Electric sauna stove: how to choose electric stoves

A traditional Russian bathhouse must be heated with wood. This axiom, indisputable for many amateurs and experts, is increasingly becoming obsolete. Many bathhouse owners successfully use gas or liquid fuel stoves, receiving high-quality heating and without losing the usual quality of procedures.

There is another group of heating devices that are used with some caution. These are electric ovens that are convenient, efficient, and easy to use. This is the best option for a sauna, but such stoves are also quite suitable for a Russian bath. They have a lot of advantages and stand out from all designs in that they allow you to create a small sauna even in a city apartment, which cannot be obtained from other stoves. Let's take a closer look at them.

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Electric sauna stove: how to choose?

But it won’t be a matter of choice, you just need to get a sufficient understanding of what a sauna stove is, what types the market offers, and how to take into account the features of an existing steam room when purchasing.
We will try to provide comprehensive information on each of the points. And we’ll start, perhaps, by answering the question about what types of electric stoves there are:

By voltage: 220V or 380 volts

The voltage in a regular household electrical network is 220 volts. Therefore, most buyers are interested in their furnace operating from such a network. This would save them additional hassle and expense.

However, in practice, the voltage consumed is directly dependent on the power of the purchased unit. And the power, in turn, depends on the volume of the heated room .
It follows from this that the owner of a large family or family-guest sauna does not have to count on cutting costs - a large stove will need a 380-volt network. IMPORTANT! Typically, sauna stoves that consume 220 volts have a power of no more than 7 kW.
This is enough for a small and even medium-sized steam room. Electric heater SAWO MINI MN-23NB-Z. Photo by SAWO

You can bring 380 volts into a house or apartment - it’s not particularly difficult, you just need to take three instead of one phase. Difficulties arise with permits and with replacing wiring (it must be thicker than usual). Well, don’t forget that you will have to pay more for electricity bills, but this does not depend on the network itself, but on energy consumption.

By the way, you can easily install a three-phase 380 volt network in private homes - not everyone knows, but this issue is resolved at the request of the consumer.

Let's name several models of each subspecies:

Electric sauna heaters 220 volts - Helo CUP 45 ST, Sawo Mini MN-23 NB-Z, Harvia Vega Compact BC 23, Tylo Compact 2/4, Polytech-M PEN-2m.

Electric sauna heaters 380 volts - EOS 34 A, Harvia Virta HL 90, Tylo SD 20, Helo Seidankivi Seita 1052, Polytech "Christina" with evaporator ENU-18i.

Keep in mind! In the characteristics of some furnaces there is a mention of the possibility of connecting to both single-phase and three-phase networks - “220/380”.

Electric sauna stove Harvia Trendi KIP (220v and 380v)

With and without a steam generator

Another interesting point: do you need a stove with a steam generator in a sauna? After all, a sauna is called a “dry air bath” for a reason - there is little steam in it, the main “ingredient” is dry heat, which makes a person sweat (and convection is responsible for evaporation). How will he sweat if the humidity in the bathhouse increases?

Do you know, for example, why in Japan at 30 degrees the heat is considered unbearable, but in continental Asia even at 50 degrees people continue to calmly go to work? Because high humidity does not allow sweat to evaporate from the surface of the body, and it does not cool it (continental air is much drier than island air). The result is overheating, heart problems and other related ones.

IMPORTANT! You need to be careful with the steam generator in the sauna. Lower the temperature if you want more steam. And for an ordinary sauna, the steam produced by a regular heater, which is available in all electric models, is quite suitable.

However, sometimes a steam generator is necessary. For example, when we are talking about a heater that can operate in the “sauna” and “Russian bath” modes. Of course, it will be a surrogate, but it will be fast. The heater will almost instantly heat the bath to 60 degrees, and the steam generator will produce (if it can) fine steam.

BY THE WAY! Couples are different. There is a low-temperature one - you usually see it above pots and kettles. It is white and thick, and heavy on the body. There is superheated steam - it is almost invisible, it is light, and this is what your steam generator should be able to produce.

Steam generators are also different: built-in and separate. Here are some models.

Steam generator Helo HNS 34 T1

Separate:

Sawo STP-90-C1/3 SST,
Harvia HELIX HGX 2,
Helo HNS 34 T1,
Tylo Steam 2/4/6 VB,
HygroMatik CompactLine C06-CDS,
Sturm Etna 3 Pietra,
EOS SteamTec Classic.

Built-in : all models with the word Combi in the name.

Electric stove for mini-sauna

A mini-sauna is a very small room (from 1.5 cubic meters), designed for one or two people steaming at the same time. Recently, it has become fashionable to arrange these right in city apartments.

