How not to make a mistake when choosing a stove-fireplace for a bath: basic rules when buying
The sauna stove-fireplace performs several tasks at once. Firstly, it allows to provide the desired temperature for bath procedures.
Secondly, the presence of a fireplace directly in the steam room makes loading firewood easier.
Thirdly, such a design creates comfortable environment for those who love to watch a burning fire.
You can bake it if you wish lay out bricks yourself or buy ready-made steel option. The first will require a lot of effort, but will cost less than buying ready-made equipment. The steel option, which can run on wood or gas, allows for different installation methods.
Requirements for a sauna stove-fireplace
The main requirements for a fireplace stove are:
- efficiency;
- safety;
- compactness;
- ease of use.
The operation of the stove will be effective if it allows the air in the bathhouse or sauna to be heated. up to 70-90 degrees Celsius.
Her job must eliminate the risk of smoke or fire. This is especially important when making it yourself, so if possible, it is better to consult a specialist in advance.
The purchased version, as a rule, is small in size and takes up little space. But brick oven requires careful consideration of its dimensions and preparation of an appropriate foundation, as it is very heavy. Since visiting a bathhouse is a procedure associated, first of all, with the pleasure of spending time, maintaining the stove in working condition should not take much effort.
Device
There is nothing complicated in the most common wood-burning sauna stove-fireplace design. It includes:
- fuel bunker;
- ash compartment;
- firebox;
- grate;
- heat exchanger;
- heater;
- chimney.
Firewood is loaded into the fuel bin. Burning in the firebox, it releases energy to heat the walls of the stove. The heat is transferred to the heater, which maintains the desired temperature in the bathhouse and the steam effect.
If the stove is made of brick, it retains heat well, allowing you not to spend too much firewood for the steam room. It is allowed to use water tanks with a capacity of 50 liters, which help to create the right atmosphere.
The presence in the design will be a plus labyrinth heat exchanger. It does not allow heat to immediately escape into the chimney, holding it for distribution throughout the body. The combustion products fall into the ash pan, which is then cleaned.
It is possible to install it outside the fuel bunker a screen door made of heat-resistant glass. This will preserve the view of the fireplace and prevent combustion products from entering the atmosphere of the bathhouse or sauna. They will exit through the chimney. When using a gas stove, the fuel hopper is replaced by a gas burner.
Suitable fuels
The traditional type of fuel for sauna stoves is firewood. This is an ideal option for brick structures, which allow high temperatures to be distributed well throughout the body. But there are also alternative solutions, such as gas and electricity.
Attention! For security purposes not recommended for use for stoves gas, if it is served from cylindersGas furnaces are best suited where there is a central gas supply system.
The volumes of gas needed to heat a sauna are quite large. On average, this is 1.5-4.5 cubic meters per hour.
If there is a central gas supply Operation of the stove will not be a problem, especially if you choose the stove equipment well.
Usually ready-made structures are sold for these purposes, for the selection of which it is enough to know the characteristics of the installation site.
Electricity can also provide operation of a sauna stove-fireplace. To use it, you will need a separate electrical panel and reliable wiring.
It should be taken into account that a lot of electricity is required to heat the bathhouse. On the other hand, such stoves are safer than gas and wood stoves, although the effect of a burning flame here is just an imitation.
Choice
To choose a suitable sauna stove-fireplace, you need to know a number of parameters. These include:
- area of the premises;
- type of fuel;
- form;
- heating efficiency.
For example, to operate a sauna stove-fireplace from the mains, it is necessary about 5 kW/hour for the premises area of 50 sq. m. If the infrastructure of the facility meets these characteristics, the electric furnace will effectively heat the steam room.
It is best to calculate the power of a sauna stove based on the volume of air heated in the room. There are gas models designed for a minimum volume up to 10 cubic meters These include, for example, a metal fireplace stove. Thermofor, model "Wasp"There are also options for larger spaces, for example, Harvia, model 36 SL Duo designed for large baths up to 36 cubic meters. Their price difference is several tens of thousands of rubles.
Photo 1. Wood-burning stove-fireplace for a bathhouse, model Vitruvia Inox, manufacturer - Termofor, Russia.
Electric, gas and brick structures differ in shape. The first two types can be floor-standing, wall-mounted or be installed into the wall premises. This is possible due to their small dimensions and shape.
The shape, in turn, is affected by the stove's configuration, installation method, and set of functions. For example, the design may include space for a water tank or a heater. The heating efficiency depends on their characteristics. For example, for a small sauna, it is recommended to use a water tank volume 50 l.
While gas and electric ovens are produced ready-made, brick ones have to be made on one's own or with the involvement of specialists. But they also look more attractive, since one of the tasks of fireplace structures is to provide a view of the hearth. In this case, if firewood is used, the firebox is made of fireclay refractory brick.
A masonry unit must be installed in the masonry area. foundation, since the structure, even if it is made for a small room, has a solid weight. In a limited area, it is better to make a sauna stove fireplace built-in, and in a large one - to put it separately. Such a material as brick will effectively retain heat for a long time.
Useful video
Watch the video to learn what parameters you should pay attention to when buying a sauna stove.
Buying a sauna stove
Despite the need to comply with technical requirements, sauna stoves and fireplaces still play an important role aesthetic role. It is the type of fire that is their distinctive feature.
The trend of using such stoves has become especially fashionable recently. The market has responded to such demand.
Masters offer custom brick projects, and the shops are different brands of metal units, running on wood, electricity and gas.
When choosing a stove, you can pay attention to brands such as: Teplodar, Termofor, Berezka, Kutkin, Vöhringer (Feringer) and Harvey. They offer a wide range of products for baths and saunas. From them you can choose the appropriate option by fuel type, power and dimensions. The price range includes models costing from several thousand to several tens of thousands of rubles.
Comments
But it is better to choose such a stove for a small bathhouse. By the way, its installation is not complicated.