disposing of stones is to leave gaps between them, otherwise hot air will not flow to them;

• perhaps the power of the stove and the area of ​​the steam room are incorrectly correlated;
• you should check the ventilation - perhaps the air flow is too large and the room immediately cools down;
• you need to check whether the heating system itself is ok. If the heating elements begin to turn red during operation, then the problem is one of the above reasons; if not, then it is necessary to replace the heating system itself.

In case of other serious malfunctions of the electric heater, you should seek help from specialists.

An electric oven is an excellent replacement for standard ovens that require wood. A heater can warm up a room well and cause much less hassle in caring for and operating it. An electric stove can be a very original and creative design solution that can set a certain atmosphere in the room and become the main part of the entire sauna. With proper care, an electric furnace can last for many years. Choosing such an electric stove is guaranteed to make the sauna a comfortable place to relax at home.

To learn how to choose an electric oven, watch the following video.

Electric heater, reviews

Bystryakov Alexey, Ufa

I have a domestic ECM in my bathhouse; I bought it because it’s inexpensive and easy to maintain. I’ve been using an electric heater for almost three years, I’ve completely switched the heating of my bathhouse to electricity and I’m happy with it. There is no smoke or suffocation in the steam room, and it’s safer with an electric heater; the neighbors have already renovated their wood-burning sauna twice.

Batalinsky Sergey, Zelenograd

I read reviews about the electric sauna heater, but for a long time I doubted that it would be too expensive to heat the steam room with electricity. Friends persuaded us and installed a Turkish electric heater in two hours. Over two years of weekly operation, there was only one breakdown - the contact on the heating element burned out. I took it apart, tinned all the contacts of the electric heater, and now, like some holiday, everyone gathers in our bathhouse.

Tags: fireplace, hand, sauna, your own, electric

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Main rules

Over many years of using electric ovens, a standard way of using them has developed:

• The designated corner is carefully insulated with mineral wool and covered with aluminum foil. The waterproofing must be secured with a reflective layer inside, and the joints must be securely taped.

Proper insulation of steam room walls

• Typically, an insulation thickness of 5-10 cm is sufficient. It is believed that every open 1 square meter of a stone wall increases the power consumption of the furnace, which is equivalent to increasing the volume of the room by 1.5-2 m3.
• The top of the walls is finished with clapboard 12-16 mm thick. There should be about 1 cm of free space underneath for ventilation.
• The optimal height of the steam room is 190-210 cm. This will reduce the power of the stove and speed up heating. The distance from the top shelf to the ceiling should be 110-120 cm, since the warmest air is at the top.

With a built-in power unit or a separate one?

If you see two remote controls next to each other, one is a huge box with buttons, and the other is slightly larger than an iPhone, this does not mean that the engineers of the second one did a better job. In fact, the power unit of the second remote control is located separately and will also have to be installed. The advantage of remote controls with a built-in power unit is that they are cheaper. Stoves with remote controls Tylo and Tulikivi stand out. In them, up to 10 kW, the power control unit is built into the oven. The advantages of the remote option are obvious: the power unit is removed into the technical room, and the remote control itself does not take up much space and decorates the design of the room.

Possibility of remote control

In addition to controlling the smart sauna from the central console, which is located indoors or in the dressing room, you can control the operation of the devices from a distance. A similar effect is possible thanks to “smart” electronics, which allow the equipment to be interfaced with various communication systems. As a communicator, you can use a remote control, a smartphone, or use the voice control provided by the Alice system. Devices connected to Wi-Fi and the Internet allow you to receive information and set modes while outside the home, as well as control the external environment while in the steam room.

A few words about wall passages

A few words can be added about wall penetrations, which are inevitable when the control panel and the stove are located in different rooms. In this case, it is necessary to remember that wall penetrations must comply with PUE standards: at the penetration site, an embedded tube made of non-combustible material is installed, which, after pulling the cable, is also sealed with non-flammable and fire-resistant material, for example, cement. Power cable lines and sensor connection lines must not pass through the wall together.

If the included instructions for assembling and installing an electric sauna stove seem complicated and raise many questions, it is better not to take risks and immediately entrust the connection of the equipment to a qualified specialist from our company. To contact us, go to the contacts section.

Source

A brief history of one hygiene procedure

Finns love saunas very much. This is their pride, their national passion. Meanwhile, for them such a pleasure was quite elitist. Only wealthy Finns had their own baths; the rest were content with public ones.

After the Second World War, the country was in deep depression and a program of action was needed that could bring the people out of their stupor. The sauna is recognized as such a national medicine. They just decided that people should be given an accessible bathhouse. In every apartment. In every house.

How to make a sauna cheap? The path will be directly in the house, and not in a separate building. How to make it cheaper? Make electric stoves for baths and saunas without a chimney.

There were problems with electrical safety at that time. I had to give up water. We got a myth about dry steam, which has taken root in many countries.

Meanwhile, dry heat is destructive to the body! The Finns understood this long ago. But in our country, the laws of commerce still prevail over reason.

By the way, many people complain of headaches in modern dry steam rooms. And this is understandable. Dry heat burns your lungs worse than cigarette smoke.