Electric sauna heater: choosing and installing a stove

Rating of the TOP 10 best electric stoves for baths in 2020

Functionality, benefits

Gas, wood-burning and electric stoves are used for saunas, and the electric stove is rightfully considered the leader of the list, as it has a number of undeniable advantages. Judge for yourself, electric sauna stove:

• quickly reaches the desired temperature, heating occurs within 10-15 minutes;
• maintains the set temperature as long as required;
• does not require installation of a chimney;
• does not require a foundation, can be installed on the floor;
• easy to clean, no ash or soot, no debris or dirt;
• does not involve the preparation of firewood;
• environmentally friendly, no carbon monoxide emissions;
• compact, light weight;
• implies safe operation, does not burn;
• can be controlled remotely and operate automatically.

The design of an electric sauna stove is a heating element hidden in a housing and a section for stones that accumulate and transfer heat from stones. There are ventilation ducts inside the stove in which the air is heated; the control unit exists autonomously and is placed outside the steam room in a dry room in accordance with safety requirements.

Advice! If you have to choose an electric oven whose body is made of steel, aluminum, or cast iron, give preference to stainless steel with a wall thickness of 8 mm. It will last longer, is safe, reliable, durable.

Obviously, operating an electric sauna stove is associated with high costs. This is the only drawback; breakdowns are rare; the spiral burns out, which is not difficult to replace. And the myths about the lack of oxygen, which, they say, is eaten by an electrical device, are myths.

Electric sauna stove

How to choose and what to pay attention to?

When buying an electric sauna stove, pay attention to the following criteria:

1. Preliminary calculation of steam room volume . Determines the required power. For 1 cubic meter of steam room there should be 1 kW of power. This calculation is approximate, but with its help the buyer can determine the choice of electric stove of the required performance.
2. Furnace controls . The wiring must be able to withstand the load. Some models cannot operate on a 220 W network; they must be connected to 380 W. Please consider this point when purchasing.
3. View of the heating circuit . For a home steam room, you can choose a heating element, but it is better if it is made of stainless steel - this will extend the service life of the electric furnace.
4. Design . Depending on the size of the room, you can choose the type of device: wall-mounted, floor-mounted or mixed type. It is better to equip small steam rooms with a wall-mounted stove; it saves space.
5. Availability of a certificate of product conformity to Russian standards . Please pay attention to the presence of a valid safety certificate for the stove and the materials from which it is made.

How to choose an electric heater

According to the external design of the heater, there are different levels of safety:

• Open. The classic option, in which the stones are located on the surface. A definite disadvantage is the rapid cooling;
• Closed. This model (thermos) emits steam without burning, with optimal parameters, in large quantities. Such bath equipment is quite expensive, but the steam is finely dispersed and as comfortable as possible for a person.

If you choose an electric stove with an open heater, you can simply splash water on the stones to turn up the heat.

The best electric sauna stoves

Sawo Mini X MX-36NS-Z

Electric sauna stove of hanging type, power 3.6 kW . Operates from a network of 220 and 380 W.

Heats up to 6 cubic meters. The body is made of durable steel, galvanized inside, and has a light weight of 8 kilograms.

Compact sizes are ideal for placement in tight spaces . You can separately purchase a remote control panel that allows you to adjust the indicators from a distance.

The housing does not heat up to high temperatures, the room is heated quickly and evenly, even in the corners of the steam room.

The declared volume warms up in 15-20 minutes.

It features low energy consumption and is available in white color . The work proceeds silently. The manufacturer provides three years of official warranty.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 6 m3.
2. Power - 3.6 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions - 50x33x24 cm.

pros

• compactness and lightness;
• efficiency;
• economical energy consumption.

Minuses

• not detected.

Sawo Scandia SCA-45NS-Z

Snow-white hanging electric stove for baths and saunas, with a power of 4.5 kW . Heats up to 6 cubic meters.

The body is made of steel and does not become very hot during operation..

Galvanized inside. This distribution of materials allows you to reduce the cost of the device without losing its service life. Operates from a 380 W network.

