TOP-11 Best wood-fired sauna stoves

Rating of the most successful wood-fired sauna stoves. They combine reliability, quality of generated steam, ability to keep warm for a long time and ideally warm up the steam room. In addition, we examined how to select the right stove in terms of power, steam room volume, material and type of heater. The ranking includes factory-made cast iron and steel furnaces. Each material has both advantages and disadvantages, we will talk about this further.

A good sauna starts with a reliable stove. Kamenka creates and maintains the necessary microclimate, ensures the comfort and safety of bath procedures. Wood-burning stoves are especially appreciated with their kindling ritual, woody aroma in the steam room and availability of fuel. But the brickwork of the heaters is no longer the standard. Hand-made bathhouses are replacing ready-made cast iron and steel stoves that run on gas, wood or electricity.

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Before buying a stove, you need to decide what type of bath you need to create. Experts point out: Finnish sauna, Russian bath... For a Finnish sauna, a stove with an open stove is selected, for a Russian bath, they are selected mainly with a closed stove or mixed - this is when there is both a closed and open stove. In any case, both the one and the other baths perfectly cope with the elimination of toxins and toxins, restore skin tone and normalize metabolism. The difference is that in the Russian bath the air humidity is 60-70% and the temperature is 70-80 degrees. In Finnish it is hot and dry, the humidity in it is kept within 6-15%, and the temperature reaches 110 degrees.

Depending on the manufacturer, the models of wood-fired heaters differ in ergonomics, technical parameters, and design. Consider the characteristics of the best wood-fired sauna stoves.

How to choose a good sauna stove

Before choosing a specific model, it is worth clarifying the required functionality. In general, a good stove will evenly warm the air and “maintain” the temperature regime while visitors are steaming (for a Russian bath 70-80 degrees with a humidity of 60-70%, in a dry sauna - up to 90-110 degrees).

But whether a wood-fired sauna stove will really work well depends on its power, the capacity of heat generators (simply stones), the heat resistance of the furnace material, the type of stove and water tank. These are the main criteria for choosing stoves for a bath. Let's talk about each in detail.

Heat output (sufficient heat output)

Shows the amount of generated heat energy that the stove gives to the room. It directly affects the speed and strength of heating the premises, the stability of the temperature regime. It is determined in kilowatts, but sometimes manufacturers indicate the appropriate size of the premises (in cubic meters).

Optimal performance:

• heat power rate (by volume) - per 1 m³ 1 kW of heat is released
• complete heating of the bath in summer - in 30-40 minutes;
• good time in winter (at t -10^◦) - no more than 120 minutes.

In addition to the air, the walls, ceiling and other structures of the bath should warm up. The material of the walls (frame, brick), the presence of thermal insulation of the premises - all this affects which stove to choose. It is generally recommended to provide a small power reserve. So, the system for 9-15 m³ in practice, it is suitable for rooms from 12 cubic meters.

Heat accumulator capacity (weight of stones). The second most important criterion after power for choosing a stove for a bath. Boulder stones maintain the required humidity in the steam room by evaporating water from the hot surface. The capacity of the accumulator takes into account the mass of stones and the temperature of their heating in the standard operating mode of the heating system.

A good battery warms up up to 100 - 120 degrees, from its surface at 1m³ 100 ml of water evaporates. 1 m³ a steam room needs 20 - 30 kg of stones. With sufficient capacity, the steam is transparent and light, hot and at the same time "soft" (when overheated, it "gains" dampness and becomes heavy).

Firebox material

When lighting the stove, the combustion temperature reaches 400 degrees. After completing the procedures, the firebox cools down quickly. The amplitude of temperature fluctuations is significant, but metals can withstand this regime (each with its own nuances).

For wood-burning furnaces use:

1. Cast iron... Thick and heavy material, although it warms up slowly, but perfectly retains heat. Does not rust. Cast iron furnaces are heat-resistant and durable (the resource is designed for 10 years). However, cast iron "does not favor" sudden temperature changes.
2. Chrome steel (stainless steel)... Such furnaces are durable, are not afraid of water and do not oxidize during combustion. Do not "burn out" oxygen in the room. They heat up quickly, however, and cool down quickly. To maintain combustion, you will have to periodically "throw up firewood", but sauna lovers even love this process.
3. Low carbon steel (regular steel without alloy additions). Structural ("black") steel is used in low-cost furnaces. Heats up quickly, keeps heat poorly, therefore it is used in stoves for small baths. Dross forms on the surface over time.

Heat-resistant steel furnaces with chrome are optimal for wood-burning stoves, but only if its content is at the level of 12-17%.

