Installing a sauna tank on a pipe. How to connect the tank to the heat exchanger of a sauna stove Volume of the tank for cold water in the sauna

July 28, 2016
Specialization: facade finishing, interior decoration, construction of cottages, garages. Experience of an amateur gardener and gardener. We also have experience in repairing cars and motorcycles. Hobbies: playing the guitar and many other things that I don’t have time for :)

There are a number of requirements for heating water for a bath, the main ones being that a large volume of liquid must be heated, and within the most a short time. Currently, there are quite a few ways to solve this problem, however, the most popular is a tank on a pipe for a bathhouse. Below I will tell you about the features of this solution, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the types of containers that are used for these purposes.

Features of heating water in a tank on a pipe

Black baths, when smoke from the stove came directly into the room, are a thing of the past. Nowadays, steam rooms are equipped with chimneys that allow gases to escape. Thus, not only are they created comfortable conditions stay in the steam room, but also increases the durability of the bath itself.

At the same time, the highest temperature in the furnace is obtained at the outlet, which is due to hot gases, the temperature of which can reach 500 degrees. As a result, the chimney pipe heats up to very high temperatures.

Thanks to this property, heating water in a tank installed on the chimney is most efficient. In fact, in this case the samovar principle is used. Therefore, such tanks are also called “samovar”.

This heating method has a number of advantages:

due to the high temperature of the gases, heating is carried out very quickly;
heat is used for heating, which is simply discharged to the street, thus increasing the efficiency of the stove;
the water in the tank remains hot during the entire time the sauna is heated;
the tank can have a large volume, since it can be positioned along the entire chimney. Moreover, with an increase in volume, the water heating time does not increase, as is the case with other types of structures;
the container does not require additional elements, for example, pumps, heating elements, etc.;
installing the tank is not difficult to do with your own hands;
In this case, the durability of the chimney increases, since the pipes burn out more slowly.

Of course, along with the advantages this decision It also has some disadvantages:

it is impossible to control the liquid level and its heating temperature;

To get “dry” steam, you cannot bring the liquid to a boil. In the case of a tank on a chimney, this condition cannot be met;

Installing a large tank is quite difficult, as it is heavy. Therefore, the installation instructions for such containers require the use of a fastening system. Moreover, the weight should not fall on the stove, but on other load-bearing elements, for example, walls;
If the container is not located immediately above the stove or has a large volume, it is difficult to pour water into it, since the hole is located high.

It should also be noted that not every chimney can be used for these purposes. The main requirement for it is good thermal conductivity of the material from which it is made. For example, a brick or asbestos chimney is completely unsuitable for this purpose.

The best option is a metal product. Moreover, a stainless steel chimney is preferable, since ordinary iron quickly burns out.

The most durable are ceramic chimneys. True, their cost is very high, so they are rarely used in baths.

Types and features

A tank for heating water on a pipe exists in different configurations. The main differences lie in two parameters:

the material from which the product is made;
design on which the principle of heating water depends.

Below I will tell you about all the types and features of such tanks.

Materials

Water heating containers are most often made from the following materials:

cast iron– products made from this material have a number of disadvantages, among which are high fuel consumption for heating water, and the liquid heats up very slowly in them. In addition, they are heavy, which can cause difficulties during installation.
However, cast iron products also have one important advantage - they retain heat for a long time. The water remains hot almost all day, which in some cases is a decisive parameter when choosing;
steel– the main advantage of these products is low price In addition, they heat up quickly, however, they also cool down quickly. Their main disadvantage is that they are susceptible to corrosion, as a result of which they are short-lived;
galvanized– these products are more resistant to corrosion than conventional steel containers, however, over time they also begin to rust. Therefore, they also cannot be called durable;

stainless steel– such products have the same characteristics as containers made of ordinary iron, however, they are resistant to corrosion. Of course, the cost of such containers is one and a half to two times higher than galvanized ones.

You can also find enamel tanks on sale. They are more durable than regular steel ones.
However, over time, chips and cracks appear on them, in place of which corrosion forms.

