Russian bath is a healthy body, disease prevention and a pleasant pastime. To create a comfortable temperature in the steam room requires a reliable oven. Masonry is a thing of the past. Cast iron stoves for the bath have become a practical alternative to the traditional heater. The metal structure is quickly mounted and cheaper compared to brick.
Types of cast iron stoves for a bath
Models of heating devices vary in shape, design and type of fuel. The most practical option is a wood stove. They are popular due to their simple operation and proximity to Russian bath traditions. An excellent choice is the model with a glass door. In this case, you can enjoy the sight of a living fire.
The shape of the product may be:
- square;
- rectangular;
- round.
According to the design features of the heater, they are open and closed. The furnace is made stationary or remote.
With open heater
When using stoves with an open heater, you can create aromatic and healing steam in the room. It is enough to splash grass broth on the stones. This design is close to an authentic sauna in black. Its pole is the rapid heating of the room.
With closed heater
A more common option is when the stones are inside the heater. They warm up to a temperature of 500-700 ° C. After water is supplied through a special door, fine steam is formed. The steam room warm-up time is longer than when installing an open heater. But the heat spreads more evenly and persists for a long time. Models are designed for large-area baths. They reduce the chance of steam burns and fires.
With water tank
Ovens with a water tank are a practical choice. Metal containers come in various sizes. They are placed on a stove or chimney. Tanks are mounted, mounted, mounted. Overhead tanks are installed on the stove next to the furnace. Mounted are placed on the convenient side of the structure, if desired from two sides. Hot water is used to wash and create steam.
With external firebox
Cast iron sauna stoves with an external firebox have an elongated firebox. The design allows you to bookmark fuel from the next room. The safety of operation is increased, the risk of burns from fire is reduced. In the steam room you do not have to allocate space for firewood, ash and combustion products will not get into it.
Advantages and disadvantages of cast iron stoves
The positive properties of heating devices are associated with the characteristics of the material from which they are made:
- A cast iron stove for a bath is a durable design, designed for 30 or more years of operation.
- The material is corrosion resistant, has a high thermal conductivity.
- Thick walls of the furnace slowly burn out.
- A wide selection of sizes, weights and product features. You can choose a model of optimal power and design.
- The high heat capacity of cast iron and stones ensures temperature stability in the steam room for a long time.
- Furnaces are sold ready-made, they are easy to install and maintain.
The modern design of cast-iron stoves makes them an attractive element of the interior of the bath. You can choose from models with forged parts, a transparent door, stone cladding.
Cast iron stoves are not without drawbacks:
- Various quality cast iron alloy.Models of unscrupulous manufacturers are made of metal, which quickly burns out and can crack when the temperature drops.
- Significant weight of the structure complicates the transportation and installation. For some products having a mass of 300 or more kg, you will have to make a foundation.
- High cost - a good stove will cost more than an analogue of steel.
One of the problems of manufacturing heating structures is the difficulty of welding cast iron. To achieve a tight, durable joint, special filler materials and heat treatment are needed. Many manufacturers have found a solution using bolted parts.
Comparison of cast iron from different manufacturers
All the advantages of cast-iron structures are manifested only when using high-quality material. Products made of low grade metal quickly burn out and become worthless. Manufacturers add various components to the alloy composition, changing the properties of the final product. Most brands pour parts from ordinary gray cast iron. Such designs are quite durable and have an affordable cost. The introduction of chromium and other additives increases the price of the product.
Good reviews and characteristics received Hephaestus furnaces. They are made by classical technology, without bolting. The most vulnerable part of the structure is the firebox, which is made of material alloyed with chrome.
Another domestic manufacturer, Magnum, offers furnaces and furnaces made of heat-resistant cast iron. The plant strictly adheres to the technology of annealing and tempering of metal.
Details of furnaces manufactured by Inzhkomtsentr VVD are carried out using lamellar graphite. The additive enhances corrosion resistance.
The products of Swedish and Finnish companies are popular. They use high-quality alloy cast iron, but the material goes only to the furnace. The main part of the structure is made of heat resistant steel.
Furnace Selection Criteria
Before buying a bath stove made of cast iron, it is necessary to study the criteria for choosing a heating structure:
- Estimated heating area - performance indicates the product’s performance. The parameter depends on the dimensions of the stove.