A remote control panel can be purchased separately . The panel is located on the side, with its help you can set the parameters of power, temperature, and late switching on. The stove's heater can hold up to 22 kg of stones.

The air heats up quickly and evenly, without strong dry heat . The specified volume is heated in 20 minutes.

It is characterized by low price and economical energy consumption. The manufacturer provides three years of official warranty.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 6 m3.
2. Power - 4.5 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions - 45x41x29 cm.

pros

• stylish design in the style of Scandinavian minimalism;
• energy consumption class;
• fast and uniform heating.

Minuses

• To use the modes, you need to buy a thermostat.

Sawo MINI MN-23NB-Z

Electric hanging stove for small steam rooms . The furnace power is 2.3 kW and heats up to 3 cubic meters. The light stainless steel body does not heat up during use.

Operates from a network of 220 and 380 W.

The heater can hold up to 9 kilograms of stones. The casing and upper grill are also made of stainless steel.

It takes no more than 10 minutes to heat up the specified volume, while oxygen is not burned out and the heat is distributed evenly.

The controls are simple and the work is silent. The control panel is located on the side, which is convenient in terms of saving space.

Compact dimensions allow you to easily place the device in tight spaces.

The remote control panel, which is purchased separately, is designed to adjust parameters without the need to enter a hot room.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 3 m3.
2. Power - 2.3 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions - 45x43.5x21 cm.

pros

• economical energy consumption;
• convenient control;
• fast heating.

Minuses

• no deficiencies identified.

Sawo Aries ARI3-45NB-P

Floor-standing electric sauna stove with a total weight of 60 kg . Placed on stable legs that prevent movement or accidental tipping.

Despite the high design of the heater, the stove itself stands well and does not wobble. It has a power of 4.5 kW and heats up to 6 cubic meters.

You can use the remote control to control modes remotely . The body is made of stainless steel, as is the grill of the heater. Open type heater. There is an adjustment of heating power.

Hot air is distributed evenly throughout the room, without bypassing the corners . It features economical energy consumption. The specified volume heats up in 20-30 minutes.

Adjustment can be made not only through the remote control, but also through two rotary switches on the body.

There is a timer and thermostat.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 6 m3.
2. Power - 4.5 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions - 93x30x30 cm.

pros

• official Finnish guarantee;
• simple control of switches or via remote control;
• installed timer and thermostat;
• economical energy consumption.

Minuses

• The remote control is not included.

Sawo ARIES ARI3-90NB-P

Floor-standing electric sauna stove with a total weight of 13 kg, which allows you to freely move the device from place to place.

Placed on stable legs that prevent movement or accidental tipping. It has a power of 9 kW and heats up to 14 cubic meters. Operates from a 220 W network.

You can use a remote control to control modes, which is purchased separately.

The body is made of stainless steel, as is the grill of the heater. Open type heater, holds up to 50 kg. There is an adjustment of heating power.

Hot air is distributed evenly throughout the room, without bypassing the corners . It features economical energy consumption.

The specified volume heats up in 20-30 minutes . Adjustment can be made not only through the remote control, but also through two rotary switches on the body. There is a timer and thermostat.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 14 m3.
2. Power - 9 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions - 92.5x27.5x27.5 cm.

pros

• economical energy consumption;
• control of both switches and remote control;
• fast and uniform heating;
• a light weight.

Minuses

• The remote control is not included.

Sawo Scandia SCA-90NB-Z

Another model of an electric floor oven . A power of 9 kW is enough to heat 14 cubic meters. The case is made of stainless steel. The heater can hold up to 20 kilograms.

Operates on 380 W network.

The housing houses a control panel with manual (rotary) controls. They do not deform from high temperatures.

The grille is made of stainless steel and galvanized inside . This ensures a long service life, protecting the housing from early deformation. High temperature and humidity do not affect the operation of the device.

