Closed or open heater: which one should you prefer?

The traditional way to heat a Russian bath is a heater stove. It occupies a central place in the room and provides the necessary heating, steam formation, and creates a specific microclimate and aroma in the bathhouse. At the same time, the term “heater stove” itself denotes a huge group of varieties and models.

In practice, it combines all types of sauna stoves equipped with a special design element. Such stoves are found in private and public baths; they are an obligatory element of the steam room, its integral part. Let's take a closer look at this issue.

5/5 — (1 vote)

Main types of heater stoves

There is an opinion that a heater is a stove made of stone, but in reality this is not so. The structure is called so because special stones are loaded into it at the appropriate place. When fuel burns, the stones heat up, and the water that falls on them forms steam.

In most cases, brick heaters are built. But in recent years, you can increasingly see metal heaters, both homemade and industrial. Their main advantage is the speed and ease of installation: you just buy a stove and place it in the right place.

Note! Also, metal structures are small in size and do not require a foundation. Now let's take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each option.

Choosing a stove

The heater is the main element of the bathhouse. And her choice must be approached with full responsibility. Brick stoves are called inertia stoves because they take a long time to heat up and then cool down. Metal products can heat up in half an hour and during the same period they will have time to overheat the steam room, which will be very difficult to be in.

Brick version

When choosing a heater, you need to determine for yourself the optimal time that you want to spend on lighting the stove.

A brick stove for a Russian bath with a closed heater comes in several varieties (depending on how the smoke leaves the stove):

If the chimney pipe is inserted directly into the firebox or heater, then this design is called direct-flow. It has low efficiency, since the heat is simply released into the atmosphere. The advantage of a direct-flow furnace is its ease of construction and maintenance.

In a stove with a smoke circulation system (channel), gases moving through vertical or horizontal channels give off heat to the heater. The disadvantage of such designs is that chimneys must be cleaned regularly so that the draft does not disappear. The walls of the chimney inside must be smooth, because soot will linger on any unevenness. With such forced smoke circulation, the heating of the furnace is uneven, which leads to the formation of cracks.

The bell-type stove is considered perfect: only the potbelly stove surpasses it in terms of speed of kindling. When building it, you do not need to calculate the height of the chimney pipe for good draft. In such a furnace, any fuel (even wet) is effectively burned to ash, which is very economical. At the same time, not only the room is heated, but also water (up to 170 liters) and stones.

This design is also called dome because the smoke, leaving the firebox, enters the bell (like an inverted glass over the firebox) and, giving off heat to the roof of the furnace, is cooled. A new portion of hot smoke displaces cool stove gases down and into the chimney. The cap itself can be made of any shape. The main thing is that there is a pipe to exhaust cold air. This type of heater is very easy to light even after a long break in use.

The difference between channel and bell-type stoves is that in the first design the smoke is drawn out, and in the second it is pushed out. Consequently, the smoke does not move as quickly, which is why the efficiency increases to 94%.

However, the dome stove also has its disadvantages. Only the upper part of the heater heats up well, and for maximum heating of the steam room, the heat needs to come from below. This drawback is eliminated by the design of two caps. If such a furnace is overheated, then the gases stop flowing under the dome: they immediately strive to escape into the chimney. Therefore, experience is required in regulating the air entering the firebox.

Metal stove: advantages and disadvantages

Such stoves with smoke circulation are rare; they are usually direct-flow. In fact, it is a box with a grate inside, separating the ash pan from the firebox. The metal can be different: either steel or cast iron alloy.

Brick heaters take longer to cool down, but take longer to warm up. Steel fireboxes heat up very quickly and cool down instantly. Therefore, cast iron is considered the golden mean, and its use for the manufacture of stoves is not only practical, but also profitable. Such a stove will last for 20–30 years.

Alloys have different properties

It is better to use metal stoves in small rooms. They do not require a foundation at the site of operation, and their installation is reduced to the removal of the chimney to the street. Metal conducts heat remarkably well, but practically does not accumulate it, which is why many people install combined stoves. The ability of a metal stove to retain heat is increased with the help of an internal lining (lining the inside of the heater with fireclay or simply refractory bricks), as well as an external lining with brick.

In addition, it is possible to have a screen and lining at the same time, which increases the combustion time. So if you need to warm up the steam room in half an hour, the lining will be unnecessary. But it has one advantage: it extends the service life of the furnace, because its body is subjected to lower temperature loads. Most often, the combined option is used when installing a cast-iron stove, which is covered with a brick screen to protect it from cracking in case of accidental exposure to cold water.

