Regular visits to the steam room provide a powerful healing effect and help prevent many diseases. The reader is offered a rating of wood-burning sauna stoves mass-produced by Russian companies. To obtain the correct steam, an efficient heating device with certain technical characteristics is required.
History has proven that the best stoves for a wood-fired sauna are the only ones capable of creating that unique microclimate, which provides such a powerful effect on the body. The emotional component is important in a steam room, and the formation of the desired mood is also influenced by the pleasant aroma from burning wood. No other type of fuel can give such an effect.
True adherents of bathhouse traditions may argue that the proposed rating of bathhouse stoves for Russian baths considers finished products made of cast iron or steel. There is a widespread belief that the heating equipment for a “correct” steam room should be made of brick. However, there are very few real masters of the stove business who know it thoroughly. The services of such stove makers are extremely expensive, and our review is intended for a wide range of lovers of health treatments.
The best manufacturers of sauna stoves
In our country there are a number of companies that specialize in the manufacture of metal heating devices and have achieved some success in this matter. The list of the best manufacturers of wood-burning sauna stoves includes the following enterprises:
- "Teplodar". The company uses original metalworking technologies that provide products with high reliability and durability. The use of high-quality materials and an effective control system for production processes virtually eliminates the risk of burning out the furnace elements.
- Termofor. The stoves of this manufacturer are distinguished by their exceptional smooth heating of the room and the special softness of the steam. This is achieved due to the fact that the critical elements are given a special shape, providing the necessary density and intensity of heat flows.
- "Vesuvius". The highlight of the products of this brand is the unusual design and original design. The company offers many models designed in a wide variety of styles, from traditional classics to avant-garde high-tech.
- ETNA. Sauna stoves from this manufacturer are distinguished by well-thought-out designs; the developers accurately calculated the thermal load on each of the elements. This made it possible to reduce the wall thickness, which means reducing metal consumption and the price of each product while maintaining strength characteristics.
- “Throw it down.” The company offers an extensive catalog of products in all price categories, from budget to premium. This approach allows the manufacturer to satisfy the needs of all categories of consumers and helps expand the customer base.
- TMF. The company is engaged in mass production of inexpensive, but exceptionally high-quality models without complex design delights and bells and whistles. The brand's products enjoy deserved popularity among consumers.
The following rating of wood-burning sauna stoves for 2021 is based on the principle of increasing their technical and economic indicators. When evaluating products, the advantages and features of each design are taken into account, taking into account practical experience from operation. For objectivity, information for analysis is taken from customer reviews published on open Internet platforms.
KASTOR Karhu 16 JK
A small, lightweight device perfectly warms up the steam room and maintains the temperature well. Finnish stove made of alloy cast iron. Has a box for ash and secondary combustion.
Characteristics:
- warms the room up to 16 m³;
- chimney duct with a diameter of 104 mm;
- weight 59 kg;
- size (H/W/D) - 710x435x490 mm.
Reviews
Oleg, 44 years old
“In 2021 we decided to change the stove, we chose KASTOR, we’ve been using it for three years now, it’s like new. It heats great. I recommend".
When choosing a stove, the buyer should pay attention to his needs and the characteristics of the room. How will you install? What are the possibilities? A cast iron stove for a bath is an ideal option both in price and in operation. We have presented to you the “TOP 10 Best Cast Iron Sauna Stoves”, now the choice is yours!
7th place: “Vesuvius Legend Standard 16” (DT-4) cast iron
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Wood stoves
Cast iron sauna stove “Vesuvius Legend Standard 16” (DT-4)
24 990 ₽ 24 240 ₽
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This product is rightfully included in the top ten best sauna stoves for Russian baths in our rating. Its main advantage is its modular design, consisting of three parts. To connect them, reliable bolted connections are used, and the joints are laid with ceramic cord. This seal can withstand temperatures of 1200 °C and ensures complete tightness of the combustion chamber, which makes the operation of the Vesuvius Legend Standard 16 model absolutely safe.