Pleasant things are combined with useful things. A mini-sauna does not consume much electricity, and you can even make it yourself. The main thing is to take good care of thermal insulation.

What kind of stove can be used for a mini-sauna? Of course, also tiny. By the way, sometimes manufacturers put the word Mini or Compact in the name of such products. Here are examples of some models that you will find on the market:

Sawo - Mini and Mini-X series (see photo above). Harvia - Vega Compact, Delta, etc.

Harvia Delta D23 oven. Harvia Photos

By place of production: Finnish electric furnaces and all others

Who is considered the best manufacturer of sauna stoves? Of course, those who understand the intricacies of this bathhouse better than others. And in this regard, the Finns have practically no competitors - this is their national pride, which they are happy to export to the whole world. But exporting is always expensive.

Here are the names of companies that are popular in the market:

Finland - Helo, Sawo, Harvia (a separate article is devoted to electric heaters from this manufacturer), Narvi.
Sweden - Tylo.
Germany - EOS.
Russia - Inzhkomtsentr, Polytech, fuel and energy complex.

According to the material of electric heaters: tape and tubular

Well, of course, the ovens themselves are not belt or tubular. We are talking only about the design of the heating elements, which can be either in the form of tubes or in the form of a ceramic tape. Tubular shells are usually made of metal.

Tubular heater

IMPORTANT! Tubular electric heaters are quite fragile and easily fail. They can be damaged by stones that are placed too tightly (when heated, the stone expands), or simply by a random movement that bends the heating element at the base. See the article about the correct placement of stones in an electric heater.

Today, most electric heaters are equipped with tubular elements. The reason may also be a reduction in cost. But this is not the best option for the consumer. They are not as economical as tape ones. The latter also burn less oxygen!

Electric sauna stove, strip. Photo source

On a note! When calculating power, take into account that strip elements with equal power heat one and a half times the volume.

Useful video

Also watch a video about choosing electric stoves for a sauna from different points of view:

Varieties

There are different design or design options for electric sauna stoves.

By type of installation there are:

floor

wall-mounted

By body type:

open (heater outside);

closed (this type of oven is called a “thermos”). The heater is located inside the housing.

The thermos is an efficient design that can produce the highest quality steam. In addition, heated and thermally insulated stones give off heat for a long time. The oven can maintain their temperature using only 1 kW of energy in 4 hours.

This heating method is called always-ready mode. However, thermoses are the most expensive electric ovens; their cost can be 100 thousand rubles or more.

By size of heater:

small models with a heater 20-40 kg;

models with a medium-sized heater 60-120 kg;

models with a large heater (more than 120 kg), intended for commercial use.

Expert opinion

Lovkachev Boris Petrovich

Bath master who knows everything about steaming

The larger the heater, the more practical the stove - you can pour water from a ladle onto it, adding steam using the traditional method.

However, such furnaces require high heating power - raising the temperature of a 150-kg stone backfill is not easy. Therefore, there are stoves with a small number of heating elements and a connection to a 220 V network, and there are more powerful stoves with many heating elements. They are connected to a 380 V network.

Many electric ovens come with additional features. These include:

stand-alone control panel (some models come with it, others will have to be purchased separately);

steam generator (usually for models with a small decorative heater).

The presence of additional functions significantly improves the quality of bath procedures, but increases the price of the stove. At the same time, electric stoves are on average cheaper than cast iron and even steel stoves using solid, liquid and gaseous fuels.

Rating of electric sauna stoves

Well, we looked at a number of models based on various criteria. It would be a good idea to bring the information together to make it easier for the reader to make their choice. Therefore, we decided to invite users to take part in compiling a rating, this time of electric sauna stoves.

For our part, we have selected a list of the most popular manufacturers, because it is important to know who you can trust, and the parameters of the steam room and the needs of all consumers are different, it is not possible to take them all into account. But with our joint efforts we can easily help beginners with their choice.

Now is the time to move on to practical issues. Let's start with those that are asked by those sauna owners who have already decided to buy an electric heater. They need to know how to choose a stove with the right parameters.

Reviews

Of course, we are all tired of advertising and want information that comes directly from users. But it has long been the subject of falsification, so let’s proceed from common sense: in general, reviews of the electric heater will be positive from those who received exactly what they wanted - either a sauna stove, or that rare variety that allows you to arrange a sauna “in Russians." And if you want more detailed information, take a look at the articles that are devoted to specific models, where reviews will concern both real advantages and real disadvantages.

