Pipe mesh for stones in the bath: purpose, types and installation

Anyone who grew up far from the bustle of the city, or at least once visited his grandmother in the village, knows what it means to have a bath in his house. The opportunity to heat the sauna and steam with a broom after a fruitful day in the garden is worth a lot.

But in order to wash in the bath, it is necessary to properly prepare the stove for operation. Many people know that a sauna stove consists of several elements:

• blocks;
• hulls;
• chimney;
• furnaces;
• ash box;
• heaters.

In this article, we will pay attention to the heater, more precisely, the space next to the pipe, which is bent around by a special mesh. Let's take a closer look at what this mesh is needed for, is it safe, and is it possible to build it yourself.

You have probably noticed that in a sauna or on display models of stoves in a store, a special additional mesh is installed on the chimney, and it is filled with stones.

This device is called an economizer - a special mesh with stones that goes around the chimney and carries additional important functions.

What is the main function of this simple unit, let's figure it out. While the bath is being heated, the entire surface of the stove heats up and distributes heat. The longer the stove is heated, the more heat, which means that the surface of the stove is heated. The chimney itself, that is, the chimney, is also heating up, and if you have ever heated a bath yourself, you might have noticed that after an hour and a half of intensive heating, the chimney turns red from the heat. This is especially true for winter, when the bath has to be heated longer.

The function of the economizer is to minimize the heat coming from the chimney. The air in a small room warms up, and the humidity drops sharply. If the heating temperature is over 60 degrees, then it is dangerous for a person who has never gone to a bath before, he can get heatstroke. Therefore, economizers are increasingly used, because the stones around the stove take some of the heat, redistributing it.

The second and main function is that the stones simply do not allow the pipe to overheat, which means that the chimney will fail much later.

Each mesh is selected individually, taking into account the preferences of the consumer, as well as the shape and size range of the stove itself.

The shape of the mesh can be round, square, conical, diamond-shaped or oval. The mesh can be made in the form of a lattice or basket.

The length of the mesh is also calculated based on the dimensions of the chimney. The economizer can be as long as the entire chimney, or it can be half or even a quarter.

The mesh can have a specific design or it can be made in a minimalist style. Manufacturers often make a mesh from thick or thin rods that are arranged in a diamond or square shape.

There are a huge number of nets for stones in the bath on the market. Each brand's product line includes both an economical mesh option and the most expensive luxury option. Here the choice is up to the buyer.

But many enthusiasts want to create an economizer on their own. Indeed, you can make a similar product yourself at low cost.To make an economizer yourself, you will need certain materials.

If you have scraps of this metal, then you can safely use them. The amount of steel must be calculated based on the ratio of the diameter and length of the future mesh.

It is worth remembering that do not use galvanized iron or just a sheet of iron to make the mesh. If the temperature is too high, zinc will release harmful or even poisonous substances, and the iron will corrode and quickly crumble.

Thanks to such rivets, sheets or strips of steel are held together.

The mesh cells (holes between the rods) should not be too large, as small stones can simply fall out.

It is quite easy to put on a mesh on these "ears". The more the pipe is covered by the economizer, the better.

In addition to the fact that it is necessary to use certain materials for the economizer, you should also pay attention to the stones with which you will fill the niche.

Any store will present you with a wide selection of stones of all sizes. The most popular types of stone are:

• diabase - stone based on full-crystalline fine-grained volcanic rocks;
• talcochlorite - the stone is composed of talc, chlorite and magnesite.

For the most part, soapstone is a decorative stone, often used in construction.

Their advantage lies in the fact that they differ from other stones in their special strength and durability. They have a nice appearance.

The sizes and diameters of stones are different, so they are suitable for any mesh, without exception.

Over time, the mesh will gradually deform, and stones, if they are too different in shape, may sag or press on a weak point in the structure. Therefore, you should choose stones of the same shape, it is preferable that they are all round.

Everyone decides for himself which mesh is better to buy. It is worth taking a closer look at the advantages of both factory and homemade products.

The advantages of a factory mesh are that:

• the frame has the correct shape;
• has an ergonomic look;
• practically does not undergo deformation;
• there are various forms and types.

A hand-made product is different:

• the price - the purchase of materials and installation will be cheaper;
• the required size of the economizer;
• identical characteristics as the factory models.

Correctly selected mesh will not only extend the life of the stove, but also make your rest in the sauna more comfortable.

For information on how to make a stainless steel grate, see below.