What's the best way to lay a brick stove? / what's the best way to lay the brick surround for metal sauna stove? / How to lay the surround for a sauna stove? / how to lay a metal stove with a brick surround in a sauna?
To be honest, we would advise you to ditch the metal stove as quickly as possible and order a classic, traditional, Russian, stone sauna stove instead. Believe me, you won’t regret it and your family will thank you for it.
How do I make a sauna stove? / How do you weld a sauna stove? / How do you lay a sauna stove?
We have been providing answers to this question for over 20 years. During this time, we have brought to life 300 stoves, every one of which is still in working order. Creating sauna stoves is a very specialised area. We strongly recommend that you enlist the services of a professional stove master.
How do I install a stove in my sauna? / how do you properly install a sauna stove? / how do you put a stove in a sauna?
It is very difficult to give a short answer to this question because there are so many factors that should be taken into account. When you order a 'turnkey' sauna, our designers will develop the optimal layout for your steam room.
Is it always possible to repair a stove?
Unfortunately, it isn't always possible to repair a stove. If the construction of the stove itself or the materials are beyond repair, we will offer to remake the stove completely guaranteeing safety and durability.
How long does it take to repair a stove?
That depends on the scale of work involved. Cosmetic repairs take about 1-2 days, but complete refurbishment can take up to 2 months. Call us or write to us for a repairs estimate.
Do you offer on-site inspections?
Of course. It is difficult to give a professional opinion on a stove's condition without actually seeing it. Call us. We'd be happy to help.
Do you carry out repairs on stoves created by other manufacturers?
Yes, we do. In fact, the majority of the repair work we undertake is carried out on stoves that aren't our original product. Repairs aren't always enough. We can examine your stove and give you a professional opinion. For more details, see our Stove Repairs page.
I don't feel great when I sit near the stove. What does that mean?
If it's a metal stove then that's quite normal. If it's a masonry stove, there might be a problem with carbon monoxide. Over time, the metal stove constructions wear out and then cracks appear in the brickwork and carbon monoxide leaks into the room. You should stop using the stove right away. Don't hesitate to contact us for a diagnosis report and necessary repair work.
I have noticed cracks appearing in the stove brickwork. Is that dangerous?
It is the carbon monoxide that is dangerous. Stop using the stove. It obviously needs repairing and for that you should have a fault diagnosis carried out. We'll keep an eye out for your call.
Smoke is escaping into the house when I heat up the stove. What should I do?
This phenomenon is referred to as 'backdraft'. The most common cause of backdraft is a cold chimney and lower air pressure inside the room than outside. You should inspect the chimney and possibly have it insulated. Call us to find out more about our 'Diagnosis' service
My stove has started burning much more wood. What might be causing that?
You might simply need to clean the flue, or it might just be a problem with a particular batch of firewood. The fire box might also be in need of repair. We recommend you invite an engineer to come and carry out a technical fault diagnosis. Call us for more information on how to proceed.
Why does my stove take far too long to heat up?
The reason might be that the wood is not dry enough or that the draw in the flue is weak. In any case, you should have your stove inspected professionally. Call us.
My brick sauna stove heats up very slowly. How can I solve the problem?
There may be several reasons for this. We recommend that you order a technical fault diagnosis for your stove. We will identify all the reasons for the problem and suggest procedures for further action.
Are the materials used in the stove and steam room eco-friendly?
Synthetic materials are totally eliminated from the stove lining and the steam room wooden finish and the materials we do use come with environmental certification. We also carry out our own safety tests to ensure that all the materials we use are eco-friendly. We have a huge responsibility towards our customers which we take extremely seriously.
Will I receive instructions on how to work the stove?
After the handover-acceptance of the stove, every customer receives an instruction manual on how to use the stove and a personal training session. We are always willing to answer any questions as they arise by phone and if necessary, in person.
What are the safety advantages of your stoves?
All stoves manufactured by Furnace Art Engineering are equipped with alarms and a temperature control unit. Gas stoves are fitted with a multi-stage safety device. Our electric-powered stoves are equipped with an electronic control panel. In addition, the heat up process and the steam session take place at different intervals, which also guarantees the safety of the sauna.
Is a gas-fuelled sauna stove safe?