Heater type. The stove is used to place stones, heat them evenly and heat convection into the room. Depending on its location, stoves are available with an open and closed heater. In the first case, the stones are laid out on top, in the second they are placed in a special niche without direct access.

• Open structures are ventilated systems. They warm up the air faster, give high temperatures with low humidity. Here you can “add steam” by splashing water on an open heater. However, it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the steam becomes too humid and worsens the microclimate.
• Closing the heaters are non-ventilated systems. They create a uniform temperature without overheating, maintain a comfortable mode for a long period of time. The steam is very soft and moist, with a light texture.

Water tank

Installed in saunas without hot water supply. They differ in volume and method of connection. Types of tanks:

• samovar type with a chimney inside - heats water with gases discharged from the stove, has a filling and drain inlet;
• a hinged container with attachment to the stove - heating comes from the walls of the stove;
• a remote tank with a connection to a heat exchanger, if present in the oven, surpasses other types in volume, the water is heated due to the communications connected to the heater.

For small baths, a hinged tank is sufficient. But if there are adjacent rooms, it makes sense to install a heat exchanger and connect a remote tank.

The review deals with steel and cast iron wood stoves. The rating takes into account the technical parameters and the "usefulness" of the furnaces, the cost was not taken into account (an exception was made for the goods that were optimal in terms of price / quality, but without monetary expression).

Rating of the best steel stoves for a bath

Relatively light heating systems for baths and saunas, since the body is made of steel. They combine manufacturability and long-standing bathing traditions.

The manufacturer has combined style with unique technology. The body is made in the form of a rounded polyhedron with see-through patterns (nice and efficient for heat distribution). The stove is equipped with an open and closed stove for creating different modes of the steam room. Energy is accumulated by the jadeite stone, which protects against strong infrared radiation.The carrier is placed in a closed heater and around the perimeter of the stove. The efficiency is increased by the air cake between the stove and the body.

Features:

• the furnace is covered with a two-millimeter stainless steel lining (increased resource and combustion of pyrolysis gases);
• the heating medium is heated up to 400^◦C at low heating of the cladding;
• firewood consumption does not exceed 4 kg per hour;
• small logs up to 30-32 mm are used;
• structural elements are painted with premium silicone and acid-heat resistant paints.

In the middle price segment, Grill'D Violet Short is made of 09G2S steel with a service life of 2000 hours. In expensive furnaces, AISI 439 steel is used, which guarantees 5000 hours of operation.

Ideal for a dry Finnish wood-fired sauna, baths with a volume of 12-26 m³... The key to reliable operation and long service life is a constructive method of thermal uniformity. Heat-loaded parts are made of high-alloy heat-resistant steel Inox, 3 mm thick, the bottom of the stove and the walls of the furnace are reinforced with stringers, other parts are made of "black" steel.

The convection flow is enhanced by vents on the front panel and a mesh around the oven. This allows the room to be heated in record time. Accelerates the process and the location of the heat exchanger in the furnace - the energy of the flame is used for heating.

Because of the mesh frame, the sauna stove looks "frivolous", but in fact it is a serious technical solution. The metal mesh increases the volume of the stones, which allows maintaining the temperature parameters until the completion of the paired procedures.

Technological features:

• a multi-section steam generator generates finely dispersed steam even before the stones are completely heated;
• the chimney outlet is located at the front wall of the stove, freeing the approach to the stove;
• powerful firebox runs on wood or fuel briquettes;
• stones and chimney are purchased additionally.

The main problem of grid-type ovens (long heating of the room) was solved by installing a perforated convector. The invention accelerates heat exchange and additionally heats stones with infrared radiation from the walls of the furnace.

Models of Korvette stoves from the Berezka company are available and durable. To reduce the cost, the manufacturer "sacrificed" the thickness of the walls of heat-loaded parts (within 4 - 6 mm) and removed the protective side elements. But the stove "will not burn out": heat-rolling steel 09G2S (GOST 19281-2014) is used for the firebox, the door is made of durable cast iron. The Corvette's capacity is designed for a modest volume of 8-16 m3.

Unlike expensive Corvette stoves, these are transforming stoves. The sides of the casing are removable. In their place, iron water-heating tanks (for 30 or 40 liters) are put or loop heat exchangers are mounted and stoves with a tank for a Russian bath are obtained.

Another iron mesh furnace is offered by TMF. Unlike budget-class mesh stoves, a durable cast furnace made of gray cast iron (GOST 1412-85) is used here. The material contains graphite that absorbs negative temperature amplitudes.

