How and how to properly heat an iron stove in a bath? How to properly heat a Russian bath: choosing firewood, preparing the stove and kindling it Is it possible to heat a bath with poplar


The firebox is a whole ritual. Let us consider in more detail all the subtleties of bathing art.

He had his own science - how to heat a bathhouse. For example, only birch firewood went into the bath: they give a persistent heat after themselves.
The story "Alyosha Beskonvoyny", Vasily Shukshin

Before laying firewood in the firebox, the grate and the ash chamber are cleaned of residues of combustion products in order to completely release air access to the burning fuel, otherwise the stove with a blower will turn into a stove with a dead hearth, which is uneconomical. The increased humidity of firewood worsens combustion, so they are pre-dried.


It is necessary to lay firewood with gaps and in such a way that at least 200 mm remain to the top of the firebox. It is desirable to heat the bath with birch dry firewood, from which there is less soot, or with aspen, pine, oak, spruce, etc.

Do not throw painted wood, plastic, roofing felt, bitumen into the furnace. Do not overheat the stove: cracks will appear in the lining and masonry. When there is no bluish-blue flame above the remaining coals in the furnace (a consequence of the combustion of poisonous carbon monoxide, the so-called carbon monoxide), the furnace is considered finished. After 5-10 minutes, you can tightly close all doors and dampers.

To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, do not light the stove late in the evening. If the design provides for the operation of the furnace on coal or anthracite, the valve should be installed in such a way that it closes loosely and a gap of at least 10-15 mm remains.

First, the stove is fired with small wood. A layer of coal of 50-60 mm is poured on them. After the coal flares up well, the backfill thickness is adjusted to 150 mm, but no more, otherwise fuel consumption will be uneconomical. After the furnace is completed, the remaining coals are raked onto the grate so that they are well blown with air coming from the blower.

If there is no grate, they rake up closer to the outlet of the furnace. With abundant gas formation in the firebox, flame ejection may occur. This usually happens when they try to melt the stove with flammable liquids (gasoline, kerosene, etc.). With a high concentration of gases, an explosion can occur, which can not only destroy the furnace, but also cause a fire.


The firebox cannot be loaded with a new portion of fuel (especially fine fraction), completely covering the hot surface of the furnace bottom: it “languishes”, releasing a large amount of volatile substances, without flaring up due to the absence of a flame and a decrease in temperature. In this case, the concentration of gases increases sharply and at the first appearance of a flame an explosion occurs.

Therefore, fine-fraction fuel must be loaded into the furnace in small portions, giving it the opportunity to flare up gradually. Open the furnace door carefully so as not to cause a sudden fire.

Instructions on how to properly heat the bath:

  • The hardest part is the kindling. First of all, open the valve in the pipe, otherwise carbon monoxide will not come out. Be sure to check this condition before each kindling.
  • Chop wood chips and prepare 4 logs. In addition, you will need newsprint.
  • Place 6-7 crumpled sheets of paper in the oven. Put the chips on them, and mark 4 logs on top, preferably perfectly dry. Moreover, it is desirable to distribute the logs across the entire width of the stove, and not put on top of each other.
  • Set fire to the paper under each of the logs and quickly close the firebox, otherwise you will blow smoke. Do not be afraid, in 95% the fire will flare up, so it is not necessary to follow it with an open firebox.

  • Throw in more firewood after 15 minutes. How often to throw them up in the future depends on their dryness, but in the first hour of the firebox, the main thing is not to miss the moment - to throw it up when the old firewood, which has turned into coals, begins to break into several pieces. Somewhere in 1.5-2 hours, the temperature in the furnace will rise greatly, and it will be possible to throw up even when only coals remain in the stove.
  • Throw new firewood as close to the door as possible and as far from the chimney as possible. Thus, you will increase the area of ​​\u200b\u200bcontact between the fire and the pipe, which will reduce the time that you will heat the bath.
  • With good draft (this is evidenced by bright red, as if swollen coals in the furnace), after 2 hours you can close the valve halfway. It will also reduce the time it takes you to heat the sauna and save fuel.
  • It is better to steam brooms directly in the steam room when at least 60 ° C has run up in it.
  • Do not start heating the bath if there are wooden containers in the steam room (for example, a bucket from which they throw it up) that are not filled with water. This will cause them to dry out quickly.
  • If the bath is new, it heats up well, and you are satisfied with the temperature, then you can start steaming. The valve can be closed only when all the carbon monoxide has left the furnace. If, after stirring the coals in the furnace, you see the appearance of a bluish-greenish flame, then carbon monoxide is still present. In a bath, which is difficult to melt and which quickly loses temperature, it is necessary to remove all the coals from the furnace and completely close the valve.

