Which sauna stove is better?

The heart of the Russian bath is its stove, since it is it that provides the necessary conditions for a comfortable stay in the steam room - the optimal ratio of temperature and humidity level. Its correct choice also determines such characteristics as fuel consumption (economy), heating rate, heat transfer and heat capacity, operating life without maintenance and repair. To answer the question of which stove is better for a bath, below we will consider the existing types of equipment, their features, and also make a rating of brands and the most popular models.

Varieties of sauna stoves

The best stove for a Russian bath is one that allows you to get real steam and warmth of a classic steam room, but is easy to install and operate. Resourceful domestic and foreign manufacturers offer a way out - ready-made stoves for a bath, which can be classified according to the following signs or characteristics:

• According to the material for the manufacture of the furnace and the entire structure, they distinguish cast-iron, metal, combined and models for facing with a stone, as well as a mesh stove with an open stove.
• By the type of fuel used - wood, gas, electricity, coal.
• By appointment - for dry heat at high temperatures (Finnish sauna), for moderate temperatures with high humidity (traditional Russian bath) or combined models.
• By thermal power (performance) - measured in kW, but for simplicity, the manufacturer indicates the internal volume of the steam room, for which the product is designed, in cubic meters.
• By the method of heat exchange - thermal radiation, convection.
• According to the installation method and the type of the firebox door - self-cooling blind or panoramic with heat-resistant glass, fired from a steam room or from an adjacent room.

Taking these criteria into account, below we will compile a short rating of 2017 leading brands of Russian bath stoves.

Which stoves are best used for a Russian bath?

The main feature of the Russian bath is moderate temperatures (on average from +50 to +80 degrees) and high humidity, which is provided by soft steam that occurs when the heater is sprinkled with water. Therefore, the use of equipment for a Finnish sauna in a steam room is unacceptable - it is designed for a completely different operating mode. The best sauna stoves are wood-fired, with built-in steam generators and water dispensers. They allow you to obtain the optimal temperature and fine, light and very soft steam with minimal fuel consumption, which makes your stay in the steam room as comfortable as possible.

The most suitable will be models with cast-iron furnaces for facing with a stone. Cast iron tolerates high temperatures well, has an optimal thermal capacity and good heat transfer. For cladding, talcum chloride or serpentine stone is used. They are also characterized by high heat capacity, inertness, they can safely tolerate repeated heating and cooling cycles, they are not afraid of moisture, and the appearance, which resembles marble in structure, complements the interior of the steam room.

A more affordable alternative would be a mesh oven with an open heater or a closed steel model with an integrated steam generator. It will also create the required microclimate, but the operational period will be somewhat shorter.

Leading manufacturers of sauna stoves

When compiling a rating of stoves for a Russian bath, you need to get acquainted with the most famous manufacturers, whose products are presented and in demand on the Russian market:

• Teplodar is a Russian manufacturer with more than 20 years of experience on the market. Offers a wide range of solutions for solid fuels, gas. The products are of high quality and affordable prices, they are exported to the countries of the CIS and the Customs Union.
• Harvia is a Finnish brand. The manufacturer mainly specializes in the manufacture of equipment for saunas, with particular excellence in electrical models.
• Termofor is another Russian company from Siberia with a long history, whose products occupy a significant niche in the market.

The 2017 rating of wood-fired sauna stoves will be compiled from models of the listed brands that are in high demand. To obtain an objective result, we will compare products designed to serve approximately the same volume of rooms (steam rooms).

Rating of wood-burning stoves for baths 2017

Our 2017 rating includes the best wood-burning stoves for a bath, designed for a steam room volume of up to 20-25 cubic meters. These are premises of an average area - up to 10 square meters, in which 5-8 people can take a steam bath.

1st place - "Teplodar", model "Siberian cliff" 20 LP PROFI

The first place is deservedly given to this model of a stove for a Russian bath with a steam room with a volume of up to 20 cubic meters, since it combines all the advantages of the analogs listed above:

• The firebox made of stainless steel 4 mm thick with a chromium content of 17% or more withstands high temperatures, does not corrode and provides good heat output due to effective heat exchange.
• The vaporization system allows you to obtain finely dispersed steam.
• The maximum length of firewood is 450 mm, which is at least 50 mm more in comparison with analogues in the rating.
• Infrared radiation from the outer walls of the firebox is completely absorbed by the stones, and a special perforated convector provides a record-breaking fast heating of the steam room in just 50 minutes.
• Reliable and comfortable mesh construction provides a high level of safety.
• The ability to use firewood and switch to gas with a simple installation of a special burner.
• A large mass of stones, one of the main indicators of heaters, this model has - 180 kg.
• Affordable price - about 34,000 rubles.
• Manufacturer's warranty - 5 years.

Of the few minuses of the model, only a relatively large mass can be distinguished - 101 kg, everything else is insignificant.

2nd place - "Termofor" (TMF) Sayany XXL Inox "Vitra" ZK TO

It is designed to service premises with an internal volume of up to 24 cubic meters. This model has the following advantages:

• The presence of a panoramic door in a stylish design.
• The possibility of using not only firewood as fuel, but also peat briquettes, pellets.
• The presence of a heat exchanger for connecting the tank.
• The original design of the stove is in the form of a lattice metal barrel.
• Effective steam generator.
• Affordable price within 35,000 rubles.

Of the minuses, the following points can be distinguished:

• Case steel thickness 3 mm.
• Only the central location of the chimney.

3rd place - Harvia Legend 240 Duo

This is a floor-standing stove designed for heating steam rooms with an internal volume of up to 24 cubic meters. Among the advantages are:

• Panoramic door with heat-resistant glass.
• Affordable price within 36000-37000 rubles.
• Effective design of the firebox, contributing to the economical consumption of firewood during prolonged burning.

This model also has a number of disadvantages, including:

• The unsightly appearance of the heater and the absence of a vaporization system - you need to constantly sprinkle the heater with water on your own.
• Quite a large mass - 95 kg.

For a manufacturer specializing in sauna stoves, this is not a bad result.

When choosing a stove for a bath, be sure to pay attention to its technical characteristics and ease of use.Remember that most often it is the popular models from leading manufacturers that are the best solution in terms of price-quality ratio.