Warming up is fast and uniform, the oven does not burn oxygen . Small dimensions and economical energy consumption make this model even more attractive.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 14 m3.
2. Power - 9 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions - 52x51.5x29 cm.

pros

• Finnish quality and official guarantee;
• convenient control;
• fast and uniform heating.

Minuses

• cannot be connected to a 220 network.

Sawo Nordex Mini NRMN-36NB-Z

Another model of a hanging electric stove for small steam rooms . The power of the device is 3.5 kW, which is enough to heat 6 cubic meters. Operates from a network of 220 and 380 W.

The body, casing and upper grill are made of stainless steel, galvanized inside . Made in light gray color, the body does not heat up.

The heater can hold up to 11 kilograms of stones . Control is carried out using two rotary switches located on the body.

Installation is easy, compact dimensions allow you to easily place the stove in modest room sizes.

It copes with heating quickly, evenly distributing heat at the specified volume in 10-15 minutes. Doesn't burn oxygen.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 6 m3.
2. Power - 3.5 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions - 49.5x34x20 cm.

pros

• compactness;
• fast and uniform heating;
• simple mechanical control.

Minuses

• not found.

Harvia Vega BC60

Compact and lightweight (only 11 kg) hanging electric sauna stove with a power of 6 kW, for heating 8 cubic meters.

The outer casing and firebox are made of stainless steel. During operation, the housing does not become hot.

Mechanical control, two convenient rotary switches located on the front side of the outer housing.

The heater can hold up to 11 kilograms of stones. Heating occurs quickly, heat is distributed evenly.

Operates from a network of 220 and 380 W. There is a turn-on timer and a built-in thermostat. The oven is designed for a long service life and is not afraid of high temperatures and humidity.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 8 m3.
2. Power - 6 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions -54x48x31 cm.

pros

• built-in timer and thermostat;
• simple mechanical control;
• fast and uniform heating.

Minuses

• there is no possibility to control remotely.

Harvia Moderna V80E

Lightweight electric sauna stove with a power of 8 kW . Heats up to 12 cubic meters. Can be placed on the floor or hung on the wall. Operates from a 220 network, there is a possibility of remote control.

This allows you to adjust power, temperature and operating time without entering a hot steam room ahead of time.

The heater can hold up to 20 kg of stones. A temperature sensor is installed, the maximum temperature is 110 degrees.

The oven is adapted for eight hours of continuous operation . There is an electronic control panel on the side. The connecting cable is 3.5 meters long, which allows the device to be moved freely.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 12 m3.
2. Power - 8 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions - 58x41x31 cm.

pros

• timer and thermostat;
• electronic or remote control;
• 8 hours of continuous operation.

Minuses

• When the voltage is low, the control is disabled.

Harvia KIP90

Hanging model of an electric sauna stove . The power of the device is 9 kW, which is enough to heat 14 cubic meters.

Operates on 220 W network . The outer casing is made of stainless steel.

The heater can hold up to 25 kg of stones. The oven is compact in size. Easily fits into small steam rooms and saunas.

Heating of the room occurs quickly, the heat is distributed evenly, without bypassing the corners . Doesn't burn oxygen. The specified volume warms up in 10-20 minutes. Designed for 4 hours of continuous operation.

The control is mechanical, carried out by two rotary switches located at the bottom on the front side of the case.

They are protected from high temperatures and humidity.

Main characteristics:

1. What volume does it heat? 14 m3.
2. Power - 9 kW.
3. The body is steel.
4. Dimensions - 60x41x28 cm.

pros

• simple mechanical control;
• fast and uniform heating;
• economical energy consumption.

Minuses

• not found.

Design of an electric stove for baths and saunas

The main advantages of electric heaters are their high reliability and safety . This allows installation even in steam rooms that city residents set up in their apartments.

They do not pose a health hazard due to carbon monoxide, and due to their small size they can be easily installed even in a small room. An electric stove, which is capable of heating the premises of a bath no less efficiently than a brick one, has a fairly simple design .

The following main elements can be distinguished in its design:

• double metal body;
• electric heaters;
• thermal insulation elements.