In order for the bath to always smell good and have a good heat, you need to take care of the quality of firewood. Bad wood can cause unpleasant odors in the sauna, such as mold or swamp, and it can also take much more wood than usual to heat the sauna.

The better to heat the bath

oak firewood

The oak must be of middle age. Young oak does not give the necessary heat, and fills the bath with the smell of charcoal. There is a lot of decrepit wood in the old oak, from which there is more ash than heat. The air in the bath, heated with old oak, will be heavy. Good firewood fills the bath with heat and the aroma of the forest and freshness.

birch firewood

The most common firewood is birch. They ignite easily and burn with a long, even flame. The heat from the stove, heated with birch firewood, disinfects the bath, filling it with a light fragrant aroma. However, birch firewood becomes less fragrant after two years of storage. In addition, if the dosage of air in the stove is incorrect, when the wood burns smoky, tar and birch tar are sublimated along with the smoke. It settles quite abundantly on the walls of the pipe, and sometimes flows down if the pipe is thin-walled and cools easily. The abundance of tar on the walls of the pipe is a fire hazard.

Linden firewood

Linden firewood has been used for special occasions since ancient times. For warriors who were wounded in battles with enemies, they heated hot baths with linden wood, gave them a decoction of linden blossom with linden honey. Linden spirit in the bath is healing for the skin and respiratory organs. Linden is quite difficult to kindle, it flares up slowly, but its headlights are long and persistent. Linden firewood should not be stored for more than two years.

Alder firewood

In Russia, alder firewood is considered royal. On the butt and chip, they are painted in the air in a reddish color and differ sharply from other logs. Alder firewood burns hot and almost does not smoke. For firewood, it is better to choose alder on soils with the least moisture. The bath, heated with alder firewood, has an anti-cold effect. Alder firewood dries quickly enough and retains its unique smell for a long time. Even after three years, alder firewood carries its own specific aroma.

Aspen firewood

In the villages they say: aspen does not burn without kerosene. This is because aspen wood is quite difficult to kindle. If you put aspen in an already melted stove, it burns hot enough and keeps the heat for a long time. In the villages, it is also believed that aspen firewood, when burned, cleans the chimney. Usually aspen firewood is cheaper than others. As a rule, aspen is a clumsy tree and is not fully used, there is a lot of waste that goes to firewood.

Coniferous firewood

The most common firewoods are softwood, spruce and pine. Pine, due to its higher resin content, burns hotter than spruce. It should be remembered that in tar firewood during combustion, a sharp increase in temperature, resin sinuses burst, small cavities in the wood where resin accumulates.
and this is a characteristic crack and sparks fly in all directions. Including the open oven door. When you add firewood or mix it with a poker, it is better to put on goggles and protect your eyes. And when the stove door is closed, look carefully at the floor near the stove to see if a spark has flown somewhere. It is better to prevent a fire than to extinguish it.

Coal

Often, instead of firewood for kindling, coal is used, which has both advantages and some disadvantages. First of all, the use of coal is more beneficial, since it takes less than firewood to heat the bath, in addition, the heat from burnt coal is stored for quite a long time. The disadvantages include increased humidity, which appears during combustion, as well as the lack of aroma, which is given by burning firewood.

In no case should you use old things, garbage, etc. for the firebox, as many materials are toxic and can harm those who are steaming.

It is known that 1 kilogram of dry firewood gives 2800 kcal. To get these calories when burning with various types of wood, you need to take the appropriate amount (in kilograms) of firewood, depending on their volumetric weight.
The volumetric weight of firewood in kg / cubic meter. to get 2800 kcal:

The old way of cleaning a chimney: wrap the potato peels in newspaper and put them in the firebox. Carry out this procedure periodically, and the chimney will be clean for a long time.


Many beginners in the bathing business are interested in the question of the correct heating of the bath with firewood. The correct execution of all algorithms for kindling, the timely preparation of the stove and the correct selection of firewood determine how well you can melt the bath. For those who do not have experience in heating a bath, it is recommended to use the following tips.

