TOP 10 best cast iron stoves for saunas: 2022 rating and which model to choose for wood burning with a tank

Many people have heard that among metal stoves for Russian baths, preference should be given to cast iron ones, but not everyone fully understands what causes such a preference. In this article, we intend not only to introduce you to the best examples of cast iron sauna stoves on the domestic market, but also to give a clear explanation of their advantages.

For those of you who have an established opinion about the merits of this type of stove, we invite you to take part in compiling a rating of cast iron stoves for baths from users - independent and not paid for by anyone for PR purposes.

Rating of the TOP 10 best cast iron stoves for baths in 2022

Manufacturers and popular models

Owner reviews are an excellent opportunity to study the features of a particular model before purchasing a stove. Based on them, a list of manufacturers worthy of attention has been compiled.

For the Kalita range of stoves this is:

• Jack Magnum;
• Joy;
• Arched;
• Taiga;
• Huntsman;
• Prince Kalita;
• Gaudi;
• Kalita Extreme;
• Knight.

. A collapsible type of construction, the firebox body is made of cast iron 1 cm thick. Some models are characterized by a closed type of heater, controlled by ventilation, and the presence of a combustion tunnel made of materials such as stainless steel and cast iron.

You can decorate the firebox door in two different ways: using a coil or soapstone. These stones have a positive effect on the body, increase the overall level of immunity and normalize blood pressure. There are models on sale with a heater built into the firebox. But a closed heater is recognized by experts as a more preferable option for use. This is explained by the fact that in a closed space the stones are heated evenly on all sides, due to which the steam becomes lighter and more useful.

The arched model is distinguished by its beautiful design and stone cladding. The arch-shaped heater has doors decorated with forged overlays. The temperature in all parts of the steam room is stable and distributed evenly due to increased thermal inertia. The heater can hold up to 120 kilograms of stones, heating is carried out in less than 2 hours, after which the temperature is maintained at the desired level for a long time.

Interesting: Drawings and making a stove for a bathhouse from a pipe with your own hands: homemade options

The Jack Magnum model is produced with an open heater. The volume of stones that are placed inside reaches 80 kg. Thanks to the thin lining, thermal energy quickly accumulates and then spreads throughout the steam room.

Along with numerous advantages, the model also has disadvantages:

• Components (grid bars) quickly fail and replacing them is problematic;
• The stove takes a long time to heat in the cold season;
• The firebox has a low height;
• In the place where the fuel channel connects to the body of the stove, there is a narrowing, which is very impractical.

The next market segment is the Hephaestus range of stoves. Furnaces of this brand are superior to competitors' equipment largely due to an important advantage - accelerated air heating. It only takes 60 minutes for the surface temperature to reach 7000 degrees. Hephaestus furnace equipment has built-in flame arresters, so fuel is consumed very economically.

Another advantage of these ovens is their compact dimensions and weight. In addition, the equipment can withstand 15–20 years of constant use without loss of useful properties. From the manufacturer you can choose a stove for a room of any size.

And to install the equipment, you do not need an additional foundation.

The firebox is made of cast iron, the thickness of which varies from 10 to 60 mm.

The lineup is as follows:

• PB 01. The main advantage is the presence of vapor insulation (to avoid injury to people), lining with natural soapstone material. This model has three variations, each of which holds about 300 kg of stones.
• PB 02. Supports 2 modes: dry air and wet steam. Heat-resistant glass is installed on the firebox door.

• PB 03. Small-sized convection oven. With its help you can heat about 25 square meters of area. This model has its own modifications: PB 03 M, PB S, PB 03 MS. All of them are designed to quickly warm up small rooms.
• PB 04. These are closed type wood burning units. The dimensions of the furnace are compact, the equipment is equipped with a waste container and a chimney. The oven itself is made of cast iron, its doors are made of durable glass.

The official manufacturer emphasizes that the quality of casting at each stage is under the continuous control of specialists, and just one load of firewood is enough for 8 hours of continuous operation of the unit. The production of furnace equipment is possible in the “economy” version or in the elite cladding of several different types: “Russian Steam”, “Optima” and “President”.