The heating process and steam session take place at separate intervals. The gas burner is managed using an automatic control panel and is equipped with safety devices, a thermostat and a safety cut-out device. If the flame goes out, the gas supply valve is triggered. Certificates are issued both for the stove equipment and installation.
To what extent are your stoves earthquake-proof?
Our stoves can be designed taking into account possible seismic activity of up to 9 points on the Richter scale. Please include this request in the terms of reference (ToR).
What alarm system do you install?
Sauna stoves powered by gas or electricity are equipped with a sound alarm, which is installed into the electronic control panel. If the temperature in the steam room goes above the set point the alarm will sound. Call us for a consultation with one of our engineers.
What is the door to the steam room made of?
We usually install glass doors.
Do you comply with fire safety standards?
At Furnace Art Engineering we take safety very seriously and comply with current fire safety standards both during the design and assembly stages. The stove operation manual outlines additional requirements for safety compliance which should be followed by the stove owner. Take care of yourself.
Is it ok to leave the sauna stove unattended?
It is preferable not to leave the stove unattended. 'Trust but verify’ as they say. A wood-burning stove has to be fed by hand and from time to time, you need to check how much the previous armful of logs has burned down. Gas and electric-powered stoves are equipped with an automatic control unit so they don’t require the same kind of monitoring.
It is ok to pour water onto the stove?
It will reduce the stove's life cycle if you do. It is not advisable to do so.
How do I know when the stove has reached temperature?
With time you will recognise when the stove is ready just by looking, but at least initially, you can tell whether it is ready either by counting the number of armfuls of logs you have burned or by checking the sensors on the electric control panel that is fitted on all our stoves. In the case of an electric-powered or gas-fuelled stove, the heat up process is totally automated.
Is it ok to splash water onto the core for steam whilst the stove is working?
The stove heat up process and the steam session itself take place at different intervals, so there is no need to produce steam whilst the stove is being heated because there won’t be any bathers inside at the time. Furnace Art Engineering guarantees the safety of its authentic, traditional masonry stoves.
Can you make steam using beer?
It's really not worth trying as it would be very difficult to clean the stove lining afterwards. The pleasant aromas in a Russian sauna are achieved by hanging bunches of sweet-smelling herbs along the walls of the steam room and by sprinkling aromatic, spirit-based tinctures onto the surfaces of the walls.
How should the 'venik' or sauna switch be prepared?
Before using the sauna, the 'venik' - 'sauna switch' should be lowered into cold water and soaked for 15 minutes. Then the switch is rinsed in warm water. If necessary, untie the switch and retie the branches to avoid the risk of the ‘venik’ falling apart during the thermal massage and leaves flying everywhere. Hold the ‘venik' by the handle in the water in which it was soaked. If you place the switch in hot water, the leaves will quickly fall from the branches and you won't be able to use it. Likewise, if you put the ‘venik' into hot water, all the nutrients contained in the leaves will be lost so don't steam the sauna switch.
What does the quality of the steam depend on?
First and foremost, steam quality depends on the stove. In the case of our sauna stoves, light steam is guaranteed. Quality depends additionally on: the temperature of the stove core (it shouldn't drop below 500°С), the amount of water splashed onto the core in one go (a special ladle with a long handle is used in home saunas), the water itself (it needs to be hot, clean water, 60°С) and the height of the ceiling in the steam room (from 2.8m).
What's the proper way to make steam? How do you make steam?
Light steam is produced from the red hot stones of the stove's core. The core is heated to a temperature of at least 500°С. Steam is produced by splashing hot, clean water onto the stones of the core. When light steam forms, rather than giving out a hissing sound, it makes a characteristic flapping sound like the wings of a large bird. The steam rushes upwards towards the ceiling and then gradually descends towards the floor. This process can be accelerated by waving a towel slowly and carefully as if scooping the steam up and directing it towards the bathers sitting on the benches.
Can I use coal to heat the stove?
If you are planning to use coal to heat your stove, please let us know beforehand so that we can make the necessary adjustments to the stove construction at the design stage. Coal is much more thermogenic than wood and gives out a stronger heat, so we would use different materials to ensure the normal durability of the stove. Telephone us for a consultation with one of our engineers.