Power calculation

It is easier to calculate the power of an electric stove than a wood stove. The manufacturer indicates the power in kilowatts in the passport. The consumer can only determine the volume of his steam room in order to get his bearings. But! There is a formal volume, and there is an adjusted volume after adding coefficients - for example, for surfaces without thermal insulation, for heating adjacent rooms in winter, etc.
So, tiles, glass, stone - you need to calculate their surface area, multiply by 1.2 and add to the formal volume.

the glass door to the steam room separately - just add an extra one and a half cubes to the existing numbers.

Then it’s simple: for one kilowatt of stove power - one cubic meter of steam room space, if the stove has heating elements , and one and a half cubic meters if there are tape heaters .

Top 1. Sawo Mini X MX-36NB-Z

Rating (2021): 4.87

The most popular model is the Mini-oven, widely discussed on specialized forums and collecting a large number of positive comments.

Characteristics
Average price: 17,200 rub.
Country: Finland
Heated volume (cub.m): 6
Power consumption (kW): 3.6
Construction: wall/floor
Dimensions (W/D/H): 45/33/31 cm
Weight (kg): 5

Compact, lightweight heater stove with a capacity of 10.5 kilograms of stones. Designed to heat a room up to 6 cubic meters with an energy consumption of only 3.6 kilowatts. The device is very convenient and has programming capabilities. With its help, both Russian and Finnish saunas can be recreated. You can splash water on the stones, and there is also a built-in steam generator with several power modes. This is the best oven for small spaces that can be set to energy-saving mode and will constantly maintain the required temperature and humidity in the room. We also note the high reliability of the design. This is one of the most popular stove manufacturers and has proven itself.

Advantages and disadvantages

Compact dimensions
Low power consumption
Programmable
Many operating modes

Wooden walls must be insulated
There are low-quality fakes

Dimensions

The smaller the sauna, the more important the size of the stove becomes. Low-power heaters are usually very modest in size. As an example, we can mention the Harvia Compact stove - its width is 24.5-30 cm, depth 22 cm, height 54 cm. It weighs only 9 kg (without stones). Another model from the same company - Vega Compact - weighs even less: 7 kg and has dimensions: 28x29.5x50.5 cm.

IMPORTANT! Information on sizes is essential for selection, therefore it is always indicated in catalogs.

Yes, and one more interesting point : ovens of the same size (within the same line) can have different power. This allows the manufacturer to reduce production costs, and the consumer to choose a standard-sized heater for the volume of the steam room.

Further information will be useful to those who have already purchased a stove and need information on how to properly install and connect it.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of electric furnaces for heating saunas and baths include:

Quick heating of the room and stable maintenance of the temperature in it.
You can choose a model that is compact in size.
Unlike gas furnaces, there is no need to coordinate the installation of the device.
Quick and easy installation of equipment.
There is no need to organize firewood storage.
Such a stove operates without a chimney.
Easy to manage, maintain and operate.
Availability of built-in fuse against overheating.
Reliable thermal insulation guarantees the safety of using the electric furnace.
There is no carbon monoxide emission during operation.

Among the disadvantages are:

The high cost of electrical energy does not allow using the bathhouse for procedures too often and for a long time.
It is not always possible to install a powerful stove due to power limitations in the electrical network in a private residential building in the range from 4 to 6 kW.
Compared to devices running on wood or natural gas, the heating power of electric furnaces may be lower.

Installing an electric stove in a sauna

Of course, an electric heater is not nearly as demanding as a wood-burning (and even more so a brick) stove. It does not need a foundation or a chimney ; many models can be mounted on the wall, and some can even be hung from the ceiling! However, some preparation is still necessary.

For your information! Did you know that some heater models can be installed directly into the bottom shelf? This significantly saves space, and the shelf is protected by a special flange made of steel or other material, which can be purchased along with the stove.

Where the heater will stand, it is better to lay out the floor with tiles or otherwise make it non-flammable (put a sheet of metal, for example). A suspended structure does not need this.

You will find the minimum distances to the main surfaces in the stove data sheet . Usually they are small, but they should be observed exactly or upward.

But if practically no questions arise regarding the installation of the furnace itself, then the same cannot be said about its connection.

Problem: the electric heater is humming

We can assume that the reason your electric heater is humming is due to an increase in air draft (this happens in chimneys). All electric furnaces have holes at the bottom for the intake of cold air, which flows to the heated stones, and from there goes upward with force. The upward movement of lighter hot air creates draft. It may be more or less, depending on the temperature difference .

Of course, the cause of the hum may also be a malfunction of the device. In this case, you should contact a specialist or service center.