Technical features:

• the capacity of the stone coolant is approaching 100 kg;
• the heater is located on top of the cast-iron firebox and in the space of the surrounding mesh;
• the stove runs on wood or long-flame coal (including 25 mm fraction);
• the firebox consists of a lower and an upper body with a cast-iron deflector to exclude emissions of combustion products.

The stove is "demanding" on wood fuel. Ideally, this is 20% dried hardwood.

Good inexpensive stove. Harvia M2's design is uncomplicated, but the design is as ergonomic as possible. Mobility and low weight (45 kg) allow the stove to be repositioned, and the built-in chimney (d 12 cm) and the closed heater ensure the safety of procedures. The niche for stones is designed for 30 kg of boulders (enough for large steam rooms).

Features:

• the body is made of heat-resistant steel, but the walls are thin;
• fast heating;
• the body does not get hot - efficient heat exchange transfers energy into the space;
• fuel is saved due to uniform combustion;
• there is a pull-out ash drawer.

The painting quality of the stove is poor. The Harvia M2 firebox is designed for small logs up to 35 cm in length.

Thanks to the implemented principle of thermal stability, it successfully creates a microclimate for a Russian bath and a dry-air mode of a sauna. For temperature-loaded parts, 6 mm chromium steel is used, and the body and chimney are made of steel 3-4 mm. The built-in heat exchanger allows you to install a hinged tank, receiving both a water oven and a steam generator.

The manufacturer offers 12 additional options, but the standard design impresses with its ergonomics:

• enlarged furnace chamber;
• heat-resistant glass door screen (it's nice to watch the combustion and control the process along the way);
• self-cooled spiral door handle;
• special outlets for cleaning the ash pan;
• circulation deflectors for uniform heat dissipation.

In practice, the capacity of Ermak 16-PS is low. Contrary to the passport 16 cubic meters, Ermak can hardly cope with 13-14 m3 with excellent thermal insulation of the steam room. The capacity of the coolant can be increased with a hinged heater (installed on the rear panel), but then the cost increases significantly.

One of the best stoves for large saunas with a steam room of 20-26 m3. The reliable firebox is made of heat-resistant steel with a high chromium content. The deep heater provides good steam generation. Uniform heat exchange is ensured by an external casing-convector with an air gap. It forms a circular convection flow, so the steam room heats up very quickly.

Features:

• elongated grates made of cast iron - do not burn out, maintain uniform combustion);
• retractable long ash pan - helps to regulate the burning temperature of the wood;
• body painted with heat-resistant organosilicon enamel;
• cleaning holes for removing soot in the firebox;
• stamped parts of the convector and frame.

The manufacturer does not put panoramic glass on the firebox door, so it will not be possible to contemplate the burning firewood.

The best cast iron wood stoves for a bath

In these furnaces, cast iron is used not only for the elements of the furnace, but also for the manufacture of the furnace body. Much more massive than steel stoves. They keep warm for a long time, but they warm up the premises more slowly, form soft steam.

Made of cast iron СЧ 20 with the addition of chromium. In the Hephaestus line, the ZK modification has a more powerful steam generation and creates an ideal Russian bath regime.The strengthened closed heater of 18 m3 is equipped with a recess inside the firebox (an additional insert for steam is placed here), and the lower part in contact with the flame is also equipped with heat-removing spikes (directed inward). As a result, the heating area increases several times, heat transfer is accelerated.

Features:

• the presence of two combustion chambers, and the stove is the second arch of the firebox;
• flame divider of the lower furnace for directing the flow of fire to the rear wall with subsequent supply to the chimney;
• air vent under the chamber for the supply of additional oxygen, bypassing the combustion chamber;
• two types of doors - with glass and solid cast iron.

Hephaestus ZK ovens operate exclusively in cladding (included in the package). Options "Optima" or "President" are available.

Durable modular cast iron and steel furnace. The reliable firebox is made of cast iron with graphite content, and the heater and complex chimneys are made of structural carbon steel. The capacious open mesh heater (aka the body) forms a dry steam room. Russian bath lovers can equip the stove with a closed stove and get soft, moist steam.

The manufacturer offers up to 7 modules per oven. The heating system can be retrofitted with a steam generator, a remote tank, a convector, and a heat exchanger.

Another modular cast-iron-steel stove in the Ermak 16 line. Many parameters of Premium and Grid-premium are similar: the same variability of options, multi-mode operation, volumetric firebox with fire division into 4 streams.

The main difference between the model is in the volume of the heater. Here it is "only" 40 kg (the grid has 150-200 kg), but the options allow you to buy a grid-heater and increase the capacity of the heat accumulator. Another feature of this model lies in the faster heating of the premises, which is facilitated by the external casing-convector along the furnace body.

Video: How to choose a good wood-fired sauna stove