Thus, it is better to choose a cast iron or stainless steel tank, depending on your needs.

Operating principle

According to the principle of operation, existing chimney tanks are divided into two types:

samovar - this design is the simplest and most economical, therefore it is most popular. Actually, all the features of water heating described above apply specifically to it;

remote - in this case, not the entire tank is installed on the pipe, but only a small container called a heat exchanger. The main tank can be installed anywhere in the bathhouse on the wall. This is the main advantage of this design.

As for efficiency, the water in such containers heats up just as quickly as in samovar-type structures. In this case, it is possible to control the liquid level in the tank, as well as the heating temperature.

The only thing you should take into account is that if the container is located at a height of more than 3 m, a pump will be needed for normal circulation.

To make a choice, you need to evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages of each option and settle on the most optimal solution for you.

In the photo - a remote container

Volume calculation

So, we have figured out the types and features of tanks for chimneys. Finally, I will tell you how to calculate the optimal volume.

This is done extremely simply - one person requires 10 liters of water for bath procedures and 5 liters for a shower, i.e. only 15 liters. Of course, it is advisable to calculate the volume with a margin - it will be 20-25 liters per person.

As a result, if the bathhouse is designed for a family of four, a capacity of 80-100 liters is sufficient. The cost of such a stainless steel product is about 5,000 rubles.

Conclusion

Tanks installed on chimneys, although they have some disadvantages, nevertheless provide the most efficient heating of water. Therefore, nowadays they have become the most popular solution. The only thing, keep in mind that their choice must be approached competently, taking into account the nuances outlined above.

You will find more information in the video in this article. If after reading the material you have any questions, ask them in the comments, and I will be happy to answer you.

Bath procedures have a very positive effect on human health. They perfectly warm up muscles and joints, prevent the appearance of colds, and improve blood circulation. But for a comfortable and healthy stay, the bathhouse must be properly equipped.

Typically, a standard model of a Russian bath has two water tanks. One of them is intended for cold, and the other, respectively, for hot. Comfortable relaxation in the bathhouse directly depends on which tank is chosen for hot water, how it is installed and what volume it has. These issues should be approached carefully and with the utmost responsibility.

Peculiarities

Although today there are various heating devices for water, but a regular tank for hot water in a bathhouse is still relevant. A rather significant advantage of this device is decent savings on heating water from gas or from electrical appliances. Also, one of the positive aspects of a hot water tank in a steam room is that it increases the level of humidity in the air.

The main thing before buying a tank is not to miscalculate its volume. Some advice will help you choose the right tank for its subsequent reliable and long-term operation. important rules. In particular, it is worth considering that per person in the bathhouse you will need from 20 to 25 liters of hot water. Therefore, if the steam room of the bath is small and designed for two people, then a standard fifty-liter container will be enough. And in the case when the area of the bathhouse allows a whole company to relax in it, then a hundred-liter tank is indispensable.

Kinds

Hot water tanks are presented various models. The most common types of structures include a built-in tank, a remote tank and a tank on a pipe. Each of the presented models has both its positive and negative sides.

Built-in

Previously, built-in structures were made in bathhouses immediately during their construction. The lower part of the water tank was connected to the firebox, and then the liquid was heated by the fire in the stove. This is common and standard design, which has been in use for a long time. Its big advantage is that the water in the tank heats up quite quickly and there is no big hassle with the option of heating the water. Liquid is taken from such a reservoir using a ladle, lifting the lid or installing a tap in the barrel. However, such a tank may have a small capacity. The volume in this case directly depends on the dimensions of the heater or boiler. And also, most of the heat from the stove goes precisely to heating the container with liquid, which reduces the level of heat transfer in the steam room.

Remote

The main convenience of this type of design is that the tank can be installed anywhere, depending on convenience. Such a container is most often placed in washrooms or in the shower near the steam room. The heating device used here is a heat exchanger located in the stove, which is connected to the reservoir using pipes made of copper and brass. The principle of operation is that the heat exchanger supplies cold water, but it rises back already hot.

