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.
Can I heat my stove with briquettes?
You can use wood briquettes to heat your sauna stove but charcoal briquettes are not suitable for use in stoves created by Furnace Art Engineering.