The product is an improved version of the Russian sauna stove, which was supplemented with a ventilation-convection casing to increase efficiency. The structure is welded from 6 mm steel rod with a heat-resistant coating, which provides this sample with exceptionally high technical characteristics:
- Steam room volume: minimum – 8 m2; maximum – 18 m2.
- Weight of stones: up to 120 kg; ovens – 95 kg.
- Material: cast iron of special grades.
- Thermal power: up to 16 kW.
The stove is a convection-type device that provides quick heating of rooms. Main advantages:
- Increased flow of penetrating infrared radiation, creating special conditions in the steam room.
- Large volume and rational placement of the heater, which allows you to get soft, fine steam.
- Remote fuel receiver. The stove is heated from the dressing room, which is also heated by a massive metal structure.
Yandex Market has two user reviews without text. Taking into account the absence of complaints, they can be considered conditionally positive. On Otzovik the responses are more informative. Users note affordable prices, excellent quality and beautiful design, but at the same time complain about high fuel consumption and some technical shortcomings.
Reviews of the wood-burning stove "Vesuvius Legend Standard 16" (DT-4) on Yandex Market Reviews of the wood-burning stove "Vesuvius Legend Standard 16" (DT-4) on Otzovik
Furnace firebox material: cast iron, boiler (09g2s), stainless or black steel
The material from which the firebox is made is an important characteristic of a wood stove. Two main metals are used - steel (ferrous, boiler, stainless) or cast iron. Let's look at them in more detail.
Black (structural) steel for furnace heating is the most inexpensive material with a short service life (no more than 7-10 years).
This steel is the least heat-resistant (400°C). The temperature inside the firebox of a sauna stove reaches 500-600 degrees Celsius. Feeling a problem?
Heat resistance is the ability of a material to withstand high temperatures without breaking. After exceeding its thermal resistance limit, the material begins to deteriorate.
To compensate for the low heat resistance of this material, black steel fireboxes are made with a thickness of at least 5 mm (or even 6, 8, 12 mm).
By the way, inexperienced bathhouse builders and sellers mistakenly believe that the greater the thickness, the better, although in reality in this case the thickness is associated only with the low heat resistance of the material.
Boiler steel 09g2s is the same structural steel, but with the addition of alloying elements.
In other words, it is a low-alloy steel, which in terms of properties occupies a middle position between black steel and stainless steel.
Artemenko Vyacheslav Manager of the store on the street. Kollontai, 18
Alloying elements are special additives that increase the heat resistance of steel.
The heat resistance of such material is within 500 degrees Celsius. Accordingly, it also needs to be compensated for by thickness, but less.
Please note that although the thickness of boiler steel fireboxes is no more than 3-5 mm, the service life of such stoves can be longer than black steel fireboxes. Therefore, there are brands that prefer this material. For example, the Grill'D company produces all its oven models from this kind of steel (except for the PRO models, which are made of stainless steel).
Stainless steel is, of course, the strongest and most heat-resistant steel.
Generally, the standard thickness with competitive price is 2mm. At the same time, the heat resistance of steel is 800 degrees, which means that scale will not form under any circumstances. In fact, the heat resistance of the material allows us to make fireboxes even thinner, but in this case the thickness of 2 mm is due to the mechanical load that the stove must withstand.
Note that there are also professional models made of stainless steel, the thickness of which can be 4 and 6 mm. The service life of such furnaces is 15, 20 or more years. But such models, of course, will cost more.
Cast iron is an almost ideal material, but there is one “but”...
An inexperienced specialist will claim that cast iron is the ideal material for making a firebox. This is partly true - cast iron is the most durable metal and practically does not burn out, and with proper operation the stove will last 10 years or more. But there is one drawback - it is fragility!
And here the phrase “When used correctly!” comes first. For example, with sudden temperature changes, cast iron can simply burst, but steel fireboxes are not afraid of such an outcome under any circumstances.