On the pipe

These models are advisable to use when the steam room is used for quite a long time. In this case, the container with water is located above the pipe. Installation of this design is more difficult than others, but has more advantages. The water tank is usually installed in the attic. Heated water for a long time maintains its high temperature even after the furnace has stopped firing. The structure itself does not clutter up the space in the bathhouse, as it is located in the attic. This design is good for use in a bathhouse with a large number of people., because the tank holds a large volume of water, and it is heated in an extremely short time.

It is also common to call a hot water tank on a pipe a samovar because of its operating principle. Typically, stainless steel is used for the production of samovar systems. Thanks to this material, the water in the container warms up very quickly. But it is extremely important to prevent the liquid from boiling in the tank. This rule applies to all types of systems.

Also quite a popular model are mounted tanks. This is a very convenient design that is installed directly above the stove, which allows you to heat the water. Such a tank is very convenient to use in a small bathhouse, since the water container takes up little space. But their most typical drawback is that people in the steam room can accidentally touch the hot walls of the tank and receive serious burns. In addition, the volume of such tanks is not always large and the water in them can boil quickly. To do this, it is recommended to periodically drain the water and fill it with cold water. Moreover, such tanks are equipped with taps for draining water.

A corner water tank is installed in the corner of the steam room. This is a plus, since this design does not clutter up the space in the bathhouse.

Horizontal water tanks are oval in shape and more like a barrel.

There are also tanks with the so-called heating element. Heating elements are heating elements, providing water heating from electricity. heating elements in Lately also gained particular popularity. Even many sauna stoves now operate not with wood, but with the help of these devices. Their leading manufacturers are companies "Harvia" "Helo", and from domestic producers the campaign is popular "Ermak". In addition, there are complex devices in which water can be heated both from the electrical network and from the heat of the stove.

It is also worth mentioning such a model as expansion tanks. The main function of such a device is to compensate for excess pressure in heating system. This always happens when the water temperature increases. That is, the point is that such storage tank helps maintain optimal pressure in the system. Often expansion tanks are used for large systems heating, for example, for public baths.

An attached hot water tank is also considered one of the most popular. To heat water, the tank is simply placed against the partition of the furnace, and the water in it is heated.

Materials

When choosing a tank for a bathhouse or when making it yourself, an unmistakable choice of the material for its manufacture is extremely important. The heating time of the liquid, the period of its cooling and the duration of operation of the device itself will depend on this. Among the most widely used materials, cast iron, stainless steel and enameled steel are widely used.

Previously, only cast iron tanks were used for hot water tanks. Cast iron containers time-tested and have a number of positive aspects. In particular, a cast iron tank will keep the water hot for a long time. There is no corrosion on them and the water in this tank will always be clean. This material is very resistant to temperature changes. And finally, the shelf life of a cast iron tank is very long, since this material is not susceptible to corrosion. Currently, not many manufacturers are engaged in the manufacture of cast iron tanks. But it is quite possible to buy a used tank at a lower price. In this case, you will need to process it and give it a pleasant appearance.

One of the disadvantages is the rather long time it takes to heat the water in the tank. Cast iron tanks are heavy and sometimes need to be installed on a special foundation. If the tank is located above the stove, its fastening requires additional reinforcement. Making such a tank yourself will also be a very problematic undertaking.

Stainless steel containers are now used quite often. This material replaced cast iron tanks. The owners of the baths rated them highly positive traits. Such tanks do not require additional protection from high humidity. The water in a stainless steel tank is heated in an extremely short period of time. Stainless steel has good resistance to sudden temperature changes and, accordingly, does not rust, as its name already implies. The only downside that can be noted is that the water in it cools down quickly.

Enameled steel tanks- also a popular version of this design. A special enamel coating on such tanks reliably protects them from corrosion. The main thing is to prevent damage to the enamel, otherwise the tank may begin to rust. Although damaging the enamel layer is quite problematic, since such a coating is resistant to various types of damage. If necessary, a tank made of this material can be very easily cleaned. Enamel of various colors is available on the market.