The next type is Vesuvius cast iron stoves. The Vesuvius model range consists of such stoves as “Hurricane”, “Sensation” and “Legend”.

“Sensation” is heated directly from the steam room. It has a ventilated heater and a completely sealed firebox. The stones heat up to 350 degrees.

A very worthy specimen is “Vesuvius Legend” weighing 160 kg. Intended for use in steam rooms with an area of ​​10 - 28 cubic meters.

“Hurricane” is an ideal stove for those who value the traditions of the original Russian bathhouse. The heater is closed and located in the upper part. The output steam is fine and dispersed. The equipment weighs about 110 kg, the stove can be heated from the room adjacent to the steam room. The furnace casing itself is painted with heat-resistant black paint. The heating of the stones reaches a temperature of +400 degrees.

According to experts, it is impossible to heat the stones in the mesh to the required temperature; the steam becomes heavy and does no good.

The Kudesnitsa 20 stove is suitable for both wet and dry baths. The stove is made of real cast iron and is not subject to fading. The firebox is solid, the stove is covered with heat-resistant enamel.

The Termofor stove has high efficiency and affordable cost. The manufacturer provides a three-year guarantee on the integrity of the metal.

Main characteristics:

• High level of security. Each stove undergoes all necessary tests and is manufactured in accordance with current standards.
• Increased strength. Heat-resistant steel with a high percentage of chromium content is used to create it.
• Two operating modes: fast warm-up/temperature maintenance.
• Soot removal system.
• Great design.
• Easy to transport.

The Sudarushka stove is popular; the distinctive features of the model are fast heating and excellent heat capacity.

The list of positive aspects of this equipment includes:

• economical use of fuel material;
• design versatility;
• simplified installation procedure;
• light weight;
• ease of care;

The design also has disadvantages:

• There are often complaints that the furnace firebox bursts quickly. The reason for this may be poor quality cast iron or improper operation.
• The liquid in the tank boils quickly.

The above structures are in high demand due to their relatively low cost and ease of installation.

It is necessary to mention Finnish sauna stoves. Their range is wide, but the cost is significantly higher than for models produced in the Russian Federation. It is justified, since more expensive metal is used in production.

The main manufacturers of stoves are:

• Harvia is a leader in service life;
• Narvi company – manufacturer of highly environmentally friendly products;
• Helo is a democratic brand with a simplified design.

Despite the high cost, Finnish-made stoves are recognized leaders in the world market.

Vesuvius

Whether it is PR or the natural love of the people - our rating will show, for now we simply state that the majority of requests for stoves made of this metal are associated with this manufacturer. I would like to see in the comments the reviews of those who happened to become owners of Vesuvius products - share your experience with everyone else!

In the Vesuvius catalog you will find only four cast iron sauna stoves with power modifications for different steam room volumes. This:

• "Legend";
• "Sensation";
• "Hurricane";
• "Premium".

In this review of cast iron sauna stoves, we will pay attention only to “Legend” and “Hurricane”. “Premium” is lined with soapstone, “Sensation” is a regular stove with an open heater.

LEGEND STANDARD 16 (DT-4S)

The wood-burning cast iron stove is equipped with a sealed firebox of three elements with bolted connections . Can heat a steam room with a volume from 8 to 18 m2.

The oven door is not airtight and is decorated with heat-resistant glass.

External heater, built-in chimney.

• power - 16 kW;
• weight - 116 kg;
• dimensions - 56*70*69 cm.

Advantages:

• affordable price,
• nice design.

Flaws:

• leaky.

LEGEND FORGING 16 (270)

The stove of this model is suitable for organizing heating of a steam room from an adjacent, adjacent room . It has a three-section firebox with high efficiency and fast heating.

Interesting: Step-by-step instructions for installing a stove in a bathhouse and choosing its location

The volume of the steam room can be up to 20m3.

