Home Bathhouse Choosing a stove for a Russian bath
The regimes of the Russian bath are determined by the design of the bath, bath steam procedures, climatic and historical requirements inherent in the traditions of bathing. In order for a bathhouse to be called Russian, in addition to understanding the process and craftsmanship, it is necessary to install at least a classic stove-heater. But this is a controversial issue, since the first baths had no stove at all and they simply had a fireplace. So what is the choice of a stove for a Russian bath based on?
Zhara-Extra — 9,590 ₽
The Heat-extra 400 oven has compact dimensions and fits even in small steam rooms.
Made from 6 mm thick structural steel. The service life, subject to operation during the “dacha period”, is 8 years. In winter, the power of this model is enough to warm up a steam room with a volume of 4 m³ within an hour, and a 12 cubic meter room will warm up in 2-2.5 hours. Firewood of standard length – 370 mm – is used as fuel.
The cylindrical shape ensures efficient use of the firebox volume. Available with steel and cast iron doors. The differences are more decorative: the more expensive cast iron door has an ornament. Technical characteristics Heat - extra 400
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 6,8 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 4-12 |
| Product weight, kg | 40 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 415x660x605 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 60 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 370 |
| Material of manufacture | Stove body - Structural steel, combustion door - cast iron |
Heat-extra 400 is not designed for use by avid lovers of bath procedures. This is evidenced by the 1-year warranty, while most other models from the Dobrostal Plant are covered by a 20-year warranty. If necessary, this model can be covered with bricks or “Zhara” convective screens can be installed. As an option, you can install a remote water tank with a volume of 20-100 liters or attach it to the back wall or pipe.
Check out the overall dimensions and find out the capabilities of this oven from a short video.
Designing a homemade steam generator
The main challenge when designing a steam generator is to ensure that as much surface area as possible of the metal water drains comes into contact with the stones in the furnace. In this case, the pipes must be placed as close as possible to the stones that are heated to the greatest extent, that is, in the places of their contact with the surface of the metal of the firebox.
The use of a steam gun in stoves where there is only an open heater is especially important. The fact is that it is almost impossible to obtain high-quality steam, optimally suitable for steaming in the Russian bath mode, from a stove with an open heater. When water is supplied to the stones located in the outer layers, which are closer to a person and further from the heater, the liquid turns into fairly damp, coarsely dispersed steam, as when a kettle boils on the stove.
And maximum comfort is provided only by dry, finely dispersed steam obtained from the contact of water with the hottest elements of the stove - the firebox or stones in direct contact with it. It is impossible to supply water directly to the firebox, since it is separated from the steamer by a layer of stones, and in order to deliver water there, steam guns were invented.
Their designs can be completely different, depending on the level of ingenuity of the master and his desire to obtain maximum effect and convenience in the process of using the steam generator. The simplest solution is a metal pipe with a diameter of 5-7 cm, which is inserted into the space of the heater, after which the stones are laid.
This solution can only be used as a minimal experiment, since pouring water into it will be difficult. At a minimum, the structure must be equipped with a funnel for convenient liquid supply. Having eliminated this drawback, there still remains a problem arising from the small size of the pipe. You can only pour a little water into it, and repeating the procedure is only permissible at significant intervals of 5-7 minutes, so that the pipe and heater near the point where the water is poured have time to warm up well again.
Let's look at more complex devices designed for ease of use and the most efficient steam production process.
Rating of the TOP 7 best steam generators and steam guns for baths for 2020
The great variety of products offered on the market for bath items and equipment often confuses buyers. Therefore, it is necessary to define clear criteria for choosing a steam generator: price, performance, whether the device is made of safe materials, what is the volume of the tank, what reviews, whether it can be ordered online with delivery. We will try to make it easier for you to choose which company is better to buy a unit by offering our TOP-7 rating.
7th place – liquid gas generator 1.6 kW
Let's start describing the best ones with a fairly simple model - a filling device. The PGN is small in size and has a tank volume of only 5 liters, and a power of 1600 W. Ideal for phytobarrel baths. Let's even say that this line is produced specifically for heating such steam rooms.
The average price is not high, so purchasing it will not be particularly difficult. In addition to its main functions, PGN also use aromatic oils.
Among the glaring disadvantages, it is worth highlighting the fact that it is necessary to constantly monitor the water level, which cannot but distract from relaxation.
Bulk PGN 1.6 kW
Advantages:
- Compact;
- Easy to use;
- heating element;
- Function of using aromatic oils;
- You can fill with distilled H2O.
Flaws:
- Usually little is included in the kit, you have to buy more;
- Constant monitoring of tank fullness;
- Built-in control panel - overheating can have a negative impact.
Conclusion:
Medium model with limited use. Nevertheless, it successfully occupies its niche.
6th place – HARVIA Helix HGX 11L
7th place in our ranking was rather an exception. And from 6th place the time of the grandees begins. The list has run out of inexpensive ones. And immediately an 11,000-watt Finnish-made steam production machine, which is capable of providing the necessary resource to 15 cubic meters.
However, its disadvantage is that the control panel at almost all points has to be purchased separately. Another difficulty arises when connecting to the network, since the device requires 380 V. Fortunately, bathhouses are usually provided with this voltage.
HARVIA Helix HGX 11L
Advantages:
- High quality;
- Flavoring function;
- Great productivity;
- Automatic water supply + filtration;
- Suitable for different baths;
- There is automatic cleaning.
Flaws:
- Operates from 380 V;
- High price;
- Control panel sold separately.
Conclusion:
Helix HGX 11L is good because it can be used not only in private bathing, but also in public. Of course, it is necessary to comply with the requirements and recommendations for use.
