The most important attribute of any bathhouse is the boiler. This unit not only provides the required air temperature in the steam room, it participates in creating that unique atmosphere for which everyone values bathing procedures so much.
Modern boilers can use various types fuel, have different shapes, appearance and cost. Those who want to save money can make a boiler themselves; fortunately, this does not require any special skills or special tools.
The design of most sauna boilers includes the following elements:
- The furnace where the fuel combustion process occurs.
- A chimney through which combustion products will be discharged outside.
- An ash pit in which ash accumulates. Another function of this element is to pump air masses necessary for combustion into the firebox.
- A heater, which is responsible for removing heat inside the bathhouse. There are models without a heater, but steaming in such a bath will not be very comfortable, since the steam will only come from boiling water from the tank.
- Hot water container.
The volume of the heater must correspond to the size of the boiler and the bath itself. Too small, it will quickly give off all the heat without having time to warm up the entire volume of the room. A large one, on the contrary, will take too long to warm up.
Pay attention! Professionals try to adhere to a simple rule: the volumes of the heater, firebox and water tank should be approximately the same.
A grate must be placed at the bottom of the firebox - metal grill, through which the ash will fall into the ash pan. The grate can be made independently from pieces of reinforcement, or purchased in specialized stores.
One more distinctive feature boiler for a bath can be considered the location of the loading door. As a rule, the boiler itself is located in the steam room, while fuel is added from the dressing room. At the point of passage through the wall, a special channel is made, ending in an iron door.
Types of boilers
Depending on the type of fuel used, the entire variety of modern sauna boilers can be divided into several categories:
- Electric models. They are distinguished by the absence of harmful emissions of combustion products and the absence of the need to install a chimney. They do not require fuel reserves, but during any power outage they become useless.
- Gas boilers. The most economical of all the models presented, provided that the site is already gasified. There is also no need to prepare fuel reserves.
- Solid fuel. The most common type of boiler. During operation, they require periodic loading of new portions of fuel. They are rightly considered the most accessible for independent production.
- Diesel. Liquid fuel is used as a heat source. Due to the complexity of the design, they are not suitable for self-production.
- Pyrolysis (combustion of solid fuel and volatile substances occurs separately).
The comfort of the steam room and the warmth in the bath depend on the boiler. You can make a sauna boiler with your own hands or purchase ready-made equipment. The first option is suitable for those who have construction skills. Experts call installation of equipment one of the most important stages in arranging a bathhouse.
Equipment selection
It is recommended to begin construction of such equipment after studying its types and features, including detailed familiarization with the design of furnaces.
Having prepared photographs of boilers, drawings, diagrams and step-by-step instructions for making a stove, it is necessary to take into account that the construction of a heating unit made of brickwork differs from a welded structure made of cast iron, but both devices are designed to maintain the required temperature in the bathhouse, heat water, stones and heat the room.
You can buy similar solid fuel units on the market, and laying a brick oven yourself requires the skills of a mason, studying manufacturing technology and extensive financial costs for the purchase of clay and refractory bricks. Homemade boilers made from scrap materials are suitable for setting up a small steam room.
It is necessary to select a unit for heating a steam room taking into account the fuel that will be used for its operation. You can supply gas or choose diesel or solid fuel. Solid fuels - firewood, coal and peat - will emit smoke and soot, but the cost of diesel is much higher. The latter equipment can operate without refueling for a week, while its solid fuel counterpart requires constant addition of fuel.
There are combined equipment on the market, but they do not achieve the highest efficiency, so experts advise choosing a device that runs on one type of fuel. The following types of heating units can be installed in the bathhouse:
- gas;
- on liquid fuel;
- on solid fuel;
- combined type;
- electric.
Gas devices
Most economical option, if gas is supplied to the room, installation gas boiler. It does not emit burning. The presence of a gas smell indicates a problem with the device and requires repair. There is no need to stock up on such fuel for a year in advance. The gas unit is compact, weighs 50 kg, the power reaches 40 kW, which is enough to heat 300 sq.m.
