Electric ovens for a bath: features of choice

Modern technologies make it possible to make the process of heating baths easy and simple. Electric heating eliminates the need to use flammable liquid combustible or explosive gas, the appearance of smoke and soot, and allows you not to accumulate stocks of coal and firewood. It is important to choose the design carefully in order to exclude the occurrence of problems. Consider the intricacies of the device and the features of choosing an electric furnace for a bath, we will study its advantages and disadvantages.

An electric oven for a bath does not require complex maintenance, like a wood-burning option. Electric current is many times more expensive than firewood; it will not work to mount the device without a professional electrician. If you invite a specialist, he can indicate that the wiring will not cope with the task at hand or the power supply in a particular place is not powerful and reliable enough. In addition, the difficulty lies in the mandatory grounding of the structure, part of the necessary work is supposed to be done during the construction process.

Those who did not immediately decide on the type of furnace or decided to use electric heating after some time will have to make expensive and time-consuming major repairs. The waterproofing layer is covered with a special mesh, the perimeter is bordered with a strip of steel, the entire structure is electrically connected to the zero phase of the shield. But this does not mean that the classic wood-burning stoves are easier and easier to install. A base must be prepared for them (ideally, a separate foundation). When choosing a remote firebox, you will need to create a fire-resistant wall, and the construction of a good chimney is fraught with many subtleties.

The stove, powered by electricity, in its simplest version, is powered by heating elements hidden in the body with a bowl. The gaps between the heaters are filled with special bath stones. Electric units heat the stones themselves, and the air receives heat from them. This format is called "electric heater". The stove is placed on the floor or mounted on the wall (with legs and brackets). Some electric models allow both types of installation.

A stand-alone remote control must be selected carefully: it does not always have enough length for a particular steam room. For some models, the remote control is included in the kit, for others it is bought independently. When evaluating electric ovens, one should be interested in the presence of a steam generator. The quality of heating and comfort when washing depends on it.

An important parameter is the mass of stones used. When it is 100 kg or more, the oven reaches the required conditions in 90 - 120 minutes after starting. The severity of air heating decreases, the temperature is distributed more evenly throughout the room. Since the amount of stones is large, water can be poured: the stone part will not have time to cool down, the heating elements will not come into contact with the liquid (it will evaporate earlier). Models that can be watered operate at a voltage of 380 volts and consume a lot of current (this is predictable, because large stones need to be heated).

The described type of furnaces costs about 60 thousand rubles, even when operating from a heating element (not tape heating elements). Stoves containing relatively few stones (up to 40 kg) allow you to warm up a small area in 30 minutes. It will be possible to pour water only occasionally and in small portions. Before doing this, you should check whether the stones are heated.Small stoves are preferable for saunas, since this mode allows them to work much longer than in a traditional Russian bath.

Hence the conclusion: using a small-format oven operating from a 220 V network, it is easy to prepare an electric sauna in an apartment. The room will warm up quickly, and there is no need to create high humidity. The cost of the construction is from 20 to 40 thousand rubles. There is no need for additional reinforcement of the wiring if it is in good condition.

Thermoses are ovens with a closed body circuit. The upper part of the product is equipped with a lid. The inner volume contains stones: they, being surrounded by thermal insulation, heat up. A furnace of this kind can operate in a constant readiness mode, spending 1 kW per 4 hours to keep the stones warm. Such a boiler is optimal for those who prefer to visit the bathhouse at the end of the working day: they came back, started the system, did urgent things, and after a few hours they calmly went to wash. It is the thermoses that provide thoroughly heated fine steam, which is familiar in the Russian tradition.

This circumstance is valuable, because thermoses cost about 70 - 90 thousand rubles. Models with a steam generator inside are filled with water (and hot is better, since it allows you to quickly reach the desired mode). In a wooden bath, the optimal power of an electric oven is from 1.3 to 1.5 kW per 1 cubic meter. m. steam room. If it is equipped in a panel house with good insulation, these indicators can be reduced to 800 - 1000 W per m3.

Regardless of the thermal insulation of the enclosures, it is advisable to prepare a wooden fence. This is important in the case of homemade electric ovens, which can have many disadvantages. Devices more powerful than 7 kW work well only when powered from three-phase sources - and suitable power supply lines are not available everywhere. At the moment of turning on or stopping the furnace, the network may be subject to voltage surges, which is not always convenient for other consumers. Even equipment in the same house can be damaged. Stabilizers help to avoid this problem.

If the stove reaches the maximum or close to it mode, then depending on the boiler power, the quality of thermal insulation and the volume of the room, the required heating is achieved in 30 - 120 minutes. After reaching the desired value, the stove should switch to the heating maintenance mode, which can occur in manual and automatic modes. Electric heaters are equipped with thermostats, advanced versions of which can even stabilize the humidity in the room.

An important parameter in saunas is to maintain a balance between energy conservation and ventilation. The intake of fresh air increases the current consumption. If the inflow of fresh air masses is small, there is a risk of fainting or suffocation in washers. Check if the heat protection of the ovens is good: in most cases they are covered with several steel sheets. Cladding with ceramic tiles and natural stones also does a good job of protecting against burns. When buying an electric oven, you need to be interested in what diameter of heat-resistant wires is required for specific equipment.