5th place – Helo HNS 60 T1
Another brand comes from Finland. The price is slightly higher than the previous position, but it also has more additional functions. Apart from talking about reliability and security (they come by default), it is worth saying that Helo is very easy to use. For example, you can control the unit directly from the steam room using a remote control. The remote control is reliably protected from temperature and humidity.
Convenience and comfort of use also lies in the fact that each user simply has access to spare parts - in which case, you can easily replace them yourself (by reading the instructions, listening to the advice of craftsmen and amateurs).
Of the minuses. Let's just say that from steam generators of this level you expect a little more power than 6 kW (6-7 cubic meters).
Helo HNS 60 T1
Advantages:
- Remote control;
- Easy minor repairs;
- Timers for on, off and temperature;
- Reliability;
- Product quality.
Flaws:
- Low power;
- High price;
- The control panel is purchased separately.
Conclusion:
Convenience has taken precedence over power, which is why the T1 is above 11L.
4th place - Helo HNS 140 T1
The review of the fourth place is devoted to the “colleague” of the previous model. Unlike its “younger brother”, the 140 T1 is quite powerful - 14 kW. This is enough to cover an area of 16 or even 18 cubic meters. Very often this series is called a steam generator for hammam.
However, the disadvantages are the same as the other version.
Tests have shown that using a special product for the steam generator extends its service life. At a minimum, they remove remaining dirt, etc.
Helo HNS 140 T1
Advantages:
- High power and performance;
- Ideal for hamam;
- Aesthetically pleasing appearance;
- Reliability.
- Possibility to control from the remote control.
Flaws:
- High price;
- The control panel is purchased separately.
Conclusion:
The equipment, although not made in Germany, is of German quality.
3rd place - Tylo Steam 2/4/6 VB
The best devices are certainly among the top three. On the lower pedestal of the winners is the Swedish device Tylo Steam 2/4/6 VB. These are already premium steam generators. Don't ask how much it costs.
The numbers in the model name indicate power: 2.4 kW, 4.5 and 6.6, respectively. That is, when connecting, you can select certain indicators. On average, Tylo is capable of providing steam up to 5 cubic meters.
Another feature of the 2/4/6 VB is that you don’t need to purchase a control panel for it - there simply isn’t one. Everything will be controlled by a remote control (but you will have to purchase it separately).
Tylo Steam 2/4/6 VB
Advantages:
- Compact;
- Very reliable;
- It is possible to choose power;
- There is no control panel;
- Suitable for hamam.
Flaws:
- High price;
- Low power;
- The remote control will have to be purchased separately.
Conclusion:
An excellent model for those who can afford to spend that amount on expensive functionality.
2nd place - Tylo Steam 12
Manufacturer Tylo placed Steam 12 on the second line of our list. This device is simply a scattering of useful properties. Well, for example, it has an automatic cleaning system built into it, the ability to connect to a water supply (of course, Steam 12 itself will control the amount of water, etc.). There is a pump for aromatic oils. And in general, the device produces very good steam, which is well suited to hammam and other types of baths.
This entire set of useful features is somewhat overshadowed by small disadvantages, such as high cost, the need to purchase a separate remote control, etc.
Tylo Steam 12
Advantages:
- Wide range of possibilities;
- Trusted brand;
- Cleaning system;
- Trial step-by-step instructions;
- Providing an area of up to 15 cubic meters;
- Can be connected to cold water.
Flaws:
- High price;
- Operation from 380 V network;
- The control panel must be purchased separately.
Conclusion:
Almost first place. It was a little short, but then what's at the top?
Ermak 12 — 10,800 ₽
The Ermak 12 stove is interesting because it can be purchased in several versions. As a construction set, it is complemented by accessories that increase the comfort of use:
- mesh for stones that reduce hard IR radiation;
- hanging tank, heated from the back wall of the stove;
- heat exchanger for heating the remote tank.
For the economy class stove, the manufacturer used good stainless steel with a chromium content of 17%. Power 12 kW - optimal heating of a steam room with a volume of 6 m³. And again we get a result close to the lower volume range.
The weight of the laid stones is 40 kg.
Warming up such a mass of stones will require a longer firing of the stove, but when we reach the operating mode, we get good inertia - the stones will not allow the temperature in the steam room to drop too quickly. Technical characteristics of Ermak 12
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 12 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 6-14 |
| Product weight, kg | 52 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 425x520x690 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 40 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 450 |
| Material of manufacture | Stainless steel, chrome 17% |
For the convenience of users, the length of the firebox has been increased, which ensures a more voluminous stack of firewood and, therefore, longer burning.
For additional ease of use of the Ermak 12 sauna stove, additional options are installed on the model: a heat exchanger and a remote tank. This way you can avoid boiling water directly in the steam room and ensure a sufficient volume of hot water.
How to make a steam gun with your own hands?
To begin with, we offer a simple design made from a metal corrugated pipe with a diameter of 4 cm.
The first stage is the manufacture of the lower sections of the pipe with holes for steam to escape. The diameter of each hole is approximately 8-10 mm. These tubes with ends bent upward are placed at the very bottom of the open heater of the stove (in this case, the Shilka model).
A vertical water supply pipe is inserted into the curved ends.
A funnel is installed on the top of the supply pipe for easy filling of liquid.
In this example, porcelain balls are used as a stone for the heater.
And this is what the entire assembled structure looks like.
In the photo you can see that both steam guns are placed on opposite edges of the firebox parallel to each other and each has its own funnel. During the vaping process, this steam generator showed the following efficiency. For 2 and a half hours of soaring at temperatures from 65 ° C to 95 ° C, three and a half liters of water were consumed.
The next model is also quite simple, but has a pipe outlet from the heater.