There are 3 types of similar devices:
- 1-circuit;
- 2-circuit;
- 3-circuit.
The first are suitable for heating baths, the second will heat the steam room and heat the water, and the third will heat the floor and mini-pool. Manufacture gas unit It is not advisable to do it yourself because this type of fuel is explosive.
Liquid fuel can be stored in plastic or metal containers with a double bottom, but not more than 1 year. After a specified period, its properties deteriorate. The diesel-powered device must be installed in a separate room so that its smell does not permeate the rest of the rooms. You can make a diesel boiler for a bathhouse with your own hands, but before installing it you need to show it to a specialist.
Solid fuel
A solid fuel unit is considered an environmentally friendly equipment that can operate autonomously for 3 days if there is a bunker for fine fuel.
Due to the long combustion of fuel, such units are capable of long time maintain the required room temperature, but cannot operate in automatic mode. The presence of thermal insulation reduces heat loss. Most devices of this type are equipped with a cooling circuit that protects them from overheating.
Such structures are made of steel or cast iron. The first products are susceptible to corrosion due to condensation, but they have greater inertia of the heat exchanger. The latter have a long service life, but react sensitively to temperature changes. Additionally, they are equipped with fans or mechanical regulators temperature.
Pyrolysis devices are solid fuel equipment that operate using well-dried firewood. In the first chamber, fuel combustion begins, and in the second, afterburning begins. Kindling requires the use of an electric ignition system. The fuel in such boilers burns almost completely, but their cost is an order of magnitude higher than that of their analogues.
Electrical structures do not require ventilation or fuel supplies, are environmentally friendly, and can be used in steam rooms that do not have gas supply. The disadvantage of such boilers is high energy costs.
Do-it-yourself welding
Before you weld a boiler for a sauna with your own hands, you will need to make a drawing. The first step is to select the material. Experts recommend using metal tanks with a volume of up to 200 liters for the base. Additionally, it is necessary to prepare a section of thick-walled pipe 70-100 cm long and 51 cm in diameter. Such equipment is capable of heating an area of 3x3 sq.m. You will need a grinder with circles for working on metal and a welding machine.
At the second stage, the pipe is used to create the body of the future boiler. It is necessary to weld 3 supports parallel to the ground on three levels. You will need 3 pieces of reinforcement, 14 mm thick and 3 cm long. The lower level is used to install the bottom. The height of the 2nd level depends on the size of the blower door installed in the oven. The last support should be located 20 cm from the top of the pipe.
Additionally, you will need a circle of metal for the bottom with a thickness of at least 4 mm. The lid is made of a metal circle with a thickness of at least 5 mm. Adapter ring chimney secured in the hole. The supports are located one below the other.
In the side of the pipe it is necessary to cut a hole for the box in which the furnace and blower doors will be installed.
A partition is installed inside the box, which will separate the combustion and ash compartments.
At the third stage, the screen is installed. Then you need to weld the box, insert the top cover, bottom and grate into the body. Installation is carried out in such a way that the housing passing through the wall faces the street or the combustion room. The next stage involves installing a chimney and laying stones. It is recommended to install boilers on the foundation under the furnace.
The screen is made of brick. The boiler is completely lined with similar material or a brick wall is erected. A hole must be left at the bottom of the brickwork for the convection of air masses. High-quality heating of the steam room is ensured not only by the boiler, but also by the stones.
In the process of arrangement own bathhouse the owner will have to make a difficult decision: whether to equip his steam room with a stove or opt for a boiler. At this moment, each owner makes a decision independently. But you need to understand that laying a stove is an extremely responsible and very difficult undertaking for an unprepared master.
You can make a boiler with your own hands, spending a lot on it. less money than for the construction of a furnace. Before starting work, you should consider the main features of all existing units and, based on the information received, give preference to any specific option.
When choosing a boiler, you must, first of all, focus on the availability and ease of use of various energy sources in the location of your bathhouse. For example, gas is a very profitable option, but the ability to connect to a gas pipeline is not available everywhere.