The housing contains heating elements or tape heaters , on which a cage for filling with stones is installed. It is very important to choose the right cobblestones, taking into account their size and weight. This determines how quickly the room warms up. Therefore, if you want to quickly create a comfortable temperature in the bathhouse, then it is advisable to take heavy and large stones for it.

The outer part of the body is made of metal plates up to 4 mm thick. Ventilation channels appear between them and the walls of the electric heater , which help cool the inside of the body.

The role of thermal insulation elements is performed by steel screens installed one after another. This insulation option well protects the wooden surfaces of the bathhouse from the heat emanating from the surface of the stove.

You can install an open or closed . The final choice is determined by the personal preferences of the owner and the installation features of the heating device. However, it can be said that most often owners choose open-design stoves.

Such models not only perfectly warm up the steam room, but also create good moist steam in it. In stoves of this type, nichrome wire is necessarily used , which is inserted into a ceramic stand, which turns it into a heating stand.

As for closed sauna stoves, they are presented for sale in the form of horizontal or vertical structures that have the following components - a heater, a conductive busbar and a heat shield.

Types of electric stoves for baths and saunas

Modern electric ovens differ from each other in various characteristics, including the type of heater. Most often, models use strip or tubular electric heaters.

The most popular are devices that use the second type of heating device. But, despite its low price, such an electric furnace element does not last long.

The heating elements used in electric fireplaces are necessary to transfer heat to the stones during the heating process. But if you have not yet prepared the stones for the stove and it is empty, then you should not turn it on ahead of time.

Recently, heating elements have a worthy alternative - strip electric heaters . They are made in the form of a low-temperature metal tape, which differs from its competitor in its larger heat transfer area and high electrical resistance.

And although this type of heater consumes less electricity during operation, furnaces equipped with a similar electric heating element are much more expensive . It is also necessary to take into account that during long-term operation, these devices take less oxygen from the air, since the heating temperature of these elements does not exceed 400° C.

How to calculate the power of an electric sauna stove? To determine the optimal power of a stove for an electric sauna, you first need to take into account the volume of the steam room .

A device equipped with a heating element with a power of 1 kW should be enough to maintain a comfortable temperature over an area of ​​one m3. A model equipped with a tape heater with a similar power rating will easily heat an area of ​​1.5 m3.

Types of electric sauna stoves

Electric sauna stoves come in several types: wall-mounted, stationary and mixed..

The former are distinguished by their light weight and extremely compact dimensions; such stoves are used in small steam rooms in order to save space. Stationary ones are heavier and larger, hold 20 kg of stones and are suitable for large steam rooms.

Mixed electronic ovens can be hung on the wall or placed on the floor . They are light, compact and in terms of power they are inferior to stationary models.

Most often used in steam rooms with a volume of up to 10 cubic meters.

In addition, electric furnaces are divided according to the type of heating element:

1. Heating element heater , which has a limited resource, especially with frequent use.
2. Band heating . It is considered the safest and most economical option in terms of energy consumption.
3. Mixed heating . Such models combine both types of heating element. The tape increases the speed of kindling and reduces the load on the heating element, extending its service life.

Electric furnaces with different weights of stones

Manufacturers offer the following options:

• samples with heaters weighing 20-40 kg are perfect for a home bath designed for 4-5 people. Inexpensive, effective and easy to install, they warm up in half an hour, emit heat for a long time and evenly;
• models with stone weights in the range of 60-120 kg are designed for larger rooms; they warm up in 1.5-2 hours. You can add water at any time, without restrictions on quantity;
• If we are talking about electric stoves with heaters weighing 200-280 kg, then these models are intended for public steam rooms and saunas with a volume of several tens of cubic meters.

Before purchasing, you need to compare the parameters of the bath, power, and other important indicators of the electric furnace. You should not buy a model with excessive power, but it is also better not to buy a sauna stove that is weak for your volume.

