The Russian bath is characterized by a combination of humid (over 60%) air with a high temperature. The constant increase in the humid environment with the help of finely dispersed steam requires the use of special equipment. Domestic Hephaestus stoves can operate in the modes of a Russian steam room and a Finnish sauna, which ensures the comfort of water procedures.
Technical characteristics of Hephaestus furnaces
For the manufacture of furnace equipment, the manufacturer uses cast iron. The metal is characterized by high heat capacity, rapid heat transfer from the inner to the outer layer. The Gefest brand produces ovens that:
- have walls 10-50 mm thick;
- accumulate heat even when the flame is extinguished;
- suitable for heating rooms from 45 to 120 cubic meters;
- are made with a cast iron damper or a heat-resistant glass door;
- maintain the temperature of the stone from 500 to 700 degrees;
- equipped with a secondary gas afterburning mode and a flame arrester;
- have an efficiency of 87%;
- work on solid fuel - firewood or briquettes;
- are completed with auxiliary elements to increase the distance from the portal to the firebox.
The units are produced in three modifications - a heater with a mesh, with a coil lining and a brick lining.
Pros and cons
The Hephaestus range of sauna stoves is designed so that the room is heated as quickly as possible. The equipment also has a number of advantages:
- Durability. For the manufacture of stoves, cast iron СЧ20-25 ЧХ10 is used, which is characterized by high strength. Additionally, the product is reinforced with vertical stiffeners to withstand heavy loads. The connection of elements by welding and bolting is not used.
- Economy mode of operation. The stove is made in the shape of a trapezoid, equipped with a flame extinguishing device and a secondary gas combustion system. Thanks to this, the movement of flue gases is carried out along the walls. Convection fins provide an increase in heat radiating surface.
- Long-term operation in the smoldering mode. Due to the mode of afterburning of perlite gas and the gate, after warming up the steam room, the stove can be left to smolder. At the end of the combustion process, the comfortable temperature is maintained for several hours.
- Getting finely dispersed light vapor. The design of the furnace equipment allows maintaining a temperature of 500-700 degrees for a long time, at which useful light steam is obtained.
- Environmental friendliness. Cast iron has a unique crystal lattice, so it does not corrode when moisture is exposed. At the time of heating, the material does not emit substances harmful to human health.
- Adjustment of the distance from the portal to the rear wall. Using an adapter extension, you can increase this distance by 10 cm.
- Reliability. The doors are equipped with German panoramic heat-resistant glass. The ash pan is made of 1 mm thick stainless steel. The starting part of the chimney is made of cast iron.
- Keeping warm in the steam room. The large specific gravity of cast iron and the design of the furnace allows you to maintain the desired temperature for 5 hours.
The furnace has only one drawback - high cost.It is easily compensated by increased wear resistance and positive performance characteristics.
Line of Hephaestus stoves
Stoves for the Hephaestus bath are presented in options for small steam rooms and overall models. The manufacturer offers several equipment modifications.
Cast iron stoves
A reliable cast iron stove for a sauna or bath Hephaestus is equipped with a forged mesh under the stones, suitable for brick cladding. Some models are supplied complete with natural veneer. Products look harmonious due to the lengthening of the starting pipe or cladding, they are decorated with casting, enamel or patina.
Depending on the type of cladding, you can choose equipment of the Optima series with an open box part, President and Russian steam room, which have a closed box type and a special mesh for a stone.
Cast iron stoves are different:
- durability and corrosion resistance;
- heat resistance due to chromium impurities;
- high efficiency - from 85%;
- special design - three trapezoidal cutouts increase the heated area;
- the presence of a flame extinguisher that promotes the movement of flue gases in the direction of the side walls;
- thick walls (1-6 cm) with vertical stiffening ribs, S-shaped convection ribs for swirling hot air streams;
- a stainless steel steam storage box (Russian steam and President series).
Cast iron models are distinguished by their economy of fuel consumption and long cooling.
Bath equipment
The stove, which is installed in the bath, must maintain a comfortable microclimate, therefore the Hephaestus brand manufactures heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant and acid-resistant units. They have no joints or seams, so they can withstand vertical loads. Panoramic doors are made using the "clean glass" technology. The wood-fired type of equipment is equipped with a flame arrester, ceramic sealing cord. The following series are intended for Russian baths:
- Classic. Units made of alloyed cast iron with 2 furnaces and a gas afterburner system for quick heating of the room. The combustion tunnel can be adjusted in length. The stove is operated in the steaming mode, equipped with Robax heat-resistant glass and a stainless steel ash box.
