DIY gas sauna stove: instructions for installing and connecting a gas sauna stove

Modern Russian baths no longer correspond to the traditional steam rooms that our grandfathers and great-grandfathers used. This applies to both the interior decoration and the number of rooms in the building, as well as fuel. In modern realities, a gas stove for a bath is considered the ideal solution.

Bathhouse owners are ready to sacrifice the unique smell emitted when wood burns and replace the traditional stove with gas boilers. This is due to the fact that a gas bath, namely its operation, is much cheaper. In addition, the gas burner for the bath is easy to operate.

People who decide to install modern gas burners for sauna stoves in a steam room should know about the types of such heating devices, the features of their use and installation rules.

An attempt to operate a gas stove for a bath without such knowledge can end disastrously both for the building itself and for its owner.

Criteria for choosing a gas furnace

The power of the furnace is the main criterion that you need to focus on. But there are other nuances that will help you choose the right and reliable device:

Dimensions of the stove - so that the stove does not “eat up” space, it should not be large. It is better to choose one in which the remote fuel channel is extended;
Gas consumption - the lower the gas consumption, the better the stove works (this data is indicated in the equipment passport);
Acceptable type of gas - some stoves operate only on natural network gas, while other models allow you to reconfigure the reducer;
The versatility of the models - some stoves can operate both with gas and with wood. This option is convenient only if gas has not yet been installed to the bathhouse, but is planned. In other cases, it is simply an overpayment of money;
If the sauna equipment is sold with a water tank, then you do not need to bother with the additional purchase of a tank. But, if there is no water tank, then you should think in advance about how the water will be heated.

Fire safety requirements

When installing any sauna stove, it is necessary to strictly comply with fire safety requirements, since the walls of the device heat up to fairly high temperatures during its operation. In order to ensure maximum safety and not have problems with regulatory organizations, it is recommended to install the stove in accordance with the provisions prescribed in SNiP 41-01-2003 (Chapter 6.6).

The first thing that needs to be done is to equip a reliable foundation for the main structure of the stove, which will be adjacent to the wall dividing the room. The foundation should be covered with heat-resistant material and then with metal sheet. Asbestos sheets were previously used as heat-resistant insulation. Today on sale you can find panels of pressed mineral wool, which is less dangerous from an environmental point of view, sheets of foam glass or EZHKAKH (heat-resistant structural mica plastic).
It is also necessary to provide a metal flooring in front of the combustion door, which will prevent the wooden floor from catching fire and simplify debris removal. The size of the pre-furnace sheet must be at least 400×800 mm.
If the partition between the steam room and the dressing room is wooden, then the opening through which the fuel channel will pass must be separated from the wood by brick or stone masonry. The distance between the stove and wooden walls should be 400÷450 mm.

In the version shown, the owner chose to fill the opening with bricks

Provided that an opening is installed along the end part of the wall through which the combustion channel will pass, a gasket made of heat-insulating material (mineral basalt wool or cement-fiber sheet) with a thickness of 40÷50 mm, the distance between the part of the wall built from combustible material and the outer wall oven can be reduced to 250 mm. If thicker thermal insulation material is installed, the safe distance can be 125 mm.
The distance between the ceiling of the bathhouse and the surface of the stove should not be less than 1200 mm.
The distance from the edge of the combustion door to the nearest door must be at least 1250 mm.
If you purchased a non-factory-made stove, or the device is independently made from sheet metal, then it is best to cover it with brick. Thus, it is possible to protect the structure of the bathhouse from fire, and people taking water procedures from burns. Factory products, as a rule, are made with double walls, between which thermal insulation material is laid or convection channels pass through.

Design features and operating principle

Structurally, gas heating equipment for a bath consists of a housing with a built-in burner-nozzle. The device is equipped with shut-off and relief valves, a fuse, filters, and a compartment for mixing gas with air. Here are the control mechanisms that regulate the fuel supply mode. Using a burner, the air in the combustion chamber is heated, then the thermal energy is transferred to the generator housing with a tray for stones. The functionality of the equipment, the efficiency of the device and safety depend on the characteristics of the gas injector.

How does a gas sauna stove work?

A gas stove for a steam room, regardless of the model, is similar to stoves that are heated with logs. The only difference is that gas is used for kindling, not wood, so instead of a window for wood, gas stoves have a special panel into which the gas burner is mounted.

The gas mixes with air and produces heat at the output, which can be adjusted by opening the door located at the bottom of the stove. A gas burner in a sauna stove can be installed together with a firebox for firewood; such models are considered universal and make it possible to use both gas and wood for kindling.

