Good day, dear readers! The modern market offers bathhouse owners many models of heating devices, but not everyone can afford their prices. The cost of a homemade heater is minimal, it is simpler in design and construction, but these features do not make a do-it-yourself sauna boiler less functional and efficient in terms of heat transfer.
The main advantage of a device made from scrap materials is its low cost. You can adapt an out-of-use device to the main part of the device. gas cylinder, metal barrel and other available materials.
It may be necessary to purchase pipes or sheet steel to assemble the housing, fasteners or ready-made doors, but their total cost is still less than the price of the factory model. Non-ore building materials, cement and bricks for constructing a base plate or lining the combustion chamber are not required large quantities and usually remain on the site after the construction of the bathhouse.
On to the pros homemade device One can also include its individual dimensions. The layout and small area of the bathhouse may not allow the installation of ready-made factory equipment, but a homemade small boiler will fit well into any small room.
The disadvantages of such a device are:
- Inability to accumulate and retain heat for a long time. The metal body heats up quickly and gives off heat, but immediately cools down as soon as the fuel burns in it.
- The need to install a high pipe to remove smoke and ensure a sufficient level of draft.
- The need for regular cleaning of all departments, and especially often the chimney pipe.
Boiler structure
The boiler design must include the following components:
- The firebox is a thick-walled metal chamber where the fuel combustion process occurs. The bottom of the firebox is a grate through which the ash is poured into the ash pit.
- Blower - the space under the combustion chamber. It is used to collect and conveniently remove ash waste, as well as to draw air into the furnace necessary for fuel combustion.
- A heater is a special container filled with stones. Carries out redistribution and removal of heat.
- The water heating tank is located just above the firebox.
- A heat exchanger is a small container designed to transfer the energy of burning fuel to a coolant.
- Chimney is a channel necessary for removing smoke. It starts from the combustion chamber, then passes through the tank or heater, heating them and ends with a chimney. To adjust the draft it is equipped with a valve or gate.
Types of boilers for baths
Depending on the fuel used, a sauna boiler can be gas, electric, liquid fuel, pyrolysis and solid fuel.
Gas
A gas-powered device is more compact and economical. During operation it does not emit fumes and bad smell, it does not require storing fuel for the whole year. However, installing such a boiler is advisable only in areas where it is possible to connect to centralized gas supply communications.
Electric
An electric boiler is the most environmentally friendly device. It is easy to install and operate, as it does not require a chimney or additional ventilation system. But it is convenient to use such a device only in places where the power supply is constant and has no interruptions. And it’s difficult to call this type of boiler economical, since the cost of electricity is increasing all the time.
Heating using liquid fuel
A device that uses diesel fuel, kerosene or waste to operate is practically no different from a gas boiler in terms of ease of operation. This is largely influenced by the fact that liquid fuel can be stored in any small container, for example, in a canister or barrel. Such a device must be installed in a separate room not used for bathing procedures, since when burning, petroleum products emit toxic fumes with a very unpleasant odor.
Pyrolysis
The pyrolysis boiler has the most high performance due to complete combustion of fuel. Wood gas, formed during the combustion of wood or coal in a firebox, does not evaporate into the atmosphere, but enters the second chamber - afterburning, where it burns out, producing additional thermal energy. For their production they are used complex circuits and technology, so not everyone can assemble such a device on their own.
Solid fuel
The boiler, which uses wood, coal and other types of solid fuel for heating, is universal, its reliability has been tested by time. The device heats up perfectly and maintains the optimal temperature level for a long time. The disadvantages of this type of stove include the need to timely load a new batch of fuel, which needs to be stored for future use.
Types of heat exchangers for boilers
A heat exchanger is a device that performs the function of heating water. The higher its efficiency, the better the boiler heats the room. The level of heat transfer of the heat exchanger is influenced by the material of manufacture and the total area of the device.
Copper has the highest heat transfer coefficient, but it is a very expensive metal. To manufacture an effective heat exchanger, a large amount of thick-walled copper pipe will be required, the cost of which can be equal to the cost of a factory-made heating device. In addition, its welding is possible only in an environment of inert gases; organize this process in living conditions is unrealistic, and solder joints at high temperatures have too low strength indicators.
The best option would be to use carbon steel pipes or sheets with a thickness of at least 2.5 mm for the heat exchanger. You can make a tank with flat walls from sheet steel and weld two pipes to it, one at the bottom and the other at the top. The pipes of the coolant circulation system will be connected to them.