In terms of price, cast-iron wood-burning stoves will cost you a little more than stoves made of black or boiler steel (20-25 percent). But there are, of course, professional expensive models that are comparable in price to steel stoves with a thickness of 4-6 mm.
To compare the cost of stoves made from different materials, use the stove selection filter.
3rd place: “TMF Geyser 2014 Inox vitra” anthracite, with heat exchanger
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Wood stoves
Sauna stove "TMF Geyser 2014 Inox vitra" anthracite, with heat exchanger
39 299 ₽
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The bronze award in our top stoves for Russian baths was won by the product of the company that won the People's Brand 2014 award. The anthracite TMF Geyser 2014 Inox Vitra model is equipped with a built-in heat exchanger that provides light steam. To bring it to the required conditions, a system of two heaters is used: open and closed.
The oven has a height of 900 mm, a width of 500 mm and a depth of 840 mm; it has the following technical characteristics:
- Steam room volume: ranging from 8 to 18 m3.
- The total weight of the stove with heater is 129 kg; own weight – 66 kg.
- The maximum length of logs placed in the firebox is 500 mm.
The described sample is made of heat-resistant stainless steel, and the main thermally loaded elements have an equal thickness of 3 mm. This ensures the durability and reliability of the design, which also has other advantages:
- The chimney is located in the center, which allows you to intensify the heating of the heater.
- A funnel with a dosing valve eliminates the possibility of flooding the internal heat exchanger.
- The temperature of the open heater allows the possibility of soaking brooms.
Reviews about one of the best wood-burning stoves for saunas in our rating are the most positive. Users note the compactness and relatively low consumption of firewood. Among the shortcomings, buyers complain about the inflated price, as well as about the burning out of some samples immediately after the end of the warranty period.
Reviews of the wood-burning stove “TMF Geyser 2014 Inox vitra” anthracite, with a heat exchanger on Otzovik
No. 8. Heater type
Furnaces can be:
- with open heater. Flue gases heat the walls of the stove and the buried stones. You can start steaming literally immediately, but cooling down occurs quickly. These are safe stoves; soot does not accumulate on the stones; however, more fuel is consumed here than in stoves with a closed heater, but you can stay in the steam room as long as you like.
- with a closed heater. In such furnaces, the stones are heated not by the metal, but directly. To obtain the desired temperature, the oven must be heated for several hours, but then it itself maintains heat for 10-12 hours. Such stoves were previously used in public baths, but now they are rarely used. The efficiency here is much higher, but you won’t be able to steam until the stones are completely warmed up. Soot collects on the stones, and safety is somewhat lower.
How to choose a wood-burning stove for a sauna?
For true steam room connoisseurs, not only the temperature inside the room matters, but also the properties of the steam. From this point of view, the right choice of a wood-burning stove for a bathhouse is half the success. There are a number of points that need to be taken into account:
- features of the heating device;
- thermal power;
- material used;
- operating principle;
- contents of delivery.
When choosing a wood-burning stove for a Russian bath from among those presented in this rating, you should remember the additional characteristics. We are talking, first of all, about the weight and size indicators of the heating device.
Design
Which wood-burning sauna stove should you choose, based on the features of the device? Various designs are possible:
- with open or double heater;
- conventional and with ventilation-convection casing;
- with a central or offset chimney location.
When deciding which wood-burning stoves are the best for a sauna, you need to take into account the requirements for use. To ensure intensive heating of the room, a design with an additional casing is recommended, which also significantly reduces hard thermal radiation.
Power
The thermal performance of a particular stove depends on the shape and volume of the firebox, the flow area of the chimney and some other factors. The rated power of the heating device is usually indicated in the technical description or passport. When choosing the model you need, you should proceed from the ratio of 1 kW per 1 cubic meter. m of room volume.