DIY gas burner

Manufacturing does not require expensive components or complex tools. A camping gas burner or a simple soldering iron for the garage can be made in less than an hour if you have the necessary materials. Let us describe the main nuances that will be encountered in this work:

It is better to make the body and divider from steel.
As a basis, you can take a piece of pipe with a diameter of 40 mm.
We make a new fitting on the machine or adapt a part from an old fire extinguisher.
We select a smaller pipe for the inner part, cut off the blank and weld the fitting.
We weld the other side of the pipe and drill a hole for the propane outlet.
We select the diameter of the outlet hole experimentally, starting from 0.9 mm.
If there is not enough gas supply, the hole should be drilled.
We connect the gas burner only through a reducer.

What are the advantages of using gas sauna stoves?

Compared to their wood-burning “brothers,” gas sauna stoves have a number of significant advantages:

Almost all models have a thermostatic control system. This means that in the process of taking bath procedures there is no need to be distracted by maintaining the required temperature - adding firewood, changing the position of the blower window, etc. It is enough to set the required heating level in the steam room in advance - the automatic operation control system will take care of the rest.

The thermostatic control system for gas burners allows you to set the desired temperature - and no longer be distracted by this matter while taking bath procedures

Modern gas furnaces are extremely easy to use. They are equipped with all the necessary levels of control and security.
Wood-burning stoves have to be cleaned of accumulated ash literally after every kindling. There is no such problem in gas installations. Prevention is certainly necessary, but its frequency, as a rule, does not exceed twice a year. By the way, this also applies to a chimney for a bathhouse - there are incomparably more solid combustion products in wood smoke than when burning gas.
When using natural network gas, there are no issues with organizing the storage of fuel or its delivery to the bathhouse. Just open the tap and you can light the heater. If you use liquefied gas in cylinders, then this is a little more complicated. But for cylinders, you can also organize a compact gear cabinet once at the outer wall of the bathhouse, extend the hoses on an ongoing basis, and not experience any serious problems in the future.

If you plan to use bottled gas, you can mount a special cabinet near the wall of the bathhouse.

In terms of speed of heating a steam room, gas stoves are in no way inferior to wood or electric ones, but at the same time their operation will be much cheaper, thanks to the quite affordable cost of “blue fuel”.
Modern models of gas sauna stoves are distinguished by their enviable durability, and the manufacturer gives them a very good factory warranty.
Many models of gas stoves for baths are already given the appropriate appearance in advance, which does not require any modifications. However, there are also those that require obligatory brick lining or complete covering on all sides with a heater.
It is also important for traditionally cramped bath conditions that gas stoves are usually compact.

Prices for gas stoves

gas oven

There is only one significant disadvantage of such furnaces. As with any other gas equipment, they require approval of the installation by the relevant organization and the connection of the main line. This means that you will have to order the preparation of a project, and then have it approved by authorities, which is always accompanied by a loss of time, nerves, and additional material costs. But the advantages of gas stoves still outweigh this “minus”.

New quality of gas fuel boiler

From an economic point of view, it is advisable to use gas in cylinders for small and tiny steam rooms, for example, for a bathhouse on a trailer or a sauna in a fishing house.

Using a gas boiler for a sauna or bathhouse allows you to solve several serious problems:

Get rid of the fumes and the smell of scale that accompany almost all wood-burning stoves. Gas fuel combustion products consist of 99% harmless carbon dioxide and water;
To ensure smooth and accurate heating of the air in the bathhouse, in many modern gas boilers for saunas the automation is able to maintain the temperature even more accurately than in the case of electric heaters;
Get the desired compactness of gas equipment. A modern gas boiler is only slightly larger in size than an electric heater.

For your information! The temperature of the combustion front of methane fuel in the gas furnace of a boiler is only 850°C, while the intensive formation of deadly carbon monoxide and the release of fine soot begin at 1000-1100°C. For comparison, when burning firewood produces a flame 150-200°C higher than in the case of gas fuel.

This means that a branded gas boiler is much safer than any wood-burning stove. If you do not interfere with the operation of burners and control equipment installed by a specialized specialist, the chimney will remain sterile clean, and the risk of fire or poisoning is practically zero.

Where can I use a gas oven?

The gas heating system is universal, it is used:

for heating baths and saunas;
as heating boilers when laying thermal communications in the room;
as part of boiler structures to provide apartments with hot water in the summer;
If we consider household gas stoves, they are very popular among housewives. Thanks to the open fire, dishes cooked on this design much faster.

Types and features of gas furnaces

Before you build a gas stove for a bath with your own hands, you need to understand the main design features of these structures and their types.

All gas structures have the following classification:

heating;
household;
heating.

If you are considering a stove for a bath or sauna, then you should choose a gas heating structure.

Heating stoves are used in autonomous heating systems and hot water supply of private buildings. It is worth considering that with high air humidity, these structures are practically useless, since they cannot maintain high temperatures.

Gas furnaces have different qualifications for:

the type of burner that is installed in the boiler;
coolant heating method;
material for the manufacture of the furnace frame;
the type of fuel that is planned to be used.