A metal stove warms up a steam room much faster than a brick structure. Within an hour the air temperature in it can be 100 degrees. However, experts say that this has nothing to do with a true bathhouse, since the walls continue to remain cold. A sauna stove must first heat the walls of the sauna, and only then the air in it. That's why even a metal stove needs to be heated within three hours. Brick cladding significantly increases the duration of heat transfer.

When choosing a stove for a bath, the desired heating time of the steam room, the quality of the steam, the duration of the procedures, and the area of ​​the room are important.

Comparison of a closed heater with an open one

The first and key difference between stoves with a closed heater is the location of the stones and the quality of their heating.
Heating in them is provided by all elements of equipment: from the walls and chimney pipe. Thanks to the closed system and heating from several structural elements, the stones are heated to higher temperatures - 400-700 degrees. You can distinguish a closed heater by its appearance. To supply water to the stones in such stoves, a small door is provided; open heaters are not hidden in the stove, but remain visible, fixed in the grate.

Advantages of a sauna stove with a closed heater:

1. The steam room does not overheat, the temperature rises evenly, while creating the highest quality microclimate in the room.
2. Uniform heating of stones. Yes, it takes longer, but once fully warmed up, the stones will remain hot for many hours.
3. Creation of pleasant light steam due to the walls. The steam is not released immediately, but accumulates in the walls of the sauna stove, gradually entering the steam room.
4. Long-term heat retention in the steam room without the need to constantly add firewood.
5. Increased fire safety properties.
6. Great power. Stoves with closed heaters are more suitable for heating large steam rooms.
7. The ability to regulate the speed of heating the room; to speed it up, simply open the ash pan of the heater.
8. Increased security. When steam is supplied, the possibility of scalding is completely eliminated.

With such a large number of advantages, only 2 points are included in the disadvantages:

1. Long kindling time for long-term heat maintenance.
2. Increased fuel consumption to set temperature.

The disadvantages are mitigated by the fact that the heater cools down as slowly as it heats up. If to maintain heat in open-type stoves you need to constantly keep the firewood burning, then you don’t need to constantly worry about adding fuel.

Furnace power

For each bath, the stove power must be individual. The main mistake is the desire to choose a design that is too powerful. But choosing a “weak” unit will not lead to anything good.

Figure 9. Oven with optimal power

Excess power means hot air and stones that cannot heat up. Being cold, the stones have no meaning for the steam room. Otherwise, the heating equipment will not last long - in an effort to heat the room to an acceptable temperature, the stove will wear out.

The required power of the unit is determined based on the volume of the steam room. The calculations are not very complicated. To find out the parameters that are suitable for a particular situation, you need to:

• find out the product of the dimensions of the room (height, width, length);
• find out the area of ​​non-insulated areas of the steam room;
• add these areas and multiply the resulting number by a factor of 1.2;
• add up the volume of the room and the total area of ​​open areas;
• multiply the result by 1.5 if the room has a glass door.

The final number will demonstrate the working volume of the room. The furnace power is directly determined based on the dependence: per 1 m3 - 1 kW .

Why is a stove with a closed heater best suited for a Russian bath?

Before answering this question, you need to decide how a Russian bath differs from a Finnish sauna. The main difference is the humidity of the steam. In Finland, a dry air bath was invented - with a very high air temperature and practically no steam. Stoves with exposed stones are suitable for such saunas.

In a Russian bathhouse, it is necessary to maintain relatively high air humidity - about 60%. In this case, the steam should be as finely dispersed as possible - the smaller the drops of water that make up it, the more pleasant it is to be in the bathhouse. A stove for a Russian bath with a closed heater is ideal for creating such steam.

Traditionally, Russian sauna stoves were made of brick. They took up a lot of space and required special care. A modern cast-iron sauna stove with a closed heater is no worse than a brick one (provided that it was manufactured by a reliable manufacturer with knowledge and attention to detail) - and at the same time it is much more compact and easier to maintain.

