Construction of a furnace always requires care and compliance with all technological requirements. This is especially true for the design of a bathhouse, since the stove is considered its most important part.
The main tasks of a homemade metal stove are to heat water and air. The stove heater can be:
- closed;
- open.
Of course, in a closed structure heat is retained much longer. However, to achieve the desired temperature in the steam room, more fuel and time will be required. For infrequent visits, professionals advise installing a closed heater in the bathhouse.
The steam room heats up much faster in an open type heater. However, if you splash water on the stones, it begins to cool quickly.
The steam room always contains solid stones with rounded sides.
Advantages of metal stoves for baths
- Metal sauna heaters will allow you to heat the steam room to the desired temperature in just an hour and a half. Metal, when compared with other materials for stoves, gives much more.
- Such stoves are safer because, having a chimney, they minimize the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you use wood that is a little damp for kindling, there will be no smoke at all.
- Installing a metal stove in a bathhouse is also convenient because it is possible even in the smallest steam room. All models are compact and will not take up much space.
- With good welding, such a furnace can be used for a long time. When purchasing, you should also pay attention to the thickness of the metal.
- The cost, which will be significantly lower than that of brick, also refers to its positive characteristics.
Features of operation
The operation of such ovens is simple. Having laid the firewood, place some thin wood chips near the door for kindling. Now open the slide valve completely and open the ash pan slightly and light the wood. The firebox door must always be kept closed. After the firewood has ignited, the ash pan drawer is completely closed and the air damper is closed.
All that remains is to wait for the steam room to warm up and enjoy the fragrant steam. Do not use damp firewood; the humidity level is at least 20-30%.
You should not burn resinous fuel; in this case, the chimney will have to be cleaned more often than once a month. At the first symptoms of deterioration in draft, immediately repair the breakdown or clean the ventilation pipes.
Disadvantages of metal sauna stoves
- A metal sauna stove with a tank will not only heat up quickly, but, unfortunately, it will also cool down quickly, unlike, for example, one made of brick.
- Due to the fact that it heats up very much, since the walls are not so thick, it is unacceptable to install any objects, as well as things nearby. With this approach, even a fire is possible.
- Almost an ideal option for small projects, but such a stove will not be able to heat a large bathhouse and retain heat in it.
Open or closed - which is better?
The consumer himself decides which type of stove to choose for the bath.
The main difference between a closed heater is that the stones are located inside the unit . The elements are heated through the walls of the firebox and hot smoke. Cobblestones can heat up to a temperature of 400-700 degrees.
To create steam, you need to supply water through a special built-in door. This way the heat will flow evenly into all bath rooms, keeping them warm for a long time.
Open type heaters are a unit with a special upper container for stones . The disadvantage of this design is the poor heating of the cobblestones.
Usually the top layer remains cold, as if preventing heat from spreading from the lower cobblestones. Hot air enters the premises slowly and cools quickly.
What does a metal stove consist of?
To buy a metal stove for a bath, you will need to look through many options, since there are a lot of models and, most importantly, they can differ radically from each other.
But there is also something that unites them all - this is a set of basic components. It will definitely include a water tank; the main part is the firebox and heater. What will be used to heat the steam room is sent to the firebox.
There is a door for convenient supply of firewood. There is also a blower, it stimulates the combustion process using air.
Under the firebox there is a small hole for waste, or rather ash, which must be cleaned periodically. It is worth separating the heater from the firebox with a grate, then the stones will heat up faster.
It is also necessary to organize access to the stones; for this, as a rule, a door is made, with the help of which they are periodically sprayed with water.
This is done to enhance the steam and to make the tank where the water is heated faster. Each tank has a special tap through which you can draw water, and cold water is added exclusively through the top.
Types of structures
They differ in structure and operating principles. Let's look at each type in more detail.
Open
The stones are laid on top of the stove structure and are not covered with anything. Due to this, the steam room warms up faster, reaching temperatures of up to 100 degrees. But the humidity in the room is low, so the heat turns out dry.
The open view is best suited for installation in saunas where high temperatures and low humidity are required.
The product consists of three parts:
- fireboxes;
- compartments for stones;
- containers with water.
There should be few stones, otherwise the top layer will not warm up well and the steam room will not be warm enough.
