A wood-fired stove is one of the key elements in a sauna and is essential for heating and conducting sauna procedures. A wood-fired stove in the sauna has several important advantages:
• Longevity: Well-maintained and properly used wood-fired stoves can serve for a long time; they are resistant to high temperatures and moisture.
• Atmosphere: These stoves create a cozy atmosphere in the sauna, where one can relax and unwind after a day’s work.
• Naturalness: Using a wood-fired stove, the burning wood to heat the sauna emits a natural aroma, providing a great sense of pleasure.
• Efficiency: Wood-fired stoves are an efficient heat source, quickly warming up the sauna. It’s also possible to regulate the temperature and heating intensity, allowing you to adjust the heat according to your preferences.
However, it’s important to note that wood-fired stoves require regular maintenance, including preparing and adding wood, cleaning, and technical upkeep of the stove. Furthermore, they can be vulnerable to moisture, so it’s essential to ensure proper sauna ventilation and safety measures to prevent the risk of fire. Wood-fired stoves must be constructed in accordance with all required safety standards.
Wood-fired stoves can be categorized into four types: traditional, with a mesh, closed-type, and smoke saunas. Almost all stoves can have internal or external fireboxes.
Traditional stoves are the simplest in terms of construction. At the top of the firebox, there is a baffle, and the fire from the combustion chamber enters the chimney. Then the stones heat up only from the bottom.
Wood-fired stoves with a mesh are convenient because they allow placing a larger quantity of stones, thereby extracting more heat. And the grid protection serves its function excellently.
In closed-type stoves, the stones are placed in a closed container, which has the unique feature of heating the stones particularly strongly. This way, more steam is generated, which sauna enthusiasts particularly enjoy for the opportunity to have a good steam bath. Here is a lot of moisture.
Smoke saunas have the combustion chamber together with the stones, so it needs to be heated in advance, approximately 3-4 hours before use. The choice of stones for a smoke sauna depends on the owner’s capabilities and preferences. Currently, ceramic stones are very popular. Thanks to them, the sauna can be used in about 2 hours.
The service life of a wood-fired stove depends on several conditions, with the most important being stove maintenance, the quality of the metal, and technical features of the combustion chamber.
