The main element that turns a room into a bathhouse or steam room is the stove. A person who decides to build a bathhouse on his property is faced with the question: how to choose a stove for a bathhouse? The modern market offers a huge assortment: many models and manufacturers, different price categories and materials of manufacture, wood-burning, gas or electric.
You can also spend more time and make the stove yourself. To make the right choice, you need to understand the classification and requirements that apply to such units.
Sauna stoves: features and characteristics
The bathhouse helps to get rid of negative emotions and is often associated with healthy relaxation, good spirits and a cozy atmosphere. The stove is the heart of the sauna; Comfort, steam quality and safety depend on its characteristics. Choosing the main bath attribute is not so easy; there are too many selection criteria and requirements for it. And if the owner decides to build a bathhouse, he will have to deal with several issues: decide on the material and design of the stove, consider its size and type of fuel.
Today, few people other than professional stove makers know that the method of construction and the principle of operation of a sauna stove differs from the functioning of the stove on which food is prepared. The brick sauna stove is a continuation of the traditions of our ancestors, having the following features:
- Construction . The main parts are: a firebox, a chimney, a grate (a place for fuel) and an ash pan (a chamber where ash accumulates).
Sauna stove with original design Source pinterest.com
- Characteristic . Kamenka, a container for stones, which can be closed or open. The stones are used as a heat accumulator, increasing the time of bathing procedures.
- Weight . Can reach 1000-1200 kg (depending on the size of the stove). For such a massive structure, a reliable foundation is built.
- Fuel . Firewood is used for the firebox, but the stove can operate on both electricity and gas.
Brick sauna stoves are determined by two main parameters:
- Dimensions . The size depends on the area of the premises that are planned to be heated. Most often, there are stoves with a base area of 3.5x4 bricks (890x1020 mm) or 4x5 bricks (1020x1290 mm). If you do not take into account the chimney pipe, the height of the structure is 1680 mm (or 2100 mm if the steam room ceiling is high).
- Construction . Owners prefer to install a model with a water circuit, which serves as a tank for heating water. The tank can have an upper (next to the chimney) or lower (near the firebox) location.
The heater was left in the steam room, the firebox was moved to the dressing room Source sdelaikamin.ru
How to test clay?
Before you make a sauna stove with your own hands, you must test the clay first; now we will tell you in more detail how to do this. Mix a kilogram of clay with 0.5 liters of water, then stir well so that no lumps form.
Then roll 2 balls with a diameter of 4 cm with your hands, then flatten them with a board to a thickness of 1 cm. Now the resulting clay cakes should be left at a temperature of 25 degrees until dry. You need to leave them for about 24 hours, while maintaining a constant temperature.
When the clay is completely dry, it needs to be thoroughly inspected. If the cake is cracked, this indicates a high fat content of the clay; we would not recommend using such a composition when creating a stove.
Also try dropping the cake from a height of 70 cm; if it breaks into pieces, then this is not the best clay. If the clay does not crack and passes the second drop test, then you have clay with good binding properties.
Note!
Do-it-yourself vegetable garden: new interesting garden crafts for the street at your summer cottage (photo/video review)
DIY ceiling installation: step-by-step description of how to make a ceiling. Review of modern structures and ideas for their design (105 photos)
Do-it-yourself garage doors - a detailed description of the construction of various types of garage doors (120 photos)
A stove is created from steel, and there is no need to create detailed drawings of a sauna stove with your own hands. Next, we will take a closer look at how the furnace is laid.
Advantages and disadvantages of a brick kiln
No matter how profitable and easy to use metal stoves are, owners with worldly experience prefer proven brick structures. A brick sauna stove has the following advantages:
- Heat capacity . The stove is capable of retaining heat for 6-8 hours and heating several rooms (depending on location).
- Energy independence . A wood-burning stove is an ideal option if there is no gas supply and there are power outages.
- Savings during operation . There is no need to install a gas pipe or run wiring and then pay bills. Firewood will cost much less (especially if you prepare it yourself).
- Comfort . Such stoves produce rich, but not scalding (light) steam and soft heat. The atmosphere of the steam room does not make breathing difficult and is ideal for those who like to steam frequently and tastefully.
Compact brick structure Source tproekt.com
- Environmental friendliness . Both the brick from which the stove is made and the firewood are environmentally friendly materials that are safe for health.