To increase the level of humidity and the release of water vapor, the hot stones are simply watered. One or two ladles will be enough - this will give up to 15% humidity.
To increase the level of fire safety and reduce the risk of burns, it is recommended to lay fire-resistant bricks around the walls of the furnace or make a partition made of wood.
To heat a sauna, it is important that as much of the stove area as possible is in contact with the air space. This contributes to faster heating of the air in the steam room.
Closed (lined with brick or stone)
A closed stove is an attribute of a Russian bath, where high humidity and comfortable temperature are needed.
If wood fuel is chosen for heating, you will have to prepare large reserves in advance. Such a stove takes a long time to reach the desired temperature, but, having reached the desired level, gives good heat transfer and retains heat for a long time.
Closed structures are great for large baths, where there is not only a steam room, a wash room, a dressing room, but also a relaxation room.
One of the advantages is closed stones. Therefore, there is no risk of getting burned.
In factory economical models, the stove has a double casing with a gap for air exchange between the walls.
Combined
For most manufacturers, the design consists of a high box with gratings and double valves (performs the function of a firebox). A chimney pipe emerges from the neck of the box. Stones are placed in the neck here.
There are devices available for sale with combined fuel types:
- gas-wood;
- electric wood-burning.
They do not need to be constantly monitored. Simply adjust to the desired temperature.
Gas-wood stoves allow you to heat a room with both gas and wood. For this purpose, inside there is a removable gas burner and grate, a combustion chamber, and an ash pan (for firewood).
By design they are divided into 3 types:
- Monoblock. With heat exchanger, combustion chamber. Gas burner of a fixed type, covered with a steel sheet.
- Paired. They have two separate combustion chambers for wood and gas.
- Reconfigurable. Universal device. Can be modified for each fuel.
The first two types do not need to be reconfigured, since you can switch from one type of fuel to another.
To connect a gas-wood boiler, you will have to order the development of a project from specialists and obtain permission for installation.
Gas is used as main gas or liquefied in cylinders.
The electric-wood-burning design allows you to successfully heat the bathhouse using electricity or wood (optional). Moreover, firewood is considered the main raw material. When they burn out and the temperature drops, the electric heater automatically starts working. There are two heating elements on the sides of the product. Such stoves operate on a 220 W network, with a three-phase voltage of 380 V.
The advantages of combination stoves are the ability to quickly heat rooms of different sizes, ease of installation and compactness.
The owners can choose which fuel to heat the bathhouse with. But such designs are many times more expensive than simple wood-burning stoves.
Materials for making a metal furnace
In order to complete the most detailed and accurate drawing of a metal stove for a bath, you need to know about the materials that are needed to create it.
- Sheet of steel, the thickness of which is at least 8 mm
- Metal pipe, you should also pay attention to its thickness, it should be 10 mm.
- You will need 3 doors. They should be of different shapes and sizes. One for the firebox, also for the heater and another for the ash.
- A small tap through which you can draw water.
- A small square, dimensions 10 by 10 mm.
- Chimney.
- Grate.
How to improve the efficiency of an iron stove
Effective methods include:
- Furnace lining. The point is to line the inside of the firebox with fireclay bricks. It is enough to place it on the edge, then the lining will be up to 6 cm thick, when using narrow fireclay for masonry - 3 cm. It will be the heater that warms up, not the steel walls of the stove. It is recommended to plan the lining at the drawing development stage in order to increase the size of the firebox for lining in advance. The disadvantage of this method is the production of hot smoke. The solution is to install the heater on the pipe.
- Creating a brick screen around the stove. Material – ceramic brick. An opening is left in the brickwork for the doors so that the air heating can be regulated. The downside is overheating of the rear wall. The solution is to use thickened heat-resistant steel for the firebox.
When making a stove at home, it is important to pay attention to the seams. The service life of the product depends on their quality. Inaccurate application often causes the product to quickly burn out. Their number should be minimal in the upper part of the oven.
We recommend reading: “How to properly heat a stove with wood.”
Making a furnace firebox
Basically, doors are purchased in advance and ready-made. Because making them yourself is very difficult. Grilles are also purchased. To create the firebox itself, you will need a pipe, the length of which must be at least 2 meters.