Important elements of a stove with a closed heater:

• A screen that blocks “hard” radiation. The further the stones are located from the walls of the oven, the softer and lighter the heat will be. Therefore, a sauna stove with a closed heater, equipped with double walls, is a good choice. Also, after installation, the stove can be lined with brick or natural stone
• Steam "gun". The best stoves for a Russian bath are those that use a tube (or several tubes) with a funnel into which water is poured to supply water to the stones. This design allows you to isolate the heater from contact with air in the steam room - and get excellent light steam

We recommend reading:

Turkish bath hammam: traditions and features

From us you can buy sauna stoves with a closed heater from the world's best manufacturers. The specialists of these companies know very well how to achieve the maximum effect when vaping - and use this knowledge when developing their devices.

Review of Paravoz stoves

Wonderful product! I installed an impressive screen around this stove. The temperature rises within a few hours, but you can start steaming just an hour after it has been melted. And at the same time, it is impossible to get burned by it. All good.

Choosing a stove for a Russian bath is not so easy. Concepts such as “sauna” and “bathhouse” are often confused. At the same time, in each of these establishments it is necessary to create a certain atmosphere, for which it is necessary to select a specific type of stoves. So before purchasing, it is recommended to consult with a specialist who will help you choose the appropriate model depending on the type of steam room and the user’s requirements.

Technical requirements

The heater is necessary to perform several functions:

• reducing fuel consumption;
• strong heating of stones that are needed to produce steam;
• ensuring a high level of efficiency;
• maintaining the temperature.

Technical requirements for furnace equipment:

1. The housing must be solid and sealed to prevent smoke from entering the premises.
2. The minimum height of the ash pan from the floor is 15 cm.
3. The materials used to make the stove should not emit harmful substances when heated strongly.

Requirements for installation of furnace equipment:

1. The floor in front of the stove must be covered with a metal sheet.
2. The foundation for installation of furnace equipment must be reliable and stable. For a brick oven it is better to make a separate foundation.
3. There must be at least 50 cm of free space between the ceiling and the stove equipment.
4. The surfaces around the stove must be covered with slabs of non-combustible material.
5. The place where the chimney passes through the ceiling must be covered with a special sleeve or casing made of non-combustible material.

Gas stoves must not be installed independently. To do this you need to obtain the appropriate permission. Installation must be carried out in compliance with many rules, taking into account certain features.

Materials and tools

To build a stove with your own hands, you need experience in working with brickwork, the ability to use construction tools, and a level for horizontal and vertical surfaces. Otherwise, it is better to hire a professional who will make a high-quality, safe design.

The stove building should occupy a space of no more than 15% of the usable area of ​​the bathhouse.

The following materials and tools are required:

• 230-250 pieces of red heat-resistant bricks. In this case, silicate, porous or indented samples are not suitable;
• door for the firebox measuring 25x21 cm;
• blower door (13x14 cm);
• grates 20×30 cm;
• 2 valves, measuring 13x13 and 7x13 cm for adjusting air draft;
• tank for heating water with standard size 50×23×35 cm;
• cast iron or steel ceiling with an area of ​​59×35 cm;
• 4 metal plates (25x13 cm);
• steel strip 13×38 cm;
• metal sheet that protects stones from fire and soot, 50x70 cm.

Types of construction

Some owners of private residential buildings believe that a heater is a stove made of stones. This is a wrong opinion because they are present in the design only in a certain place. Special stones are loaded into the stove so that they heat up, and when water hits them, steam is formed.

Heaters are usually built from bricks. Metal is also used. Steel options are sold ready-made. They are also manufactured according to individual drawings. Less time is spent on equipping bathhouses with metal models. Most often, the steel version is purchased ready-made and installed in the desired location.

On a note! The metal model is a sauna stove, the dimensions of which are usually smaller than the dimensions of a brick heater.

Options for metal and brick sauna stovesSource obustroeno.com

Type of heating oil

According to the type of fuel, heating structures are divided into:

Wood burning

This option is primarily for those whose bathhouse is located in an autonomous area, cut off from the power supply mains. Power outages are also a reason to think about a stove that is independent of the mains.

• firewood is fuel that you can stock up on without any problems; store-bought logs are relatively inexpensive, and if the site is located in a forest area, the fuel will be completely free;
• financial savings on connecting to the central power grid;
• the pleasant atmosphere created by burning logs;
• wide variety of models.

• longer heating time compared to options running on other fuels;
• the need for regular tossing of logs;
• the need for regular cleaning of the ash chamber.

Electrical

This is the most common option. The main disadvantage is dependence on the main power supply. Or relative high cost if electricity is “produced” autonomously. In addition, using an electric generator is not very convenient.