Since the pipe is placed in the Lamel stove from Feringer, it is possible to vent steam into the upper part of the heater - directly under the lining. There are no holes in the bottom of the pipe, so steam is formed inside the stainless steel pipe during the movement of water in the area of heated stones and comes out from the other end, connected to the top of the heater.
Additionally, small sections of pipes were placed to ensure free passage of air from the convection grille to the top of the heater.
This is what the assembled steam gun looks like with the heater filled and the lining installed.
When testing the unit, 2 liters of water were immediately poured into the pipe. The heating of the firebox began with a temperature of 20 ° C and within an hour and a half it rose to 43 ° C under the ceiling with a humidity of 57%. At the same time, only half of the firewood originally placed there burned out in the combustion chamber. Subsequently, the steam room maintained an average temperature of 50 °C with humidity from 50% to 60%. The minimum steam temperature at the outlet of the pipe was also measured, which was 340 °C.
Next we lay out more complex welded and prefabricated steam generators that require certain special skills for assembly.
In the photo above you can see the base for the steam generator, which is installed in the heater. To supply water, you just need to insert a pipe of a suitable diameter with a funnel at the other end into the upper hole.
The next gun is made on the basis of the same corrugated pipes with holes, only a splitter made of steel pipes connected by fittings has been added.
Photo for comparison with the dimensions of the polyurethane foam cylinder and the method of making holes.
Below, based on the same splitter, is a more complex design with a long metal hose with periodic slots along its length.
The water completely evaporates from the tank in 5 minutes and gives very light steam.
As can be seen from the presented examples of homemade steam guns, you can independently make a steam generator that is much more complex and efficient than commercially available factory models. All that remains is to choose a suitable model and either make a complete analogue, or take it as a basis for creating your own design, taking into account the characteristics of your stove.
Steam gun for sauna stove
Obtaining light steam is the main issue for lovers of the Russian bath, and some bath attendants consider it only when using a device called a steam gun for a bath stove. Each designer can call this thing differently: a steam generator, a steam generator, or something else, but the meaning remains the simplest - producing light steam at a minimum temperature of the stones.
I was not mistaken when I said: “at the minimum temperature of the stone.” You can always get steam! It is enough to heat the stone to 80 degrees. The water will take a long time to evaporate, but the steam will be raw. The stone will be damp, the water will slowly leave it, turning the steam room into a gas chamber.
The load on the lungs and heart increases many times over.
To solve this problem and allow steaming before the stone is completely heated, designers began to include various kinds of metal pockets and plates in the stoves, which allow the water for steam to evaporate on the hotter surfaces of the firebox, which are directly licked by the fire.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Interior finishing of a bathhouse made of aerated concrete step by step, prices
It is intuitively clear that when steam is formed, the stone or metal cools down and takes some time to restore its temperature. And, again, the fastest way to accumulate energy and heat up is the bottom of the firebox, into which the heat flow of the fire inside the sauna stove hits. While the stone in the heater is heating up, the bottom of the firebox has a temperature 200-300 degrees higher. Especially at the beginning of heating the sauna stove.
The very name “steam gun” appeared due to the fact that steam should be formed not just in some space, but in a pipe or channel. And the stream of steam itself should not just evaporate, but also fly out under pressure. The pressure in the gun is not generated by chance. We create it when we close off steam in a confined space.
Many bathhouse lovers share their developments on forums. Those who have access to specialized equipment create complex designs of channels and funnels from stainless steel. Kulibins - homemade ones use simply pieces of pipes and iron mugs for this purpose. Personally, I tend to use a piece of pipe with holes in it and a valve to prevent the steam gun from escaping back into the water funnel.
I will give a comparative analysis of a complex factory product of a steam gun and a homemade pipeline - a steam generator.
- Increased surface area for steam generation, a large number of channels and holes for steam release, which allows you to evenly distribute steam flows throughout the entire volume of the heater
- Impeccable quality of construction seams of the product
- Great design
- Convenience of a steam gun funnel for supplying water
- Ideal integration into the stove, if manufactured by the manufacturer for a specific sauna stove model
- The complex design does not allow it to be equally easily installed in any sauna stove. This is due to different design solutions for the bottom and roof of the firebox. Ideal stoves for steam guns are stoves with a flat bottom, which is also the arch of the firebox. And there are very few such stoves.
- Expensiveness is another big stone in the garden called a steam gun for a bath
- The inability to remake the design and conduct experiments with the installation, incl. and when replacing a sauna stove.
Homemade steam gun for a sauna stove 1. Pipe 2. Lid nut 3. Stainless steel glass or watering can 4. Connection nut 5. Non-return steam valve
- These are perhaps the only solutions that allow you to be ideally adapted to the design of any furnace
- The possibility of using non-ferrous metal waste and Chinese household mugs and stainless steel funnels ensures a low manufacturing price, as they say, “on the knee”
- Easy placement of stone near a simple pipe structure and bringing the injection holes as close as possible to the metal bottom of the heater, i.e. to high surface temperatures.
The gun's task is to deliver hot water (preferably boiling water) to the bottom of the heater with minimal contact with the surface of the gun itself. Why? It's simple: the gun itself, being inside the heater, heats up along with the stone and does not always have a high temperature, like the bottom of the stove. More precisely, it never gets as hot as the bottom. If water flows slowly inside the gun channels.
Then it will slowly evaporate on the not very hot walls of the device. As a result, we get non-dry steam inside the tubes. If there are many exit holes or there is no shut-off valve for this steam, then this steam may not get to the bottom of the heater and fly out wet onto the stones. Go up to the steam room. Therefore, the best steam gun is one that is equipped with a steam valve.
