TOP 15 best stoves for wood-burning saunas: 2021 rating and which one to choose for ease of use

Which sauna stoves are best?

To figure out which stove is best to buy for your bathhouse, you need to find out in what parameters they generally differ, and also decide on your preferred manufacturers. Each company has its own specialization in which it is particularly strong.

How are sauna stoves different?

The main parameters by which stoves differ are the material from which they are made and the fuel on which they operate. First of all, this is what influences the choice: the buyer decides whether he needs a brick stove, steel or cast iron, whether he prefers gas or electric heating, or whether he will heat the bathhouse with wood - after which the choice is significantly narrowed.

And in order to determine the most suitable among the remaining models on the list, it remains to compare them according to such parameters as power, heated volume, burning time of one bookmark, and the like.

The best brands of sauna stoves

There are a number of manufacturers from whose products you can expect long service life and good performance:

• "Vesuvius" produces dozens of models from classic options to the most technologically advanced. The brand is especially famous for its cast iron stoves and the design of its products.
• “Etna” - its products are notable for the calculation of wall thickness depending on the thermal load in each specific area. As a result, the consumption of cast iron is reduced, and hence the price of the stove, while it remains durable.
• “Hephaestus” – the stoves produced under this brand are particularly reliable due to their seamless manufacturing technology.
• "Ermak" - furnaces with a modular design that allows you to add the necessary modules. For example, this could be a hanging water tank, a convector screen, and the like.
• TMF is a manufacturer of a wide range of stoves and has several very popular models. Focuses on inexpensive but high-quality devices.
• Helo is a company from Finland that has been most successful in the production of sauna equipment. Its electric ovens are especially popular. It stands out for its interesting technological solutions, offering devices from premium to quite affordable.
• Harvia is another Finnish company whose popularity in our country was primarily due to electric ovens. Its products combine efficiency with smooth heating and stylish design.

Which heat exchanger material is better?

A heat exchanger is a reservoir in which water is heated so that bathhouse visitors have the opportunity to rinse off after the steam room.

The most popular are stainless steel heat exchangers.

They are inexpensive and resistant to rust, but if the water contains a lot of harmful impurities, such a heat exchanger will quickly fail.

In general, copper heat exchangers are considered the best . Their cost is high, but it is fully justified by the long service life of the device and its resistance to corrosion.

What to look for when choosing

For all the same basic parameters of the stove: body material, fuel, power, heated volume, and so on. It is worth analyzing the most important parameters, based on which you will need to make a choice.

Location

Here the features of the construction will be important, namely, whether the bathhouse consists only of a steam room and a dressing room or has extensions. In the first case, the only location option is to install the stove in the steam room. If the bathhouse is divided into washing rooms and a steam room, then the stove is placed so as to heat both at once. Accordingly, it will be important to choose a stove whose design takes this into account.

Fuel

Based on the fuel used, there are three main categories of stoves:

• Wood-burning - there is no need to complain about the lack of wood in Russia, and therefore wood-burning stoves remain popular. With them you can best feel the atmosphere of a classic bath - the steam is exactly as it should be, and the smell of firewood is, after all, an important part of it. But such a stove takes a long time to heat up, and it needs a chimney.
• Gas - they heat up quickly, the fuel is cheap, and you don’t have to bother with it like with firewood. The disadvantage is that you must obtain permission to install such a stove, since if installed incorrectly or poorly maintained, it can be dangerous.
• Electric – Easy to install and maintain, these stoves are best suited for heating small spaces. The fact is that constantly heating a large bathhouse with electricity will be too expensive.

There are also hybrid options that can switch from one type of fuel to another if necessary.

Heated volume

Any model is designed to heat a room of a certain volume. There are no special tricks here: you just need to choose it based on the volume that will need to be heated.

Burning time

In addition to the usual ones, there are also models with the ability to burn for a long time. If you often need to add fuel to simple ones, then these can work on one tab for many hours - sometimes 8-10. They have two modes - normal, in which heating is carried out, and long-burning - in which the temperature is simply maintained.