Thickness parameters are allowed from 5 mm, but it is better to set it to 10 mm, since it is more reliable and will last longer. It is divided into two parts.
The first is necessary directly for the firebox itself, as well as the heater. The dimensions of this segment should be at least 0.9 m. The second part will be used to create a tank, the dimensions of which will be 0.6 m.
Next, a small hole is cut directly in the pipe itself. Its width will be 0.2 m, length - 0.5 m. After which, using a welding machine, a metal plate is attached on which the grate will be located. It is advisable to buy it in advance.
Review of the best models
| Model name | Description | Advantages | Price |
| Russian mini-stove “Anyutka” | Installed for servicing premises with a volume of up to 10 m3. Made from mild structural steel. Equipped with a convection casing, which ensures uniform and fast heating of the steam room. With minimal dimensions, it can accommodate 25 kg of stones in the compartment | The minimum dimensions allow installation anywhere in a small steam room. Provides comfortable conditions. The design is reliable and easy to maintain. The chimney is located in the center of the stove. | Average price 8000 rub. |
| Mini-heater “Sudarushka MK” | Made in Russia. Provides comfort in a steam room up to 18 m3. One year warranty. Dimensions: · height -95.7 cm; · width – 59.5 cm; · depth – 96.5 cm. Made of cast iron. Weight 140 kg. | Up to 100 kg of stones can be placed in the net. This allows you to additionally accumulate heat and heat the steam room for a long time with minimal use of firewood. | Over 3700 rub. |
| Model "Kutkin Premium 1.0 | Steam room up to 12 m3, country of origin: Russia. The height of the oven is 90 cm, with a width and depth of 45 cm and 46 cm, respectively. The material of the combustion chamber is stainless steel. Closed heater with up to 50 kg of stones. Time to reach a comfortable temperature is up to 2 hours. | This is one of the inexpensive brands with a combination of price and quality. Available with 3 types of cladding for the outer surfaces of the body. If desired, the stoves can be converted to use gas heaters. | Minimum price – 39,000 rub. |
| "Heat - Extra 400" | Steam room up to 12 m3. The firebox is made of structural metal, 6 mm thick. 12 month warranty. Weight 40 kg. with dimensions: · height – 640 mm; · depth – 530 mm; width -400 mm. The minimum weight of the stone is 60 kg. Possibility of removing the firebox to the dressing room. | This is an inexpensive, but convenient and productive stove, which allows you to further save space in a small steam room when moving the combustion chamber to the dressing room. | Average price 8000 rub. |
| The next three stoves differ only in characteristics and price; each of them has the same advantages. "Vulcan - Mini 15" | The weight of the stove is 90 kg. the weight of the stone in the net is 120 kg. Serves rooms up to 15 m3. Warranty service life – 5 years. The length of the firewood used is 550 mm, with the volume of the combustion chamber being 85 hundredths of m3. End of form | High level of efficiency. The body is made of alloy steel, so the stove will last for several decades. Can be installed outdoors, in a dressing room. The stainless steel water tank can be installed in various places of the oven; special fastenings are equipped for this. The grate is made of cast iron. The time required to warm up the steam room is within an hour. | Average price 16,000 rub. |
| "Granite - Mini" | Weight – 87 kg. Body metal – steel 09G2S. The firebox with a volume of 72 hundredths of a cube can accommodate firewood with a length of 490 mm. The mesh of the heater can hold 70 kg of stone. The cubic capacity of the steam room is up to 15 cubic meters. Warranty period – 5 years End of form | Average price from 16,200 rub. | |
| Oven “Magic – Mini” | Weight 80 kg. Alloy steel. The volume of the firebox is 86 hundredths of a cube and can accommodate firewood 550 mm long. The weight of the stones is 70 kg. 5 year warranty. | From 14800 RUR |
Making a heater
As a rule, a standard firebox door ranges in size from 20 to 25 cm. Metal rods are welded on top; they can also be replaced with a square, the main thing is that the size of the attached products is not less than 10 mm.
The heater door should face the steam room. The heater is filled to the top with stones; as a rule, either diabase or soapstone is used. You cannot use stones that contain mica.