The valve does not allow steam to escape freely into the area of the inlet funnel and steam under pressure, lingering inside the metal structure, rushes into the holes directed towards the bottom of the heater. And the closer to the bottom, the higher the temperature. The already prepared steam, once again falling on the steel bottom of the furnace or stone, is further broken into parts and turned into light steam.
At the same time, the valuable energy of the stone is not wasted on the vaporization process itself, and the stone does not cool down as quickly as if water was simply splashed on it.
The ideal option for calculating the parameters of a steam gun is when steam is formed inside the tubes and flies out and hits the stone and bottom. An equally good option is when steam is generated from boiling water pouring onto the bottom of the heater. The steel instantly cools, but manages to form steam, which, rising upward, through the stones, is heated and overheated.
- Supply of boiling water into the funnel for minimal cooling of the gun structure
- Creating pressure inside the steam generator, which prevents the free release of steam from the tubes in its raw form.
Presence of a check valve - Maximum proximity of the steam gun tubes to the bottom of the heater
- Possibility of adding aromatic oils to steam
On the Internet you can also find steam guns for baths that do not live up to their name. Here is an example of such a device.
In practice, it is useless as a cannon and pretends to be only a water flow divider, and even then with great stretch. Water simply hits the stone closer to the bottom of the firebox.
Homemade steam generators made from a piece of pipe are easier to clean from scale than complex angular structures.
Of course, the ideal option is steam guns with water supply dispensers, made at the sauna stove manufacturer. They take into account all design features and create the longest heating channel for steam.
The presence of a dispenser makes it possible to constantly supply steam during the entire vaping time. But the point is precisely that superheated steam can be obtained more easily during a “salvo.” A volley can also be organized by supplying water to a closed heater.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with How to drain water in a bathhouse
It is not uncommon for a splash of steam to result in foil noise and the doors to the steam room opening due to the resulting impact.
Bookmark Permanent link.
TMF Tunguska — 18,900 ₽
The TMF Tunguska sauna stove uses thermal uniform strength technology.
Those. the manufacturer has reduced the cost of the model by using thinner metal in “non-critical” parts of the structure and increased the wall thickness in areas with high thermal load. Technical characteristics of TMF Tunguska
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 24 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 12-24 |
| Product weight, kg | 70 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 415x990x810 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 92 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 660 |
| Material of manufacture | Stainless steel, chrome 13% |
The TMF Tunguska stove is more massive, which involves heating not only the steam room, but also adjacent rooms. Using our calculations, we find out that the manufacturer indicates the maximum volume of the steam room at 24 cubic meters, which implies heating the bathhouse lined from the inside in the summer. If you use the bathhouse in winter, you will have to install an additional heater in the relaxation room and reaching the operating mode will take about two hours.
The action of the stove is to ensure air convection - this directly indicates that you will not be able to achieve the Russian bath mode, only a sauna, with its dry air and harsh temperatures.
Steam generator: from simple to complex
In fact, constant, rather than cyclical, steam generation is the prerogative of oriental-type baths, especially hammams. Due to the low temperature and extremely high humidity, it is impossible to obtain the required volume of steam using the cyclic method. We should not forget that when the steam cools, it condenses back into liquid and this process is ongoing.
The simplest method has come to us since the times of the ancient Roman baths. Large cauldrons of water boiled, and the resulting steam was supplied through special channels to the steam room. In the modern interpretation, this method is implemented as follows. A metal sauna stove is equipped with an open water jacket, the wide contact surface of which promotes constant evaporation of water as the heating device reaches its nominal operating mode. An open scheme predetermines several important points:
- It is easy to visually monitor the water level in the jacket and restore it as needed.
- During the cold season, there is no danger of freezing or rupture of the circuit.
- Evaporation occurs evenly from the entire surface of the hydraulic piping.
- The open system is easy to maintain and repair. It is less susceptible to scale formation processes.
Teplodar – Rus – 23,000 ₽
Stove for baths and saunas Rus 18 LNZP PROFI
Sauna stove Teplodar Rus 18 LNZP pro with a serious margin of safety - steel up to 4 mm in thermally loaded areas and chromium content up to 17%. If you want to get quality and reliability at low cost, then there is practically no other alternative. There are several shortcomings of the manufacturer, but we cannot say that they are absolutely critical.
Firstly, the main heating of the stones comes from the smoke collector (they are laid out around), so you will have to try to position them correctly with minimal gaps. Secondly, the collector slot is very narrow, which prevents the emission of soot and its accumulation. As a result, traction deteriorates and the collector needs to be cleaned 2-3 times a season, depending on the intensity of use.
When kindling and further entering the mode, it is necessary to add firewood to 2/3 of the volume of the firebox.
Good draft ensures almost complete combustion of fuel, which is visually noticeable by the transparent emanating smoke. Technical characteristics of Teplodar Rus 18 LNZP pro
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 21 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 6-22 |
| Product weight, kg | 64 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 335x790x810 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 90 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 500 |
| Material of manufacture | Stainless steel, chrome 17% |
The stated load of stones of 90 kg does not correspond to reality - at most you will be able to load 60-65 kg of the middle fraction. The manufacturer apparently used stones with a very high density or crushed stone during testing.
Water should be poured onto the heater very carefully and the optimal amount should be selected experimentally. Insufficient heating of the stones along the edge will produce heavy steam.
Review of Teplodar Furnaces with a detailed description of the characteristics.
Varvara Mini — 17,900 ₽
Most garden and country baths are small in size and focused on quick preparation for washing after a hard day. Accordingly, steam rooms are very small and require compact placement of stoves. Varvara Mini is designed taking into account such needs and, despite its small dimensions, has sufficient power of 8 kW.