Housing material

Based on the material from which the stoves are made, there are three types:

• Brick - they need to build a foundation, they have a complex structure, and they will take a long time to heat up. Therefore, gradually fewer and fewer of them are being built, but they also have advantages: after warming up, they will retain heat for a long time, and are effective for large areas.
• Cast iron ones weigh a lot, which is why they also require a foundation, but due to the material they accumulate heat very well and are released by gentle heating of the air. A cast iron stove can last for many years.
• Steel ones are the easiest to install and can be very compact. A foundation is not needed, which in many cases predetermines the choice in their favor. Steel is inferior to cast iron due to the fact that the thickness of the walls of stoves made from it is smaller, it cools quickly, and heating will not be as pleasant - but these disadvantages can be smoothed out if you purchase models made of chrome fabric and with thicker walls.

Power

One of the key parameters is that it is best to determine how powerful the stove will be needed at the very beginning, and then build from there. It is important that the power is accurately calculated: if it turns out to be lower than required, then the stove will have to work for wear and tear and will soon need to be replaced, but you should not take too much power - the air in the steam room in this case heats up too quickly, and even when it becomes hot , the stones will not warm up.

Features of choosing electrical options

It is necessary to give preference to a model of a modern design, that is, with two reliable housings, and such that the outer one cools the inner one, in which the heating element will be located. And it needs to be placed in the corner of the steam room, and it should be installed on a ceramic base and with a protective fence - to prevent injuries that can be caused by accidentally touching a hot surface.

Advantages of electric heaters

When choosing an electric oven, focus on the following parameters:

• good heating rate with a high degree of safety;
• the ability to flexibly adjust the temperature and the presence of other additional functions;
• ease of maintenance and operation;
• Possibility of use in an apartment.

The disadvantages include the following:

• high cost of electricity;
• use only in sauna and dry-air steam room mode.

There is an opinion that during operation such equipment produces electromagnetic radiation. But so far no one has provided convincing evidence of the validity of this point of view. And in any case, the heat generator does not produce a frequency above 50 Hz, at which the generated field could be harmful to health, so you can calm down.

The best gas stoves for saunas

TMF Urengoy

A constantly updated and modified model from one of the leaders in the domestic market, the Urengoy stove combines thermal efficiency, safety and reliability, and all previous shortcomings have been corrected by the company, based on feedback from users who purchased previous versions. The stove is designed to heat a volume of 12 m³, has a chimney, and its firebox volume is 42 liters. According to its characteristics, this is an optimally balanced device suitable for many baths.

It stands out because of its interior - all pipes, valves, etc. are hidden behind a glass door, the stove looks simple, everything in it is arranged conveniently. The manufacturer provides a 1-year warranty. Such a stove will cost about 13,000 rubles, which allows us to consider it a good choice in terms of price and parameters.

Price: ₽ 13,010

TMF Taimyr XXL 2021 Inox

Designed for rooms with a volume of up to 24 m³. The firebox has a volume of 40 liters, and the internal heater has a volume of 47 liters. The dimensions are not that large for such a powerful device: 645 x 450 x 1010 mm. Made from heat-resistant steel. Cost - from 23,000 to 28,000 rubles.

The heater is enlarged and reinforced with double stitching. The stove is notable for the fact that it can create a high humidity regime without overheating the room - the same as in a traditional bathhouse. Creates soft warmth - it will be very pleasant to be in the bathhouse with it. Unlike many analogues - essentially wood-burning stoves converted for gas - this model was designed from the very beginning specifically for gas, which made it possible to take into account all the associated nuances.

Price: RUB 23,930

Which company should you choose?

When choosing a wood-burning sauna stove, you should not forget about the authority of the manufacturer. Only products from trusted brands are distinguished by high quality and thoughtful functionality, which means they will last for many years.

