A stove for a sauna with a closed heater is a generator of superheated steam, without which the full functioning of the room is impossible. The structure is distinguished by numerous positive characteristics that are appreciated by lovers of traditional Russian procedure. You can buy a sauna stove with a closed heater in a specialized store and even with an installation service. If you have construction skills and a small set of tools, you can make it yourself. To determine the selection criteria, you should familiarize yourself with the features and structure of these structures and the range of products on sale.
Furnace with a closed heater
A sauna stove with an internal heater works on the principle of a heat accumulator. The stones located inside the chamber quickly heat up, and then instantly give off the heat to the steam room. Post-heating does not take much time thanks to the efficient heat exchange system. The cobblestones are inside the enclosure and are heated directly by the flame. The appearance of smoke in the room is excluded, since the powerful draft pulls all combustion products from the boiler into the chimney.
The sauna heater stove consists of the following parts:
- Housing. The walls are made of one or two layers of metal or brickwork, if the steam room is spacious enough. The thicker the material, the more it accumulates heat and the better it absorbs infrared radiation. The remote fuel channel is made of such a length that it is possible to lay it through the wall of the required thickness. The walls of the casing are of a convector type, due to which a constant circulation of hot air is provided in the steam room, the same temperature is achieved above the floor and near the ceiling.
- Heat accumulator. It consists of stones placed on strong cast iron grates. Fire passes through them, heating the material, which can heat up to 700 degrees. Another option is to place stones in a closed steel tank, to which a water channel is connected.
- Steam cannon. Consists of pipes through which hot steam is emitted into the steam room after water is supplied to the cobblestones. At the ends of the pipes, nozzles can be installed for better steam distribution.
- Door for fluid supply. The product is equipped with heat-resistant seals to ensure complete sealing after closing. Some models are equipped with transparent doors that allow you to create an atmosphere of coziness and comfort in the steam room. Some models are equipped with a built-in water tank. In such structures, the supply of boiling water to the cobblestones is carried out using a fitting, which is manually activated, as needed.
- Chimney. Depending on the type of firebox, coaxial or ordinary pipes made of stainless steel, ceramics or glass are used.
After the stones are heated in the process of burning firewood, the door opens and water splashes on them. There is a violent formation of steam, which, coming out through the tubes, fills the entire space of the sauna. A rapid jump in temperature occurs, which takes several hours for open-type structures.
Pros and cons of using in a bath
Like any heating device, a sauna heater has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages of a closed structure:
- The speed of heating the steam room. The room is filled with steam, which creates a comfortable and useful microclimate.
- Fire safety. Since heating is carried out by steam, and not by the incandescent body of the product, in conjunction with the absence of an open flame, ignition is completely excluded.
- Optimal use of thermal energy. Cobblestones receive it directly from the flame, and not from the walls of the boiler, where there is point contact with the surface.
- Quality steam. In this type of hearth, it is light and dry. Excessive and heavy dampness, which adversely affects the well-being of a person, does not form in the room.
- Maintaining an almost constant temperature. After pouring water, the temperature of the stones almost does not drop and quickly recovers.
- Possibility of installation in a large room due to high performance.
- Convenient regulation of temperature and humidity.
There are few cons. The first is the cost of the product, since it has a complex device and requires high precision in manufacturing. The second drawback is relative and associated with a large consumption of firewood to achieve a quality result. But since the bathhouse is heated infrequently, you can safely close your eyes to it.
Characteristics of cast iron stoves
For a sauna, cast iron stoves are best suited. This alloy has the positive properties of steel and brick. Cast iron hearths are characterized by high thermal conductivity and heat up quickly. Due to its thickness and crystal structure, the metal is able to retain heat for a long time. He is not afraid of high temperatures when burning firewood, you can not be afraid of melting the product and the appearance of cracks on it.
The disadvantage is that iron has a specific smell, and you can get severe burns from touching it. To make the cast-iron hearth safer, it is lined with decorative material, in which air vents are made. Only the top and the space for opening the door are left open.
Brick products also have their own nuances, strengths and weaknesses. The material has low thermal conductivity, but it accumulates heat well, evenly distributing it throughout the entire volume of the room. You can feel pain from touching a brick, but there will be no burn. The downside is that the masonry takes up a lot of space that cannot be allocated in a small steam room.
The best solution is to combine materials. The metal can be embedded in the order, the brick is placed inside the firebox or outside the hearth.
Furnace selection criteria
A stove for a Russian bath is a structure that can make the process of being in a steam room both pleasant and useful, as well as uncomfortable and meaningless in terms of content.
When choosing a focus, you should pay attention to the following criteria:
- material of manufacture (cast iron, heat-resistant steel, combination);
- dimensions of the product, compliance with the size of the steam room;
- produced capacity;
- surface heating temperature;
- type of fuel and its nominal consumption;
- option for supplying water to stones (straight, through a fitting);
- body type (convector, monolithic);
- the weight of the furnace (whether the foundation needs to be reinforced or not);
- additional options;
- appearance;
- installation method (independently or with the assistance of specialists);
- the possibility of modification.
It should be borne in mind that stoves with closed heaters have a different price range, depending on the country of production and the complexity of the design. This factor must be taken into account.
Do-it-yourself stove with a closed heater
The decision to make a furnace with your own hands will save a considerable amount and bring all your engineering solutions to life.To do this, you need to draw up a competent and well-thought-out drawing, not missing a single detail.
To work, you will need the following tools and materials:
- welding machine, grinder, electric drill;
- wrenches, a set of screwdrivers;
- collapsible grates;
- heat-resistant steel with a thickness of 2, 6, 8 and 10 mm;
- chimney pipes;
- tubes and nozzles for a steam generator or a complete product;
- handles, hinges, latches;
- hardware (bolts, nuts, rivets);
- heat-resistant sealant.
The work is carried out in the following sequence:
- Foundation making. It is cast from concrete with a reinforcement frame. From above, the slab is covered with waterproofing.
- The steel is cut into patterns corresponding to the size and configuration of the body parts.
- Welding of parts into a single structure is carried out.
- Cobblestones are loading. Depending on the size of the stove, they will need 300-500 kg.
- Finishing work in progress. Decorative stone, clinker tiles or bricks are used.
In conclusion, a control furnace is carried out, at the end of which the detected assembly defects are eliminated.
Popular manufacturers
The most popular today are the following models of domestic and foreign manufacturers:
- Harvia M2;
- Hephaestus PB-04 MS;
- Harvia M3 SL;
- Vesuvius Scythian Forging 22;
- TMF Geyser 2014 Inox;
- TMF Vitruvia Inox;
- Varvara Terma-Kamenka.
Stoves should be purchased in company stores after checking the availability of a quality certificate.