- 3K. They are produced with a reinforced stove and one combustion chamber. To increase the area of contact between the stove and the fire, a heat-detachable seam is used. The stones are heated up to 500 degrees, creating a fine steam. The heat transfer of the combustion temperature of the wood to the air is carried out using convection fins.
- Hurricane. The furnace unit is equipped with a high forged mesh, a cast iron box, a folding door, a mounting spacer and a 50 cm long starting pipe made of cast iron. The mesh can be easily replaced with stone cladding without disassembling the oven. The stove has the shape of a trapezoid, it is used in the mode of long burning. The firebox is adjustable.
- Thunder. Premium models heat up 2 times faster than other modifications and are equipped with a cast iron box and a cast iron starting tube. The side walls are 14 mm thick and have a high heat storage capacity. The oven is equipped with internal and external convection fins.
- Storm. Suitable for small and medium sized steam rooms, they consist of two chambers. The radiator protrusions are recessed into the firebox. To increase the heating zone outside, there are cast iron spikes for bath stones or dense charges.
The equipment looks like fireplaces and can be used for 30 years.
Closed Heater Models
The closed type of heater is provided by a cast-iron facing box, a spacer for mounting the flap and the flap itself. The Hephaestus stove accommodates a large number of stones and produces finely dispersed soft steam. Oven for stones - overall, from 50x62x75 cm, depending on the model.
The furnace with gas afterburning consists of 2 chambers separated by a flame arrester.The furnace tunnel is led out into the next room using an elongated portal. All parts of the product are solid. The closed heater is presented in the following modifications:
- Hurricane - has a classic heater design. Small side niches are intended for stones or cast-iron cones.
- Hurricane-3K - has a modernized stove with a base 40 cm thick. To obtain more heat, there are cast-iron thorns on the furnace side.
The walls of the units with a thickness of 12-60 mm do not burn out, do not corrode.
Other Hephaestus devices
In addition to heating equipment, the manufacturer produces the Mini series. It is distinguished by its compactness and ease of use. The line includes several modifications.
- The gas oven is equipped with a temperature sensor, burners for any dish diameter. A gas oven with mechanical or touch control from Hephaestus is distinguished by uniform heating of the walls and surface, spaciousness, and the presence of a built-in controller.
- Cooking hob - the stove can be painted in various colors and has an attractive design. The burners can be spiral or induction; enamel or glass ceramics are used to cover the hob. Operated in the top and bottom heat, grill, convection modes.
- Combined models - combine a gas type of hob and an electric type of oven. The tile is suitable for gasified houses, is characterized by ease of operation and extensive functionality of an electric oven.
The Mini line is suitable for houses, summer cottages, apartments, country cottages.
Specificity of installation of Hephaestus furnaces
The manufacturer's instructions note that the stove is a device with a surface that can heat up to 350 degrees. Its installation must be carried out with respect to the distance:
- from combustible materials - 50 cm vertically, 120 cm from above;
- fire-resistant space - 10 cm on both sides of the sash and 40 cm in front of it;
- from a brick wall - 5 cm.
Uninsulated pipes of the stove and chimney are removed from combustible objects by 100 cm horizontally and 120 cm vertically. The distance for the modules is 10 cm from flammable objects and 40 cm from the ceiling.
The room where the stove is installed must meet the fire safety requirements prescribed in SNiP 2.08.02-89.
Step by step installation
Installation work is carried out after removing the factory packaging and inspecting the product in the following order:
- Installation of the base on a flat surface with sealing the grooves.
- Covering the grooves of the walls from the front and rear sides with sealant.
- Installation of the unit walls in the grooves, the frames - on the protruding tides of the side walls, the grate - in a special opening.
- Installing the flame arrester in the groove on the front side. The walls of the stove must be held in place.
- Fixing the heater to the edge of the walls.
- Installation of the ash pan and the first heating outside (at least 60 minutes).
- Chimney outlet. A spark arrestor is arranged for a combustible roof. When withdrawing through the ceiling, a cut is performed 7 cm more than the overlap.
The setting stones are washed with a brush to remove harmful compounds.
Choosing a stove for the size of the room
The manufacturer's assortment includes five series, suitable for rooms of various sizes:
- PB-00M and 000M are intended for steam rooms for 80-120 m3;
- PB-01 - 4 units for rooms up to 45 m3;
- PB-02 - 10 models for steam rooms up to 35 m3 are presented;
- PB-03 - 10 products for rooms up to 25 m3;
- PB-04 - sauna stoves (5 models) for 15 m3.
All devices are suitable for baths and steam rooms, they work on wood or special briquettes.
Furnaces from the Hephaestus company are distinguished by decent technical characteristics, ease of use in rooms of various sizes.At a high cost, the furnace equipment pays for itself in the first season, is safe and has the ability to create healthy steam.