For cold water, separate tanks are now rarely used, since it most often enters the room through the water supply. But if there is a need to install a container for cold water, then there is much less hassle with it than with a tank for hot water, since there are no particularly strict requirements for it. You can even use wooden tanks, such as, oak barrel. They are also popular plastic containers for cold water. But such containers cannot be placed in a steam room, much less near a stove, because plastic is sensitive to high temperatures and can become deformed when heated. You can also make such a tank yourself.

A homemade container can be welded from several sheets of aluminum. You can also use galvanized surfaces, which will further protect the tank from corrosion.

DIY making

Quite a few experienced bath attendants recommend making containers from stainless steel. Most of its advantages were listed above and all of them indicate great convenience in using such material. But it’s worth considering that there are different grades of stainless steel, and not all of them are suitable for making a container with water in a bathhouse. Some of the best options are brand 08 X 17 (430) and 812 X 18N10 (304). These are very reliable surfaces that do not require special care and will last a long time.

Typically, purchased tanks have a wall thickness of 1 mm. But when making containers, it is best to use metal sheets of slightly thicker thickness. The dimensions of the sheets are selected according to the tank capacity.

Craftsmen often use a stainless steel pipe. In this case, the container looks like a barrel. And that's pretty convenient option, because you don’t have to spend a lot of time calculating the size and connecting the sheets. To make such iron barrel the following steps must be completed:

First you need to cut the required piece of pipe with a grinder.
The cut areas of the pipe must be carefully processed. You can use a regular file for this. A drill with special attachments will help make the task easier and save a lot of time.
Then you need to start installing the bottom and top lid of the container. Actually, for this you need to find a sheet of stainless steel. Typically the thickness of the top and bottom parts is greater than the walls of the tank itself. On the sheet you need to draw an even circle in accordance with the diameter of the pipe. The necessary circles are cut out and processed again. If the container passes chimney, then additional holes are made in the lower and upper parts in accordance with the diameter of the pipe from the stove.

The next stage of work is connecting the cut out parts with the main part of the future container. For this purpose it is used welding machine or the soldering method (which is much more difficult and time-consuming). After joining, again you need to carefully process the welding seams. By the way, if necessary, and for convenience, it is not at all necessary to weld the upper part. It can be secured to the body with bolts or made in the form of a cover so that it can be removed. This is done when the container is not connected to the water supply and water is filled in manually.
The next stage of work is the most painstaking. A tap and pipes must be installed on the container. To do this, the stainless steel needs to be drilled from the bottom and top in the places where the taps will be located. Sometimes the pipes are simply welded to the container so as not to make a special thread.
Then work is carried out to install the container. They are described in more detail below.

How to install and connect correctly?

During the process of installing and connecting a tank in a bathhouse, one of the main priorities is deciding how the water in the tank will be heated. The water in the tank can be heated either from the heat of the stove in the steam room, or using a heating element. The main factor here is the number of people visiting the steam room and their need for hot water. The thickness of the tank will also affect the rate at which the water heats up.

Connection diagrams for the water tank may vary. If there is running water in the premises, it is necessary to use a closed water supply system. For this purpose, it is most advisable to use a stove that has a coil, which, in turn, will be connected to a water reservoir and heat the liquid. The container itself can be mounted on the wall. Sometimes tanks are mounted directly above the furnaces, but with this installation option it is best to use lighter and smaller structures. For containers that have a water circuit, stainless steel or galvanized sheet is often used.

You need to connect according to the following instructions:

The tank itself should be installed in the steam room and connected to the pipes using a coil.
To achieve good circulation, it is worth connecting the upper part of the tank with the upper outlet of the coil, and the lower part of the tank, respectively, with the lower one. For this reason, cold water will enter from below, and hot water will be discharged from above.

At the point where cold water will enter the tank, a safety and check valve is used.
Then you need to set the threshold pressure for the valves at which they will operate. The drawings are presented below.

Thanks to this principle of operation, the liquid in the container will be heated using a coil. And after it is used, the tank will be filled with cold water again.