In order for the boiler to work for heating efficiently enough, the volume of such a container will have to be increased as much as possible, which will also affect the linear parameters of the firebox. Installing a large heating device is not always possible in bath rooms and too expensive in terms of material consumption.
It is possible to increase the area of the heat exchanger, and, accordingly, the rate of heating of water, if you use pipes made of durable steel or copper for its manufacture. Such a device will be more compact in size, simple to manufacture, long-lasting and capable of operating under pressure.
Tubular heat exchanger
The design of a tubular heat exchanger can have different shapes (coil, spiral, pipe-in-pipe type, etc.), but for making it yourself, it is better to choose a simpler option. For example, bend two pipes in accordance with the internal diameter of the firebox and connect them into a single frame structure vertical elements. Plug the pipe at one end, and weld fittings to the other end to connect the heating system, place one at the bottom for the cold water inlet, the second at the top for the hot water outlet.
Where to install heat exchangers
There are several options for placing the heat exchanger:
- Inside the firebox.
- Near the body of the heating device.
- Around the chimney.
It is most productive to install it along the edges of the combustion chamber, giving it cylindrical shape or the letter P, depending on the shape of the firebox. This will make it possible not only to increase the total effective area of the heat exchanger, but also to reduce the amount of soot deposited on its surfaces.
Types of structures
Sauna boilers usually have the shape of a metal cylinder or rectangle. In front they have a furnace and blower door, in the back there are heating circuit outlets, and on the side there is a heater door located on the protruding neck.
Cylindrical shape
To make a cylindrical boiler, you can use metal pipes with a diameter of at least 50 cm, barrels with a volume of up to 200 liters, 50-liter cylinders for transporting propane. These products are seamless and already have a cylindrical shape, which is more preferable than rectangular in terms of aerodynamics (air flow) and heat transfer. The orientation of cylindrical boilers can be either vertical or horizontal.
Rectangular
Devices of this shape have a large number of seams, and the cutting of their parts must be carried out with extreme precision. For a person without skills welding work Assembling such a structure will be problematic. The orientation of a rectangular boiler does not play a significant role. For greater stability, it can be placed horizontally, if the area allows, of course. Vertical arrangement will save space, but will require additional measures for securing.
What materials to make the boiler from?
During operation, the structural elements of the boiler are exposed to high temperatures, so thick metal must be used to assemble it to prevent burnout.
If a suitable pipe or container could not be found, then such a device can be made according to the drawing from sheet iron.
Metal sheets
For the walls of the unit, sheet steel grade St3 with a thickness of 5 mm is suitable, the bottom should be even thicker - at least 10 mm.
Making and assembling a homemade boiler
The cheapest and most accessible fuel is wood, so installing a solid fuel boiler is the most common option for choosing a sauna heater. The dimensions of such a unit depend on the dimensions of the room. On average, a workpiece in the form of a piece of pipe with a diameter of 50 cm and a length of 70 cm to 1 m or a ready-made 200-liter barrel for storing gasoline or diesel fuel is suitable for a heater for a bathhouse with an area of 12 m².
Required tools and materials
For self-made boiler you need to have the following tools:
- Welding equipment.
- Grinder with cleaning and cutting discs.
- Electric drill.
- Equipment for measuring and marking: tape measure, corner, level and chalk.
- Pliers.
- Hammer.
- Protective clothing: canvas suit, closed boots, mittens, welder's shield and goggles.
In addition to metal, for the manufacture of the boiler body you will need:
- Steel pipe for heat exchanger.
- A metal sheet with a thickness of at least 50 mm for making the bottom of the boiler.
- Stove fittings: combustion and blower doors, chimney damper.
- Tap for hot water tank.
- Metal pipe for a chimney.
- Fittings or corner for making grate bars.
- Channel for the supporting structure and partition between the heater and the combustion chamber.
- Fire brick for laying the screen around the device.
- Clay or cement mortar.
Drawings and diagrams
Diagram 1. Sectional view of a vertical metal boiler
Scheme 2. Single-pipe bypass heating system
Welding of structural supports
First, the inside of the pipe needs to be marked from bottom to top into 4 compartments in height:
- 100 mm - under the ash pan.
- 350 - 400 mm - for the firebox.
- 400 mm - under the heater.
- 400 - 600 mm - for the tank.
In the future, each sector of the boiler will be separated by a round metal partition, cut along the inner diameter of the pipe. To install partitions, you will need limiters in the housing cavity. They can be made from 12 mm reinforcement, then inserted into the pipe and welded at the appropriate level.