A secondary disadvantage is the lack of atmosphere inherent in wood heating. If the aesthetic component is not of great importance, this minus can be omitted.

• accessibility – there are models of different price categories;
• prompt and uniform heating of the room;
• a fairly high degree of fire safety;
• small sizes;
• no need for connecting pipes, cleaning chimney channels and other manipulations inherent in other options.

Gas

The fuel used is gas (cylinder or mains). The equipment includes a fuse and a thermostat.

On a note! Gas ovens are dangerous. It is recommended to purchase them at branded retail outlets. It is mandatory to check the technical passport - the heating unit must meet all necessary standards. By purchasing a stove externally, the buyer runs the risk of installing a low-quality product that could lead to trouble.

Advantages of gas equipment:

• financial savings;
• quick heating of the steam room;
• no need to monitor the condition of the fuel (which is important, for example, for wood-burning sauna stoves);
• small sizes; in other options there is a firebox and an ash pan that take up space; here these elements are not present - gas equipment can be installed even in a modest-sized steam room;
• possibility of comfortable temperature regulation.

• danger - you need to constantly monitor the technical condition of both the stove itself and the cylinders (if there is a cylinder version);
• the need to connect to the main gas pipeline or regularly purchase cylinders.

Combined

Such modifications are designed for two types of fuel. One of the popular combined options is a device that runs on wood and gas. Unlike a gas unit, it has a firebox for logs. At the same time, it is possible to connect to gas equipment.

Distinctive features

Not every person can afford to buy or build a real brick oven. Therefore, manufacturers offer many variations of heater stoves, the elements of which are made of cast iron or metal.

They have some design and functional features:

1. Screened walls. Double casings around the unit body reduce convection - hard IR radiation. Some models are lined with natural minerals. If the unit does not have such walls, then it is recommended to make a brick screen and vents with doors around the body.
2. Steam gun. The operation of a closed heater depends on the quality of its insulation from the walls of the unit and the state of the air in the steam room. The better the indicators, the hotter the stones become hot. Therefore, inside the heater there is a system of tubes with holes. The top of the tubes is equipped with a special container for water. The liquid heats up, transferring heat to the stones, and steam enters the room.
3. Sealed doors. Such elements are securely fastened with bolts and do not form even the smallest gaps. The heat is retained and the safety of using the stove increases. Many models are equipped with a door made of heat-resistant glass, which allows you to create a unique atmosphere in the bathhouse.

IMPORTANT! The operating principle of a closed heater looks like this: fuel is loaded, the door closes, and the combustion process begins.

When a certain temperature has been reached inside the unit, the door opens and steam enters the room. The air in the steam room is heated to 45-60 degrees. Typically, such an event requires 4 hours.

How to build a foundation

To build the foundation, lime (slaked lime is taken 1 part to 2 parts sifted sand) or cement (cement, sand is taken in a ratio of 1:3) solution is used.

A heater stove is a fairly heavy structure, so it is necessary to build a solid foundation before its construction. If the floor has already been laid in the bathhouse building, it is necessary to cut out the outline of the structure, adding 12-15 cm on each side.

The depth of the foundation is laid at the level of soil freezing, usually the size is 0.5 meters. The procedure for building the foundation:

• dig a hole according to the given dimensions, compact the surface horizontally, checking the level readings;
• cover the earthen surface with wet sand, the thickness of the layer after compaction should be 8-10 cm;
• make formwork around the foundation from dry boards and cover it with waterproofing film from the inside. The structure should rise 7-10 cm above the floor level to ensure better adhesion between the bricks and the foundation;
• pour a layer of crushed stone and compact it to a layer thickness of 10 cm;
• a metal mesh with vertical rods, secured with twisted soft wire at the nodes of the base, is placed on the crushed stone;
• a concrete solution prepared from crushed stone, cement and sand in a ratio of 1:1:2 is poured into the foundation pit to a third of the height;
• prepare a second portion of a solution of cement and sand, in a ratio of 1:3, so that 5 cm remains to the top of the pit;
• Reinforcing mesh is laid out on top to fit the size of the foundation. Cell size - 7x8 cm;
• Cement mortar is poured to the top of the formwork, the layer is leveled using the rule.

The concrete foundation is left to mature for 28-31 days. It is recommended to cover the structure with polyethylene and spray the concrete surface with water every day to make the structure especially strong and monolithic. After removing the formwork, the foundation is covered with a waterproofing compound, or several layers of roofing material are laid on top. The measures taken will protect the building from moisture that comes from under the floor.