There are many types of gas furnaces; there is another type of qualification - according to the type of gas burner:

atmospheric;
supercharged.

The most affordable on the market are atmospheric burners. They are easy to install - no need to supply electricity or install special automation. In this case, injection is involved, under the influence of which air enters a zonal chamber or a special pipe installed by analogy with home-made structures.

It is worth understanding that this is why the efficiency of the furnace will depend on the supply of oxygen. If the air supply is weak, the efficiency of the furnace will greatly decrease - gas combustion will be sluggish.

The most complex and expensive design is inflatable burners, which are directly dependent on electricity. A design feature of this unit is a special fan that forces air into the combustion chamber. The operating efficiency of the structures is high; their use is universal, since they can be installed in combined-type furnaces. Atmospheric units can only be installed in gas furnaces.

The body material may vary:

stone;
brick;
metal.

Disadvantages of gas boilers

Imported models of gas boilers for baths are always made with a reserve of mechanical strength of the body walls. Many domestically produced models are more similar in design to Chinese boilers due to the minimal thickness of the combustion chamber walls and design. As a result, when the internal heat exchanger is turned off, the firebox often overheats and becomes deformed.

One of the most common types of problems is the burner turning off spontaneously. In boiler apparatus from well-known manufacturers, gas automation is installed in a box protected from heat and water vapor. In cheaper boilers, the burner operation control board can simply be placed in an aluminum box. As a result of oxidation of the contacts in the humid atmosphere of the bathhouse, the flame control sensor is the first to fail. Repairing boiler burner equipment is not difficult, but in any case it must be done by a specialist, otherwise the equipment may be sealed and the owners may be fined.

Power calculation for a bath

The equipment described can produce different power during operation, and therefore, when choosing a suitable stove, this is the most important criterion.

The required power is determined based on parameters such as the total area of the bathhouse (including the steam room, dressing room and other rooms, if any). The larger the heating area, the more power the stove should have

It is extremely important to make accurate measurements of all parameters of the bathhouse, including its height, width, and chimney diameter.

Power is calculated according to the following principle:

Multiply the width, length and height of the bath. For example, if a bathhouse is 3x2 in size and 2.2 meters high, then its volume will be 13.2 cubic meters.
Next, heat loss through a door, window, brickwork or other partitions is calculated. Every square meter of the listed surfaces absorbs heat. To make a calculation, taking this factor into account, you need to multiply the area of the bathhouse by a factor of 1.2. If the steam room has a window whose size is 0.3 * 1.0 m = 0.3 square meters, and a door whose size is 1.8 * 0.8 m = 1.44 square meters, then the total heat loss will be (0.3 square meters + 1.44 square meters) * 1.2 = 2.088 cubic meters.
The next step is to add the resulting total area of the bath with the area of heat loss. For example: 2 + 2.088 = 15.288 cubic meters.

Based on the data obtained, you can select a furnace of the required power, since manufacturers indicate in the technical data sheet of the equipment what area the furnace power is designed for. It is better to give preference to equipment whose power is in the range of 25 kW.

Installation Rules

A gas stove should only be installed by professionals, since gas is unsafe. Under no circumstances should you install the equipment yourself. Requirements for installing the stove:

The minimum distance between the wall and the stove is 5 centimeters, the maximum is 15 cm;
The presence of at least one window in the dressing room and a good ventilation system;
The wall located behind the equipment must be additionally covered with fire-resistant material;
The chimney must be made of stainless material.

Only if all these criteria are met can the purchased equipment be installed, otherwise it will be considered a violation of safety regulations, which will be subject to a fine.

An approximate diagram of the installation of a gas stove in a bathhouse:

Gas stove in the bathhouse

Foundation for a gas furnace

We build the foundation of a gas bath stove in the following sequence:

We dig a pit 70 cm deep, taking into account that the bottom of the pit should be slightly wider than the base.
We pour 15 cm thick sand into the bottom of the pit, fill it with water and wait until the water is absorbed.
After the water has been absorbed, pour pieces of brick and stone about 20 cm thick.
We fill it all with crushed stone.
We make formwork and create a reinforced frame.
Fill it with concrete and wait until it sets a little, then remove the formwork.
We cover the surface in several layers with tar.
We fill the place where the formwork was with a mixture of sand and fine gravel.
We install moisture insulation and the foundation is ready for the construction of a gas furnace.