Since its fumes can lead to irreversible consequences, namely death. It is not recommended to use granite, since under the influence of high temperatures it will lose its shape and everything will be covered with crumbs.
Don’t forget to attach a chimney cover over the heater; it will help regulate the temperature. And then the installation of the tank itself begins, in which the water will be heated in the future.
No. 6. Steam source
Sauna stoves can be conventional or with a steam generator . What is the last one for? And in order to provide the room with a sufficient amount of steam when the stove itself cannot cope. The first sign of a real Russian bath is dry and light steam. Not all modern ovens are capable of producing it in sufficient quantities.
Light steam is obtained at a temperature in the steam room of 850C. In this case, finely dispersed steam is obtained when water hits stones heated to 5000C. With such heating, the air temperature certainly rises, to incredible limits, and as a result, you can get a burn. To prevent this from happening, they created ovens with a steam generator . It warms up much faster than the stones and saturates the steam room with the necessary steam, while the air temperature in it remains optimal.
Container for water
It is located, as already mentioned, above the heater. They start by welding a plate 8 mm thick above it, where they also cut a hole for the future chimney.
Such a hole should be 15 cm. Then a piece of pipe that was previously prepared for the tank is welded.
A pre-purchased tap is also welded to it, and it must also be closed with a lid.
Purpose
To obtain hot water in the wash room of your bath complex, several types of structures have been developed that operate on different types of fuel. But the most inexpensive is installing a heating tank on the heater and obtaining hot water together with heating the steam room.
The advantages of such a device are due not only to the reduction in the cost of hot water when heated with gas or electricity. This design avoids the risk of fire and electric shock when using these types of fuel.
Autonomous water heating systems are especially in demand for summer cottages and households in places with no natural gas supply. In this case, such tanks can be used for heating water and for household needs. The main thing is to choose the right tank for the volume and type of installation and install it correctly.
Photo of a metal sauna stove with your own hands
Possible difficulties
Matching seams is a difficult task for a beginner. Solution: make guides from metal rods. Diameter - 3 or 5 mm. Before laying the stove row, place them on the edges of the brick and press the next block down. Get the rods. The remaining notches will disappear on their own after completing the row.
If the laying mortar does not “grab” the bricks, wet them with water. This way the coupling will become reliable.
During construction, the errors are invisible, but in the end you can see them all. Solution: check each row of the stove horizontally and vertically with a building level.
If you do not follow safety precautions when laying a stove, you can injure your hands. Wear rubber-lined gloves and wrap duct tape around your knuckles.
Even though the stove is small, it heats wonderfully!
Building a brick stove for a bathhouse is labor-intensive work, but it is worth it. The main thing is choosing quality material and following the instructions.
Tips for using the oven:
- Chopped and dry firewood is suitable for the stove. Wet logs take up energy to evaporate moisture, which means more fuel is wasted.
- Light wood in the stove only when the chimney is fully open and the ash pan is 5 cm wide.
- Clean the inside of the oven and water tank once a month.
- If the stove becomes red hot when adding wood, stop adding logs and pull out the extra ones. Open the stove chimney halfway.
- To heat water instantly, throw hot stones into it. Use metal tongs.
Using these recommendations, you can safely light a sauna.
Installation
Regardless of which stove was chosen - a purchased model or home-made equipment, you need to install it correctly inside the bathhouse. A few recommendations will help with this:
- Surrounding surfaces should be covered with asbestos sheets, on top of which metal reflective sheets should be secured.
- It is better to make the base for the furnace equipment from fireclay bricks. Check its levelness with a building level.
- Assemble the chimney from separate pipes. Treat the joints with heat-resistant sealant. Where pipes pass through the roof, special sleeves should be installed.
Once the stove is installed, you can begin to operate it.
Varieties
Furnace equipment is classified depending on various factors. According to the material:
- Brick structures. Durable, reliable, durable. Slowly heat up and cool down. Difficulties may arise during laying if you do not have practical skills in working with bricks.
- Metal constructions. They are light in weight, durable and strong. The main disadvantage is that metal surfaces can rust when exposed to moisture. You can buy ready-made designs in specialized stores.
Depending on the type of fuel, the following types of equipment are distinguished:
- electrical;
- gas;
- solid fuel.
You can also select stoves that have a built-in water tank.