The model has a classic appearance and bronze color.

• power - 16 kW;
• weight - 96.5 kg;
• dimensions - 70*56*62 cm.

Advantages:

• weighs little
• you can heat from the utility room,
• stylish look.

Flaws:

• low quality metal.

HURRICANE STANDARD 16 (DT-4)

The sauna stove is made of high-quality cast iron and equipped with a spacious open-closed steel heater that helps produce abundant steam.

Type of fuel channel - remote, closed with a solid cast-iron door.

• power - 16 kW;
• weight - 110 kg;
• dimensions - 80*55*88 cm.

Advantages:

• heats up quickly

Flaws:

• You need to constantly add firewood, otherwise the temperature in the steam room drops.

Techno Lit

On the manufacturer’s official website you will find over a hundred modifications of the Techno Lit cast iron stove (Hephaestus) - with and without a stone lining, with different doors. The search for closed heaters was unsuccessful.

Interesting! Instead of heating the stones in a closed volume, the creators of the Techno Lit stove decided that it was much easier to heat the top plate to 450 degrees - this temperature is quite enough to produce light, fine steam. That is, there is no heater, but there is Russian steam.

Of all the models that are presented on the site, we have chosen the most popular among customers - GEPHAESTUS PB-04 M.

Do you know? You can achieve an effect similar to a Russian bath without a heater - with a steam generator!

This is what she looks like. With a rather modest size: it is about half a meter in height, about 40 cm in width and about 70 in length, it is capable of heating a steam room with a volume of up to 15 cubic meters. The tiny stove weighs 125 kg and, according to the manufacturer, has an efficiency of 87% . As for the brand of cast iron, the manufacturer does not lie: everything except the firebox is made of ordinary gray, but the firebox uses chrome-alloyed, heat-resistant metal .

Such a stove is taken in order to later be lined with bricks and improve its thermal characteristics, bringing them closer to the parameters of a brick stove.

Magnum

Having started by trading in other people's stoves, Magnum quickly came to the conclusion that its own production was more profitable. Taking into account the shortcomings of competitors, the company developed its own design - ChT-1, which stands for “cast iron firebox”. It has become the basis for many stoves, but the firebox itself can be purchased separately, to be covered with brick, for example. The company purchased equipment for working with stone and began producing stoves lined with soapstone and other stones.

Keddy

The Swedish manufacturer really offers consumers high-quality “Caddy” stoves made of cast iron, but it was not possible to find equipment for baths in any of its catalogs . There are excellent fireplace stoves for the home, there are light stoves, masonry stoves, tiled stoves, there are even fireplace inserts, but there is not a single sauna stove.

Therefore, the only option for those who would like to see the products of this company in their bathhouse is to supply something from the Swedish catalog as an additional heat source . After all, for a large bathhouse one stove is usually not enough.

Sudarushka

produces not only “Sudarushka”, but also other families of cast iron stoves. In particular, these are “Kalita” and “Sorceress”.

“Sudarushkas” are very diverse in design - there is a stone lining, there is a grid for stones, with an open and closed heater, with a water tank included in the kit... There are plenty to choose from.

Here you can learn some subtleties about stoves with a water tank.

ATTENTION! It is worth clarifying that not all stoves can be made of cast iron. A mandatory element will be a cast-iron firebox (by the way, Magnum boasts that it supplied CT-1 to Inzhkomtsentr for several years), and an optional cast-iron door. But the body may well be made of steel.

How to choose and what to pay attention to?

When choosing a model, you should think about it at the construction stage, then there will be no difficulties when installing some options. However, installation can be carried out after the completion of capital construction.

Experts recommend paying attention to the following characteristics when purchasing::

• Design – with a remote firebox, there will be a need for a window between the steam room and the dressing room.
• Power - the most optimal calculation is 1 kW per 1 cubic meter. steam rooms
• Convection – Forced convection speeds up the distribution of heat.
• The type of heater - it determines how the steam will be, wet or dry.
• The volume and mesh of the heater directly affects the power and speed of heating, as well as the size of the stones used.