If hot water remains in the tank for a long time, the pressure in it increases. But in this case, a so-called “exploder” is installed on the tanks, which releases the pressure automatically.

Many bathhouse owners need to paint their water tank. Moreover, if this is a handmade product, then you definitely need to give it a beautiful and presentable look. To begin with, before painting, it is recommended to thoroughly clean the surface of the container, both inside and outside. To do this, you can use various abrasives. The surface must also be degreased to ensure good adhesion of the surface and paint during subsequent painting. If you are using an old container, there will likely be rust residues in it. This can be dealt with using a metal brush or an electric drill with a special attachment. A drill will help save time, effort and remove rust more thoroughly.

Most practical way heat the water in the bath - use the heat from the stove. There are several ways to do this. One of the most obvious and simplest is to install a water tank on or inside the stove. Such tanks are called mounted and built-in. There are also set-up tanks - these are some kind of containers that are placed on top of a heated oven. To heat water, you can use the heat that usually escapes into the pipe: you can also hang a tank on the chimney pipe. And the water will heat up very efficiently: the chimney temperature can reach 500 o C.

All these methods are good, but they do not provide the ability to supply hot water to the shower. And today, few people imagine a bathhouse without a shower. Remote water tanks provide this opportunity. A heat exchanger is installed in the stove, the tank is hung next to the stove or in another room (in the attic, for example), they are connected to each other by pipes through which water circulates. Passing through the heat exchanger, the water heats up and enters the tank, from where it can be distributed to the shower or tap. The system is simple and effective.

Built-in tanks were the first to appear. These containers are installed either above the firebox or on the side of it; they can be of any shape, but rectangular ones are more common. The thickness of the walls (made of stainless steel - it is irrational to use others in the oven) in containers up to 50 liters is 0.8-1 mm, in larger ones up to 1.5 mm. To drain the water, taps are provided (usually ball valves), and water is poured into a special hole. But built-in tanks are not always convenient - you can’t leave them empty, and boiling water is a source of “heavy” wet steam, which is not the best for a steam room. Therefore, you have to constantly drain hot water and add cold water in its place. Troublesome. The same thing can happen with mounted tanks, but here the situation is somewhat different: hanging or removing such a tank is quite easy. In any case, you can install the stove so that you can do this without much inconvenience.

Built-in water tanks are not the best solution

Hanging water tanks for the bathhouse

The mounted tank is sealed container with a lid (removable or folding) and a tap for draining hot water. It is attached to one of the side or back wall. Metal hooks are usually used for fastening. Most often they are made of stainless steel, since only stainless steel successfully withstands difficult conditions for a long time. You can find enamel water tanks, but without problems they only last until the enamel chips and cracks. These defects can be covered up for some time with special enamel, but sooner or later they will show themselves. Other methods of protection against corrosion or are unacceptable due to high temperatures (paint or polymer coatings may burn or melt) or are too expensive and, as a result, their cost is higher than stainless steel, and their quality indicators are worse.

Hanging water tanks - made of stainless steel are more reliable and durable

Most manufacturers offer hanging tanks for their stoves as an option (for a fee), but no one bothers you to make such a tank yourself. However, how profitable this is, you need to calculate. Consider the cost of material and labor. If you do it yourself, that’s one thing, but if you order from someone, you need to count.

Important! The quality of welding must be very high, and the seams must be sealed.

There are very interesting option water tank. You can't call it hinged. He's more of a sidekick. The figure demonstrates the principle of heating water in this embodiment. An inclined pipe sealed at the end is welded into the furnace. Its arced open end is placed at the bottom of the water tank installed above the stove. How does heating occur? Cold water from the bottom enters an inclined pipe, where it is heated to a boil. The hot air bubbles released during heating rise through the pipe and when they enter a colder environment they burst, thus transferring a significant part of the heat. These same bubbles stimulate convection (mixing) of water layers.

Not everyone likes mounted or built-in tanks: they take away some of the heat to heat the water, thereby slowing down the preparation of the steam room. And this process is almost constant, because in order for the water not to boil and raw steam to escape, you need to regularly drain the hot water and add cold water.