Among the universal and accessible energy carriers for almost everyone, solid fuel can be distinguished. At the same time, it is easiest to assemble a simple solid fuel boiler. For the rest, focus on the specifics of your situation and take into account the information presented below.
A gas boiler is perfect for heating a steam room if it can be connected to a gas pipeline. Such equipment is compact and economical, it does not give unpleasant odor and burning provided correct installation and competent handling.
There are single-circuit (for heating only), double-circuit (heating plus water heating) and three-circuit (heating, water heating and additional heating floors and water in the sauna pool) gas boilers. On modern market There is a huge selection of such equipment, so you won’t have any problems choosing the right unit.
Making a gas boiler with your own hands without the appropriate skills and experience is strongly not recommended - gas is an explosive substance, and any mistake can be fatal.
Electric boilers are the most environmentally friendly. Such equipment is extremely easy to install and operate. An additional advantage of an electric boiler is that there is no need for a chimney.
Such equipment will relieve you of the need to stock up on fuel. However, it will be convenient to use an electric boiler only if there are no interruptions in the power supply at the location of your bathhouse. In addition, the cost of electricity is unacceptable for many owners. Yes and collect good electric boiler It’s quite difficult to do it yourself.
Heating a bath using liquid fuel
Exhaust or diesel fuel boilers are very convenient and efficient, but for installation similar unit you will have to allocate a separate room, because During operation of an oil-fuel boiler, an unpleasant, pungent odor is created.
Additionally, issues of delivery and storage of liquid fuel will have to be resolved. Special conditions Diesel and waste are not required for storage, but space for tanks will have to be allocated.
The main feature of pyrolysis boilers is the specific structure of the firebox. This element consists of 2 chambers. Fuel is loaded into one chamber. This is where it starts to burn. During combustion, gas is released. The resulting gas passes into the second chamber and burns out there, producing additional heat. As a result, fuel is consumed as efficiently and economically as possible. There is virtually no waste.
To operate a pyrolysis boiler, you can use both simple dry firewood and various wood processing products: pellets, pressed bars, etc. The main thing is that the material is well dried, otherwise the pyrolysis process will not start.
Solid fuel bath heating
Solid fuel boilers are a reliable, universal solution proven by many generations of bathhouse attendants. The only drawback of simple solid fuel boiler The problem is that its operation must be constantly monitored and the intensity of fuel combustion must be controlled manually.
For the manufacture of solid fuel sauna boilers, steel and cast iron are most often used. Steel is more susceptible to corrosion, but is characterized by excellent heat transfer properties. The main advantage of cast iron is its fantastic service life.
For more convenient use of a solid fuel boiler, its design can be supplemented with a fan or temperature regulator. A simple solid fuel boiler for a sauna can be easily made with your own hands.
We present to your attention instructions for making a simple solid fuel boiler. A unit of this size will be sufficient for high-quality heating steam rooms with an area of up to 9-12 m2. If necessary, make your changes to overall dimensions structural elements.
First step. Prepare everything necessary equipment for assembling a solid fuel sauna boiler. The body of the unit is best made from 200-liter metal barrel. Additionally, prepare the chimney pipe.
The minimum permissible thickness of the oven body material is 0.4 cm, the lid is 0.5 cm. Prepare metal sheet for the bottom of the boiler.
Also prepare a welding unit, an angle grinder and simple plumbing tools.
Second step. Cut out the bottom of the barrel and replace it with a new bottom made of sheet metal with a thickness of 0.5 cm. First, weld the legs from pieces of channel to the sheet of metal.
At the same stage, cut a hole in the top lid of the barrel for the smoke exhaust pipe (closer to the edge) and weld a pipe to it to connect to the said pipe.
Third step. Step back approximately 40-50 mm from the bottom of the container and, using a grinder, cut a hole 150-100 mm in size to enter the ash pan. Make a metal door according to the dimensions of the hole. Attach the door to the cabinet using hinges.
Fourth step. Prepare the grate. To do this, cut a barrel-shaped piece of sheet metal and make a number of longitudinal holes in it closer to the center of the workpiece. Install the grate inside the housing, approximately 60-70 mm above the hole from the previous step. The grate can be fixed by welding or laid on pre-welded inner surface support barrels made from pieces of reinforcement.