General information

A device for heating a bath made of cast iron is versatile because it can warm the water and air inside the steam room at the same time.

A cast iron stove fits perfectly into a sauna interior; you can choose a model that will harmonize with any type of design. Even compact types of stoves are distinguished by their considerable weight, more than 50 kilograms. At the same time, the device is quite easy to transport and install.

Wood-burning stoves are highly popular due to their simplicity of design, high reliability and ease of use.

According to your individual wishes, the stove can be lined with any suitable material.:

• ceramic bricks;
• tiles;
• natural stone.

Cladding is sometimes a necessary measure when the purchased stove turns out to be of low quality.

Low-grade cast iron can crack during operation, and the outer cladding will protect it from such problems. If the stove is made of high quality cast iron, it does not need to be sheathed with anything, since it itself will look natural in the steam room.

Device

Cast iron stoves operating on wood fuel differ in the following characteristics:

• Indicator of firebox volume.
• Determines the power level of the furnace, as well as the volume of stones needed. The power of the purchased stove should be selected based on the cubic capacity of the steam room. Experts do not recommend choosing a stove whose power level is higher than optimal. Otherwise, during the combustion of wood you will have to reduce the intensity of combustion. Then the oven will not be able to maintain the heating of the stones at the proper level, which means it will not be possible to create the optimal temperature and humidity conditions.
• Type and volume of container for laying stone. The container can be a metal mesh, a brick or all-stone box made of soapstone or soapstone. Stone or brick containers serve as excellent heat accumulators. In addition, the heater can be open or closed.
• Based on the type of tunnel, a distinction is made between external and non-external. In the first case, you can lay firewood from the room adjacent to the steam room. This could be a dressing room or a rest room. In the second - only from the steam room itself.
• Based on the type of oven doors, they are divided into: solid cast iron oven doors, with glazing, without glazing. When choosing a stove, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the presence of glazing elements in a sauna stove leads to a decrease in efficiency and an increase in the level of heat loss. To light a sauna stove equipped with a glass insert, you will need to consume more firewood and additional time. The main advantage of stoves decorated with glazing is their appearance, which allows you to admire the flames and creates a feeling of special comfort.
• The oven can be round in shape, or have a rectangular or square cross-section.

It is worth studying in more detail the main types of sauna stoves.

They are:

1. With closed heater . Such models are considered the most economical in terms of the amount of firewood consumed and the mass of soot formed during their combustion. Such devices can efficiently heat a room with a volume of up to 45 cubic meters. The main design feature is that in such a stove the stones are located inside. Above the heater there is a hole through which water is supplied, which in the process turns into steam, dry and clean.
2. With a non-removable firebox type . Such stoves are often modest in size and can perfectly complement the interior of any steam room. They are often installed inside small buildings that do not have utility rooms. It is only important not to store firewood in the same room where the stove is located, since this is unsafe from the point of view of the possibility of fire.
3. Stationary furnaces with a remote firebox type . It involves installing an open heater in a steam room with removal of the firebox to a recreation room or utility room.

Operating principle

The general algorithm for operating a wood-burning cast-iron sauna stove is not very complicated:

• the basis of a wood-burning cast-iron stove is its firebox, where solid fragments of fuel are placed;
• when it burns, heat is released, which is accumulated by the stove body or heater;
• under the firebox there is an ash pit into which wood combustion waste falls;
• Smoke is removed through the chimney pipe.

In some models, the design involves equipping the oven with a water container, where it is heated, after which the water becomes suitable for washing.

IMPORTANT!

The heating element is the body of the device, which accumulates the thermal radiation of the furnace.

Peculiarities

The design of a cast-iron wood-burning stove may require the installation of various additional elements.

This may include the following components:

• water heater;
• pipe for removing smoke and other combustion products;
• container for water.

The fuel most often is firewood, but it is acceptable to use briquettes made from compressed peat or sawdust . It is important to know that coal should not be used to light cast iron stoves, since it has a higher combustion temperature than wood raw materials.