- Type of firebox - standard or remote. The place of laying firewood depends on its design.
- Heat Preservation Period - the characteristic shows how many hours a preheated oven will hold a high temperature.
- The device of the heater is open or closed. This choice depends on the personal preferences of the future owner. There is no fundamental difference, both designs work perfectly.
- Type of firebox door - the design is dull and the screen is made of heat-resistant glass.
- Wall thickness - a standard indicator of 10 mm. The thicker the walls, the more durable the product.
- Type of fuel - a cast iron stove for a wood bath is especially popular, but there are gas or combined models.
Among the additional characteristics, the possibility of installing a water tank is taken into account.
Popular models
In stores you can find products for domestic and foreign baths. Russian models will cost less, the difference in performance is small.
Hephaestus PB-03
A stove with a closed heater is installed in baths up to 25 cubic meters. m. Hot stones allow you to get fine steam. The stove is equipped with an external firebox. There is a system of afterburning of combustion gases and a flame arrester. Installation of convection fins on the sides of the firebox increases heat transfer. The deaf cast-iron door is decorated with a relief pattern. Solid structural elements, made of heat resistant cast iron. Hephaestus models are characterized by the highest efficiency among similar designs. The indicator reaches 90%.
Hephaestus offers models with natural stone cladding. The following is used as decoration: talchochlorite, serpentine, serpentite.The stone reduces the effect of hard infrared radiation, making the product design more attractive.
Vesuvius legend Russian steam forging 271
The model with a remote fire chamber is serviced from a dressing room. It is designed for an area of 12-26 square meters. m. Kamenka closed type has an attractive forged body. Water for stones heated to 600 ° is fed through a special funnel. The elements of the furnace are fixed by bolting. Sophisticated design allows you to increase the temperature of the walls and heat transfer. Tightness ensures the use of heat-resistant cord. Product service life is up to 30 years.
Vesuvius Sensation Aqua 22 DT-4
The design of the heater allows the heating of stones simultaneously from four sides. A significant mass of loaded stones provides a stable temperature in the steam room. The model has a strict concise design. Due to its compact size it can be placed in small rooms. The advantage of the design is the ability to install a mounted water tank with a volume of 40 liters.
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- Vesuvius stoves
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- Hephaestus stoves
Inzhkomtsent VVD Kalita-Classic
Small weight compared to other models does not reduce the advantages of the furnace. She heats the steam room faster, working in continuous mode with a minimum consumption of firewood. A long furnace tunnel allows for kindling from another room. Buyers can choose a fire chamber door from cast iron or with panoramic glass. The design involves loading 70-80 kg of stones for vaporization. The model is folding that simplifies transportation.
Sudarushka
The cast iron wood stove is characterized by a vertical extension of the body. This design allows you to safely install it in a steam room of limited area - 10-18 cubic meters. m. The model is economical, quickly warms up the room. The enclosed heater is equipped with lateral steam emission. The buyer can choose a door made of cast iron or with glass. It is offered in unassembled form, requires assembly on site.
Magnum President
A cast-iron boiler for a wood-heated bath quickly warms up the steam room to a comfortable temperature. It is suitable for construction on 15-35 square meters. m. The model is equipped with a furnace CT-1, the design of which is a development of the Magnum enterprise. The rigid stone box with a capacity of 120-180 kg is resistant to temperature extremes. The furnace has a remote firebox and a closed heater. A feature of the model is facing with stone tiles. Thanks to the finish, the structure retains heat for a long time.
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- Magnum President
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- Sudarushka
Operational Features
Sauna stove is a source of fire hazard. This should be remembered during its installation and operation. The place around the structure is preferably finished with non-combustible material. It is important to monitor the ash box, in time to clean its leftover firewood. During operation, cold water must not be allowed to get on hot iron, this can lead to cracking.
Some owners brick the cast-iron stoves. The procedure allows to increase the cooling period of the structure. Facing has its drawbacks - to warm up the room will need more time and fuel.
When choosing and installing a cast iron stove for a bath and a sauna, fire safety rules must be taken into account. To stay in the steam room became more comfortable, the metal is lined with bricks. A classic Russian bath will delight you with a light and useful steam.