Preparing the furnace for the furnace

Before heating the bath, it is necessary to carry out measures to prepare the furnace. Preparatory measures include:

  1. thorough cleaning of the grate and ash chamber. The grate and blower must be carefully cleaned of the remaining coals and ash;
  2. treatment of stones with clean water;
  3. checking the cleanliness and serviceability of the chimney.

Caution: The stove chimney must be kept fully ventilated to avoid accumulation of life-threatening carbon monoxide.

You can check the draft in the chimney with a candle flame. First you need to open the smoke damper in the chimney, as well as the blower and the firebox door. After that, you should bring a lit match to the firebox. The direction of the flame must be observed. So, if the flame is drawn into the chimney, then the patency of the smoke is ensured.

If the flame does not move, then there is a risk of clogging the chimney, which leads to a decrease in draft. In this case, the owner of the stove must provide a preliminary cleaning of the chimney.

The better to heat the bath

Firewood is a traditional means for kindling a bath. Sometimes coal and dry manure are used. Each kindling material has its own characteristics, which must be taken into account when kindling the furnace.

Firewood

As a rule, the bath is heated with branches of various shrubs and trees. If the bath is located in a suburban area, then the owner of the bath has no difficulty in collecting material for the firebox.

Warning: Branches for kindling are recommended to be prepared in advance. The ideal time to collect wood is January and February. In winter, the tree freezes through, so chopping firewood becomes much easier than in summer. Wood harvested in winter is characterized by low humidity. Such characteristics contribute to an increase in the shelf life of the material.

When picking up branches, you should pay attention to their smell. It is important to check that there are a small number of knots on the tree.

What kind of firewood to heat the bath

The most common firebox materials are birch, alder, as well as some fruit trees and shrubs. When choosing types of wood for kindling, preference should be given to:

  • firewood from coniferous trees. Such wood gives the air in the bath a pleasant coniferous aroma due to the high content of essential oils. Aromatherapy contributes to the prevention of respiratory disorders, nervous diseases and general relaxation of the body.

Firewood is characterized by uniform burning, they are able to maintain heat in the bath for a long time.

Attention: the resin contained in the wood gives a crackling effect, small sparks occur. Sparks can cause a fire. That is why during kindling with coniferous trees it is necessary to ensure the protection of the fire safety of the premises;

  • firewood from hardwood trees, which are divided into:
  • wood of fruit trees. Cherry, apple, pear or plum logs have a pleasant fruity aroma. They burn quite well and contribute to the formation of a large amount of steam. When burning firewood from an apple tree, a minimum amount of smoke is generated;
  • aspen wood. Aspen flares up slowly and burns out quickly.

Important: The firebox with aspen logs helps to clean the chimney, since a long flame is formed without excess soot and soot. Thus, by burning aspen logs, you can clean the chimney in the furnace. If you mix aspen branches with potato peels, then the soot in the pipe will loosen even faster due to the effect of starch;

  • alder wood. Alder logs of a reddish-brown hue dry quickly, so they are often harvested for firing a stove in a bathhouse. Alder is stored for a long time and keeps its aroma for a long period of time. Alder firewood has a low resin content. They flare up well and keep the heat for a long time. When fired, logs do not form a fire;
  • linden wood. Such firewood maintains a persistent heat, but slowly flares up in the oven and burns quickly due to its low density. After burning the aspen, there is little coal and ash left. It is believed that the steam of the linden tree helps to increase immunity and protect against lung diseases. Linden wood firewood should not be stored for more than 2 years;
  • oak wood. This firewood maintains heat well and burns for a long time. When burned, high-quality oak logs exude fragrant steam with a tart smell;
  • birch wood. Birch branches, when burned, produce a disinfecting effect. Birch ignites easily and evenly. When burned, a large amount of tar and tar is released, which protects the room from fire.

What kind of wood should not be used

Persons who know what kind of firewood is best for heating a bathhouse can advise which firewood should be avoided. So, for the firebox it is not recommended to use:

  • firewood that has been impregnated with chemicals or other dangerous compounds.

Warning : Wood impregnated with chemicals may emit hazardous fumes when burned;

  • rotten firewood that burns poorly and forms a large amount of ash after combustion;
  • old logs and logs that can give off an unpleasant odor when burned.