Construction of a gas stove for a bath

The procedure for making a gas stove for a bath looks like this:

Prepare a solution of sand and clay in a 1:1 ratio. Mix all this with water until a homogeneous mass without lumps is formed.
Before laying, soak the brick in water for 10 minutes.
We lay the first layer of brick on the bitumen that we previously placed on the foundation. After laying the first row of bricks on the mortar, let it rest for a couple of minutes.
We lay the second and subsequent rows so that each brick lies on the joint between two bricks of the previous row. Make sure that the seams are no more than 5 mm thick.
In the process of laying the third row, you can make a door for the blower. Use strips of steel or galvanized wire to secure the door.
In the fourth row we create a hole for ash measuring one centimeter.
In the sixth row we finish with the installation of the blower, and in the seventh we install the door for the firebox and grate.
Eighth row - we make a partition for the chimney and continue laying bricks until the channels are placed in the 14th row.
We install the water tank on the channels so that it is located on the front wall, and the side walls support it vertically.
The fifteenth row is the basis for a separate wall, so we put it in half a brick. We also place the next three rows.
We install the steam release door in the nineteenth row.
Between the 20th and 21st rows we place strips of steel, then we install a hot water tank.
The chimney is installed starting from the 23rd row. Remember that the pipe should rise half a meter above the roof, and the thickness of the pipe itself should be half a brick.

When the work with the furnace masonry is completed, we move on to plastering. We clean the walls of the oven from excess mortar and plaster with a mixture of sand, clay, gypsum and alabaster.

Using a gas stove in a bathhouse

We recommend burying the liquefied gas cylinder on the street near the bathhouse.
Be sure to install an automation system that will regulate the fuel supply and when to turn it off.
Once the stove is ready, allow it to dry for at least two weeks, and after the first lighting, do not immediately bring it to high temperatures.
Make sure that the fireproof base under the stove extends 100 mm beyond the boundaries of the stove.
The gas pipeline to the stove must be made of steel or copper.

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Homemade stone oven

The second popular option for heating a bath, along with metal products, is a stone stove. The fact is that a heater stove for a bath, built with your own hands, forms a unique Russian design in the steam room. In addition, a stone stove generates high-quality heat and air in the bathhouse, and therefore will not have any foreign odors or inclusions.

The construction of such a heating system begins with laying the foundation. Usually a foundation pit is dug to a depth of 70 cm, and its bottom is lined with a mixture of sand and crushed stone. Then broken brick is added, water is poured on it and the reinforcement is laid after it has dried, after which the pit is filled with concrete.

In this case, before pouring begins, formwork is installed, protruding 15 cm above the ground. After the filling procedure is completed, it is removed, and you have a finished foundation at your disposal. For waterproofing purposes, its sides are coated with several layers of tar, and the free space between its walls and the ground is filled with fine gravel and coarse sand.

A brick sauna stove, built with your own hands, is a rather complex structure, so if you do not have the skills to lay stoves, then you should entrust such work to an experienced stove maker. In the same case, when your knowledge is quite sufficient for laying this structure, you will need to start laying the walls of the furnace. In this case, you should be guided by a pre-prepared scheme that can be found on the Internet.

When laying masonry into a solid wall, doors for the heater and firebox are installed. Through them the stove will be loaded with fuel, and it will be possible to supply water to the heater. Next, a grate is installed above the combustion chamber, with gaps of 5 mm on each side, taking into account thermal expansion. A pre-prepared tank for storing water is also installed above the heater; it can be purchased ready-made, or you can weld it yourself from thick-walled metal.

In any case, the masonry must begin from the door in order to be well strengthened in the wall mass. While working, constantly check the evenness of the masonry using a level and plumb line. The fact is that to create a strong structure, the masonry must be perfectly level, and the vertical seam between the bricks must be overlapped by the bricks of the next row.

There are several elements of stone ovens that must be completed. So this is a chamber for heating stones, a chimney, as well as a compartment for storing firewood or a firebox. Each of the oven elements has its own nuances in the layout. For example, a gap must be left between the boiler and the walls of the furnace for the rapid passage of hot gases and heating of water. There should also be a gap of thirteen centimeters between the roof sheathing and the pipe to avoid fire.

The laying out of the furnace is completed with finishing work. To do this, you can plaster it, or you can leave the wall as is, in its natural form, simply by covering the brick with heat-resistant varnish. As a result, you will receive an original interior design for your steam room.

Where to install the stove

You can’t just put a stove in the middle of the steam room; it’s important to take into account the location of the air ducts, correctly calculate the distances from the walls, and think about protecting the walls of the bathhouse from heat. If you look at the “Appendix to SNiP 41-01-2003”, you will find lines where it is clearly stated that if the walls of the bathhouse are not flammable, that is, they have a fire resistance limit of 60 minutes or more, then a metal stove is allowed to be installed at any distance, but it’s better when there is more than 380 mm of free space between the steel stove and the wall

If you look at the “Appendix to SNiP 41-01-2003”, you will find lines where it is clearly stated that if the walls of the bathhouse are not flammable, that is, they have a fire resistance limit of 60 minutes or more, then a metal stove is allowed to be installed at any distance, but it is better when there is more than 380 mm of free space between the steel stove and the wall.

It is quite difficult to find completely brick or concrete walls in a bathhouse without cladding; often the finishing is done with highly flammable wooden paneling.