Fifth step. Cut a hole in the combustion chamber 50-70 mm above the grate. Optimal sizes holes – 250x400 mm. Install a door of the appropriate size onto the hole.
Sixth step. Place a heater over the firebox.
At this stage, keep in mind that the height of the firebox should be approximately a third of the height of the barrel, excluding the ash pan (for which you prepared a hole at the bottom of the barrel).
Preliminarily between combustion chamber and the heater should place a partition made of pieces of channel or reinforcement. Select the spacing of the cuttings so that stones do not fall into the gaps in the future.
The firebox and heater should be approximately the same height. Closer to the middle of the heater, prepare another window for loading stones. You also need to install a door on this window.
Seventh step. Clean the boiler from rust and other contaminants, if present.
If you wish, you can additionally equip your homemade boiler with a tank for heating water. For the tank, you can use any container of a suitable size. Place the tank above the heater with a slight offset from the junction of the boiler with the chimney.
At the end, all you have to do is install the boiler in the steam room and connect it to the chimney.
Boiler installation rules
To ensure that the operation of the boiler is as successful and safe as possible, follow several simple rules its installation.
- First of all, select suitable place for installing a heating unit. Typically, boilers and stoves are placed opposite the benches in the steam room. If the wall near which the boiler will be installed is decorated with clapboard or other flammable material, decorate part of such a wall with metal or asbestos sheets - this is a basic requirement fire safety.
- If it is impossible to make such sheet protection, follow the requirements for the minimum permissible distances between boilers and walls. The boiler cannot be placed closer to the wall than 30-35 cm.
- First lay a sheet of thick metal on the floor under the boiler.
- Connect the chimney to the pipe welded to the top of the barrel in the previous steps. Insulate the places where the chimney passes through building materials with asbestos insulation or other non-combustible material.
Good luck!
Video - Do-it-yourself boiler for a bathhouse
A do-it-yourself sauna boiler is usually welded from sheet metal, barrels or pipes large diameter. The simplest design made in the form of a box with a chimney and a heater. If the heating device is equipped with a heat exchanger, you can connect a heating system with radiators for a large bath.
Types and features of sauna boilers
IN general outline A sauna boiler is similar to a traditional heating device installed inside a living space. At homemade production The design resembles a potbelly stove. For a large bath, a boiler is welded with a heat exchanger, to which the heating system is connected.
The main difference in design depends on the type of fuel on which the heating device in the bathhouse will operate:
- Electric boilers are convenient due to the absence of a chimney. Heating is carried out by heating elements. Great power heating elements requires a separate electrical wiring line.
- Gas models are convenient to use. Automatic adjustment combustion maintains the set temperature. However, the explosiveness of gas does not make this type of boiler best choice for a bath.
- Solid fuel boilers are the most popular heating devices for a bath. You can burn anything that burns inside the firebox.
- Liquid fuel models usually run on diesel fuel. Boilers are fire hazardous. In addition, the pungent smell of diesel fuel will not make your stay inside the bathhouse comfortable.
- Pyrolysis boilers are economical. In one chamber the firewood smolders, and the combustion itself takes place in the second firebox.
Of all the options for a bathhouse, only a solid fuel heating device is ideal. You can even weld the boiler yourself from metal. Gas models inconvenient in terms of connection due to the need for registration permitting documentation. Pyrolysis boilers long burning. They must work constantly, which is only beneficial for residential premises.
The video shows the operation of a solid fuel boiler:
How to make a boiler for a bathhouse
Assembling a bath boiler with your own hands will not be difficult if you know how to use a grinder and a welding machine. The structure is welded according to a finished drawing or your own design is developed. It is only important to know what components a heating device for a bath consists of.
Construction of homemade boilers
Homemade products differ in shape, which depends on the material of manufacture (pipe or sheet steel). The design of a heating device for a bath consists of the following components:
- Combustion chamber. Firewood is loaded into the firebox, and this is where it is burned.