The volume of the steam room is 12 m³, stated in the characteristics of the model is clearly overestimated. According to calculations, the steam room should be about 8 cubic meters - this is approximately a room 2 by 2 meters with a ceiling height of 1.8-2 meters. If the sauna operates only in summer, then 12 cubes will be warmed up to sauna mode in about an hour.
The manufacturer claims double convection, which quickly warms up the air, but “forgets” that heating a room is not only about the volume, but also about the walls, ceiling and floor.
Therefore, this stove is suitable only for a country bathhouse, which is launched in the summer and in the off-season. Technical characteristics of Varvara Mini
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 8 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | Up to 12 |
| Product weight, kg | 85 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 655x780x740 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 40 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 300 |
| Material of manufacture | Structural steel |
The steam in the open heater is harsh. To heat the open stones to the required temperature, you will need to run the stove, and with strong infrared radiation and small sizes, not every bath attendant can withstand a good portion of steam.
Installing the oven correctly
When installing stoves, you must follow a number of rules; now I will describe some rules that are not even specified by the manufacturers.
- Safety. The stove should always be safe; to do this, always line it with brickwork. SNiP clearly states that there is at least 12 cm of brickwork to wooden floors.
- Ventilation. To prevent stoves from suffocating, they need a special ventilation system. To do this, you need to make an air flow from the street under the stove itself and to its “face” (firebox). The draft of such a furnace will be much higher. And if you create an air flow under the stove, it will work like a heat pump.
- Infrared radiation. Ideally, it is better to separate it with bricks, but you can think of special fences. We also do not recommend covering walls with paired clapboards and foil. The foil will reflect IR radiation even more. And the lining, canopy, benches and benches will heat up to an impossible state.
- Base for the oven. We pour the base directly with the foundation and we advise you to do the same. You never know what kind of stove you will have. Perhaps in the future, you will decide to change it to a brick oven, and then a strong foundation will come in handy. Many people place an iron stove directly on a wooden floor, but this is not only unsafe, but also how to replace the floors when they rot.
- Sandwiches. Sandwiches differ in the thickness of the inner tube. Don’t skimp, but install the thickest sandwich pipes possible. As a last resort, at least the first pipe.
- It is better to choose a stainless steel tank for the stove, then the water will not have a yellowish tint.
Everyone needs "Easy steam"
All steamers want to feel the treasured “Light Steam”, but not many people know what it is. It turns out that steam can be both light and heavy. What does this depend on? Of course, it depends on the temperature of the hot stones. In an open heater, if the stones are not heated by direct flame, as is the case with a black sauna, their temperature reaches no more than 350 degrees, in practice even less. After splashing a ladle of water on them, you will hear a characteristic hissing sound, but note that the stones do not dry out instantly, this happens within 5-10 seconds. Steam from such stones will not bring any benefit, but only harm. It will burn your skin and airways.
Light steam, it turns out, comes from stones with a temperature of 400 degrees and above. By splashing steam on such stones, the result is finely dispersed. It was he who received the nickname “Light” among the people. This steam does not burn you; the water breaks into small particles of steam, which will caress your skin and bring you great pleasure. This temperature of stones can only be achieved in closed heaters.
Even better, the stones are heated over an open fire, so those stoves that need to be covered as they burn benefit from better steam.
Have fun!
Dobrostal Augusta — 25,850 ₽
Bath stove Dobrostal - Augusta STONE strong with panoramic glass
Currently, there is a tendency on the market to modify stoves in almost the same direction. What does the buyer require? Internal heater, heat accumulator, fast heating and long service life. This is exactly the path that the Dobrostal manufacturers took.
The Empress Augusta STONE strong stove is designed for a steam room with a volume of 10-22 m³. Not a bad run? Almost from a small nook to a quite decent room. Why is that? Let's start to figure it out. Firstly, 22 cubic meters of steam room is at an initial room temperature of 20°C in the summer. Secondly, it is indicated that the room must be properly insulated. Those.
So, although the manufacturer does not indicate the power, we will take it within the range of 14-16 kW, as indicated by the volume of the firebox and the declared efficiency. With such power and efficiency, warming up the steam room in winter without covering the walls will be about 3 hours. During this time, we will get high-quality heating of the internal heater, external stones and the opportunity to “play” with the modes.
The model uses structural steel with a thickness of up to 8 mm in areas of high thermal load.
The declared service life of 20 years is accepted with a number of reservations: do not overheat, do not pour water, moderate operation. But even 10 years is already very good and the money spent will be fully repaid by the pleasure received. Technical characteristics of Dobrostal Empress Augusta STONE strong
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 14-16 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 10-22 |
| Product weight, kg | 55 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 470x654x840 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 70 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 300 |
| Material of manufacture | Structural steel |
Here we are again faced with the “short ones”. The firewood is only 30 mm long, but the manufacturer guarantees good heat removal from each log. The slogan “Stop drowning with sleepers” is even being promoted.
The sauna stove is very well designed, the basic needs of consumers are fulfilled, and critical comments are always taken into account and corrected in the following modifications.
sauna stoves Hephaestus
Hephaestus stoves are made of high-quality cast iron grade SCh20-25 ChH10. It is a well-known fact that cast iron is resistant to corrosion and heat. Due to these properties, cast iron is preferable to any type of steel in the production of sauna stoves. Wall thickness from 10 mm to 60 mm, vertical stiffeners and design features of the Hephaestus furnace allow it to withstand greater vertical loads at high temperatures compared to other furnaces. In the manufacture of the Hephaestus furnace, welding and bolted connections are not used, which are the weak point of any other furnace. Our own production allows us to control quality at all stages of production. The combination of these factors allows us to say that Hephaestus cast iron sauna stoves have the longest service life among the stoves on the market.