How to choose the optimal design

In essence, we have already answered this question in the previous chapter, but the answer referred to the specifics of a particular bath.

Let's look at the defining points again:

How to calculate the required volume of container? Assume that one washable item requires at least 10 liters of water.

How are adjacent rooms supposed to be heated? If there are no other options, you can use a remote tank for this purpose. It goes without saying that in this case it should not be thermally insulated. Another option is to use a furnace to heat the antifreeze in a separate heating system.

Are you ready to create forced circulation? If yes, then there are no obstacles to choosing any of the described designs. In this case, you will receive not only a shower, but also, if desired, heating through radiators. True, you will have to organize the system according to all the rules.

We recommend reading:

Construction of a bathhouse from timber

For example, do not forget about the need to install an expansion tank, which absorbs excess fluid in the system.

How to heat a room?

You need to start the fire early. It will take 3–5 hours to warm up the array of stones and the room.

The steam supply door remains closed the entire time the heating is in progress.

It would be ideal to use hardwood firewood - beech, maple, apple.

Conifers also burn well, but heavy, resinous smoke can produce more soot.

In semi-black baths you need to wait until the fuel burns out completely.

Then it is removed or extinguished, the door is opened and the first steam is introduced. After a little cleaning they begin to steam.

It is not necessary to strive for complete combustion of the fuel if there is no contact with smoke (such stoves are also called permanent, since they can be heated all the time while the heating process is going on). You can begin the procedures when the steam room has warmed up and the water is hot.

The bath will remain warm for 6 hours or more (depending on the degree of insulation, temperature outside and how the bath was cooled while steaming - the temperature is lost every time the door is opened).

The rounded shape is better suited for models where the stones are washed with smoke - they do not interfere with free flow and heat up more evenly.

It is believed that specimens collected from water bodies are more durable because they have undergone natural “hardening” to change temperatures.

It is important to bake them in a closed heater to remove moisture from the inside, otherwise they may burst and injure those nearby.

Advantages of such designs

A traditional wood burning stove with a water tank has the following advantages:

• Ergonomic and compact. Wood-burning sauna stoves with a tank, especially those with a remote container and the samovar type, take up minimal space and at the same time provide people in the steam room with everything they need: heat and hot water.
• Good aesthetic qualities. The finished stoves look very attractive and have a beautiful finish.
• Autonomy. They don’t require any settings, just add water and melt.
• High efficiency. One or two stacks of firewood are enough to warm up the bathhouse and heat the water, provided that the power of the heating equipment is correctly calculated.

Buying a heater: the low price trap

You shouldn’t skimp on a sauna stove. A low price tag for a heater usually means that:

• low quality metal used;
• the thickness of the walls of the firebox and body is minimal;
• the equipment is meager;
• manufacturing technology is outdated.

But an excessively high price does not always indicate impeccable quality. The price tag is inflated due to the popularity of the brand or advertising costs when promoting a new product to the market.

The principle of operation of a sauna stove with a water tank

Heating units have the following operating pattern: fuel (wood) is placed in the firebox and set on fire. During the combustion process, a sufficient amount of thermal energy is released. Warm air moves from bottom to top and heats the cobblestones in the heater. This way the stones heat up and maintain the desired temperature in the room.

The wood is ignited from below. Some models of sauna stoves need to constantly add fuel, otherwise the stones quickly cool down.

Other types of units have a longer combustion period. They can work for 7-20 hours without constantly adding firewood. This possibility is achieved due to the reverse direction of combustion - from top to bottom.

It is best to use peat briquettes, alder logs or coal as the main fuel. To warm up the room faster, use only dry firewood. There is no need to use logs made from coniferous trees; they will quickly pollute the chimney, releasing a large amount of soot.

Individual choice

Requests for stove equipment for a steam room vary markedly - from family use to professional use.

For a Russian bath, the ideal option would be a closed heater with the ability to close and open the vents to regulate heating and humidity. The unit provides “light” steam and a soft microclimate due to the predominance of thermal radiation over convection.

A Finnish sauna or dry-air steam room requires the installation of a steel stove with convection holes, which will quickly heat the room to 90 degrees. Stone backfill in a casing or mesh helps reduce the heat. The larger the stone mass, the longer the stove retains heat and creates a softer microclimate.

When choosing a model, consider:

Thermal power of the heater - in summer, all rooms of the bath should warm up in 40 minutes, in winter - in 1.5-2 hours.