- Chimney. The pipe is connected to the firebox and led through the roof of the bathhouse to the street to remove combustion products.
- Ash pit. The chamber is located under the firebox and is divided by grates. The coals of burnt firewood spill through the cracks into the ash pit. This chamber is also called a ash pan, since air enters the firebox through the ash pan to maintain combustion.
- The heater is installed above the firebox. The compartment is made in the form of a chamber with stones loaded inside.
- The water heating tank is located above the heater. Passes inside metal chimney. It heats the water.
Now it’s worth considering the nuances of the design. The boiler is made slightly elongated so that the doors of the firebox and ash pan open into the dressing room. The building itself enters the steam room through the wall. The heater is not a mandatory unit. The steam room can be heated from the body and boiling water in the tank.
Advice! The heater is an integral attribute of the bathhouse. It's nice to take a steam bath in a steam room where you can splash some water on the hot stones.
When making a boiler, it is not advisable to save on the heater.
If the bathhouse is large and there are many rooms, a full heating system will be required. The heating device is equipped with another unit - a heat exchanger. The tank or coil is located in the firebox. A pipeline with radiators is connected to the heat exchanger. The system is filled with coolant, most often water or antifreeze.
Cylindrical boiler
A cylindrical boiler is easier to manufacture due to the smaller quantity welded joints. The material will be a barrel or pipe with a diameter of at least 50 cm. It is advisable to select thick metal - about 6 mm. The service life depends on this.
To make a cylindrical model, cut a piece of pipe 1 m long. The ends are sealed with a plug. Where the bottom will be, 4 small legs are welded. At a height of 5 cm from the bottom, a rectangular ash pan window is cut in the pipe with a grinder. A door is made from a cut out piece of metal and attached to the pipe with hinges near the vent.
Grate bars are welded inside the pipe 10 cm above the ash pan. They can be made removable. The plates are welded to the pipe, and cast iron grates are laid on them. Another hole for the firebox is cut 10 cm higher from the grate. The door is similarly secured with hinges.
For the heater, another piece of pipe is cut. The length is calculated individually so that the end extends into the steam room of the bath. The blank for the heater is welded over the firebox. At the same time, the chimney pipe is welded. The end of the heater facing the steam room can be equipped with a door. A water tank is installed above the heater.
Advice! It is better to make all components in contact with water (tank and chimney) from stainless steel.
Rectangular boiler
The manufacturing scheme of a rectangular heating device for a bath is similar to a cylindrical design. The only difference is that the pipe forms a finished body, where all that remains is to cut out the firebox and ash pan. The rectangular body will have to be welded from separate pieces of sheet steel.
Another important point is the cylinder’s resistance to deformation when heated. To ensure that the rectangular walls remain smooth, stiffening ribs are welded inside the body on the firebox side.
The video shows an example of making a boiler:
Do-it-yourself boiler for a bathhouse: drawings
Gas and solid fuel boilers can be made according to one drawing. The nodes are almost the same, but there are nuances. In a gas boiler, burners are installed instead of a grate. The firebox is reduced, and due to it the size of the heater is increased. An ash pan is also not needed, but a small blower is made to supply air to the combustion chamber.
Attention! The design of a gas boiler for a bathhouse is designed so that the automation and all connections to the burner are located in the dressing room. The control unit is covered with a protective casing.
The drawing of a diesel fuel boiler for a bath is similar to its gas counterpart. The difference is the installation of a different type of burner.
Tools and materials
When making a boiler, you cannot do without the following tools:
- apparatus for electric or gas welding;
- grinder with cutting discs for metal;
- hammer, chisel, pliers.
The materials needed are metal for the boiler (pipe, barrel or sheet steel). You will also need a tap for the water tank and hinges to hang the doors. Consumables for welding work depend on the type of apparatus (electrodes, carbide, oxygen, wire).
Boiler installation rules
Even before starting to prepare the boiler, a place is prepared for it in the bathhouse. Because of heavy weight metal structure provide a foundation of concrete or brick. A hole in the ceiling and roof of the bathhouse is cut strictly above the chimney exit from the boiler to avoid bends. The knees become clogged with soot faster, and traction worsens.