The best wood-burning sauna stoves of 2021, presented in our rating, have in their descriptions an indication of the minimum and maximum dimensions of the steam room. This greatly simplifies the process of selecting a product for specific requirements. Significantly exceeding the required characteristics leads to unjustified financial costs, and if there is insufficient thermal power in the steam room, it will not be possible to achieve the desired temperature.
Material
The best wood-burning stoves for a Russian bath are made of structural or stainless steel, as well as heat-resistant cast iron. When choosing a specific model, you should pay attention to the thickness and grade of the material. Highly alloyed alloys have excellent strength characteristics, which are also resistant to corrosion.
To protect steel and cast iron parts of furnaces from adverse environmental factors, paint and varnish coatings are applied to external surfaces, preferably powder compositions. You will find information about the materials used in the technical documentation of the model you have chosen or from sales consultants.
Principle of operation
To answer the question of which stove is best for a Russian bath, you need to understand the features of its functioning. The proposed rating considers only wood-burning models, but there are also gas and electric ones. In the first and second variants, heat generation occurs as a result of fuel combustion. In electric furnaces, heating is carried out through the use of heating elements.
Wood stoves, in addition to heating the room, create a special microclimate, filling the atmosphere with the aroma of burning wood. This makes the process of receiving health procedures especially pleasant and brings it as close as possible to something that can only be obtained in a traditional Russian bathhouse.
Equipment
Heating appliances are supplied to the consumer with a full set of elements. How to choose a wood-burning stove for a sauna, and which configuration is considered the best? It all depends on the financial capabilities of the consumer.
The mentioned top of the best stoves for Russian baths in 2021 contains models with metal doors that can be replaced with heat-resistant glass. The relatively small surcharge is worth the opportunity to watch the flames dance in the firebox. When purchasing a heating device in a store, you can also order a filler for the heater.
additional characteristics
What are the best wood-burning stoves in a bathhouse? This is one of the most common questions asked to experts. To answer this, in addition to such key factors as thermal power and strength indicators, a number of additional characteristics should be taken into account:
- efficiency;
- fuel consumption;
- firewood sizes.
The significance of these parameters should not be exaggerated, but also cannot be completely ignored. The low efficiency of the stove will not allow you to achieve the required temperature and humidity conditions, as a result, the very meaning of visiting the steam room is lost.
Ermak "16 Grid Premium" (Cast Iron)
This is a cast iron and steel stove. The firebox is made of cast iron with graphite, and the heater is made of carbon steel. The heater is open throughout the entire body, which makes the air in the steam room dry. The manufacturer additionally offers a module for a Russian bath.
Characteristics:
- Warms the room up to 16 m³;
- Chimney duct with a diameter of 115 mm
- Weight 97 kg;
- Size (H/W/D) 820x500x780 mm.
Reviews
Georgy, 34 years old
“It looks good, it matches our interior. You only need a little firewood, it’s a bargain.”
Useful tips
When choosing the best stove for a Russian wood-burning bath, you should listen to the recommendations of experts. The most frequently asked questions are:
- Which heating device is better: steel or cast iron?
The first heats up faster, the second is capable of providing light steam. Prices for cast iron stoves are noticeably higher.
- What is the difference between sauna and Russian bath stoves?
The air in the sauna should be dry, and there should be steam in the bath. Accordingly, ovens for them should have different heating modes.
- Is it possible to make a sauna stove yourself?
Theoretically, this is possible if the materials, equipment and appropriate skills are available, but the costs can be significant and significantly exceed the cost of factory products.
A good stove for a Russian bath is a complex structure made of high-quality steel or cast iron. It is impossible to repeat the production process at home, which means the characteristics of such a product will be low.
Hephaestus "ZK 18 (M)"
The device has powerful steam generation, which is ideal for a Russian bath. The heater has a capacity of 18 m³, there is a recess for additional steam, and there are heat-removing spikes on the lower part. All this increases the heating area and contributes to its speed.