Advantages and disadvantages of electric sauna stoves

The advantages of electric furnaces are considered:

• quickly heats the room and maintains a constant temperature;
• small size;
• You can install the device yourself;
• operation from a network of 220 or 380 W helps to eliminate fuel reserves;
• no need to build a smoke exhaust duct;
• no need to remove soot or carry out any maintenance activities;
• easy to adjust temperature;
• protection against severe overheating;
• does not emit carbon dioxide, is the safest, unlike gas or wood-burning devices;
• has good thermal protection.

The disadvantages of such models include:

• high cost of maintenance, the price of electricity with frequent use can hit your pocket hard;
• the wiring resource may not be sufficient if the network is configured for a lower consumed load;
• heat dissipation is lower than that of gas or wood-burning models.

Rating updated September 12, 2021.

How to choose an electric oven

The following characteristics must be taken into account:

• steam room and washing area;
• features of operation and control of the furnace;
• design and functions provided in the model;
• type of heating element and heater;
• weight and volume of loaded stones.

As a rule, to heat 1 m3 of volume, an electric furnace power of 1-1.4 kW is required, which is important to consider first. The second most important criterion in the question of how to choose an electric stove for a sauna is the permissible voltage in the network.

To correctly decide which electric furnace to choose for your bathhouse, you should pay attention to the additional functionality:

• control: standard mechanical or remote control;
• metal body or lining made of natural mountain materials;
• possibility of operation in two modes: standby and operating power;
• distance from wooden surfaces at a short distance (from 10 cm);
• fastening on legs or wall brackets.

Voltage: 220V or 380V

In a standard apartment or house, the network voltage is 220 V, which is sufficient for devices with a power of 7 kW. A heating device of this power can serve a room with a volume of 7 m3. To set up a steam room in an apartment, 220V is more than enough, but in a private house or commercial sauna this voltage in the network may not be enough. In any case, it would be wise to purchase rubber-insulated wiring for safety in case of high heat.

Unlike an apartment building, where it is necessary to obtain permission from supervisory authorities, running three-phase current in the house will not be difficult. It will be necessary to create a grounding with normalized resistance, install a distribution panel, and arrange a cable laying channel. When purchasing an electric stove for a bath, you should pay attention to the indication in the passport which network it can be connected to.

Do you need a steam generator?

The Russian bath involves wet, saturated steam, in contrast to the Finnish version with dry steam generation. Our compatriots choose electric sauna stoves, which at least can be watered with water. But there are modern models with steam generators that can create dry and wet steam, depending on the selected mode. Steam generators can be built-in or separate, providing steam of different humidity and temperature into the room.

Heating element type

The most important part in the design of any electric sauna stove is the heating element. In modern models the following are installed:

• tubular classic heater. Such elements can heat up an electric furnace as much as possible, but they are fragile and therefore short-lived. To extend service life, you should choose steel elements that can withstand repeated heating cycles;
• ceramic band heater. They heat up faster, are environmentally friendly and consume less electricity (1.5 times less). The tapes do not burn oxygen and last much longer;
• combined type of heating element for an electric stove in a sauna. This is the optimal, but expensive option for heating a bath. Reaches maximum temperature in record time.

The characteristics and design of the heating elements are indicated in the electric furnace passport. All proposed heating methods allow you to achieve a comfortable level of heat, while we must not forget about the correct relationship between the volume of the room and the power of the heating elements.

How to choose a stove depending on the volume of the room

When choosing a heater on the manufacturer’s website, it is recommended to look at the technical characteristics of the device. For example, there are models of stoves with a power of 9 kW, which are designed to heat 8-14 m3.

Electric heater in a small room

To calculate the power of the heater, you need to calculate the volume of the room. Furnaces equipped with heating elements heat 1 m3 with one kW, and belt furnaces heat 1.5 m3. In addition, 1 m3 is added to the calculated volume for every 1 m2 of non-thermal insulated surface, for example, if the door is made of glass, then 1.5 m3 is added. You should not take a stove whose maximum power will be equal to the calculated one, since operation at increased loads will quickly render it unusable.