Tank on pipe

Heating water using heat from a chimney is beneficial for three reasons:

you use heat that was previously simply discharged outside;
the heating process does not in any way affect the preparation time of the steam room;
Chimney pipes burn out more slowly: most of the heat is spent on heating, and the operating mode becomes milder.

A similar method of heating - from hot air passing through a pipe located in the middle - is used in samovars. That’s why such devices are also called samovar-type water tanks. In cross-section, the geometry of such containers can be different: square, rectangular, triangular, round, oval. You choose what you like best, or what will “stand up” better, stick more easily, etc.

For all its attractiveness, this method of heating water has its disadvantages:

Almost no device has a way to control the water level in the tank. It is not clear how much of it is left there. The situation is similar with temperature control. It is undesirable to let water boil if you want “dry” steam, and there is nothing to control its condition.
It is difficult to mount a large tank on a pipe: the weight with water is around 100 kg or more, and you need to come up with something reliable system fastenings, and so that the weight falls not on the stove, but on some other elements. The exception is stoves with a tank on a pipe directly from the manufacturer. In this case, everything is calculated and provided for.
If the tank is not located immediately above the stove, it is inconvenient to pour water into it - the fill hole is high.

People have already figured out how to get around the inability to control the water level in the tank. This video describes several possibilities and demonstrates one.

It is difficult to organize a shower with this method of heating water: you need to run a hose from the water tap to the mixer. But in order to ensure a sufficient amount of water in the tank for heating, it is necessary to organize automatic replenishment of water in the tank, and this requires a level control system more complex than in the video. You can make something similar to a float system in a toilet cistern, but you need to choose materials that can withstand high temperatures.

Pipe tanks to which an external tank is connected are more convenient to install and use. A small container with two welded tubes for cold and hot water is mounted on the pipe. A larger capacity container is installed nearby, connected to this tank on a pipe using pipes (metal, metal-plastic, flexible hoses). Water is poured into the system, which is heated by circulating through the pipes.

A small tank on a pipe is also called a heat exchanger or water jacket. This method is devoid of almost all the disadvantages of the previous option:

The volume of the tank on the pipe is small and its weight, even with water, allows it to be easily installed without any additional supporting structures.
It’s easy to add and drain water - the second tank can be installed any way and anywhere, you can connect it to the water supply system (if there is one).
The situation is similar with level control - place a remote tank so that you can see the water level or build in the “system” demonstrated in the video above.
Since the tank may not be in the steam room, but in the wet room or even in the attic, in the dressing room, etc., there is no extraneous steam in the steam room and you can easily control the air conditions in it.
You can organize the supply of water to the shower. This also poses certain difficulties, but is implemented somewhat easier than in the previous version.

Remote water tank

Such a system for heating water in a bathhouse is only possible when using stoves with heat exchangers. Many manufacturers of sauna stoves design their stoves so that they can be installed in a firebox, and they also offer ready-made heat exchangers. Almost all leading domestic manufacturers have furnaces with heat exchangers:

Vesuvius
Volcano
Termofor
Ermak
Teklar
Teplodar
Varvara
Feringer

If you are going to buy a ready-made stove, it would be more rational to buy a heat exchanger from the same manufacturer: it was designed for this system and should work well. There will be no problems connecting the heat exchanger to the sauna stove: there are outlets from the stove equipped with taps. You connect pipes and a remote tank to them.

Furnaces with heat exchangers have features of use:

The system must be filled with cold water. If cold water is poured into a hot oven, a large temperature difference occurs in the heat exchanger, which leads to different thermal expansions and can rupture.
When connecting the heat exchanger to the water tank and choosing a place to install them, remember that for normal water circulation, the length of the pipes should not exceed 3 meters. This length is enough to install the tank behind the wall in an adjacent room. If you are not satisfied with this option, you will need to build in a pump that will provide the required speed of water movement.