Duration of operation - at least 3-4 hours of continuous operation with good heat retention.

Quality of workmanship – cast iron, stainless heat-resistant steel, carbon steel with a thickness of at least 6 mm are recommended.

The presence of a heat exchanger to increase efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.

Types of sauna stoves with a water heat exchanger

Units for heating a steam room can be made of several types, depending on the material of manufacture. The following types exist:

• Metal. Most often made of steel or cast iron. There are many factory-made stove models on the market. Despite this, they can be made independently in various shapes (square, oval, rectangular). Depending on the design features, they may have heat exchange containers and different doors.

The main positive aspects of metal sauna stoves are: ease of installation, affordable price, quick heating of the room, no need to make a strong foundation, possible installation of a water tank on the chimney.

The negative characteristics of a wood-burning stove in a bathhouse with a water tank are poor performance under sudden temperature changes, rapid loss of thermal energy (cooling).

• Brick. Brick stoves for baths, equipped with a water tank, powered by wood, are distinguished by the absence of negative parameters that metal options have. Thanks to the stone construction, it is possible to retain heat for a long period. Beautiful appearance also plays a big role when choosing a heater material; brick options look much more beautiful.

Despite the large number of positive characteristics of a brick kiln, some disadvantages stand out: high construction costs, high complexity of construction, and the need to create a massive foundation.

Requirements for a modern heater

A high-quality sauna stove meets a number of requirements:

• made of materials designed to withstand intense thermal loads over several years of operation;
• safe to use, the risks of fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, etc. are minimized;
• a balance is maintained between the heating rate and cooling intensity, ensuring a comfortable level of humidity;
• uses fuel economically;
• as compact as possible without sacrificing performance;
• convenient to use.

Useful properties of steam

It is impossible to imagine a real Russian bathhouse without steam. Steam expands skin pores and removes harmful toxins from the body. The skin becomes more elastic and firm.

Heat dilates blood vessels, stimulating metabolism. The human brain is freed from mental and emotional stress, bringing the entire body into a peaceful state.

The heat of a steam room is an excellent cure for joint disease. It was not for nothing that our ancestors loved going to the bathhouse, mercilessly whipping themselves there with brooms, and to get steam, you would need a sauna heater. Let's figure out how to choose a heater for a bath or make it yourself. Most often, a traditional wood stove is used, although an electric one can be installed.

Preparatory work

Selecting a water tank

One of the main components of a heating device is a tank or container for water. The volume of the tank should be selected before all construction work begins.

It depends on the number of people and the visit to the bathhouse: the more people who want to take a steam bath, the larger the volume of the tank needs to be used. One liter of water is usually consumed per person.

It is best to use an open tank as a tank. It will be more convenient to fill such a container with water. During operation, scale may appear on the tank. It is easier to eliminate it if the container is open.

If you do not use the sauna in winter, it is better to remove all liquid from the container. This way you prevent the water from freezing and damaging or deforming the tank itself.

Foundation of the future furnace

One of the most important components of any furnace is its foundation. A brick stove with a closed heater for a Russian bath made by yourself must be on a high-quality foundation.

The foundation depth should be below the soil freezing level by an average of half a meter. The area of ​​the foundation should be larger than the furnace by a few centimeters around the perimeter.

Stages of building a foundation:

you need to dig a hole to install the formwork. Cover the bottom with sand (about 15 cm) and fill it with water to compact it. Small stones are placed on the surface, after which they are compacted. The formwork is made from boards. The internal size of the formwork must be identical to the size of the foundation

It is important to use a level to build. The formwork is fixed in the pit, and strong reinforcement is inserted inside. After this, all that remains is to concrete the area and leave it for several days. The wooden frame is removed, and the gaps between the ground and concrete are filled with sand or gravel

The structure is covered with film and left for about seven days.

What brick should I use?

It is appropriate to use ceramic refractory bricks in the bathhouse. It is red in color and is durable and resistant to high temperatures.

How to choose quality brick? Before purchasing a whole batch of bricks, check its quality. To do this, purchase several bricks and break them. If you have a few large pieces left over, this is a great material.

If it crumbles into small parts, it is a bad material. It is not the size of the brick itself that is important, but the identical parameters of each individual rectangle.

There is another type of brick that is used only in the fuel zone of the furnace. It is called fireclay. This material is resistant to heat. Fireclay has a larger size compared to others. But it can be easily filed and made to the desired size.