It’s another matter if the wall material is wood. In this case, you should adhere to the following rules:

When purchasing a factory stove, ask for instructions for it and carry out the installation strictly according to the manufacturer’s diagrams. This rule is stated in SNiP 41-01-2010, namely in paragraph 6.6.2.19 (Individual stove heating);
there should be more than half a meter from the hot walls of the unit to the walls not protected by screens;
the wall or partition through which the fuel channel is discharged must be made of non-combustible material from the floor itself to a mark of 25 centimeters above the combustion door;
the thickness of the non-combustible wall through which the fuel channel is routed must be 12.5 cm;
if the ceiling in the steam room is thermally insulated and protected with plaster over a metal mesh or similar, then the distance from the top of the metal stove to the ceiling should be more than 80 cm;
in cases where the ceiling is not protected by fireproof materials, the distance from it to the stove should be more than 1.2 m;
from the fire door to the opposite wall there should be more than 125 centimeters;
Leave 3 cm between the wall and the front wall of the stove with an external firebox.

Fireproof distances from the stove to the walls

When choosing the best location for your own furnace, take into account the location of such elements as external heat exchangers, wall-mounted heaters, hot water tanks, and pipelines for remote tanks. These elements must be freely accessible for repair and maintenance.

Brick gas ovens

Ovens of this design take a long time to warm up, but retain heat well. Therefore, you should start warming up early.

The appearance is not much different from the most ordinary wood stove. It will look great in a bathhouse decorated in a traditional style. The fire door serves to access the heater, which is located inside the structure. It is heated by flows of warm air that rise due to gas combustion.

Here, directly above the burner, there is a heater, which has special requirements. The heating stones are located in a trough made of metal, which has sides along the entire perimeter (this prevents the poured water from reaching the fire).

Metal gas furnaces

A do-it-yourself gas sauna stove made of metal is characterized by a relatively thin body wall thickness and a small number of stones in the heater. This model warms up quickly, but also cools down quickly. Models of this type are quite compact; they can be used to equip a bathhouse of almost any size.

This design is low cost. If you have a small set of tools, you can make it yourself in the shortest possible time. Here we will describe the manufacture of a gas stove that is powered by a gas cylinder. Many speak positively about this design, which has a very simple structure.

The principle of operation of a gas furnace

In a separate chamber, which is located in front of the burner, gas is mixed with oxygen. Air enters the firebox and ensures normal combustion. To ensure air supply and the possibility of cleaning the burner, a door is mounted at the bottom of the oven. Gas is supplied through a tube.

If bottled gas is used for the stove, this should be taken quite seriously. Such a cylinder should be placed outside the bathhouse. Some install cylinders in the ground, a few meters from the bathhouse. It should be borne in mind that the propane mixture is more efficient for the operation of the furnace.

Materials needed

Materials must be prepared in advance.

This will allow you not to be distracted while working:

Many people write that you can use any old gas cylinder to ensure the operation of the stove.

Any brake disc, most importantly, without cracks, will serve as a base for the heater.
Buy two gas pipes with a diameter of 50 mm (they will supply gas and air into the chamber) and one with a diameter of 100 mm (the chimney will be made from it).
Gas burner (preferably atmospheric type).
Connections for connections.

Under no circumstances use connections made from silumin. They are cheap, but when heated or a slight impact they immediately burst. You should buy ones made of copper or bronze.

Furnace installation

First, we cut the balloon using a grinder and a cutting wheel. The diameter of the cutting base must correspond to the radius of the brake disc so that it can be secured without problems. When fastening, it is best to use welding, after which you should clean up any metal stains using a grinder and a grinding wheel.

To supply air to the system, we prepare a pipe with a radius of 50 mm. We make about 10 holes in it with a diameter of about 5 mm.
We make a hole slightly larger than the diameter of the pipe in the bottom of the cylinder. We install the pipe so that the whole end extends 20 cm from the cylinder. We weld the joint.

Cutting out the door

This system is used to attach the gas supply pipe.
To connect to gas, install an adapter for gas installation. We treat the joint with sealant.
We secure the chimney at the top of the pipe.
A hole is cut for the door. The curtains are attached to the cut piece of metal and attached to the body.

When installing a stove, it is extremely important to protect the wall from overheating and fire. To do this, an expanded clay sheet is mounted between the stove and the wall. This insulation is done in two layers

Finally, a reflective stainless steel screen should be used. It is possible to equip the furnace with an indirect heating heat exchanger

This insulation is done in two layers. Finally, a reflective stainless steel screen should be used. It is possible to equip the furnace with an indirect heating heat exchanger.

Properly selected gas sauna stoves and high-quality installation work will ensure you a comfortable and safe stay.