Connecting an electric stove in a sauna

The fact is that each sauna owner must independently take care of grounding the purchased unit. If you are not particularly versed in electrics, then entrust the connection to professionals , it is worth it.
It was already mentioned above that electric heaters come with different voltages. For those that can be connected to a regular network, nothing needs to be changed in the wiring. But for those with a voltage of 380, you already need to stretch a cable of the appropriate quality and thickness .

So, grounding. It is better to make its circuit separate for the sauna, rather than using the circuit of the distribution panel . It's not that difficult - the Internet is full of information on how to make a ground loop yourself. It is preferable to conduct the core through cable channels.

In addition, we can recommend connecting the stove to the network not directly, but through a device that ensures that the electrical appliance is turned off if a short circuit occurs or the air in the steam room gets too hot. Such a device will not be needed if a differential circuit breaker with a leakage current of 30 mA is installed.

Most models provide a choice of a built-in or remote control panel. In the second case, you will have to take care of connecting the remote control. Typically, owners place it either at the door or in an adjacent room.

IMPORTANT! The remote control needs a circuit breaker in the distribution panel. Look at the stove data sheet to find out the current load. In accordance with it, the denomination of the machine is selected.

Electric furnace sensors allow you to monitor and control the heat. They also require installation, but all its points must be described in detail in the installation instructions for your stove.

IMPORTANT! Do not use intermediate connections, or extend or twist sensor wires.

A separate question is what wires can be used to connect the electric heater. If the oven is designed for 220 volts, then the wires will be three-wire, if for 380 - five-wire. An important issue is the sheath of such wires. The fact is that vinyl is in no way suitable for your purposes. It is correct to use rubber-insulated wiring that is not afraid of high temperatures.

*** So, we will consider that the short course for the future owner of an electric heater is completed. I wish you health and a pleasant stay in your own sauna!

Top 3. KARINA Optima 2.5

Rating (2021): 4.56

Best price The cheapest electric oven, costing almost 40% less than the closest competitor with similar parameters.

Characteristics
Average price: 13,000 rub.
Country Russia
Heated volume (cub.m): 3
Power consumption (kW): 2.5
Construction: wall/floor
Dimensions (W/D/H): 60/32/22 cm
Weight (kg): 8

If you have a small bathroom and want to turn it into a sauna, but without spending fabulous sums, then the Karina electric stove is the best solution. The most budget model from a Russian manufacturer, designed for a volume of only 3 cubic meters. Energy consumption is appropriate. At maximum load, the furnace consumes no more than 2.5 kilowatts per hour. But there are no programmable modes or nice extras here. The steam generator was not built in, and you can only set the temperature mode. But you can splash water on the stones. The heating elements are hidden deep in the depths of the stones and are located in such a way as to avoid contact with moisture as much as possible.

Advantages and disadvantages

Budget price tag
Heating elements protected from moisture
Economical energy consumption
Protective mesh on the front side

Designed for very small volumes
No programmable modes
No additional options

Top 3. Sawo SCANDIA SCA-80NB-Z

Rating (2021): 4.74

Universal design A stove with the possibility of wall and floor installation and a replaceable control unit that can be moved to the other side.

Characteristics
Average price: 29,500 rub.
Country: Finland
Heated volume (cub.m): 13
Power consumption (kW): 8
Construction: wall/floor
Dimensions (W/D/H): 52/51/29 cm
Weight (kg): 27

As a rule, an electric stove is a standard design that needs to be selected for your room. But now we have the most convenient device that will fit into any bathhouse or sauna, regardless of its configuration. The device can be placed on the floor or hung on the wall. The control unit is located on the side, but if necessary, it can be easily moved to the other side. An excellent solution for universal use. There is also something to look at in terms of characteristics. The oven has a built-in steam generator and several programmed operating modes. You can splash water on the stones, but in small quantities, since the heaters are very close to the surface.

Advantages and disadvantages

Universal design
Replaceable control unit
Powerful steam generator

Heaters close to the surface
It is necessary to protect the walls before installation

Nuances of operation

The electric furnace does not require particularly careful maintenance, but you still need to follow the basic rules of its operation. The main point is compliance with the rules of electrical safety and ventilation of steam rooms.

Do not allow water to come into contact with wires or electrical heating parts of the oven. In the steam room, you should always ensure the minimum permissible air circulation. To avoid rapid burnout of the heating elements, the load must be applied smoothly immediately after starting the furnace.

Top 3. Karina Classic 24

Rating (2021): 4.41

A stove for the largest rooms. A heater for heating a room with a volume of 40 cubic meters. The most powerful unit for commercial baths and saunas.