Coal

Is it possible to heat a bath with coal, many who cannot harvest firewood or buy it at a high price want to know. Coal is an economical material. When burned, it maintains a higher temperature than wood.

The negative properties of coal is high smoke during kindling. It contributes to the gradual clogging of the chimney and furnace channels. That is why when kindling the stove with coal, it is recommended to monitor the patency of the chimney and maintain a high level of draft.

How to melt the stove in the bath

The procedure for kindling a bath includes the following sequential steps:

  1. the construction of a "seed", which is made from 4 small logs. You can also make it from paper, wood chips or wood shavings. To build a “seed”, it is necessary to lay 2 logs on the grate parallel to each other at a distance of about 10 cm. Crumpled paper is placed between the logs, which is sprinkled with shavings or wood chips. 2 more logs are placed on top;
  2. ignition of the “seed”, which is carried out using a match or a tablet of dry alcohol.

Attention: It is strictly forbidden to use flammable liquids, such as gasoline, kerosene or acetone, to light the logs.

After ignition, the firebox door is closed, the blower should be left ajar;

  1. throwing wood to keep the flame going. The first portion of wood is laid, 15 minutes after the ignition of the "seed", the next batch of firewood must be thrown in an hour;

What is the best firewood for baths

Of course, if you have bath, then the question arises about choice of firewood. Interestingly, there are even a number of folk signs that speak of the importance of such a choice and indicate the consequences. For example, cedar and pine go great for firewood for newlyweds, as the aroma of this wood contributes to cheerfulness. Aspen, cherry, mountain ash, elderberry and wild rose are not allowed at all, especially for a bath, just like trees felled by a hurricane or struck by lightning. It is believed that such firewood adversely affects the health of the owners and has negative energy. So what is better firewood for a bath and a sauna stove? Now let's try to figure it out.

oak firewood

oak firewood best suited for sauna furnaces. They are economical in use, burn for a long time and give a high heat transfer. It is especially important that when burning, they emit therapeutic steam, which perfectly strengthens children's health. Such wood also has one significant disadvantage - the price. oak firewood, however, are not cheap, but, as already mentioned, they are economically spent, which justifies the price-quality ratio. When choosing such firewood, it should be borne in mind that old and young trees are not suitable for such purposes, it is better to choose logs of medium thickness.

Linden firewood

pros linden firewood in that they also have excellent healing properties - they help to cure colds and skin diseases. Such wood fits good for a bath: although they flare up slowly, they burn evenly and for a long time. The downside, however, is that stored such firewood no more than two years, so you can’t prepare many of them.

Alder firewood

Alder firewood, like lime ones, are stored for a short period of time - for three years. But they not only have a wonderful aroma that has medicinal properties, produce smoke that cleans the pipe from soot deposits, dry quickly and burn well, but also have a stunning view that, if desired, will decorate your yard.

Aspen firewood

Despite the fact that this wood also helps to clean pipes, it has a very low heat transfer, which makes it completely uneconomical to use. Except for cleansing purposes.

Firewood from fruit trees

Such firewood are also very good for a bath, and have similar oak firewood properties, but they are sold only in small quantities. Most often firewood from fruit trees are used for cooking on an open fire.

Firewood from poplar and willow

Firewood from poplar and willow not recommended for use in bath heating, since they are needed in large quantities to get the right temperature. Although they are cheap, they quickly burn out and do not provide proper heat. We have analyzed the most common breeds wood that apply for a bath and the properties they have. We hope you now know what wood is better for a bath. It should be noted that the correct firewood storage.

How to properly store firewood

It is not enough just to choose the right wood, for the proper effect it must also be properly stored. Let's figure out what this means. After cutting down the tree, be sure to let it dry thoroughly. It is desirable that this lasts during the summer, and in the fall you can already chop wood. The main thing, chop wood, which can be purchased both in a specialized store and on the Internet, for example, at. Next yourself firewood must be folded in a place where water does not enter, but air circulates freely. The most reliable, but if this is not possible, then you can stack the firewood in neat rows and cover it with the waterproof material you have on top. When the firewood is dry enough, it is necessary to lay it out in the open air, and only then carefully fold it. It is necessary that they do not come into contact with the ground and do not absorb moisture from it.