The bottom should be welded hermetically around the entire perimeter and immediately to it support structures from channel scraps.
Making a heat shield
In small family steam rooms, where every centimeter of space is important, installing the boiler at a safe distance from the nearest wall surfaces of 0.3 - 1 m is impractical. In this case, the side planes of the heater are covered with insulating shields - metal or brick screens. Steel or cast iron screens factory-made are equipped with legs that are bolted to the floor. Brick screens can be folded in two ways:
- Cover the device body completely.
- Enclose with walls separating it and flammable surfaces.
At the bottom of the masonry, openings should be left for air convection between the brick wall and the unit.
Wall cladding can be protected from fires with fireproof material - polished aluminum or stainless steel, which reflect heat well; minirite slabs, superisol sheets or foil mats made of basalt fiber are also suitable.
We make a blower and a furnace
In the lower three compartments you need to cut openings for installing doors under the ash pan, a firebox on one side of the body and a heater on the side of the boiler or on the opposite side. Blower and combustion door You can buy it in advance or adapt cut out fragments of the pipe wall by welding hinges and handles to it, making it convenient to close and open the sections of the boiler. It is advisable to weld the door for the heater with a neck that can be inserted into the wall of the steam room. This way you can heat the boiler separately and pour water on the stones through the hatch in the steam room.
On support rings Between the blower and the combustion chamber we install grates - metal round sheet with holes or a welded cellular structure made of reinforcement. They should not be welded, they should just lie there. We fix the heat exchanger in the firebox.
To make a blower, you can use a thick-walled pipe by cutting it lengthwise. It should be able to move along the metal slats, but not be completely removed.
We build a water tank
In the dividing metal circle, which will be the bottom of the tank, you need to cut a hole for the chimney, insert it and thoroughly weld the joints along the entire length of the circumference. To make the lid, we use the same metal plate with a hole for the chimney, only one fragment of it is made to open for pouring water.
How to connect radiators
In a bathhouse, a maximum of two rooms require heating: a shower room and a relaxation room. It can be organized using a single-pipe bypass system with diagonal connection of batteries (Scheme 2). It is easy to install and efficient in operation. For assembly you will need 2 - 3 radiators, shut-off valves, allowing you to regulate the heating temperature of each element and expansion tank closed type- to protect the coolant from evaporation.
If it is necessary to turn off one of the radiators, the coolant will flow to the second one through the bypass. The heating system assembled in this way must be connected to the boiler: connect the lower outlet with a slope of 2-3 degrees and the upper outlet at an angle of 20 degrees and connect it to the end switches of the heat exchanger through threaded fittings.
Production video
The video shows the assembly process of one of the design options for sauna boilers.
Boiler installation rules
For the construction of baths they usually use flammable material- a tree, therefore compliance following rules fire safety is the main requirement when installing a heating device:
- The boiler cannot be placed directly on a wooden floor; it needs a support made of non-combustible material - a brick base, concrete slab or a thick sheet of metal.
- The room where the boiler is installed must be equipped good ventilation to prevent the accumulation of combustion products indoors.
- To protect the boiler chimney from condensation, it is recommended to carry out thermal insulation measures using mineral insulation.
The main element of any bathhouse is undoubtedly the boiler and stove. The choice of a heat source that ensures the functional purpose of the bathhouse is so important that the design of the structure, the material of the walls, roofs, the level of comfort and other significant aspects depend on it. Therefore, before starting construction, answer the main question, which boiler is better to choose.
Boilers are classified according to the type of fuel and the number of heating circuits. Based on the type of fuel, they are divided into the following types:
- gas;
- electrical;
- solid fuel;
- liquid fuel;
- pyrolysis.
All such devices can be single-circuit, double-circuit or three-circuit. To do right choice unit for specific conditions, location, desired result, and also based on financial capabilities, you need to have an idea about each of them.
Look for a boiler for a small wooden jar - it will be enough to purchase a single-circuit unit that effectively heats the premises; in a standard bath there are three of them, a steam room, a shower room, and a dressing room.
Advice! Choose a model equipped with a water heating tank so that you can have heated water for your shower without any additional boilers.
A double-circuit boiler heats the rooms adjacent to the steam room and heats the water separately. A three-circuit unit will be needed if the building is equipped with a swimming pool, heating system, and heated floors. It is necessary for large modern saunas that can accommodate many guests at the same time.