Advice! It is better to make the passage of the chimney through the ceiling of the bathhouse from a two-layer “sandwich” pipe.
Due to the thermal insulation of the internal channel, the outer casing does not heat up. The chimney is safe even when touching flammable roofing materials of the bathhouse.
How to cook a sauna cauldron with your own hands
It is worth starting to make a boiler when you have a drawing, tools and all materials at hand. Thematic video will help you quickly understand the order of work:
Preparing consumables
Consumables include grinder circles. There will be a lot of cutting. Moreover, you will need not only cutting, but also grinding discs. Needed consumables for welding work. It is better to weld thick boiler metal using electric welding. You will need electrodes with a diameter of 3-4 mm. It is better to cook a thin-walled barrel using gas welding. Here you already need carbide and an oxygen cylinder. To weld a seam using gas welding, you will need metal wire with a diameter of 2-3 mm. Instead of carbide, you can use a cylinder filled with acetylene.
Welding of structural supports
A more reliable and functional sauna boiler is made from a pipe that acts as a body. Inside, from pieces of thick reinforcement 30 mm long, 3 supports are welded onto at different levels. The elements are located parallel to each other and the ground. The stove will be installed on the lower support. The height of the middle element is calculated taking into account the design of the ash chamber door. The third support is welded at a distance of 200 mm from the upper edge of the boiler body. The bottom and cover of the housing are cut out of steel 5-6 mm thick.
For a grate, a circle is cut out of 10 mm thick metal. The workpiece must fit inside the boiler body. Longitudinal slits are cut in the circle. A window for the box is cut out in the lower part of the body. Subsequently, the hole is closed with a door.
The box itself is welded from metal. A partition is placed inside, separating the firebox and the blower. It is important to take into account that the level of the partition with the grate located inside the boiler must coincide.
Heat exchanger welding
If in big sauna a heating system is provided, the homemade boiler is equipped with another unit - a heat exchanger. In factory production, the part is often a coil of copper pipe. The choice of metal is not accidental. Copper is resistant to corrosion and quickly transfers heat from the fire to the coolant. It is difficult to weld a copper heat exchanger at home. Skills and special welding equipment will be required. For homemade boiler It is customary to use pipes and sheet steel with a thickness of more than 1 mm.
By design, the boiler heat exchanger can be tubular or flat from several tanks. The heating rate of the coolant in the system depends on the area of the unit. In other words, the size of the heat exchanger determines the power and efficiency of the boiler.
The heating area can be increased due to the size of the heat exchanger. However, for a large unit it will be necessary to expand the boiler furnace, which is not the best solution for a bath heating device.
The heating area can be increased by welding a tubular heat exchanger. The disadvantage of the design is the complexity of manufacturing. You will need to drill on a machine or cut through gas welding many holes in the pipe for vertical racks. In addition, the number of welding joints increases.
A flat heat exchanger is made from sheet steel in the shape of the letter “P”. Solid containers have a smaller heating area, but the assembly is easier to make. To find a middle ground, a combined heat exchanger is welded. Side walls The units consist of flat tanks, and they are connected to each other at the top by tubes. Due to the upper jumper, the heating area increases.
Sometimes a flat heat exchanger is made from one tank and installed in the upper part of the firebox. Bad idea. A lot of soot collects near the chimney. The heat exchanger sticks and requires frequent cleaning. In addition direct hit fire burns the walls of the tank faster.
The walls of the U-shaped combined heat exchanger are located on the sides of the firebox, which is the best option. The upper pipe bridge has gaps through which smoke and soot are more freely directed to the chimney.
When installing the heat exchanger, two holes are cut in the boiler body. Through them, pipes are brought out, to which the heating system of the bathhouse will then be connected.
Assembly of the structure
When all the boiler components are welded, all that remains is to assemble them into a single structure. First, a box is welded into the body. The firebox is taken out into the dressing room or outside. The second option is worse, since loading firewood in the cold is not comfortable.