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The process of kindling a bath is conditionally divided into two stages: preparation and directly heating the stove. Each of the stages is a set of rules that should be followed. We heat the bath correctly - and enjoy a light steam!

Preparatory process

Cleaning the chimney of the bath and preparing the stove

Be sure to clean the grate and blower from the remnants of tar and burning. It is advisable to pre-wash the stones. We check the chimney for air draft so that combustion products do not linger in the room. To do this, open the valve in the chimney, blew and firebox and light a match. If the tongue of flame goes up, there is patency. If not, you should clean the chimney, because the lack of draft will lead to smoke in the steam room, and this is a risk of blackness!

Firewood plays a role - what can and cannot heat a steam room?

Heating a sauna with firewood is an art. The quality of the heat depends on the firewood, how quickly the steam room will melt. Experienced bath attendants are increasingly saying “yes” from hardwood trees with a high density of wood (hardwood): oak, hornbeam, maple, ash, birch. These wood species give off a large amount of heat when burned. The level of heat release during combustion is slightly lower for pears, apples and cherries, but they only cost a little more than hardwoods.

Read also

Hardwoods should be chosen wisely. For example, a young oak gives little heat, but it gives off a pleasant aroma. The optimal solution is a middle-aged tree, when the firewood is moderately dry and strong, but not rotten. In addition, middle-aged oak firewood has a good consumption.

Birch firewood burns evenly and for a long time, retains high-quality heat. And yet, according to the sensations of visitors to the baths, the air from birch firewood in the steam room is inhaled much easier and more pleasant. It seems to envelop, but does not create the effect of suffocation! Perhaps, birch firewood has one minus - they quickly become dilapidated, and therefore the shelf life of birch wood blanks does not exceed two years.

Is it possible to heat a bath with pine wood? Theoretically possible, but not worth it. Least of all, conifers are used to kindle the stove - when burned, they give little heat, but at the same time a large amount of burning, and you don’t need black sediment on stones and in the chimney.

  • rotten, rotten boards - they do not burn well, and even emit an unpleasant odor when burned;
  • old logs and planks - for the same reason as described above;
  • painted wooden blocks, as well as logs impregnated with chemical compounds - toxins will be released during combustion.
  • do not use old clothes, plastic or wood objects - all this is unsuitable for burning the stove.

It is important! When kindling the stove, the humidity of the logs plays an important role. It is optimal that the firewood be 20% wet. This can be achieved if they lie down for several weeks in a dry place, since the humidity of freshly cut wood is about 40%.

How to properly heat the oven?

1. We form the basis

Two logs are laid on the grate so that the distance between them is no more than 20 m. A sheet of paper is placed between the firewood, on which a chip is poured. Two more logs are stacked on top - the so-called "seed" or base is formed.

2. We start to kindle

First, the paper in the base is set on fire, the flame should gradually pass to the firewood. Wait until the fire engulfs the wood, close the firebox door and cover the blower (leaving a small gap). If the firewood is moderately dry and of high quality, the "seed" will quickly flare up.

Note! Do not use incendiary mixtures, combustible substances to activate the flame. All this is a direct path to toxic smoke. In extreme cases, bath attendants use dry alcohol tablets to heat the bathhouse with raw wood.

3. The final ritual

In winter, the steam room is heated for about five hours, and in summer - up to four hours. When the bath heats up to the required temperature, the firebox can be stopped. Wait until the last firewood burns out, make sure that the coals have smoldered, close the firebox, blower and smoke damper. Next, open the window in the steam room and the door so that there is an oxygen supply in the room. After that, close the doors, and leave the window open (when the bath procedures begin, you can close it). Give about 40 - 60 minutes for the steam room to “infuse”. Do not be afraid that the heat will come out. On the contrary, inside there will be a softer atmosphere, and the vapor will be light.

How to heat a bath with an iron stove?

The main rule when burning an iron stove is frequent and small logs in terms of volume. Otherwise, you can provoke overheating and long cooling. For comparison, in the same brick oven, you can safely make a large bookmark of logs and leave it to “reach” to the required temperature.

Differences between an iron stove and a brick version:

  1. the metal counterpart warms up faster. For example, after twenty minutes from the moment of kindling, it reaches the optimal mode of operation. The room warms up faster and better;
  2. the consumption of firewood in an iron stove is an order of magnitude greater than in an analogue made of brick;
  3. a metal stove does not always keep the same temperature in the chimney and firebox.