- Design . There are real masterpieces of stove art with stunning architecture and design.
- Fire safety . Provided with design features that fully comply with SP 7.13130-2013.
Brick kilns are inferior to other designs due to disadvantages:
- Difficulties in execution . The masonry process has nuances, and it is not easy to find a competent stove maker.
- Size . A large stove eats up precious steam room space.
- Price . The pleasure of making bricks is not cheap: you need to build a foundation, purchase high-quality bricks and pay for the services of a craftsman.
- Time . The stove heats up, and the steam room takes a long time to heat up.
- Care . Systematic cleaning of the ash pan and periodic cleaning of the chimney are required.
A brick stove emits soft heat that is as comfortable as possible for a person. Source tutknow.ru
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the installation of fireplaces and stoves.
What to cover the stove in the bathhouse with? Frontal protective screen options
Metal stoves are the most practical and convenient for installation in small spaces; they cope effectively with heating air and water.
But the metal has a significant drawback - with constant heating, its surface becomes hot and can reach a temperature of 400 degrees .
This creates uncomfortable conditions in the steam room. Hot metal often causes serious burns . Often, most of the heat is absorbed by the walls, i.e. it goes to heating the street.
To solve all these problems, eliminate the risk of a fire hazard, and provide better, gentle heating of the air, metal sauna stoves are shielded .
The most suitable material for this is brick, which has a high heat capacity and is capable of maintaining high air temperatures for several hours after the stove stops heating.
Project security
A brick sauna stove needs proper insulation from wooden surfaces - a rule, the violation of which sometimes ends in a fire. For bath procedures to be safe, several conditions must be met:
- Foundation . A reliable foundation is needed, which is arranged according to certain rules.
- Chimney . The pipe passes through the ceiling, ceiling elements and roof. When installing a chimney, it is necessary not only to protect adjacent surfaces from heat, but also to maintain the tightness of the steam room. The pipe is separated from all elements of the building by a gap filled with a layer of fire-resistant material.
- Furnace location . The general rule is that wooden walls should be protected from heat. Therefore, there are minimum permitted distances: between the side surfaces of the stove and the walls - 50 cm, between the combustion door and the opposite wall - 150 cm.
- Isolation . The wall behind the stove is protected by brickwork and metal sheets. A metal sheet (10 mm thick) is placed on the floor in front of the firebox as a protective measure against embers flying out of the flame.
The floor in front of the firebox is insulated with a layer of brick Source kvartal-club.com.ua
Distance from stove to wall
The most durable and reliable barrier that prevents excessive heating of the wall surface from the heat of the stove is the air space between them. If all distances established by standard regulatory documents are observed, you can be 100% sure that there is no reason to fear the walls heating up from the stove body.
According to standards taken from SNiP 2.04.05-91, the distance from the stove to an unprotected wall with a fire resistance limit of REI 60 must be at least 500 mm (in diagram A
), that is, half a meter.
If you install a dense sheet of non-combustible material (minerite or glass-magnesite) on the wall and additionally attach a reflective layer of stainless steel to it, then this standard distance is reduced to 380 mm (in diagram B
).
The dimensions of the parts of the protective screen structure that protrude beyond the dimensions of the furnace are also regulated (in diagram C
).
This distance should be taken into account when calculating the material to a value of at least 150 mm. As for the distance from the firebox door to the wall opposite it, it cannot be less than 1250 mm (in diagram F
).
Of course, this is not an excuse for violating fire safety standards established by special responsible authorities based on experimental scientific research. At the same time, manufacturers of Finnish stoves indicate other numbers in the technological documents for their products for the safe placement of their metal stoves in the walls of the steam room. For example, when installing a protective screen, the permissible distance to the wall is only 250 mm.
Materials for the stove: what and how much
Bricks that can withstand repeated temperature changes are suitable for masonry. There are two fairly strong, fire-resistant bricks:
- Fireclay brick . Heat-resistant material of a creamy-yellowish color that can withstand heating up to 1400°C without loss of strength. Such a brick accumulates heat without harm to itself and at the same time has high thermal inertia (slowly heats up and cools down). The parameters are superior to other varieties, but they are also more expensive, which is why they are used mainly for laying out the firebox (20-30 pieces are required).