Preparation of the solution

A do-it-yourself sauna stove is made using two types of solution:

• for external masonry
• for the firebox and chimney.

The first one is easy enough

The main attention in this process should be paid to the components: sand and clay. Before preparation, the sand is sifted

It should be small and uniform. And it is best to choose clay that has overwintered in open areas. It should also be ground through a sieve, after wetting it with water.

The proportions of the components may vary. It depends on how high quality clay is used. But usually this ratio is 1 to 2 (1 part clay and 2 sand), water should be approximately 1/4 of the amount of clay.

To strengthen the fireclay brick (for laying the firebox), use a solution of heat-resistant clay (it is white). When exposed to high temperatures, it compresses tightly and forms reliable protection against heat. All solutions must be mixed gradually until the consistency of liquid sour cream.

Tools

No special tools are required to build a heater. All you need is a level, a trowel, and a container for mixing the solution. Every owner has them, so you don’t have to spend money on work equipment. If the masonry you choose requires cutting the brick, use a grinder and a hammer.

Calculations, diagrams, drawings

Some craftsmen prefer to build a sauna stove “by eye,” arguing for the simplicity and undemanding nature of the structure. But the thermal regime and quality of the steam depend on how correctly it is designed (if desired, you can always install a steam generator in the bathhouse). For example, with excess power, the air in the steam room will heat up very quickly, but the stones will remain cold for a long time. If the performance of the heating device is not enough, then it will constantly overheat, which will quickly disable it.

The parameters of a sauna stove are calculated based on the actual cubic capacity of the room. To determine the volume of a steam room, three quantities are multiplied - its length, height and width. After this, adjustments are made related to the characteristics of a particular structure. So, for bathhouses with a bare frame, the obtained value must be increased by 1.5 times, and for each uninsulated square meter of surface (windows, doors, etc.) 1.2 m3 is added to the volume of the room. For example, the actual volume of an unclad building measuring 2x2x3 m with a window (1x1 m9 and a glass door (1x2 m) is taken equal to V= 2x2x3x1.5+1.2+2.4=21.6 m3.

Experienced stove makers calculate the power of the stove based on the fact that for each cubic meter of the actual volume of the steam room, 1 kW of energy will be required. So, in our case, a 20 kW heating device is suitable. To calculate the size of its firebox, the resulting power is multiplied by 2. For example, in the example discussed above, a firebox with a volume of 40 liters will be required. As for the linear dimensions, the height of the combustion chamber should be no more than 2/3, and the depth should be no less than 2.5 of its width.

Photo gallery: projects of wood-burning sauna stoves

The order of a small sauna stove will help to correctly calculate the material

Metal heater stoves can have a different location of the water heating tank

The drawing of a stove for a steel bath needs to be made as detailed as possible

Arranging a stove with an open heater will greatly simplify the masonry process

A vertical sauna stove fits perfectly into a small room

For a bath you can use pipes of any diameter

The size of the steam room stove depends on the area of ​​the bathhouse

The chimney can also be placed on the side

Conclusion

Which sauna stove is best to choose for a Russian sauna? It is impossible to give a definite answer, but it is worth choosing between wood-burning and electric stoves, because... gas is not supplied everywhere. Next, the main criterion for selection is the power of the furnace. We have given the calculation formula above. The remaining parameters depend on your desire and wallet.

Having correctly determined the initial data, selecting a stove for a bath according to the parameters is not difficult. All characteristics are indicated in the product passport. Among manufacturers, the Finns confidently hold the first place, offering, among other things, fairly budget-friendly systems. The presence of a Russian-language website and the design of the case also influence the choice, which is not at all as small as we would like.

conclusions

The level of tilt of the body does not affect the operation of the stove. Therefore, you can install it arbitrarily. It is possible to treat the chimney with a high-temperature compound. This will help eliminate the metallic smell. After several fires, the pipe burns out and turns red. No further oxidation of the metal occurs.

As you can see, you can build a horizontal stove for a bathhouse yourself, if you get acquainted with the main stages of work and the features of preparation

It is important to choose the right materials and find all the necessary tools. If you have basic welding skills, you can make an effective structure that will last for decades

Recommended Posts

DIY cellar Wall mounted metal shelves

How to make a birdhouse with your own hands

How to make a swing nest with your own hands

How to make a cellar lid with your own hands

How to make a fountain in your country house