An analysis of user reviews for 2021, as well as expert recommendations, showed that Vesuvius, Harvia, Teplodar, Berezka, TMF and Konvetika were recognized as the best stove manufacturers.

The most successful models of these brands are included in the rating.

The best wood-burning stoves for saunas

Varvara Kamenka (extended firebox)

One of the variants of a long-proven model. The unusual firebox immediately attracts attention. Through the heat-resistant glass of the door you can observe the burning of wood inside the stove. With its help you can heat up to 24 m³ of area.

Thanks to the stone lining, heat can be maintained for a long time. The room heats up quickly - within an hour and a half, if the thermal insulation in it is correct. The stove has a function for adjusting the flame level. Its weight is 120 kg. You can purchase it for 14,000 – 22,000 rubles, which is not much for a device of this class. In general, it is practically devoid of shortcomings, which is not surprising for the development of a line of such successful models, and boasts an interesting design.

Price: RUB 23,730

Vesuvius Skif 22

This 22 kW stove is designed to heat up to 22 m³. The main characteristics are standard: this relates to weight, dimensions, and chimney parameters. The thickness of the steel stands out - 12 mm, a good indicator. It’s still difficult to compete with cast iron, but thanks to this, the stove retains heat better, heats softer and more evenly than most other steel models.

It has a “clean glass” system, thanks to which relatively little soot will settle on the oven glass, which means you will have to care for it less often. Another advantage is its low cost: this model is available for approximately 17,000 – 20,000 rubles. The design of the device is classic, the shape is convenient for installation, and the oven does not take up much space.

Price: RUB 19,390

Hephaestus ZK P 18

The cast iron stove is designed for a steam room with a volume of 6 to 18 m³ (the manufacturer has more powerful modifications designed for larger rooms). It has a high efficiency rate of 90%, it is achieved due to the unusual design of the walls, thanks to which heat from the firebox is quickly transferred to the steam room. The heater retains heat for a long time.

Weighs 166 kg with small dimensions due to the material. SCh20 cast iron with the addition of chromium is used, due to which the heating with this stove will be very soft. The wall thickness ranges from 10 to 60 mm. The chimney is also made of cast iron, which ensures durability of the entire structure - with cast iron stoves with a chimney made of a different material, it is often the first to fail. Costs about 58,000 rubles.

Price: ₽ 58,000

No. 6. Steam source

Sauna stoves can be conventional or with a steam generator . What is the last one for? And in order to provide the room with a sufficient amount of steam when the stove itself cannot cope. The first sign of a real Russian bath is dry and light steam. Not all modern ovens are capable of producing it in sufficient quantities.

Light steam is obtained at a temperature in the steam room of 850C. In this case, finely dispersed steam is obtained when water hits stones heated to 5000C. With such heating, the air temperature certainly rises, to incredible limits, and as a result, you can get a burn. To prevent this from happening, they created ovens with a steam generator . It warms up much faster than the stones and saturates the steam room with the necessary steam, while the air temperature in it remains optimal.

The best electric sauna stoves

Harvia Delta D36

A small and technologically advanced sauna stove: its power of 3.6 kW is enough to heat a room with a volume of no more than 5 m³. At the same time, it costs like a full-fledged oven with much greater power - from 23,000 to 28,000 rubles. It's simple: it weighs very little (8 kilograms), so it can be freely moved from place to place, while it warms up quickly and ensures long-term heat retention.

Delta D36 already takes up little space, but thanks to the triangular shape of the case, it can be placed in the very corner, and it will not interfere at all. It can also be attached to the wall, for which a bracket is included in the kit. The oven is controlled using a remote control located on the bottom of the housing. Thus, this model is a very simple and quick way to organize a sauna, and you can also take it with you.

Price: ₽ 25,200

Sawo ARIES ARI3-60NB

Another compact electric oven designed for installation in a corner. At the same time, it exceeds the previous reviewed model in terms of power - 6 kW makes it possible to effectively warm up a room with a volume of up to 8 m³, which makes it a priority choice for owners of steam rooms of this volume. After all, in other respects it is also very convenient - it weighs only 13 kg, there is a remote control with which you can set the settings.