The characteristics of cast iron are such that high-temperature exposure can lead to cracks in the metal . In addition, a wood-burning sauna maintains an atmosphere that is more beneficial to human health and well-being. You can achieve significant heat transfer rates from a cast iron stove.

The process is facilitated by the presence of lining the unit with natural stone. In addition to the energy and aesthetic effect, this technique will protect the structure from moisture, which will significantly extend its service life.

The chimney in such stoves is equipped in one of the possible ways:

• on the reverse side of the structure;
• on the unit itself;
• by bringing it to the roof of the building.

Types of cast iron stoves for baths

Experts identify several classifications of cast iron stoves:

• By type of fuel used - wood, coal, combined.
• By design - with a remote firebox, with a built-in firebox.
• By type of heater - with an open or closed heater. Opening the heater produces dry steam, closed heaters produce wet steam.
• According to the presence of a water tank - with or without a tank. Stoves with a tank are very practical; there are both mounted or mounted, as well as built-in options.

Peculiarities

The use of metal stoves in bathhouses quickly became the norm, although their properties differ sharply from those of brick stoves. At the same time, the number of varieties of metal stoves significantly exceeds the number of brick structures.

Among all the options, cast iron stoves stand out, which are considered to be the most effective and even somewhat elite heating options.

From a design point of view, a cast iron stove is no different from other varieties. It consists of a firebox, a chimney, an ash pan and a fuel supply door. However, in addition to wood-burning (solid fuel) stoves, there are gas cast-iron stoves, the design of which consists of a burner and a heat exchanger (one or two).

At the same time, the type of fuel in this case is not of fundamental importance. The main feature is a material whose properties differ significantly from alternative options.

Cast iron is an alloy of iron with carbon and other special additives. This material has special qualities. First of all, it is almost impossible to forge or other types of processing. There are special grades of cast iron, but they are not intended for making stoves.

All parts made from this metal are produced by casting followed by surface treatment. This puts cast iron stoves in a special category - they are almost impossible to make in artisanal conditions.

Customer Reviews

Yuri T.

Vesuvius LEGEND FORGING 16 (205)

Works. The RCD does not trip, nor does the 16A fuse. For a sauna 1.7x0.9 is enough. The temperature sensors need to be moved down a couple of centimeters, otherwise it takes a long time to heat up and does not heat above 70 (the sensors are behind the front panel, disassemble it a little, it will take 10 minutes).

nataly p.

Birch Favorite 24

: I bought a stove to replace an old Harvey Legends 150 cl that was 10 years old. The stove served faithfully and finally burned out. I was surprised by the price, in ten years the price has risen by 9 thousand, I took it for 18. The stove has structurally changed for the better, the design engineers are doing a good job. The size of the firebox did not change, but was raised relative to the ash pan. We had to increase the firebox. The steam felt different, softer.

Alexander

Vesuvius Everest 24 (280)

It is very convenient when the stove comes with a tank included. In my opinion, this is the first model with a tank that they came out with. If you prefer, you can hang the second tank on the other side. The cast iron firebox is a serious plus! Up to 22 m3 is exactly what you need!! When purchasing, ALWAYS check with the seller whether the tank is included in the price!

Dolbunov D.

Hephaestus ZK 18 (M)

Pros: Overall it works. It heats well even up to a high temperature, it was possible to heat up to 100 degrees in 3 hours (room 1.8 × 1.8 × 2.1 + glass door) Disadvantages: It dries out the air (humidity 25% at a temperature of 90 degrees), but I think this is not a problem with the stove. Comment: Overall, a good, beautiful stove, I don’t regret buying it. There were no problems for six months of heating.