Making a homemade metal stove

A do-it-yourself bathhouse stove made of iron is made in accordance with standard drawings, which can be quite easily found on the Internet. First, you will need to select the material and tools necessary for the work. In this case, you will perform almost all operations on assembling the stove using a welding machine and an angle grinder.

As for the material, you will need a metal sheet, preferably chrome-plated, with a thickness of at least 5 mm. He'll go to the ash pit. You can use such a sheet and at the same time a metal corner, 3-5 mm thick, on the stove frame.

To make the firebox and the bottom of the water tank, you will have to prepare thicker material - 7-10 mm. You will also need metal pipes of different diameters for arranging the chimney and stove piping system.

But the doors for the firebox will need to be purchased ready-made at a construction and household goods store. It is best if they are made of cast iron, but if necessary, you can weld them yourself from the remains of a thick-walled pipeline.

You can also buy a mesh for stones, but in any case, fittings and shut-off valves, as well as grate bars, will have to be purchased, since it will not be possible to make these elements yourself. They are inexpensive, so you can buy them quite easily.

After the material has been prepared, you can begin assembling the furnace. To do this, take a drawing and, based on it, begin to cut out blanks using an angle grinder and weld them together

In this case, special attention should be paid to the assembly of the chimney and firebox as the most critical areas of the entire structure

Separately, it is worth noting the fact that when the question arises of how to make a stove for a bathhouse with your own hands, people always wonder whether the metal structure needs to be covered with bricks? This decision is opposed by the possible excessive consumption of fuel, because the furnace, in addition to metal, will also have to heat the brick. However, everything can be compensated by the beautiful appearance of your steam room and the unique microclimate created in the room by the heated brick.

Criteria for choosing a sauna stove

To correctly select the most suitable gas device model, take into account the following factors:

The area of the steam room - the power of the device directly depends on the size of the room (one kilowatt of power per cubic meter of air).

The quality of the thermal insulation of the steam room and the presence of windows that cause heat loss and, accordingly, require an increase in the power of the heating apparatus are taken into account.

The heat capacity of the stove is an important factor that allows you to better heat the room, as well as effectively dry the steam room using residual heat. Brick models have the greatest heat capacity; in the case of making the device from metal, the presence of a screen, the location and length of the pipe, and the type of heater are of great importance.
Fuel consumption - depends mainly on the power of the stove, average figures for a small steam room and a 10 kW device: 1.5–4 cubic meters / hour. When tasked with heating a fairly large room for several people, more powerful stoves with two and three burners are usually used, and gas consumption increases significantly. Increasing the heat capacity of the furnace helps reduce losses.

To increase safety and save space in the steam room, it is recommended to choose a model with an external fuel channel, which allows you to place part of the equipment behind the wall. This will also provide more convenient control of fuel supply and the necessary maintenance of the device.

Wood and gas stoves

Very often a combined version of the stove is installed, usually equipped with two fireboxes.

This makes it possible to use both the traditional heating method - by burning wood, pieces of peat and other solid fuels - and heating using a gas burner.

Often such a universal model is obtained by converting an existing sauna stove, usually brick - its design almost does not have to be changed, only a gas channel is supplied for additional heating and a burner is installed.

Reference! The combustion of wood, especially when using a brick stove, produces a softer heat, which is beneficial for health and creates a special comfortable atmosphere in the steam room. Therefore, when building a bathhouse, many do not want to give up this heating method, although using gas is much more profitable.

Installing a combined stove is very convenient when there is no gas main on the site and heating is provided by imported liquefied gas from cylinders. Then the ability to heat the bathhouse with wood will protect you in case of interruptions in the supply of fuel.

The design of a metal gas-wood stove is almost no different from a conventional monofuel stove. The difference lies in the ability to remove the block with the gas panel, which turns the gas firebox into a regular wood fireplace. An even easier-to-use option with the installation of an additional fuel receiver is common.

Choosing a combined design

As in the case of a monopropellant device, the following conditions are taken into account when choosing:

Steam room area - depending on the size of the room, the power of the stove is calculated for each type of fuel.

If the wooden or tiled walls of the steam room do not have thermal insulation on the surface, the furnace power is selected to be one and a half times greater in order to warm them up efficiently and create the correct microclimate.

Heat capacity - combination stoves are often built of brick, which increases their ability to retain heat, and therefore save on fuel. When choosing a metal model with two fireboxes, it is recommended to lay out the brick lining.
Fuel consumption - on average, wood stoves require about 4 kg of firewood per hour, if the steam room area does not exceed 20 sq.m. To reduce fuel consumption, increase the heat capacity of the furnace - this will increase the heating time, but will reduce heat loss.

Due to their versatility and multifunctionality, combination stoves do not lose popularity in bathhouses in suburban areas. When choosing this option, it is recommended to calculate in advance where the fuel for the stove will be stored (you will need space for both gas equipment and firewood).