Each type of sauna boiler has own characteristics and disadvantages. The feasibility of using a particular heating unit largely depends on the climatic conditions in which the bathhouse is located.
Gas boilers
It is clear that if the area is not gasified, the use of such a unit is out of the question. It is also unreasonable to purchase a gas boiler in a separate bathhouse, make a gas supply, paying monthly expenses for the consumed blue fuel is too expensive. But if the sauna is located in a gasified house, or you need to heat a large bath complex, you can’t think of a better unit.
Practicality of operation, no need to store fuel for future use, clean the stove and chimney - important advantages this option. It is also worth noting the compactness of the device, the absence of unpleasant carbon emissions, and the ability to operate in automatic mode. A gas boiler is the choice of practical owners.
Advice! The Protherm KSO Volk, Viessmann Vitopend 100-W, Bosch WBN-6000 models deserve attention.
Electric boilers
This type is considered the most common, despite many disadvantages, the main one being the high cost of electricity. Installation requires 380 volts, appropriate permission from the energy supply organization. Power amounts to tens of kilowatts and high electricity consumption makes their use irrational. Otherwise, only advantages. An unpretentious, easy-to-use, reliable unit eliminates the need for fuel procurement and maintaining the thermal regime in the bathhouse, this happens automatically, it is environmentally friendly, clean, the electric boiler produces a sufficient amount of heat and creates comfort. Only you can’t splash water on it.
Advice! Choose the best. Protherm brand boilers from the Baxi company, domestically produced models from RusNit are deservedly popular; the leaders are the Finnish company HELO, which produces electric ovens for sauna with installation on the floor.
Solid fuel boilers
They run on coal or wood. The cost of such fuel is low, the heat is good, and the crackling of firewood provides comfort and a sense of peace. Such units can be installed in a small wooden or stone bathhouse, in any area, even in the remote taiga. They quickly heat up the space of the steam room and neighboring rooms, take a long time to cool down, do not require a particularly reinforced foundation, and are quite simple brickwork. The disadvantage is the mandatory maintenance after each session in the bathhouse. They need to be cleaned, ash removed, soot removed, and the chimney cleaned once every six months. In addition, the devices cannot operate in automatic mode; you need to constantly maintain the fire and throw out firewood, but this has its own charm. Romance.
Today, stoves are produced with a cooling circuit that protects against overheating, which is important for wooden structures.
Advice! If you have the opportunity to purchase coal, choose from models such as Teplodar Cooper OK, Teplodar Uyut 10, Buderus Logano S111-2-12, Bosch Solid 2000, KS-TGZh-25A, reliable, durable, safe.
Liquid fuel boilers
Liquid fuel boilers are quite widely used to heat baths. The popularity of units came at a time when diesel fuel was cheap and it was not difficult to buy. Today the situation has changed and fuel oil costs quite a bit.
To operate such a unit, you need an autonomous tank for liquid fuel; placing it in a bathhouse means exposing yourself to constant unpleasant sensations. The aroma of diesel fuel is not pleasant. To fill the tank you will need cans and barrels. In a word, eating was as troublesome as preparing firewood. The operational characteristics of liquid fuel boilers have advantages; these residually efficient units heat the room well and have high efficiency.
Advice! Among boilers operating on liquid fuel, preference should be given to models from the Viessmann group Vitorond VR-2BB04, Citerm 74-S. WILL NOT disappoint.
Pyrolysis boilers
These are units running on solid fuel. The main difference is in the operating principle. If in conventional furnaces the fuel burns, releasing heat and combustion products, then in pyrolysis or gas-generating units the fuel, heated without air supply, cokes, followed by combustion of the remaining solid and gaseous components. These boilers are characterized by uniquely high efficiency. To keep the July heat in the bathhouse for two days, two oven loads are enough.
The creators of this miracle claim that their use is absolutely safe. Using a special thermal shirt prevents you from even getting burned on it, let alone causing a fire. Complete combustion of fuel occurs in the boiler without soot and ash. Only dry wood, sawdust, and briquettes can serve as fuel for them.
Advice! Choose a pyrolysis boiler for a sauna. It doesn’t matter if it’s free-standing, located inside the house, profitable, simple, safe. It is worth taking a closer look at the models BURZHUI-K T-50, Wattek Pyrotek 26, Buderus Logano S121-26.
What to look for when choosing?
First of all, it is important to decide which fuel is best for you. When building a bathhouse inside a gasified house, it is stupid to install a solid fuel unit, and vice versa, and for a free-standing bathhouse somewhere in the wilderness, buy a gas unit.