Anton Medvedev

2Ermak 16 Premium Mesh (Cast Iron)

My review is dedicated to such a product as the Rus Grid 12 L sauna stove from the company Teplodar. I would like to describe my impressions of using the stove. I bought the stove a little over two years ago. I don’t use it all the time, but almost every time I come to the dacha. And this is all weekends (and holidays) throughout the year. Installation did not cause any major difficulties. Installed it together with my son. We finished it in just two days (just in time for the weekend). On the first day, we prepared a place for the oven. Since the weight of the stove is not small (the body itself, a three-meter pipe, stones), we made a foundation for it from a concrete solution. On the second day, they installed the stove, added a chimney, and poured stones. By the end of the second day they lit a fire and enjoyed the pleasant warmth. At first, during gradual heating, a specific, not particularly pleasant smell came from the stove (apparently the paint and technical grease inside the stove itself and in the chimney duct were burnt). But three or four complete heatings were enough and the annoying smell was completely gone. Now in our bathhouse there is only the aroma of blazing, resinous firewood and an oak broom that we steamed in hot water. In general, the whole family is happy with the stove. A six-meter steam room warms up to 60 degrees in an hour (this is in summer; in winter it takes longer, almost two hours). Our steam room is lined with basalt insulation (like the bathhouse), completely lined with aspen clapboard, and equipped with reflective material. On both sides of the stove there are bricks that are heated by it. Thus, heat goes to both the dressing room and the shower room (additional heating of neighboring rooms). During its operation, the stove proved itself to be very positive (there were never any problems). The firewood burns (and burns out) well, the draft is excellent (sometimes I even use a damper), and condensation does not concentrate in the chimney. There is a pleasant aroma in the bathhouse, there is no burning smell. I hope my story will be useful to you. Stay healthy (and enjoy yourself)

Philip L.

Vesuvius LEGEND FORGING 22 (270)

I used Helo 12 stoves for 10 years, but they have now been discontinued. I bought the Harvia M2 because it has a chimney outlet at the back of the stove, like Helo. I don’t want to redo the chimney in the bathhouse, but there are no stoves with a rear exit, except Harvia. Helo I had 2 ovens. Each lived 5 years. I can’t say how long Harvey will live. When I picked it up, they took out a completely new one, factory sealed. They opened it in front of me, examined it for defects, and only after that did I pay. Helped with loading into the car. The stove itself is excellent, it transfers the temperature well to the stones, the protective casing does not deform, and heats up moderately.

Dmitry K.

Vesuvius Sensation Aqua 22 (DT-4) with 40 l tank

Firstly, there is no convection in it and there won’t be with such a design, what kind of convection can there be if there is no direct contact with the stove itself, it’s just a lampshade near the stove. Therefore, in order to heat a bathhouse and steam room, you need to try and burn a lot of good firewood and at the same time change the water in the tank as it boils. The efficiency of the stove is probably 40-50%, the rest goes down the drain.

Dmitry Viktorovich Yankov

Vesuvius Sensation 16 Aqua (DT-4) with 30 l tank

The oven has been in operation for 5 years. A year later, one of the fasteners fell off the door. True, the second one turned out to be much stronger. And he holds the door for two!) And now I discovered that the smoke goes into the steam room, and not into the chimney. Removed the stones. And you can see in the photo what everything looks like. The grate was all cracked and arched. But it hasn't completely collapsed yet. The tooth that moves inside the firebox so that the smoke goes along a bypass path is also deformed and does not completely close the pipe. Therefore, part of the heat does not go to heating the stones, but directly into the pipe.

Igor Povelikin

Vesuvius RUSICH ANTHRACITE 22 (DT-4) 2016

I tried to reach out to the manufacturer about the poor quality of this stove, sent both a video and a photo of the bathhouse with the stove, and how I did everything according to the instructions, but they gently kicked me off, citing dampness in the bathhouse! Come on guys, come on, rust in three days due to dampness, what nonsense! In short, I do not recommend this stove, save your money, look for other options!

I.T.