If a heat exchanger is provided, the unit is inserted inside the firebox. A hole is cut in the housing cover and a chimney pipe is welded. The next step is the installation of the water tank.
Installation work
The foundation is poured under the boiler in the bathhouse. First, dig a hole, pour a 15 cm thick cushion of sand and crushed stone. concrete screed 10 cm thick. The walls around the boiler are lined with brick or sheathed with metal lined with asbestos.
After the foundation in the bathhouse has hardened, the boiler is placed in its place. The chimney is brought out through a hole prepared in the ceiling. The heater is loaded with stones, and the heating system is connected to the heat exchanger pipes.
Conclusion
A DIY sauna boiler requires a lot of labor, but making it is much cheaper. Factory heating devices are expensive and not always made of high-quality steel.
One of the key stages in the construction of a building such as a bathhouse is the direct assembly heating device, which is a boiler or oven. In order to begin installing a homemade boiler in a bathhouse with your own hands, you need to decide in what ways it differs from a stove.
In principle, we can say that in most cases there are no special differences between such installations. This is due to the fact that they perform approximately the same functions:
- Create indoors comfortable temperature;
- Heat the water;
- Heat the stones.
Types of boilers for baths
It should be said that designs can be differentiated depending on the fuel used:
When choosing the material from which the boiler will be made, certain points should also be taken into account. For example, cast iron boilers are not suitable for installation directly in a steam room, as due to high humidity they may simply burst. A separate room will have to be made for them, which is not very advisable in an ordinary bathhouse.
In this regard, it is best to install boilers made of the following materials directly in the steam room:
- Metal;
- Brick;
- Metal lined with brick.
If we talk about tradition, they built in bathhouses brick kilns large sizes, however now at the expense modern technologies today you can build a boiler small size, especially when using metal. It is worth saying that not every person is able to purchase a boiler made at a factory, so you can make it yourself.
You need to decide on the fuel that will be used in the boiler. Gas and electrical installations You should not assemble it yourself - such installations are purchased ready-made. Neither electricians nor gas workers will allow you to install similar homemade boilers yourself, as this can lead to an emergency. The easiest way is to make a boiler that runs on solid fuel.
DIY pipe boiler
Iron cauldron welded from metal pipe, is arranged very simply. Preparatory work in this case, they are limited only to studying several drawings of these devices, as well as purchasing all the required consumables.
Almost always, such boilers are made from a metal pipe of fairly large diameter. It is most convenient to take a diameter of approximately 500 mm; a length of no more than one meter would be quite suitable. Due to this, you can get a device that can create a comfortable temperature in a room, the volume of which is about 15 cubic meters or approximately 9 square meters.
To produce such a boiler it will not be possible to do without the following tools:
- Welding or electric;
- Corner grinding machine or Bulgarian;
- Metal cutting wheels for grinders.
First prepare the pipe:
- At the first stage, three supports are made that will stand parallel to the surface of the earth at three different levels. To do this, you need to take three pieces of reinforcement, the diameter of which should be 14 mm and the length 3 cm. The first level is required in order to install the stove. The second one is placed depending on where the blower door will be located. The third is installed 20 cm from the top edge of the pipe;
- The circle acts as the bottom required sizes , which is cut from a steel sheet whose thickness is at least 5 mm;
- For grate, through which combustion products will fall, as well as supplying the oxygen required to maintain combustion, you will need a circle of sheet metal. An already perforated sheet is taken or slots are made in it;
- The furnace lid acts as a support for the stones, so it is also made of sheet steel with a thickness of 5 mm. In the central part you need to cut a hole into which the chimney pipe is inserted;
- A slot is made in the lower part of the future boiler for installing the door;
- In some cases, a box is installed instead of a door, through which fuel will be supplied to the boiler.