Characteristics
Average price: 70,000 rub.
Country Russia
Heated volume (cub.m): 40
Power consumption (kW): 24
Dimensions (W/D/H): 61/90/45 cm
Weight (kg): 115

A large sauna or bathhouse requires appropriate heating equipment. This unit is designed for a volume of up to 40 cubic meters. This is a very powerful device, consuming 24 kilowatts at peak load. There are no design delights here. A regular box with a large number of protected heaters. You can pour water on the stones, which is very important, since there is no built-in steam generator. The oven is intended for additional cladding or placement in a special closed place. This is a technical model, but it differs from analogues in its quite adequate price tag and simplicity of design.

Advantages and disadvantages

Large heated volume
Heating elements with maximum protection

Big sizes
The simplest nondescript building
No optional extras

Top 4. PEKO Nova EH-90 blue

Rating (2021): 4.44

Characteristics
Average price: 12,900 rub.
Country Russia
Heated volume (cub.m): 14
Power consumption (kW): 9
Construction: wall
Dimensions (W/D/H): 58/41/28 cm
Weight (kg): 35

Many owners of medium-sized baths refuse to purchase electric heaters because of their high cost. But there are always exceptions, one of which is now before us. This is a product of a young Russian brand, characterized by the most affordable price tags. Given its characteristics, this stove-heater costs half as much as its competitors. Yes, it is not so beautiful in appearance and is not easy to operate, but it is the best budget model for a room with a volume of up to 14 cubic meters. It even has its own steam generator - an important factor, since it is undesirable to pour water over the stones. The heaters are very high and close to the surface.

Advantages and disadvantages

Attractive price
Small size
Many modes

Complex controls
Unprepossessing appearance
Very tall heaters

How to install heating in a bathhouse from a residential building?

If the sauna is located close to home, and you plan to use it regularly, then it makes sense to combine these building heating systems:

Advice! To optimize energy costs, it is worth equipping the radiators in the sauna with thermostatic valves . Then throughout the entire time we will maintain a minimum positive temperature ( for example, +4. +5 ° C ), and if necessary, we will quickly warm up the building by turning on the stove in the steam room and setting the desired value on the thermostats.

Basic operating principles

After applying voltage to the heating element, it begins to gradually heat up. This heat is transferred to coolants in the form of special stones. They accumulate heat and then release it either to the metal body (for closed-type ovens) or directly into the steam room (for open-type ovens).

For a classic Russian bath, the second option is more suitable. There are intermediate models equipped with a lid. Such electric sauna stoves can be opened at any time, increasing the convection of heated air from the heater.

SAWO ARIES ARI3-60NB-WL-P

Wall-type design from a Finnish plant. The stove is compact and saves useful space in the steam room. The quality of steam depends on the type of watering of the stones. The lower ones produce moderate soft steam, the upper ones produce thick and rich steam. The body uses corrosion-resistant stainless steel. Control is carried out using the built-in remote control. Heating elements are installed along the entire length of the niche for stones. Due to this, heating occurs as quickly as possible.

Characteristics:

device power – 6 kW;
weight of stones – up to 65 kg;
steam room parameters: 5-8 cubic meters. m.

Advantages:

price;
original design;
small dimensions;
presence of a thermostat and timer;
quality of materials.

Top 2. Polytech Classic Stone

Rating (2021): 4.68

Optimal ratio of characteristics and cost A high-power oven with an adequate price tag. The cheapest model with a heated area of more than 22 cubic meters.

Characteristics
Average price: 45,700 rub.
Country Russia
Heated volume (cub.m): 22
Power consumption (kW): 14
Dimensions (W/D/H): 83/56/38 cm
Weight (kg): 70

If you have a relatively large sauna or bathhouse, but you are not ready to buy a stove for several hundred thousand, then this unit will solve your problem. This is the cheapest stove for its characteristics. Its price tag is only 45 thousand rubles, and the heated volume is 22 cubic meters. The device consumes 14 kilowatts, which is also a good result. The connection is only two-phase, and up to 70 kilograms of natural stones can be placed in the chamber. The structure is steel, but the front wall is also finished in stone. True, it is artificial, but it also shows good heat transfer and allows the stove to retain heat longer when turned off, which has a positive effect on the efficiency of consumption.

Advantages and disadvantages

Stone pediment
Attractive price tag
Balanced parameters
Large load of stones

No additional options
The simplest possible design

Final points

A sauna with an electric stove is a powerful consumer of electricity. When choosing, it will be very important to pay attention to the electricity consumption of the stove; this will save significant amounts, even if the stove is quite expensive.

From an aesthetic point of view, foreign models are superior to their Russian counterparts, but they are also more expensive. Specific options should be considered based on financial capabilities when purchasing, as well as taking into account the volume of the steam room and the power that the electrical wiring and transformer can withstand.