Advantages and disadvantages of bathhouse gasification

Before deciding to supply gas to the bathhouse, owners of suburban areas try to take into account all the features of this method

Cost of operation, environmental friendliness, difficulty of maintenance, efficiency are taken into account.

Advantages of using blue fuel

In addition to noticeable savings, the advantages of this method include the hygiene of the gas - there are no odors, soot, or soot during combustion. In addition, a gasified sauna heats up almost twice as fast.

Firewood is inferior to gas in many respects: it needs to be stored somewhere, monitored for timely delivery and condition. However, they are still the most popular firebox material. And even used in combined gas-wood stoves

A big plus is the automation of the process. Kindling requires minimal labor on the part of the owner. Combined with the cheapness of gas, this advantage makes gasification of a bathhouse especially attractive.

Disadvantages noticed by owners and professionals

According to the owners, the main drawback is the difficulty in obtaining permission: if there is the slightest inaccuracy, the commission prohibits the use of gas to heat the bath.

Professional gas workers note a high level of danger due to non-compliance with installation rules, lack of safety devices and vigilance of owners

Other disadvantages include:

the need to pay for the work of installation specialists;
high cost of equipment;
restrictions on the choice of sauna design.

Another subjective observation concerns the lack of odor. Many people appreciate the aroma that spreads throughout a heated room when wood burns. Gas equipment eliminates this possibility.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Pros and cons of gas sauna stoves and operating features:

Sauna stoves with the possibility of switching to the use of blue fuel are convenient and practical to use. They allow you to save on heating and reduce the period of preparation of the bathhouse for your favorite procedures. But you need to choose such a unit, armed with complete and reliable information about the functionality and characteristics.

Would you like to tell us about what kind of sauna stove you purchased to equip your own sauna? Share whether your choice has the ability to switch to gas. Please leave comments in the block form below, ask questions and post photos on the topic of the article.

Classification

There are two types of burner:

Pressurized burners. The design has a fan with the help of which air is pumped. The design itself is efficient in operation, but energy-consuming.
Atmospheric burners. This is a device with a simple design. Air supply is carried out using special tubes. The efficiency of atmospheric burners depends on the strength of the air flow supplied to the combustion chamber.

Based on the material, there are two more types of furnaces:

Brick structures. This material heats up slowly, but retains heat for a long time. The disadvantages of brick kilns are their large mass and high price. Advantages: durability, reliability.
Metal constructions. They warm up and cool down quickly. They are cheaper than brick stoves, but less durable and reliable. Rust may appear on metal surfaces, which over time will lead to the destruction of the walls.

Advice from professionals

Some tips from experts on choosing boiler equipment:

You should not be guided by the principle “the more expensive the better.” This doesn't always work. A device with a large number of additional elements is less reliable.
Before you go shopping, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to get from the equipment. Which type of air is more preferable: hot and dry or humid and moderate temperature.
For what duration of procedures should the device be designed? For example, metal structures heat up quickly, but cool down at the same speed, but brick structures are the opposite.
How much area of the room should the device heat? If the sauna has a small square area, then a small device will be suitable for these purposes.

Wiring requirements for an electric furnace in a bathhouse

Consider the following points:

For a single-phase network, use a three-core cable, for a three-phase network, use a five-core cable.
A prerequisite for wires is the presence of a grounding wire.
Attach the wires to the wall using conventional cable ducts.
The cable between the control panel and the oven must be in special rubber insulation. Sometimes this cable is supplied with the oven.
Reinforced insulation wires are expensive, so it is recommended to reduce their length. To do this, install a metal mounting box near the stove (no closer than 1 m), on the wall. Between the box and the remote control, covertly lay ordinary wires in vinyl insulation, and from the box to the oven - wires with reinforced insulation. Pull the heat-resistant wires through a metal hose or pipe, which you ground.
Under high temperature conditions, strands of copper and aluminum wires oxidize, so all wires in the building must be copper.

Selection principles

When choosing, you need to consider a number of factors:

Oven dimensions. Its dimensions should not interfere with free movement around the bath premises

It is recommended to choose a design with an external combustion chamber. Fuel consumption. If there is no warm water in the bathhouse, you need to choose a model with a water tank. If you want to buy a universal model, it is recommended to pay attention to units powered by gas or solid fuel. A special mechanism is installed inside the structure, which divides the combustion chamber into two parts for different types of fuel.

The volume of the water tank depends on its location. If it is built-in, the capacity will be small. If it is external, the volume will be greater.

Selection of oven

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

Small size. The design does not have a large combustion chamber as in stoves that run on solid fuel.
Furnace equipment allows you to set different temperature conditions. Thanks to this, you can set the optimal temperature and maintain it for a long time.
If you don’t need to heat the sauna, you can simply heat the water in a mounted or built-in tank.
Fast heating.
You can connect gas cylinders if it is impossible to connect a pipe with a central gas supply.
Fuel efficiency.
Universal models can use 2–3 types of fuel.