- Solid red brick marked M (not less than M150). The body, chimney and decorative elements are laid out of it. For a modest structure, 250-280 bricks may be enough; for a large project, 800 (or even 1000) ceramic bricks will be needed.
This fireclay brick will withstand application temperatures up to 1350°C (marking ШБ) Source nsk.zoon.ru
In addition to brick, other materials and tools will be needed:
- Masonry mortar . Consists only of clay and sand. It does not use cement, which crumbles when heated and causes destruction of the masonry over time.
- Furnace casting . Cast iron doors, steel containers for water and stones, a grate (grid), and a view (oven damper) are used.
- Thermal insulator . Any material that can withstand temperatures up to 1200°C is suitable - for example, basalt wool in thin sheets.
- Tools . You will need trowels, a tape measure and a building level.
Kamenka - a feature of the stove for a Russian bath
The main attribute of a bathhouse is often classified according to the heating method:
- The first to appear were stoves that were heated black . They did not have a chimney, and while the logs were burning, the smoke accumulated in the room and stained the walls with soot. Afterwards, the smoke was released through the window, and in order to take a steam bath, you had to wait until the firewood burned completely. Heat and steam were obtained from heated stones lying in the hearth, a prototype of the heater.
- Stoves that burn gray or white have a chimney and a heater in their design. A gray sauna (with an open heater) warms up faster, but soot also accumulates on the stones, and this means that you have to wait until the wood burns out completely.
- In the white sauna, the stove is equipped with a closed heater. It does not pollute the walls of the steam room, does not burn oxygen and carefully preserves heat for a long time. If the steam coming out of an open heater is hard and scalding, here it remains comfortable and soft, even if the thermometer shows 100°C.
Black-style bathhouse, with an open heater Source pechnoy.guru
See also: Catalog of bathhouse projects presented at the “Low-Rise Country” exhibition.
In addition to bricks, other materials and tools will be needed:
- Masonry mortar . Consists only of clay and sand. It does not use cement, which crumbles when heated and causes destruction of the masonry over time.
- Furnace casting . Cast iron doors, steel containers for water and stones, a grate (grid), and a view (oven damper) are used.
- Thermal insulator . Any material that can withstand temperatures up to 1200°C is suitable - for example, basalt wool in thin sheets.
- Tools . You will need trowels, a tape measure and a building level.
How to choose the tank volume?
This parameter should be selected based on how many people will visit the bathhouse. Let's say there are 4 people in your family, about 1 needs 30 liters of hot water.
As a result, we get that the tank must be at least 120 liters. Plus you need to add a little more to it, because you won't always use up the water all the way to the bottom.
As a result, we get approximately 150 liters; this is the volume of the tank that needs to be installed in the bathhouse.
Now you know how to make a sauna stove yourself. We wish you success in your work!
Kamenka - a feature of the stove for a Russian bath
The main attribute of a bathhouse is often classified according to the heating method:
- The first to appear were stoves that were heated black . They did not have a chimney, and while the logs were burning, the smoke accumulated in the room and stained the walls with soot. Afterwards, the smoke was released through the window, and in order to take a steam bath, you had to wait until the firewood burned completely. Heat and steam were obtained from heated stones lying in the hearth, a prototype of the heater.
- Stoves that burn gray or white have a chimney and a heater in their design. A gray sauna (with an open heater) warms up faster, but soot also accumulates on the stones, and this means that you have to wait until the wood burns out completely.
- In the white sauna, the stove is equipped with a closed heater. It does not pollute the walls of the steam room, does not burn oxygen and carefully preserves heat for a long time. If the steam coming out of an open heater is hard and scalding, here it remains comfortable and soft, even if the thermometer shows 100°C.
Black sauna, with an open heater Source pechnoy.guru
It is convenient to divide sauna stoves according to the heating method:
- Periodic action . Here the stones are on the grate above the flame and have maximum contact with it. Water can only be poured onto the stones after the wood has burned out (otherwise you risk dousing the fire). The stove has to be lit periodically.
- Constant (continuous) action . The stones are in a closed heater (an insulated metal container), which is heated by fire. Heat transfer suffers a little, but you can pour water and heat all the time (constantly), and the soot remains inside and does not pollute the steam room. The stove is lit when there are people in the room; its design prevents combustion products from entering the steam room.
The design of the stove is responsible for generating that famous “light steam”, optimal temperature (70°C) and humidity (60%). Stoves with a closed (internal) heater cope best with this task.