It would be a good idea to think about the economic side. The highest operating costs from using an electrical installation, the second most expensive to maintain will be gas unit, and gas is rising in price exponentially. Wood burning stoves are the most economical. A car of firewood costs 5,000 rubles, but will this amount be enough for a year? Enough for a pyrolysis boiler, but not for a simple one.
The choice of boiler depends on the area of the bathhouse and its layout. When choosing, you should pay attention to the material from which it is made. Since the unit is constantly in conditions high humidity, temperature differences, it is better to prefer a cast iron body, or a steel one, and do not be lazy, making a separate foundation for it. Each purchased unit must be protected from overheating and pressure changes!
Advice! A boiler or stove with walls of 8mm or more will last at least 5 years. Safety and reliability guaranteed. Choosing ovens with smaller wall thickness is a waste of money. By the way, their cost is almost equal, the difference is 500-1000 rubles.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that you can purchase a combined unit - gas-electric, coal-electric and other units that have a number of individual advantages, but this is a separate conversation.
The comfort of the steam room and the warmth in the bath depend on the boiler. You can make a sauna boiler with your own hands or purchase ready-made equipment. The first option is suitable for those who have construction skills. Experts call installation of equipment one of the most important stages in arranging a bathhouse.
Equipment selection
It is recommended to begin construction of such equipment after studying its types and features, including detailed familiarization with the design of furnaces.
Having prepared photographs of boilers, drawings, diagrams and step by step instructions for the manufacture of a stove, it must be taken into account that the construction of a heating unit made of brickwork differs from a welded structure made of cast iron, but both devices are designed to maintain the required temperature in the bathhouse, heat water, stones and heat the room.
You can buy similar solid fuel units on the market, and independent masonry brick oven requires mason skills, study of manufacturing technology and large financial costs for the purchase of clay and refractory bricks. Homemade boilers made from scrap materials are suitable for arranging a small steam room.
It is necessary to select a unit for heating a steam room taking into account the fuel that will be used for its operation. You can supply gas or choose diesel or solid fuel. Solid fuels - firewood, coal and peat - will emit smoke and soot, but the cost of diesel is much higher. The latter equipment can operate without refueling for a week, while its solid fuel counterpart requires constant addition of fuel.
There are combined equipment on the market, but they do not achieve the highest efficiency, so experts advise choosing a device that runs on one type of fuel. The following types of heating units can be installed in the bathhouse:
- gas;
- on liquid fuel;
- solid fuel;
- combined type;
- electric.
Gas devices
Most economical option If gas is supplied to the room, install a gas boiler. It does not emit burning. The presence of a gas smell indicates a problem with the device and requires repair. There is no need to stock up on such fuel for a year in advance. The gas unit is compact, weighs 50 kg, the power reaches 40 kW, which is enough to heat 300 sq.m.
There are 3 types of such devices:
- 1-circuit;
- 2-circuit;
- 3-circuit.
The first are suitable for heating baths, the second will heat the steam room and heat the water, and the third will heat the floor and mini-pool. It is undesirable to make a gas unit yourself, because this type of fuel is explosive.
Liquid fuel can be stored in plastic or metal containers with a double bottom, but not more than 1 year. After a specified period, its properties deteriorate. The diesel device must be installed in a separate room so that its smell does not permeate the rest of the rooms. You can make a diesel boiler for a sauna with your own hands, but before installing it you need to show it to a specialist.
Solid fuel
A solid fuel unit is considered an environmentally friendly equipment that can operate autonomously for 3 days if there is a bunker for fine fuel.
Due to the long combustion of fuel, such units are capable of long time maintain the required room temperature, but cannot operate in automatic mode. The presence of thermal insulation reduces heat loss. Most devices of this type are equipped with a cooling circuit that protects them from overheating.
Such structures are made of steel or cast iron. The first products are susceptible to corrosion due to condensation, but they have greater inertia of the heat exchanger. The latter have a long service life, but react sensitively to temperature changes. Additionally, they are equipped with fans or mechanical temperature controllers.
Pyrolysis devices are solid fuel equipment that operate using well-dried firewood. In the first chamber, fuel combustion begins, and in the second, afterburning begins. Kindling requires the use of an electric ignition system. The fuel in such boilers burns almost completely, but their cost is an order of magnitude higher than that of their analogues.