2. Cost-effective and high efficiency
Feringer Classic — 25,000 ₽
One of the best Russian manufacturers presents the Feringer Classic model, which already comes quite close to the concept of a “sauna stove”.
Internal heater, steam gun and the ability to use various bath modes, from Russian light steam to the sweltering heat of a sauna. The stove is very demanding when it comes to dry wood, as it is designed for “top burning” - the wood burns from top to bottom, and there is no grate in the stove (which reduces the cost of the design). Technical characteristics of Feringer Classic
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 25 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | Before 18 |
| Product weight, kg | 55 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 480x810x800 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 60 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 660 |
| Material of manufacture | Stainless steel, chrome 17% |
Here the manufacturer did not deceive us and with a power of 25 kW the stove will easily heat a 12 cubic meter steam room and a relaxation room of 12 square meters. But only in the summer. In winter, the stove will only be enough to heat the above-mentioned steam room, and you will have to install a heater in the rest room.
Vesuvius Skif — 25,600 ₽
The manufacturer Vesuvius is ready to meet consumers halfway and offers customers an improved oven design.
The model has a built-in heater, where the stones are heated to a temperature of about 400°C, which is enough to produce fine “light” steam. To “muffle” part of the convection, the developers equipped the sauna stove with a grate that holds the stones around the body of the model. Technical characteristics of Vesuvius Skif with closed heater
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 15 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 12-24 |
| Product weight, kg | 91 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 540x750x900 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 170 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 400 |
| Material of manufacture | Structural steel |
To keep the price of the model in a comfortable range, structural steel was used. Yes, of course, steel forms scale, and accordingly begins to burn out already at 400°C (see the heating of the heater above), so I increased the wall thickness to 12 mm at the bottom of the heater. The fact is that the bottom of the heater is exposed not only to high temperature, but also to pressure from stones.
Punching and thinning of the steel occurs. However, the thickness of 12 mm with proper use of the model will last for 10-12 years. But on one condition. Intense destruction of the metal begins to occur at 550°C. You should not heat the firebox “red hot”, no matter how much you want to quickly heat the steam room.
Overall, the stove creates a pleasant impression, both in price and design. The main operating mode is sauna. To obtain the parameters of a Russian bath, gentle preparation (about 3 hours) is required to distribute the heat and warm up the walls of the bath.
TMF Geyser 2014 — 25,000 ₽
The TMF Geyser 2014 stove is in the same price range as previous models, but is a more advanced design option for creating Russian bath modes.
A closed heater allows you to get wonderful steam at an air temperature in the steam room of about 65-75°C. But again we are “stepping on the old rake” - convection currents. Technical characteristics of TMF Geyser 2014
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 18 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 8-18 |
| Product weight, kg | 56 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 415x800x785 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 55 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 400 |
| Material of manufacture | Stainless steel, chrome 13% |
Look at the variation in the volume of the steam room. It is not for nothing that the manufacturer indicated such different parameters, and correctly calculating the load on the sauna stove remains the job of the buyer himself. So, 8 m³ of steam room is in conditions of winter operation, a “bare” log house and the need to heat adjacent rooms. 18 cubic meters - summer operation, heating a steam room combined with a washing room.
By the way, the increase in the cost of the stove due to the internal heater is “compensated” by thinner iron and a chromium content of 13% in steel. When “overclocking” the furnace 2-3 times a week, burnout of the walls will occur in 4-5 years.
What determines the quality of steam?
You've probably heard from bathhouse attendants with extensive practical experience that steam can be “heavy,” “damp,” “light,” “muslin,” “viscous,” and so on. Its quality determines the comfort of staying in the steam room and the sensations from the procedures. A strict rule has been established: the higher the air temperature in a steam room, the lower the absolute humidity should be.
For example, a dry-air bath, which some mistakenly call a Finnish sauna, often has an air temperature of about 105 - 120 degrees Celsius. It is quite natural that air humidity at such temperature values should not exceed 15% in absolute terms, otherwise a comfortable stay in such conditions, even for a trained and seasoned person, cannot be achieved. On the other hand, there are purely steam baths, of which the oriental hammam is a prominent representative. Here the situation is the opposite.
Absolute air humidity is 85% and higher, up to 100%, however, the air temperature here is quite low, about 45 degrees Celsius. Of course, the tastes of bathhouse lovers are very diverse and contradictory, and there is a generally accepted ratio of the so-called “golden steam”, or rather the most comfortable average balance of temperature and humidity. But to achieve it, it is necessary to clearly and accurately regulate the vaporization process.
Principles of generating high-quality steam
Bathhouse old-timers will unanimously say that high-quality steam should be:
- Light and transparent. Among bath aesthetes there was even an appropriate expression for it - “muslin steam”;
- Confidently form a completely tangible “steam cake” under the ceiling of the steam room, from which, as needed, with confident movements of a bath broom, portions can be taken and distributed among the shelves or the internal volume of the steam room as a whole. In German baths there is even a position of “bath conductor” for this purpose;
- Finely dispersed. It is the fine fraction of water vapor that determines its permeability and airiness. It does not burn the bronchi; being in such a steam cloud is easy and comfortable. The dispersion of steam depends on many factors: the temperature of the contact surface, the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of the material, the contact area, the uniformity of temperature zones in the volume of the heater stove, and so on.
Important! Many people have probably heard quite critical reviews about the quality of steam generated by purely metal furnaces or metal backfill in the form of cast iron balls. They say that such steam is very hard, flat, and does not have the volume and depth that is so revered by connoisseurs. Such steam even has the smell and taste of burnt metal, iron scale, which does not add any pleasant sensations.