Characteristics:
- warms the room up to 18 m²;
- chimney duct with a diameter of 115 mm
- weight - 166 kg;
- size (H/W/D) - 538x393x478 mm;
Reviews
Vladimir, 52 years old
“I have a steam room of 12 sq.m., it warms up very quickly, with the old one I had to wait several hours. Great model."
Features of room heating
There are hot and cold ovens, taking into account the degree of heating of the walls. The room will quickly become warm if the surface of the heater heats up to +100°C. This is a good option when the bathhouse is not equipped with constant heating. Although it is difficult to monitor the temperature in the steam room. The air may overheat or remain cold.
A hot stove is suitable for a private steam room because it transfers heat well through the outer walls. But you can get burned and it is difficult to regulate the heating temperature.
The walls of a cold oven heat up to +40…+45°C (no more). Cold air enters through special channels and returns in a heated form. Such stoves are safe and convenient. They are distinguished by a stable thermal regime. Although the steam room takes a long time to warm up. This option is not suitable for quickly heating up the stove and visiting the bathhouse.
Electric heaters
In electric ovens, the heating element is the heating element. The advantage of this type is instant heating of the room and stable temperature of the steam room. For saunas, open types of heaters are used; for baths, a closed type is provided.
Advantages:
- quick, affordable installation without chimneys;
- lack of fire protection requirements;
- built-in steam generators;
- saving resources;
- safe operation;
- several operating modes.
Flaws:
- small niche volume for stones.
- the need for built-in steam generators to increase steam humidity.
PEKO EH-80
Heater stove with built-in control unit. The thermostat of the unit maintains the set temperature of the steam room and switches off if the temperature is exceeded in an emergency. The timer is set to a maximum duration of 6 hours of operation; after the period expires, it disconnects from the network.
| PEKO EH-80 | |
| Manufacturer | China |
| Volume for a steam room. m³ | from 7 to 12 |
| Steam room mode | Finnish sauna |
| Stones, mass, kg | 25 |
| Operating voltage, V | 380 |
PEKO EH-80
Advantages:
- wall installation;
- power 8 kW.
Flaws:
- The only possible mode is dry steam.
POLYTECH KRISTINA SOFT STEAM
An electric oven with an evaporator, at a given temperature of 70°, provides the “Russian steam room” mode. When the temperature increases to 110°, steam from the evaporator is passed through heated stones, dried, and becomes finely dispersed, favorable for healing.
| POLYTECH KRISTINA SOFT STEAM | |
| Manufacturer | Russia |
| Volume for a steam room. m³ | from 6 to 8 |
| Steam room mode | Russian bath |
| Stones, mass, kg | 25 |
| Operating voltage, V | 220 |
POLYTECH KRISTINA SOFT STEAM
Advantages:
- the ability to add natural ingredients and flavoring to the filling tank to vary the shades of the steam room.
Flaws:
- low power 6 kW.
Selection errors
The absence of a clear and detailed design of the bathhouse, with the technical characteristics of the stove, will lead to redevelopment of the premises, or additional costs upon purchase.
Neglecting specialist consultations will reveal “surprises” in the equipment, the correction of which will take time and money.
Unprofessional installation of a stove is life-threatening and can lead to rapid failure or the need for repairs.
We should not forget about the special preparation of the base for wood-burning units made of steel sheets on a concrete base.
The quality of a sauna stove is proportional to the price, according to the type of fuel and power.
comparison table
| Type of oven | Heat | Cooling down | Fuel consumption | Price |
| Cast iron | 30-40 minutes | 30-40 minutes | 4.4 kg/h | from 15 thousand rubles |
| Steel | 15-20 minutes | 10-15 minutes | 6-7 kg/h | from 16 thousand rubles |
| Electric | 10-15 minutes | 15-20 minutes | 3-6 kg/h | from 25 thousand rubles |
| Brick | 2-3 hours | 10-15 hours | 6-9 kg/h | from 15 thousand rubles |