How to do it in such a way as to balance all the "poles" and "cons" of an iron stove? There is an option to use a brick shield in a metal stove or build a brick chimney with a so-called stainless steel “sleeve” for a metal stove. There is also an option to overlay a metal stove with bricks to increase the heat transfer time.

Instructions for kindling an iron furnace:

  1. A small amount of paper is placed at the bottom of the firebox.
  2. Logs are laid out on paper, but so that there is a small gap between them. When the firebox is about two-thirds full, we leave free space on top and set fire to the logs.
  3. When updating a batch of firewood, you still need to wait until the previous one burns out well.

Common mistakes when kindling an iron furnace:

  • Too much firewood placed in the stove;
  • The logs lie tightly in relation to each other - this is the first cause of smoke. In the stove, gases must circulate freely;
  • The blower of the stove closes too early, which also leads to a violation of the gas circulation process.
  • Powerful draft and too big fire - does not mean that the stove is heated correctly. With the right approach, slow combustion of a small amount of logs can achieve good heat.

To compare the quality of steam in a sauna with brick and metal stoves, as well as saunas in a black way, select in the catalog of steam rooms in St.

To what temperature do you need to heat the stove in the steam room?

After warming up the firewood of the first bookmark, if the tongues of fire are red (not blue) when the coals are mixed, the firebox closes and the valves open. By this time, the steam room should warm up to a level of 50 - 60 degrees and about 60% humidity. Fans of heat "more extreme" wait until the thermometer shows a limit of 70 - 80 degrees.

What is the best way to heat a new bath for the first time?

How to properly heat a rest room in a bathhouse in winter?

Heating option No. 1 - just open the doors in the sink, steam room and relaxation zone during the heating of the stove, and the room will warm up. For the period of bathing procedures, this volume of heat should be enough.

Option number 2 - gas convector. Relatively easy to install, organically fits into the bath design.

Option number 3 - an exclusive stove with a glass door like a fireplace. It costs more, but looks stylish. Even when the stove in the steam room cools down, the rest room will be warm and cozy.

  • At the very beginning, open the blower to the maximum - for a more efficient supply of fresh air;
  • Use wood wisely. After about 5 - 8 kindlings, you will understand how much wood is needed. In the future, just cook this volume to avoid overheating.
  • To control the temperature and humidity in the steam room, there should be a thermometer and a hygrometer. Update them regularly.
  • If you have not heated the steam room for a long time, it will take a little longer to warm it up. With a regular firebox, it takes about a third less time to warm up the steam room.

We are sure that our tips will help you properly heat a wood-fired sauna. Good luck!

Even in ancient times, people used water and steam for wellness procedures. This is mentioned in many historical sources. But even today, the popularity of the bath is only increasing.

Shall we fire up the bath?

Bath procedures represent a whole ritual for which you need to carefully prepare. Every steam fan should know how to properly heat a bath. To do this, you will have to understand some of the intricacies of this art.

Before carrying out the procedures, of course, it is necessary to heat the room well. Modern people use different equipment: electric or gas boilers. But real lovers appreciate only wood heating. After all, it is the smell of firewood that gives that unusual atmosphere, the bath spirit. How to drown Russian is a whole art, which can be mastered with some effort. Well, practice will help you quickly master all the tricks.

Classic bath

The classic Russian banya is most often heated by wood-burning stoves. Between themselves, they may differ somewhat in design, but the principle of operation is the same. It itself is built in a separate room, or it can be placed in some large building. Inside, it has at least two parts: the steam room itself and the dressing room. Fans of contrasting procedures, if the area allows, also build a pool. Walls are best built from wood. Old Russian baths were always built like a log hut, only the windows and doors were cut down to a small size, this was done in order to better keep warm inside. Modern buildings are built from different building materials, their choice on the market is now huge. But in any case, the interior decoration should only be made of natural wood. At high temperatures and humidity, the use of synthetics is strictly not allowed.

Sauna oven device

To ensure the correct temperature and humidity conditions, the water heating stove is placed in such a way that all rooms are heated at the same time. Knowing how to heat the stove in the bath, what is its arrangement, you can easily create the desired microclimate in the room.

A classic oven is built according to some rules.