Vesuvius Sensation 16 Anthracite (DT-4)

Advantages: A water heater is built inside and connected to an external heating tank. A net is hung at the back into which an additional 60-80 kg of stones can be placed for softer steam. Quite nice, I have a glass door. Disadvantages: Metal thickness 3mm. Cools down instantly. The entire firebox was damaged, such a stove lasts for a year at most. She started blowing smoke into the house, the glass became smoked and nothing helped. Now it warms up very poorly. Refuse to buy, buy 10-15 thousand more, but a good one!

Best: what do you mean by that?

So, what do we know about cast iron? A brittle metal with a high carbon content, which makes it also very hard. The latter is the reason that it is very difficult to process, which is why manufacturers prefer to cast parts rather than cut them. Casting parts thinner than a centimeter is unprofitable. But why is it better than steel in ovens?

In fact, both cast iron and steel come in different compositions, so a straightforward comparison here is not entirely correct. Let's put it this way: ordinary, unalloyed steel will last less in a furnace than ordinary gray cast iron, if only for the simple reason that the thickness of the furnace wall made of both metals is usually very different: the latter is much thicker.

But
cast iron also oxidizes and burns out , albeit over a longer period of time. Unless his brand is heat resistant. And this is quite rare in purchased stoves and costs money. Heat-resistant steels with the addition of chromium also cost money, and in quality they are quite comparable to suitable brands of cast iron.
At the same time, there is a difference between high-quality steel and cast iron: thinner steel warms up faster and cools down faster. Its heat capacity is low. But cast iron, both because of its thickness and composition, is more prone to heat accumulation (compared to steel, and not to stone, of course). Therefore, the thermal characteristics of such a metal stove will be higher. (And if you also line it with brick, then cast iron will not be inferior to brick in terms of steam quality for a Russian bath!)

In general, having thought about what exactly we mean by the concept of “the best cast iron stoves for a bath,” we reduced it to the following requirements:

• made of heat-resistant cast iron (read more about brands in this article);
• having a closed heater;
• suitable for bricking (no grids for stones).

By the way, also on this topic, look at this article about cast iron stoves with a closed heater.
And as an alternative, please consider brick ones with a closed heater. But all this is relevant only for lovers of the Russian bath (not like the sauna). Everyone else may be quite happy with Vesuvian stoves, so the opinion of which is better depends on the user’s preferences.

Useful video

Quite a long video from which you can glean a lot of useful information, including information not mentioned in our article . We recommend!

You may also be interested in the following information about stoves:

• Types (wood, gas, electric);
• Constructions.

Installation

Installing the stove is not particularly difficult. When it comes to small models for steam rooms of small volume, weighing around 60 kg, then they do not require a special base, only a backing made of non-flammable material. Even with stone backfill, a wooden floor will withstand them. If the furnace is more powerful and larger, its weight when empty is around 100 kg, and together with the backfill it will increase by the same amount or more - a foundation is needed. However, if the ceiling in the bathhouse is made of monolithic concrete or reinforced concrete slabs, there is no need for an additional foundation.

Most cast iron stoves have a standard chimney diameter of 115 mm, so choosing a suitable branded pipe or a pipe from another manufacturer is not a problem. But for models with a larger firebox, which should ensure heating of a larger mass of stones, stronger draft is required, and their chimney is wider - 120 mm. This should be taken into account when purchasing so that you don’t have to look for adapters later.

Selection of stones

When installing a cast iron stove in a bathhouse, you should take care of a set of cobblestones for it. These heating elements are used in almost all types of sauna heating devices.

Some models of cast iron stoves are already sold with the necessary set of stones, but their additional purchase is often required. The weight of the cobblestones is taken from the following calculation: 100 kg per 10 m² of steam room. The average service life is about 2-3 years, after which they need to be replaced.

When choosing stones, it is important to focus on the following points:

1. Form. Rounded cobblestones will retain heat longer and cool more slowly than their sharp-angled and multi-faceted counterparts.
2. You should not take stones with any damage.
3. Cobblestones should be of different sizes: from large to small. Large stones must be placed on the bottom, small ones - on top of them.
4. The natural origin of solid rock is also a significant factor determining the selection of these important elements of a device intended for heating a bath.