The higher the temperature of the sauna stove stone, the larger the contact area, the more developed the heat capacity of the stone backfill, the correspondingly greater the chances of obtaining steam of acceptable quality. However, what we have in reality:
- Most stone baskets have a very heterogeneous heating structure for the entire volume of stone. At the bottom, the stone is more heated than at the top, which is in contact with water during steam formation. Insufficient temperature of the upper part of the heater provokes the generation of coarse heavy steam.
- It takes time and fuel to warm the entire volume of the stone basket to the required temperature. This point is especially relevant for stoves with a large amount of material in the heater.
- Even if water gets on the well-heated lower layers, the steam rising upward will pass through the thickness of the stone with insufficient temperature and again lose its condition.
Vulcan – Elbrus – 28,000 ₽
Manufacturers of the Vulcan stove. Elbrus 26 focus on protecting users from hard infrared radiation. What can be achieved with a conventional brick screen is implemented here in the form of “triple protection” with a steel casing. And if a brick screen allows you to cut off convection flows by closing specially installed doors, then in this model the air flows are constant, which does not have the best effect on the microclimate of the steam room.
The manufacturer is trying to mislead the user by saying that “the double casing makes the steam in the steam room soft.” This is a fundamentally incorrect statement. Good steam is generated due to the flow of water onto overheated stones (400-500°C), and this can cause problems in the oven. The stones are placed in a “bath”; the heating of the lower layer can still be considered sufficient, but the upper layer is not heated enough (about 200°C).
Technical characteristics: Vulcan. Elbrus 26 with Panorama heat exchanger
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 12 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 12-26 |
| Product weight, kg | 110 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 500x720x800 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 115 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 400 |
| Material of manufacture | Structural steel |
A good solution for this model of sauna stove was to equip the structure with a heat exchanger for a remote tank. Thus, several problems are solved at once: there is no boiling of water directly in the steam room, you can increase the volume of accumulated hot water. In general, the stove deserves a satisfactory rating and is suitable for saunas with a short-term Russian bath regime.
Bathhouse from the manufacturer
Connoisseurs of light steam and connoisseurs of sauna stoves highlight among domestic manufacturers products whose production facilities are located in Novosibirsk. This brand has been known since the early 90s. It became famous for its classic sauna stove, which was replaced by the improved Siberia model. This stove is distinguished by record-breaking dynamics of air heating with characteristics characteristic of a sauna - 100-120°C with a humidity of 5-20%. The Siberia stove has a transparent screen and from the rest room it looks like a fireplace.
Engineers have created a whole host of original designs. Among them there are 12 modifications of wood-burning stoves, united in the “Rus” line. One of the advantages of these ovens is an open, ventilated heater with increased capacity due to a reduction in the area of convection surfaces. This design allows you to improve the quality of heating the stones and produces “soft” steam - an optimal balance of temperature and air humidity, so respected by lovers of the traditional Russian bath.
Karelia-5 — 29,900 ₽
The cast iron stove Karelia-5 "Onezhskaya" is of the middle class with a large margin of safety, but somewhat inconvenient to use. In the classic version, heating is only possible from the steam room, which is an inconvenience for users and an additional source of infrared radiation. It does not have a tank for heating water or a heat exchanger, so hot water supply to the bathhouse is required, and this is at least constant heating of the premises.
Due to the high heat transfer of cast iron, the steam room quickly heats up, but the stones in the heater reach the desired temperature only in the lower layer, and this requires effort to supply water there.
The stove is recommended for saunas and, accordingly, there is no question of a Russian bath. Technical characteristics of Karelia-5 "Onezhskaya"
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 20 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 20 |
| Product weight, kg | 150 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 500x500x980 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 50 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 30 |
| Material of manufacture | Cast iron |
There is no control over convection currents; we warm up and steam in only one mode without the ability to change. The stove is durable, but it seems to us that after a while you will want to change it to a more advanced model.
TMF Kalina – 30,000 ₽
It seems that TMF Kalina Carbon focuses on quickly warming up the room, although advanced bath attendants advocate uniform heat without “ears wrapping” modes.
This model has almost everything for inexperienced users. Panoramic glass for relaxation, a labyrinth of the chimney to increase the efficiency of the stove, an internal loading of stones of 95 kg, ensuring heat preservation. Technical characteristics of TMF Kalina Carbon
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 15 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 18-30 |
| Product weight, kg | 96 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 605x785x935 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 95 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 440 |
| Material of manufacture | Structural steel |
The proud statement of the manufacturers about heating a steam room with a volume of 30 cubic meters is not entirely clear. Apparently they are focusing on the size of the stove and stones, which will give the desired effect, but only after a three-hour fire. If we take the minimum value of 18 cubic meters, then there is still hope of reaching the Russian bathhouse mode, but with the maximum numbers you will only accelerate the bathhouse to a sauna when the room quickly cools down. In general, the stove is not bad, but again the savings come out - structural steel is used.
Troika - No. 06M2 - 36,600 ₽
Troika – No. 06M2
Troika stove for a classic Russian bath. Of course, you will have to carry out the required modifications to the steam room, since the stove is designed for use in a brick lining. But in this case we get:
- soft heat that radiates from heated brick;
- high inertia, the steam room, and the bathhouse will be warm for another couple of days, and this means drying and the absence of rotting of the logs;
- uniform microclimate, no air movement from convection currents;
- Burns from hot metal are excluded.
Further, the stove has a function of supplying water to the lower part of the heater. Provided that this is where the heating is maximum and there is no significant cooling, you get light, finely dispersed steam.
The stove firebox from the dressing room is comfortable and functional.