Energy
Basically, in practice, a wood-burning sauna stove is widely used. It is well-dried firewood that helps create a healthy atmosphere in the steam room, for which such a structure is being built.
There are other different models. For example, quite often preference is given to an electric sauna stove or its gas analogue.
For some craftsmen, it is more convenient to make a stove that operates using liquid fuel (diesel). In this case, the combustion part that supplies diesel fuel is moved outside the bathhouse to the street.
However, wood-burning sauna stoves are rightfully considered the most popular and convenient.
Video description
About the stove with a water tank in the following video:
Of course, a stove with a pile of stones on top looks much more impressive and produces excellent steam. In fact, an open heater is more suitable for a Finnish sauna, with its high temperature and dry air (Finns pour little water). High temperatures and high humidity can cause heart problems in an unprepared person. The main benefit of an open heater (as well as a metal stove) is the rapid heating of the room.
Construction of a brick sauna stove: sequence of work
Each brick sauna stove is a piece production product. Regardless of which configuration is chosen, the stove is built according to the established order, from the foundation to the chimney and finishing. The main task is to ensure that it does not smoke and effectively heats the steam room.
Planning
The stove design (size and configuration features) is selected in advance, simultaneously with the preparation of the bathhouse design. After choosing a project, an order is drawn up - a plan that shows the layout of bricks separately for each layer (row).
An example of the arrangement (diagram) of a brick oven with a bottom placement of the water tank Source banya-expert.com
With your own hands
No matter how difficult the work of constructing a stove may seem at first glance, with the proper patience and desire it is quite possible to make a stove for a bathhouse with your own hands. Having determined the type and features, you can proceed to the construction of the structure.
Video description
About the detailed process of laying a heater in the following video:
Masonry
When the clay mortar is ready, start laying. It is recommended to start with the construction of a brick wall that protects the adjacent wall from critical heating. The laying of bath stoves is carried out in compliance with the following rules:
- Before starting work, stock up on a printed order .
- The bricks are laid according to plan ; Castings are inserted as needed.
- Experienced stove makers prefer to lay each row first “dry” , without mortar. This preliminary fitting significantly improves the process and allows you to avoid difficult mistakes. The method makes it possible to accurately select bricks and try on castings.
- Formation of the first row . An important stage on which the geometry of the furnace depends. At the end of the row, check the corners.
- Laying out the body . The second row (and subsequent ones) are laid offset so that each seam falls in the middle of the brick from the previous row. This staggered arrangement ensures the reliability of the design.
Fireclay bricks are used for laying the firebox Source tproekt.com
About Kuznetsov's sauna stove
The team led by Igor Viktorovich Kuznetsov developed a fundamentally new design of a furnace with a two-tier bell - a chamber in which heating occurs (in the lower bell) and separation of the movement of hot and cold gases (in the upper bell). Hot gases are retained in the furnace, which significantly increases the heat transfer of the structure.
Kuznetsov’s brick stove can maintain a suitable temperature not only in the steam room, but also in the washing room and in the rest room. High efficiency, economical fuel consumption and a minimal amount of soot during combustion contribute to the popularity of the design.
Fragment of brick oven masonry Source bazar.bg
Brick oven: cladding features
Brick stoves are suitable for cladding like no other, since brick and cladding have approximately the same coefficient of thermal expansion, which cannot be said about a metal structure. The brick oven heats up gradually, and the lining has time to warm up evenly. The most popular facing materials are:
- Clinker tiles . Clinker is characterized by high refractoriness and heat capacity; it does not deform over time and gives a cozy appearance to the steam room. During production, dyes and fireclay clay are mixed into clinker.
- Terracotta . Pressed unglazed clay that has been fired. The tile has a characteristic red-brown color and excellent strength indicators.
The fashion for tiles spread in the 17th and 18th centuries and has remained in demand to this day Source forumhouse.ru
- Majolica . Tile material obtained by pressing; an improved version of terracotta. A colored design is applied to the tiles and covered with glaze.
- Tile (a type of tile). Special box-shaped tiles, often handmade, decorated with a sophisticated pattern and filled with glaze, were originally invented for lining stoves. The tiles have a special design on the back side and are fastened with special metal pins into the seams, simultaneously with the stove masonry.