Flaws:

The risk of explosion is higher than that of equipment operating on other types of fuel.
It is necessary to constantly change gas cylinders or connect the stove to the central gas supply system.

If there are no problems with the gas supply, there are fewer disadvantages.

Popular models and prices

Popular models:

Furnace "P-20GT". Power - 20 kW. Suitable for heating steam rooms with a volume of up to 22 m3. There are fastenings for installing a water tank.
KUTKIN Standard G-2.0. Model for heating rooms up to 16 m3.
Termofor Taimyr INOX. Suitable for heating steam rooms with a volume of up to 18 m3. The design has two heaters - internal and external.
Termofor Urengoy Carbon. Made from high strength steel. Suitable for heating rooms up to 12 m3.
Heat-Malyutkagaz. Equipment power - 16 kW. Designed for heating steam rooms with a volume of up to 12 m3.

The average price of gas stoves is 16,000 rubles.

Types of furnaces

Best models

Among the most popular models of gas stoves for baths, which have proven themselves in terms of characteristics and during operation, are:

The P-20GT stove is a universal stove, fired with both gas and wood, power 20 kW, weight 85 kg. One of the advantages is the ability to additionally equip a tank for hot water, and the disadvantage is that it is designed for a steam room with a volume of up to 22 cubic meters. The price varies from 12,000 to 16,000.
“Zhara-Malyutka” – weight 54 kg, power 16 kW. The advantage is its compactness, the disadvantage is the small heating area (from 4 to 12 cubic meters). Cost from 13,000 to 15,000.
“Thermofor” Urengoy Carbon – heater stove, weight 44 kg. The advantages are that they are compact, work on the convection principle, and are made of high-strength steel. The downside is that the heating area is up to 12 cubic meters. The price of equipment is 16,000.
"Termofor" Taimyr INOX - similar in characteristics to the previous model. The main advantage is the system of double steam preparation through the internal and external heater. There are no cons. The price for such a stove varies from 19,000 to 22,000.
“Ermak-Uralochka-20” – gas-wood device, weight 60 kg. Pros: made of structural stainless steel, central location of the chimney, can be placed in the dressing room. There are no downsides, the cost starts from 16,000.

A gas stove for a bath, with the right choice, taking into account all the features, as well as with proper installation, will be the best find for bath procedures. It is economical, practical and does not require special care.

What types of gas devices are there?

There are several types of gas stoves, they are classified according to the following principle:

What type of burner is used;
What material is the body made of?
What device is installed to heat water?
Power parameters.

Depending on these criteria, there are many models of gas furnaces, which complicates the task of choosing. Therefore, before purchasing equipment, you should study all the important nuances.

Stone and brick stoves

A sauna stove with a gas burner, which is made of brick or stone, is an analogue of a Russian stove with a firebox for logs. The layout of a bathhouse with gas stoves will not be affected in any way due to the material in which the body of the device is made. Stone or brick structures fit into any interior.

The only drawback of this material is the duration of heating. Stone conducts heat better than brick, so it will heat up faster. In models made of brick and stone, behind the firebox door there is a heater, which is heated by radiation of energy from the burned fuel.

The heater is located above the gas burner. A gas sauna stove with a closed heater does not require additional ventilated operation, unlike an open heater. In many models, the heater is open, so if this issue is fundamental, it is worth taking this nuance into account.

Metal stoves

Metal stoves are cheaper than brick and stone stoves, and they are easier to install. The compact design of the metal device allows it to be installed even in small bathhouses. Other benefits include:

Fast heating, as the metal structure is very thin;
The ability to select a furnace of the required power, so you can save on energy resources.

The presence of a metal structure presupposes the presence of mandatory thermal insulation. It is necessary to make thermal insulation of the equipment body from the floor covering (for example, with a brick layer), thermal insulation from the walls and chimney. If this is not done, there is a high chance of a fire.

If the bathhouse is planned to be heated from time to time, and not constantly, then it is better to choose a metal structure; its minimum weight is 45 kg, while a brick or stone structure weighs from 750 kg.

The simplest homemade stove options

For those who have never encountered the stove business, you can try for the first couple of years to study the design of a bathhouse stove of the simplest design and build one that will heat the bathhouse, heat the water and produce pleasant steam.

Also, you can make a stove from ordinary or rubble stone, or carefully baked brick. The thickness of the walls should be from 13 to 25 cm, and the stones should weigh 1-5 kg. As stones for the stove, you can take granite, rubble or pebble, but not flint, which shatters into pieces when heated. And in order for a self-made sauna heater to accumulate heat, you can add cast iron to it so that they account for 20% of 80% of the stones.

Usually those who at least once in their life have tried to make a stove for their favorite bathhouse with their own hands are terribly proud of their success and proudly show their achievement to everyone they know.