Electrical structures do not require ventilation or fuel supplies, are environmentally friendly, and can be used in steam rooms that do not have gas supply. The disadvantage of such boilers is high energy costs.
Do-it-yourself welding
Before you weld a boiler for a sauna with your own hands, you will need to make a drawing. The first step is to select the material. Experts recommend using metal tanks with a volume of up to 200 liters for the base. Additionally, it is necessary to prepare a section of thick-walled pipe 70-100 cm long and 51 cm in diameter. Such equipment is capable of heating an area of 3x3 sq.m. You will need a grinder with circles for working on metal and a welding machine.
At the second stage, the pipe is used to create the body of the future boiler. It is necessary to weld 3 supports parallel to the ground on three levels. You will need 3 pieces of reinforcement, 14 mm thick and 3 cm long. The lower level is used to install the bottom. The height of the 2nd level depends on the size of the blower door installed in the oven. The last support should be located 20 cm from the top of the pipe.
Additionally, you will need a circle of metal for the bottom with a thickness of at least 4 mm. The lid is made of a metal circle with a thickness of at least 5 mm. The transition ring of the chimney is fixed in the hole. The supports are located one below the other.
In the side of the pipe it is necessary to cut a hole for the box in which the furnace and blower doors will be installed.
A partition is installed inside the box, which will separate the combustion and ash compartments.
At the third stage, the screen is installed. Then you need to weld the box, insert the top cover, bottom and grate into the body. Installation is carried out in such a way that the housing passing through the wall faces the street or the combustion room. The next stage involves installing a chimney and laying stones. It is recommended to install boilers on the foundation under the furnace.
The screen is made of brick. The boiler is completely lined with similar material or a brick wall is erected. A hole must be left at the bottom of the brickwork for the convection of air masses. High-quality heating of the steam room is ensured not only by the boiler, but also by the stones.
Can they be used? gas boilers for baths? What are they? How justified is the choice? gas equipment? Are there any rules for installing these devices? In this article we will try to answer all these questions.
Let's start, however, with a small clarification. Strictly speaking, gas boilers for baths... are not used. The same applies gas ovens.
The photo shows a P20GT sauna stove.
What is the difference?
- Boiler - a device for heating water and using it in a heating system. Maximum temperature The coolant is limited to 90-95 degrees. Even if we assume that all heating devices will have the same temperature (which is unrealistic), the heat exchange area to achieve the normal 60-70 degrees for a bath must be prohibitively large.
- The stove is distinguished by the fact that its heat exchanger (a steel or cast iron body can play this role) is in direct contact with air. By heating it to a sufficiently high temperature, you can obtain a significant heat flow in a compact size.
Let us clarify: strictly speaking, the majority; however, it does not participate in the main function of the oven - heating the air in the steam room.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let's try to evaluate gas against the background of traditional fuel for a bath - firewood.
Advantages
- Kindling takes no time at all. It only takes some time to warm up the room.
- The oven can be more compact and take up less space— there is no firebox or ash pan.
- Temperature adjustment is easier. Much easier. The thermostat allows you not even to adjust the burner flame, but to set the required temperature.
- There is no longer any need to maintain the stove - cleaning coals and ash.
- Fire safety is higher than that of wood stoves. Remember how often the cause of a fire is a coal that has jumped out of the stove.
- Fuel is no longer needed or under a canopy outside; You can also forget about the need to chop wood.
- Smoke indoors? Long-term heating of the chimney? What are you speaking about?
- Finally, the price per kilowatt-hour of heat for main gas remains the lowest among all coolants.
Flaws
Perhaps, after listing the advantages of the solution, the reader was filled with delight and adoration for gas equipment.
Let's try to take off his rose-colored glasses.
- Gas equipment is explosive. Yes, blocking the gas supply when the flame goes out is now everywhere; however, it will not prevent leaks at the connection in front of the furnace.
- The aroma of burning wood is one of the sources of the pleasure that a sauna brings. Alas, gas will not provide it.
- Procuring firewood yourself instead of buying it will change the price balance. In addition, main gas is not available everywhere; balloon heat is several times more expensive per kilowatt-hour of heat.
Choice
What are the characteristics of gas stoves intended for baths?
Stones
The traditional stove for a Russian bath - a heater - is distinguished by a large number of round stones placed in a tray. The tray is located above the firebox and, after lighting the stove, heats up quite quickly; the stones heat up to temperatures of 200 degrees or more.
They perform a dual function:
- By accumulating heat, the stones maintain a high temperature in the steam room after the wood burns out.