It warms up the room very quickly, in 10-15 minutes, and if you add water, it fills it with fine steam, just like in a real Russian bathhouse. If you do without water, the stove will create a dry sauna - the air will warm up evenly. Externally, the model is stylized as a brick one. Cost – about 34,000 rubles.

Price: RUB 33,990

Vaping method: selection according to parameters

Start with the simplest thing - think about who will take a steam bath and how often, or maybe even just wash. For professional use (when providing paid services) you will need one heating equipment, for constant relaxation among amateurs - another, for simple family gatherings on occasion - a third, for undemanding beginners - a fourth.

It’s also worth deciding what type of steam room to make. If it is Russian, then she needs a closed heater, made of brick or metal, but with a stone lining, and so that its vents are closed. Then it will be possible to easily control convection, that is, regulate heated air flows. If it is a Finnish sauna, then, as a rule, it is a steel stove with convection casings for heating the steam room as quickly as possible. Moreover, to soften hard radiation, such furnaces are lined with stone or a mesh casing.

Temperature/humidity ratio

In other words, microclimate. One piece of equipment can create real heat in a matter of minutes, but at the same time dry out the air. Another is to provide a soft and even gentle atmosphere, but not warm the room properly.

A stove for a Russian bath should produce up to 60°C at 55-60% humidity, a Finnish sauna requires 90°C and 15%, and a Turkish hammam requires up to 45°C and up to 100%, respectively.

Based on this, the area of ​​infrared radiation when heating a material becomes especially important: the larger it is, the drier the air, and vice versa.

The best combined sauna stoves (with tank)

Ermak Uralochka-20

The model can run on either wood or gas. This is a very convenient option, since it allows you to heat the sauna even in the event of gas shortages, or vice versa, if you run out of wood. You can heat up to 20 m³ of volume with this stove, which is enough in most cases.

Made of stainless steel containing up to 17% chromium - thanks to it it is easier to breathe in the steam room. Uralochka-20 is easy to repair, serves for many years, is environmentally friendly, and has a simple and convenient design. The cost is about 15,000 - 18,000 rubles. The combination of a low price with the ability to operate on two types of fuel and good power makes this model one of the best options for larger-than-average rooms.

Price: RUB 14,880

Ermak 36 Lux

Quite a productive, but also expensive stove, capable of heating a room with a volume of up to 40 m³ with a power of 36 kW. The body, unlike most competitors, is made not of cast iron, but of stainless steel, which determines the high cost: you can purchase the model at a price of 128,000 rubles. The stove is very solid, weighs almost half a ton, which is not surprising given the wall thickness of up to 40 mm.

Most often, such a stove is used when it is necessary to heat several rooms at once - it copes with this with ease. It heats up to 750 degrees, providing an ideal atmosphere and light steam in the bath - thick walls allow it to do this much better than any other of the models considered. Its fuel consumption is very low, and the heater will retain its temperature for several hours even after the fire is finished. If a large budget has been allocated for the purchase of a stove, then first of all attention should be paid to this model.

Price: RUB 129,525

How to choose a stove

The best sauna stoves are those that completely match the parameters of steam rooms. Before purchasing, you need to measure the volume of the room so as not to miss the heater’s power.

The choice of stove material depends on the intensity of use of the bath and personal preferences. If you like quick heating, then you should prefer steel; if it is uniform and long, then cast iron is suitable.

It is important to consider where the firewood will come from. For a steam room that is heated from the dressing room, you should choose models with an external tunnel, in other cases - with a regular one.

If you want to purchase a wood-burning stove, check whether the ash pan of the stove you like is large enough.