Compared to electric counterparts, forced-draft sauna stoves are significantly inferior and not so practical. The fireplace can be combined with a sauna stove in one device. Such solutions are good because they allow you to sit and relax in the warmth after the end of the main procedure. The stone door of the fireplace part is made mainly of cermets. The Firebird is an electric stove that fully meets all the basic requirements for sauna heating.

The developers have summarized all the achievements of Russian and foreign industry. This made it possible to increase the uptime by 40% in comparison with steel counterparts. The device itself is made of high quality cast iron and contains a number of innovations. The heat exchange is good, the retention of heat in the steam room is not difficult to carry out.There are economical, standard, classic and elite modifications on the market. The last two versions are available with coil and hypochlorite cladding to choose from.

Initially, electric stoves were adapted for the sauna (Finnish bath). They are ideal for dry air and strong heating. In a Russian bath, the air should be cooler and more humid, not just any steam is suitable, but only light, given off by heated stones. Throwing water into an electric oven is simply dangerous: heating elements can break. The solution is to purchase a steam generator, which can be built-in and autonomous in design.

Different steamers have different effects, only some models allow the release of finely dispersed steam. Even the finest Finnish ingredients are not very well suited for this task. It is far more accurate to use Russian products, they are affordable. The rule, familiar to many from wood-burning stoves (“correct steam only in closed stoves”) works only for a wood-burning stove.

The more powerful the device, the faster it will warm up the bath. Powerful electric ovens are rational only in large steam rooms. It is recommended to choose a “thermos” type ovens for the Russian bathhouse, which cost at least 100 thousand rubles. Options with heating elements are considered the cheapest, but the heating element is not strong enough (in open design). The tape heating block is stronger, it consumes less current, the heating part is hidden inside the ceramic tape.

An important point is the control system. The built-in version implies the placement of buttons, levers and handles on the body, the remote version - on a separate panel. A typical set of options is temperature correction, delayed start-up by a certain time, and shutdown after a certain period. Without these functions, even if there is a steam generator, the model can not be considered. Electric ovens with water tanks, apart from tanks for supplying the steam generator, do not exist.

Electric ovens from different manufacturers should be divided into two main groups: made in Russia and produced abroad. Among Russian firms, it is worth paying attention to the products of Polytech under the Christina brand. The undoubted advantages of such a product are affordability and the use of tape-type heaters in the device circuit.

The budget category includes:

• Ermak;
• "Electric oven";
• "Vesta".

Among foreign suppliers on the Russian market, the leading places are occupied by Finnish companies. Electric ovens from Germany are considered good. German product reviews EOS show that it produces not very elegant, but stable working electric heaters. Mechanical strength and reliability for the developers of this concern are in the first place. In the line of the German company there are cylindrical stoves. Installation of many options is possible on the floor, on the wall or under a bench. Some designs operate on a 400 V network.

Germanic Klafs company produces high-quality exclusive models. They are made and decorated with extremely expensive materials, and the latest technological advances are actively used.

If you want to save money, it's worth buying Swedish Tylo ovens, which are capable of operating in the mode of a sauna and a traditional Russian stove.

The Finnish product is represented by three main brands - Narvi, Harvia and Saunatec... All of them make relatively affordable options suitable for small baths. In most cases, these are wall-mounted models. Harvia has developed the Symphony electric oven, which is ready for use at any time.

In the absence of knowledge about the design of stoves for saunas and baths, how to connect them and the slightest uncertainty about your preparation, it is better to contact a specialist.Attempts by non-professionals to independently mount an electric furnace can be deadly, even provoke a fire. According to the technology, it is permissible to connect only to stationary power grids. If the power exceeds 4500 W, you will have to create a three-phase network; for less powerful heaters, a single-phase one is also suitable.

The installation of remote control devices cannot even deviate in the slightest from the requirements of the instructions drawn up by the manufacturer. Prepare in advance the lead-in to the furnaces of copper supply cables of a strictly specified cross-section. The gaps between the parts of the heaters and the surfaces of baths, saunas should be kept at least at the recommended values. The installation of stoves on a flammable material is strictly prohibited; it is more correct to lay out the base with ceramic tiles.

From the protective enclosure of the electric oven to the shelves of easily combustible materials, a gap of at least 70 mm must be maintained. The stones in the sauna are thoroughly washed with running water, taken in the required amount and installed according to the instructions. It is fundamentally unacceptable to start the furnace into operation without placing the required number of prepared stones inside. In the room where the electric heater is installed, it is necessary to use lamps in a splash-proof design. This is due to security requirements.

Ventilation adjustment is a prerequisite. The air inlet must be arranged at about 50 - 100 mm from the edge of the floor, the outlet is made opposite the oven. When installing, take into account the difference in location. One approach is used during installation in a steam room, another principle is needed if the oven is placed in a dressing room.

The choice of the model should be in a store with a good reputation. This will eliminate the purchase of a fake or product of inadequate quality. Pay attention to the components, the capabilities of the unit, ease of installation: this will allow you to better understand the operation of the furnace and the scope of installation work. To make the purchase successful, you can first scroll through the reviews of the model you like.

So it will be possible to understand how the device's performance corresponds to that declared by the manufacturer. Pay attention to a small nuance: a quality product is not cheap, it cannot be bought at a sale. In addition, the products of reputable brands are distinguished by the presence of documentation in the form of a quality certificate and compliance with safety standards.

For an overview of the electric oven for a bath, see the following video.