- The very name “steam room” implies the presence of steam. The traditional mode for a Russian bath is 60 degrees with very high humidity. To add steam, just splash water from a ladle onto the stones.
If you are a fan of the Russian bathhouse, a heater is your obvious choice. If you want to use a sauna characterized by high temperature with minimal humidity, stones are not needed. Heat accumulation in the case of gas, you understand, is of no value.
Water tank location
It may be located in the stove body or around the chimney. In the first case, the heat source for heating water is the burner flame, in the second - combustion products. In the author’s humble opinion, the second option is preferable: the tank additionally cools the combustion products, increasing the efficiency of the device.
Gas stoves
If you use bottled gas, great solution you will have a stove that combines two types of fuel. When the cylinder runs out, you can light the stove with wood.
Burner
Often it is purchased separately.
What should you pay attention to when purchasing?
- With a steam room volume of 18 m3, the reasonable maximum gas consumption by the burner is 1.5 m3 per hour. It is easy to recalculate the required productivity for your volume.
- The registration certificate and markings must be present. Automatic shutdown when the flame goes out is mandatory (in fact, now it is available almost everywhere).
- Any damage, even seemingly uncritical, puts an end to the device. Big and fat. We are talking about people's lives and health.
Installation
How to install a gas sauna stove with your own hands?
The instructions are not much different from a wood stove.
- There should be at least half a meter to the nearest combustible structure. If the stove is placed between the bathhouse and the dressing room, it is mounted only in a wall made of red brick (silicate brick does not like strong heat).
- The base must be fireproof and protrude beyond the edges of the stove by 10 cm on each side. The heat rises, but you shouldn’t forget about heating the floor with infrared radiation.
- Ventilation in the dressing room is required, not only exhaust, but also supply. An opening window is also necessary (in case of a gas leak).
Important: when powered from a cylinder, the cylinder itself must be outside the heating zone (ideally, outside).
- A height of at least five meters from the burner level is desirable. Its connection to the oven is sealed with heat-resistant silicone sealant.
- The pipe itself, as a rule, is assembled from double stainless steel sections with thermal insulation with basalt wool. Assembly is “by smoke” (that is, the upper pipe is put on the lower pipe with a socket). One section must extend into the other by at least half its diameter.
- The place where the chimney passes through wooden wall or ceiling, is reliably thermally insulated from it. The distance from the pipe to any combustible material must be at least 15 cm. A galvanized box is constructed around it; it is filled with basalt wool. Overlays made of galvanized steel sheet are insulated from the wood with asbestos.
Conclusion
We hope that your choice of sauna stove will be successful. The video in this article will give you more information. Good luck!
If you have a task to install or make your own boiler in a bathhouse, it is worth understanding the requirements for it, features of use and other nuances. This will allow you to get a high-quality device that will provide the necessary returns.
It should be noted that a sauna boiler and a stove have no fundamental differences, since both devices provide fuel combustion, space heating and, in some cases, water heating. However, this is only functionality; as for the features of bath structures, there are differences. The boiler is a metal tank, and the furnace is brick building, created according to furnace standards.
In the latter case, more costs for materials and more space will be required. Moreover, the implementation of the project requires large investments, since the furnace business is quite specific, and therefore requires the actions of specialists.
Brick boiler Therefore, it is much easier and cheaper to make a boiler for a bath with your own hands.
Types and features
Note: To choose best option design of a sauna boiler, it is worth understanding its varieties. For example, there are devices used to heat the entire bath, and there are products that provide heating exclusively for the steam room.
If the bathhouse consists of many rooms (steam room, treatment room, dressing room, relaxation room, shower room, etc.), you need to ensure the installation of additional heating devices, which are located in separate rooms. In such conditions, as a rule, two devices are used - for a steam room, heating, and hot water.
If the bathhouse is small, then one unit is enough, which will take over all the functions. This approach is more convenient and expedient.
Boilers for baths can be:
- electric – used, but very carefully, considering high level the dangers of using electrical equipment in rooms with high temperature and humidity; moreover, there must be electricity in the room;
- on gaseous fuel - liquefied natural gas, which means that gas supply must be connected to the site;
- liquid fuel - fuel oil, diesel, kerosene, etc.; such fuel is not always available, so the advisability of using such a design remains at the discretion of the owner;
- solid fuel - using wood, peat, coal, waste, etc.; such designs require constant temperature support by adding solid fuel to the boiler.