Comparative table of the best sauna stoves

No. 8. Heater type

Furnaces can be:

• with open heater. Flue gases heat the walls of the stove and the buried stones. You can start steaming literally immediately, but cooling down occurs quickly. These are safe stoves; soot does not accumulate on the stones; however, more fuel is consumed here than in stoves with a closed heater, but you can stay in the steam room as long as you like.

• with a closed heater. In such furnaces, the stones are heated not by the metal, but directly. To obtain the desired temperature, the oven must be heated for several hours, but then it itself maintains heat for 10-12 hours. Such stoves were previously used in public baths, but now they are rarely used. The efficiency here is much higher, but you won’t be able to steam until the stones are completely warmed up. Soot collects on the stones, and safety is somewhat lower.

FAQ

Which stoves are better - steel or cast iron? Cast iron ones give off heat better and last longer, and in the baths with them there is “light steam”. But they also cost more.

Is there a difference between stoves for baths and saunas? Electric ones are usually used for saunas, because they do not require steam.

Why is a sauna stove not suitable for heating a living space? It is designed to heat up quickly and cools down relatively quickly - more fuel will have to be consumed to maintain heat.

What is better: making a stove yourself or buying it? Depends on whether you know how to make them, or whether you have the opportunity to turn to trusted craftsmen, as well as the funds for this (most likely, it will cost more than buying a ready-made one). If yes, then it is quite possible to make your own stove.

Characteristics of choosing a furnace

• Steam room volume. This parameter determines how powerful the oven is required to perform rapid heating. The average size of steam rooms is 18 m3. When calculating power, it is taken into account that approximately 1 kW of power is consumed per 1 m3 of room.
• A mass of stones. The more stones go into the oven, the longer the heat will remain in the bathhouse. The optimal value is 100 kg. If there are too few stones, the stove will store little heat and cool down quickly (literally after several pumps of water into the heater).
• Weight. Lightweight models are easier to transport and install. However, the sauna stove is installed permanently and then does not move anywhere, so during operation the weight of the device does not matter much. But keep in mind that powerful models are usually heavier. And if the equipment is compact, it may not have very high power.
• Chimney diameter. Most stoves are made with a chimney with a diameter of 115 mm. However, other sizes are possible. It is necessary that the value coincides with the diameter of the combustion chamber outlet.
• Dimensions. The height of sauna stoves usually does not exceed 1 m, this is enough for comfortable watering of stones. The width is 50-60 cm, the depth is 70-90 cm. The deeper the firebox, the longer the firewood can be loaded into it.

Technical parameters may differ for different models. However, all sauna stoves presented in our rating of wood-burning sauna stoves have high performance, are reliable and easy to use, which is confirmed by reviews from numerous users.

Tips for choosing

When purchasing, we advise you to be guided by several criteria and aspects:

• Popularity of the company. Before purchasing, be sure to check out popular manufacturers and read reviews about them.
• Certification and patents. They are important and are responsible for the safety level of stoves.
• Models and their variety. In this case, start from your wishes and needs, select materials, model and design that will fit perfectly into your bath complex.

We hope that the information in our article will give you an understanding of the specifics of stoves, and it will be much easier for you to choose the ideal and profitable option. Thank you for your attention, we wish you successful and safe shopping!

Stove finish

For a more aesthetic appearance, increased safety and improved quality of heat transfer, a metal stove is often lined, always preserving space for an air gap.

The following types of finishing of the stove in the bathhouse are used:

1. The most common is tile. They use clinker and marble tiles, majolica, and terracotta.
2. The tiles are very beautiful, original, and also have the highest level of heat transfer compared to other materials, but they are very expensive.
3. The most economical type of finishing is brick. Even a home craftsman can handle facing the stove with brick.
4. Artificial or natural stone such as marble, serpentine, granite and porcelain stoneware.
5. Installing a steel case on the stove body, which maintains the thermal level, however, such a finish is unsafe, since when the case heats up, it can cause burns.
6. Plastering the walls of the stove is a classic solution in the old style.

Each finish is beautiful in its own way if made from high quality materials.