Connecting a remote tank and heat exchanger

You can use any pipes that can withstand high temperatures to connect the heat exchanger and the tank. For example, half a meter from the stove you can put metal ones (preferably stainless steel or copper), and from them through the fittings you can put either metal-plastic ones for hot water or maybe braiding. Seal the joints of the pipes leaving the furnace with a special winding, which is used for high-temperature units (tangit); it is advisable to replace the gaskets with homemade ones made from paronite.

Pipe diameter: usually take 3/4 inch or inch. Less is not recommended, since due to the high resistance, the water may move too slowly, which will cause poor heating in the remote tank and boiling in the heat exchanger. When connecting, do not forget to make all horizontal sections with a slight slope towards the stove. It also helps improve circulation.

Also, for more active movement of water in the system, it is advisable to raise the remote tank above the level of the furnace. The greater the height difference, the greater the difference in pressure and the speed at which the liquid will circulate in the system.

Of course, you can try to save money and make a heat exchanger with your own hands, but you will need to take into account enough a large number of nuances.

And finally, watch the video and think carefully about whether you need a water tank, or whether it is better to install a boiler.

Everyone understands perfectly well the importance of hot water in a bathhouse. Without it, you can’t wash yourself or use the heater. A technological solution would be to install a heating boiler. But why take up extra space, for example, in a small bathhouse, if you can organize water heating in a regular tank using stove heating? And all you need to do is choose the right container for this.

Types of tanks by capacity

To begin with, we note that all tanks differ in shape and capacity. And before you give preference to a beautiful shiny form, first decide on the basic parameters. The choice of container by displacement is influenced by the total number of people who will wash in the bathhouse at the same time. On average, two people need up to 40 liters of water per wash, including soaking brooms and applying to stones. From these figures it is not difficult to calculate the water indicators for washing four people. On sale you can find storage tanks for cold water and tanks for hot water, with a capacity of 50 to 100 liters. It is recommended to purchase them with a reserve so that there is no shortage, and boiling water in a half-empty tank is an unpleasant moment.

Design options

The sizes are clear. Now let's talk about the method of heating water. It depends on the design features of the containers and the method of their location. The main options include the following types:

classic tanks built into the oven;
containers on the pipe;
remote tanks.

Built-in containers

The first option is considered a classic. The container is located on the side or above the stove. Heating occurs as it heats up, and there is a ball valve on the tank for draining. On the one hand, they are quite convenient and do not require additional work to remove pipes or arrange places for fastening. But stoves with such tanks are large in size, and in some bathhouses that do not stand out in size, their installation will involve the loss of precious meters. In such cases, it is necessary to choose a sauna stove with a tank located on top. In this design, it will not block the passage.

Tanks on a pipe

More modern version. The tank is located on the chimney, and heating occurs due to the kinetic energy created at the outlet. The water quickly gains temperature, but the result of boiling in such systems is higher, which causes slight discomfort. To reduce dependence on this, it is better to purchase structures with tanks of high design. Volume is achieved by increasing the lift, not the width of the container. This protects the strategic reserve from overheating, ensuring the constant presence of hot water and not boiled water. Drainage is done separately, by leading pipes from the tank to the wall.

Remote structures

Such tanks are more often used in saunas, when dry air temperature in the steam room is required. But if there is an opportunity and space in the utility room, then the remote design will be very useful in a regular bathhouse. The tank is located in the washing compartment, and this is where hot water is needed. You can install such a container on any stove, but the simplest option would be to install an external structure to the stove-heater. The water will be heated due to convection of hot air.

What should the tank be made of?

Of course, the most common option in all forms is stainless steel. There is several indisputable evidence for this: they are not subject to corrosion, the water in them warms up faster, and due to special properties metal, cools more slowly. Stainless steel does not deform from high temperatures, is lightweight and always looks attractive, complementing the design of the interior space.

To save money, many people still use metal tanks. But they are impractical neither from an aesthetic point of view nor from a practical point of view. And if the unsightly appearance can be hidden behind brickwork, then it is impossible to cope with rust that appears over the years inside the container. And constant heating deforms the metal. And if people who have had such tanks for a relatively long time can still be understood, then it is impossible to understand the complexity of the thinking of those who install metal tanks in a newly built bathhouse. Moreover, many do not even try to hide them with partitions, leaving them outside for everyone to see.