  • In the lower part there is a door and a blower, from here air is supplied to the zone where the fuel burns.
  • Grid-irons are a massive steel or cast-iron grate on which firewood is stacked.
  • The ash zone, or combustion chamber, is the main unit of the furnace; complete combustion of fuel and heat generation take place here.
  • Above is a steam heater and steel or stainless steel
  • The removal of combustion products from the ash zone occurs through a chimney. For it, dampers are installed.

The principles of operation of the sauna stove are quite simple, but not everyone can immediately achieve stable combustion. Often there is an attenuation of fuel. How to heat the bath, what fuel to use? True connoisseurs of such procedures in no case use flammable liquids for ignition.

What kind of firewood to heat the bath?

Fuel (wood) plays the most important role in heating. A lot depends on the breed: how much heat will be released, how long the burning will be. In addition, the atmosphere created by the unique aroma that appears in the process of burning firewood is also important.

In Russia, birch logs are considered traditional for baths. Some also use coniferous wood, but it should be borne in mind that such firewood burns out very quickly. (ash, oak) have excellent heat dissipation. But these breeds are valuable, it will be a little expensive to drown them.

firewood storage

It is necessary in advance, because after splitting and subsequent drying, they dry out completely after a year. Before heating the bath, you need to check all the firewood well, they must be absolutely dry. During the combustion of wet logs, heat transfer is minimal, and a lot of wet steam is formed, it immediately cools the channels in the furnace, and condensate settles on the cold walls. This can render the entire chimney unusable.

The operation of the stove, its economy is completely dependent on the quality of firewood. They must be dry and also have the same size, their thickness should be about 6-8 cm. At the very beginning, it is better to use small dry pieces for kindling, shavings, wood chips, birch bark or paper are suitable for initial sunbathing. Never use kerosene or gasoline.

Firewood should be stored in dry, ventilated rooms or under sheds. In the cold season, before kindling the bath, it is best to bring firewood into the room so that they warm up.

Room preparation

Before you heat the bath, you need to prepare the room. Put the walls, shelves in order, wash, ventilate the rooms. Fresh air and clean environment will create the best conditions for wellness treatments. The stones from the steam room must be rinsed in clean water and put back in the same order. The heating container must be thoroughly rinsed and filled with fresh water. The water in the tanks and the pool is also updated. In the dressing room, prepare clean towels, sheets, and other necessary accessories. Also, take care of drinks in advance, these can be various herbal decoctions, tea, kvass, plain water. It is strictly forbidden to take alcoholic beverages during the procedures, this can adversely affect the general well-being.

Kindling the furnace

In order to learn how to properly heat a bath, you need to study some of the nuances that will help you master this simple science. First of all, it should be noted that the stove must be in good condition, only dry fuel should be used for kindling.

First you need to clean the blower and the grate from the ashes. The flue dampers must be fully opened. In the combustion chamber in the form of a hut, lay small chips, compressed paper, put four medium-sized logs on top, but so that they do not touch. Light the paper and close the door so that the smoke does not pour into the room.

Gradually, larger chips and small logs are added to the seed fire. Remember that the blower at this time should be completely open, the flow of oxygen allows the flame to flare up better. Gradually, the chimney will warm up, a steady draft will be created.

Smooth out the burnt coals with a poker. Fill the firebox a third full with dry logs. At the initial stage, firewood is placed carefully so as not to extinguish the flame. When a characteristic buzz appears, this means that the stove has warmed up and requires a sufficient amount of fuel. New logs should be slipped closer to the door. Do not let the fire go out until the room and the water in the boiler are fully heated.

After two hours, the coals inside will turn scarlet. It's time to push the pipe valve halfway. It can be completely closed only when the carbon monoxide has evaporated. How can this be determined? Turn the coals with a poker, no blue flame should slip anywhere, this is what is dangerous not only for health, but also for life.

Follow the rules for kindling

Every fan of the Russian bath just needs to learn how to properly kindle and become a fan of this process. After a few sessions, understanding of the matter and experience will come. But it is worth noting that learning how to properly heat a bath is not all. In the process, be sure to monitor the stove. In order to reduce draft in a heated chimney, you need to close the dampers in time. The blower door must also be covered, but not completely. In order for the heat in the firebox to be uniform, firewood must arrive on time, as needed. After the procedures are completed, the oven must cool completely. After that, you need to remove the ashes from it, and clean the room. Let your bath rest until the next session. Enjoy Your Bath!