Firstly, aesthetics, and secondly, an additional opportunity to warm up the entire volume of the bathhouse, and not just the steam room. Brick will require a longer time to reach the mode, but by placing convection doors in a brick screen, you can heat the steam room and relaxation room very quickly to “defrost” the volume of the bath, and only then prepare a Russian steam room. To regulate combustion, the sauna stove is equipped with a valve. Technical characteristics Troika. Stove for Russian bath No. 06M2
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 20 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | 8-16 |
| Product weight, kg | 210 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 700x310x1350 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 90 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 650 |
| Material of manufacture | The firebox is low-alloy steel 10 mm, the rest of the product is structural steel |
A very good stove for a Russian bath and for creating a gentle steaming regime.
Getting to know some models
Below is a rating of the most commonly purchased stoves with a steam generator. All options are considered in ascending order of their cost.
The wood-burning device with a heat exchanger " Konvetika " is produced in Russia. Its price is 13.5 thousand rubles. This stove weighs almost 85 kg and with dimensions 640x430x965 mm (WxDxH) is capable of heating a room with a volume of 18 cubic meters. meters.
The curved frame and the absence of screws on the side panels are distinctive features of the device’s appearance. Thanks to a special cast-iron door, you can build a kind of fireplace from the stove, near which it is pleasant to sit and watch the flames. For the manufacture of this model, a fairly durable material with a thickness of at least 4 mm was used. An open type heater can load up to 85 kg of stones.
Due to the fact that the heat exchanger is located at the very bottom of the unit and produces hot steam of high dispersion, the wood-burning stove heats up quite quickly. The advantages of the design also include the presence of supply channels and a special pubis, which help fill the steam generator with water. Thanks to the holes in the oven, cleaning the device is effortless.
SAWO Mini Combi MNC NS unit is made in Finland. Its cost is 15 thousand rubles. The compact 3 kW stove is equipped with a steam generator, perfect for heating small baths and medium-sized saunas. In general, this model with dimensions of 330x210x450 mm is capable of filling a room with a volume of up to 4 cubic meters with steam. meters. The heater can easily accommodate up to 10 kg of stones.
Small size and low power determine the main advantage of foreign-made furnaces - relatively low cost. In addition, the body of the device and the stone compartment are made of high-strength stainless steel. Galvanized steel is used for the internal filling of the furnace. The ability to add aroma oil to a bowl specially built into the unit is another noticeable feature of the Finnish stove. If the steam generator, which can hold up to 5 liters of liquid, runs out of water, the user is notified about this using a special function.
The Vega Combi Automatic BC60SEA oven is a product of the Finnish company Harvia . The heater is completely easy to operate and runs on electricity. The cost is set at 22.5 thousand rubles. The compact device weighs only 15 kg and has the following parameters: width – 480 mm, height – 540 mm, depth – 310 mm.
Up to 20 kg of stones can be placed in a furnace, the power (6 kW) of which is enough to heat 14 cubic meters. meters of bath room. The electric device is equipped with a steam generator, which can be independently controlled in order to coordinate the direction of heated moist air and achieve the optimal temperature in the bath.
Durable stainless steel is the main material used to make the electric heater. This choice of the manufacturer guarantees high reliability and durability of the device. Thanks to its stylish appearance and compact size, the unit will fit perfectly into any room. The stove with heat exchanger Harvia Vega Combi is an excellent model that skillfully combines the functions of a stove and a steam generator.
Hephaestus PB-03 M — 43,500 ₽
Hephaestus PB-03 M
Cast iron stove for the Russian bath Hephaestus PB-03 M, designed for brick lining. The model has a lot of advantages, but the main ones are the high inertia of the product, the internal heater made of 60 mm thick cast iron and the special design of the combustion system.
The design of the furnace walls allows heat to be quickly transferred to the heated room. The efficiency of the model is very high and wood combustion does not occur in idle mode. It is additionally provided that the heating temperature of the furnace is 750°C, but the turbulent fins reduce the temperature (i.e. heat transfer) to 300 degrees in the chimney. In fact, we do not heat the street, but remove heat from the bathhouse itself.
The forecast for the longevity of the furnace is 30 years of operation, although this period is an estimate and has not been confirmed experimentally, but 15-20 years is quite enough to “work off” the invested funds.
Technical characteristics of Hephaestus PB-03 M
| Characteristics | Meaning |
| Furnace power, kW | 18 |
| Steam room volume, m³ | Up to 25 |
| Product weight, kg | 190 |
| Dimensions (WxDxH), mm | 418x755x590 |
| Weight of laid stones, kg | 70 |
| Maximum length of firewood, mm | 420 |
| Material of manufacture | Cast iron. In the firebox with the addition of chrome |
Although the manufacturer claims that even without the combustion process the heater is able to maintain the required temperature to produce good steam, this is not entirely true. The weight of the heater itself is about 50 kg and the maximum time for which the inertia will last will be approximately 40-50 minutes or the supply of about 3 liters of water. It is not recommended to heat the stove for more than 5 hours a day.
furnaces of Hephaestus
Hephaestus stoves are additionally equipped with adapter extensions that allow you to increase the distance between the portal and the rear wall by any distance in increments of 100 mm, which is very convenient for installation in any room. Currently, no stove has this structural addition. Cast iron doors with artistic casting are completely sealed and equipped with German fire-resistant panoramic glass, which gives you the opportunity to watch the fire and adds coziness to the steam room. Hephaestus stoves are equipped with a stainless steel ash pan 1 mm thick and a starting part of the chimney made of cast iron, and are also additionally equipped with a forged mesh for filling stones and a stone lining made of coils, soapstone and soapstone. Hephaestus cast iron stoves are lined with refractory bricks. At the moment, Hephaestus stoves are the best on the sauna stove market in many respects. The only cast iron sauna stoves that are produced only in Russia. Hephaestus stoves are used in Russian and Finnish baths.