The entire structure is assembled at its final location following the following sequence of actions:
- At the first stage, a box is welded into the structure. If this work is already carried out directly in the bathhouse, then the box is placed in the boiler in such a way that it goes either into the dressing room or onto the street;
- Weld into a pre-prepared hole. This work should be given as much attention as possible more attention, since if you leave even the slightest hole, then combustion products will pass through it into the steam room and accumulate there. This can have a very negative impact on a person’s health;
- The structure is quite heavy, so it is necessary to build a foundation for it. Easiest to do as him reinforced concrete slab. Instead, a screed made of concrete or reinforced concrete is suitable. Moreover, it is poured onto crushed stone, the layer of which must be at least 15 cm;
- The structure is placed on a prepared base, and stones are placed on the lid.
In principle, instead of a metal pipe, often craftsmen use a barrel of suitable size. At the same time this design can be constructed without the use of any power tools except welding machine– all holes are cut out with a chisel or an ax. All other actions will be exactly the same as when working with a piece of pipe.
Boilers for saunas made of pipes with heaters Metal boiler
A sauna boiler can be made from steel sheets– the result should be an open oven, which is lined with bricks for safety.
At the first stage, they acquire everything necessary for the manufacture of such a design:
- Sheet steel, the minimum thickness of which must be 5 mm– it will be used to build the walls of the boiler;
- 10mm steel for making the bottom. Here the material is taken thicker, because it heats up more under the influence of high temperatures;
- Various accessories for heating devices;
- Reinforcement thickness no more than 4-5 mm, from which the mesh for the stones will be welded;
- Channels;
- Galvanized sheet for removal of combustion products– its thickness should be about 2 mm;
- Asbestos for upper elements chimney.
Before starting work on the manufacture of a heating boiler, a drawing of it is developed, where the structure should be shown from above, from the side, and in section. All dimensions are given strictly in millimeters. When this is done, the drawing is transferred on a one-to-one scale to the purchased materials.
The boiler body is assembled from steel sheets. Welding should be approached very responsibly and the metal should be thoroughly welded throughout its entire thickness, otherwise fistulas will gradually begin to form in these areas under the influence of high temperature.
A hole is cut in the upper part of the boiler for subsequent installation of a chimney. Immediately weld the tin pipe. It is worth noting that in this case it will be necessary to use special electrodes.
When constructing such a structure, it will also be necessary to make a foundation for the furnace, otherwise the floor simply will not support the weight of the product. The foundation must be made using the same technology as for a boiler made of a metal pipe.
Installation Rules
You need to take care of your own safety, since a steel stove can heat up to a temperature of 500 degrees or even more; slipping on the floor can cause a serious burn First of all, you should remember that it is necessary to make a brick heat shield around a metal boiler. Thanks to this, high temperatures will be significantly reduced and mitigated.
The result of the work should be a brick screen with ventilation holes around the entire perimeter. This must be done for all types of boilers made of metal.
In bathhouses, as a rule, the entire steam room is made of wood, so fire safety measures must be taken into account. In particular, they say that a distance of at least 50 cm must be maintained from flammable walls.
If it is not possible to take this rule into account, then you will have to use either brickwork or special thermal insulation sheets that cover the flammable surface from the floor to the ceiling.
When passing a pipe through the ceiling, you can also ignore several important points which may subsequently lead to a fire. If it was made of non-combustible materials, then a hole for the pipe is made larger diameter, and the rest of the space is covered with non-flammable mineral wool, and also covered with basalt cardboard from below and above.
You need to take care of your own safety, since a steel stove can heat up to a temperature of 500 degrees or even more; if you slip on the floor, you can get a serious burn. In this regard, it is advisable to make floors from non-slip materials. Wood is most suitable for this purpose. Many people lay out floors from ceramic tiles, which becomes very slippery when wet, so it’s better to avoid it.
- It is strictly forbidden to build a bathhouse too close to other buildings, as this can cause a major fire. Due to this location of the bathhouse, experts may not allow the installation of a gas or electric boiler;
- To increase fire safety indicators, there must be a grate at the outlet of the pipe a spark arrester that will prevent burning coals from flying out of the stove;
- If at work iron stove If certain defects begin to be observed, they should be eliminated immediately, as this may cause gas contamination in the steam room. Particularly dangerous in this regard carbon monoxide, since it is completely odorless.