Among solid fuel structures we can distinguish pyrolysis boilers for baths, which are products long burning. They provide ease of maintenance and long-lasting maintenance of the required temperature. For heating, firewood or pellets are used with a certain humidity - up to 12%. The fuel is loaded with your own hands once, and the effect of the boiler is ensured for a day.
Material of construction
Separately, it is necessary to note the classification of materials used for the manufacture of units.
Cast iron boilers for baths are used quite rarely. Not used in steam rooms. Installed only in separate rooms. Such sauna boilers are suitable for heating water and heating.
The following products are used for steam rooms:
- metal;
- metal with brick lining;
- brick.
Brick boiler for a bath The first option can be purchased at finished form, while the other two require professionals to fabricate on site. As a result, each type will cost a lot. Therefore, many people try to make a boiler for a bath with their own hands. Of course, this activity is fraught with certain difficulties and requires time and financial costs, but using the unit you have made will be much more pleasant, because it is made with your own hands.
With removable hatch
Combinations
Let's look at a few successful combinations boilers that can be used for a bath and made with your own hands:
- Pellet and electric. The disadvantage of this solution is the cost of the equipment. Therefore, quite large initial costs are required. In this case, you will need to allocate quite a lot of space to place the devices. However, there are also advantages of this solution: affordable cost of pellet fuel, the ability to automate the process, cost reduction due to the inclusion electric boiler only at night if a two-tariff meter is installed.
- Gas and . This is a technological solution that will allow you to fully automate the process, without fiddling with solid or liquid fuel, while always being provided with heat. After all, if there is a power outage, the gas supply is unlikely to be interrupted and vice versa.
- Coal and electric boiler. Under certain conditions, such a combination can be both beneficial and convenient. Of course, you need to be able to buy coal profitably.
Coal or electric boiler, which is used in baths Knowledge and skills
First you need to decide on the fuel on which the boiler will operate, because many other parameters depend on this.
Note: Considering the safety conditions, accessibility and traditional nature of the procedure, it is better to choose. Do-it-yourself solid fuel units are quite simple to build, lightweight and easy to maintain.
If you choose, for example, for a bath, this increases the danger of performing bath procedures. In addition, the installation of such a unit will require approval from regulatory authorities.
Therefore, solid fuel units - optimal choice. And their organization should begin with the preparation of diagrams and drawings. Some items can now be purchased at construction stores, the rest can be done with your own hands. And the result can be no worse than in the photo.
It is especially important to have the skills to use welding machine. This is necessary to obtain a high-quality weld, ensuring the reliability and durability of the structure.
Creation
So, let's try to make a cauldron for a sauna with our own hands. Can be done for small spaces homemade design from several metal pipes. You can take products with a diameter of up to 50 cm with a wall thickness of up to 1 cm. To ensure maximum compact placement, the sauna boiler can be made vertical.
Features of self-production of an effective boiler for a bath
You should also use:
- grate;
- tap for water tank;
- fittings for creating a heater;
- three steel circles: for the bottom, top covers;
- hinges and latches for doors.
The main tools are a grinder and a welding machine.
To organize the firebox, a pipe 90 cm long is used. A cutout 20 cm long and 5 cm deep is made in it. At the bottom of the boiler it will be needed as a vent. To provide the ability to change the draft, a sash with a latch is installed.
A grate is installed above the ash pit (the height should be convenient for loading firewood). It needs to be welded. Even higher is a hole for the door, which is hung on hinges.
Installation of a metal boiler in a bathhouse Reinforcing bars are welded inside the pipe, which will serve as the foundation for the heater. Another hole is made in the upper part of the structure, which will allow liquid to be added to the stones to generate steam.
Finally, it is necessary to weld steel sheets on top and bottom of the structure, ensuring its tightness. Top cover must have a hole for the chimney, which is welded.
A 60 cm long pipe is installed on the structure, which will be used as a water tank. A tap is installed at the bottom of the product, and a circle cut into two parts is installed at the top. One plays the role of a hinged lid for pouring water (for this you need to provide a handle with a wooden overlay), the other part is secured by welding.
Of course, such a boiler for a bath is not the only design that you can make with your own hands. Products may differ in type, size, shape and other features. Moreover, the devices can be used not only for heating, but also for hot water use. Finished structures are installed on a concrete foundation. If appearance is unpresentable, it can be refined with your own hands by covering it with brick. This will also make it safer to use.
The result is an attractive and functional solution.
Making a sauna stove from a pipe