Enameled tanks are slightly better than metal containers. Special treatment prevents corrosion and the water in them remains clean for a long time. But they are unstable to mechanical stress. Even slightly touching the surface with a metal ladle can chip off the coating and the metal in this place will begin to rust. It is almost impossible to stop this process, by any means.

You can also find cast iron tanks on sale. Thick metal that has a certain structure does not rust, but the water in it takes a long time to warm up, but also cools down slowly. Cast iron tanks are heavy; it is better not to place them on a small stove, but to place them on the side.

In addition to capacity, you also need to choose a tank according to design features. Conventional stainless steel containers, powered by furnace heating, are produced in rectangular, square and semicircular shapes. Depending on the free space and taking into account whether the foundation will be poured under the stove, the type of tank is selected. Also, do not forget about the free space. They need to be positioned in such a way that they do not restrict the space. So that when washing you do not get scalded by accidentally touching it.

IN winter time, upon completion of washing, the tanks are completely emptied. Once frozen, water will tear apart any metal. Do not fire stoves with an empty tank. High temperatures deform the container, and all protection will peel off from the enamel surface.

Water tanks are an integral part of any bathhouse. Usually two tanks are used - for cold and hot water. And if the requirements for the first are not too high, then the second should be chosen very carefully, taking into account all possible factors. There are many types of tanks, and they differ not only in shape and material, but also in the installation method.

Hot water tank requirements

If you have to wait a long time for the water to heat up, or add it so that there is enough for everyone, this reduces the comfort of staying in the bathhouse. It is also very unpleasant if the water takes on a rusty color. The reliability and durability of the tank also matters a lot, since the prices for tanks are very high, and replacement will be expensive.

Based on this, we can highlight the main requirements for a hot water tank:

it should heat up quickly;
have high resistance to corrosion;
withstand high temperatures;
easy to clean;
have sufficient capacity.

Types of tanks

All tanks are divided into types according to two criteria: installation method and material of manufacture. According to the installation method, tanks are:

built-in;
remote;
samovar type (mounted on a chimney).

According to the material of manufacture:

cast iron;
stainless steel;
made of enameled steel.

Each type has models that differ in shape, volume, and wall thickness. Most containers are equipped with standard taps and have shower outlets, but there are also those from which water is drawn through the top using a ladle. In order not to make a mistake when choosing, you should familiarize yourself in detail with the advantages and disadvantages of all these types.

The most economical and convenient option. The tank is installed during the laying of the furnace. His Bottom part is located inside the firebox, due to which the water is heated directly by the flame. Hot water is drawn through the top using a ladle or using a built-in tap.

Due to direct contact with fire, the walls and bottom of the container must be as thick as possible, therefore the most preferred material for such a tank is cast iron with a thickness of 5 mm. Stainless steel tanks with wall thicknesses of 1 and 1.5 mm are considered no less popular. Enameled steel containers for this method installation are not suitable. Cast iron tanks are bowl shaped, stainless steel tanks are usually cube or cylinder shaped.

Advantages of built-in tanks:

water heats up quickly;
the water temperature is maintained for a long time;
free space is saved since the tank does not protrude beyond the stove;
easy installation.

Flaws:

the heat transfer of the furnace decreases, since the main part of the heat is spent on heating water;
the dimensions of the tank are limited by the size of the furnace;
the tank must have thick walls, which increases its weight and cost.

Metal tanks for sauna stoves

This method is convenient in cases where no more than 4 people are steaming in the bathhouse at the same time, or people wash separately. For example, if 3-4 people take turns steaming in a bathhouse, this takes quite a lot of time, and accordingly, it will take longer to maintain the water temperature by adding firewood. The built-in tank allows you to save on fuel while remaining hot for a very long time. But for large companies this option is not the most optimal, since it does not provide required quantity water.

The remote tank is located at a distance from the firebox and is connected by pipes to a heat exchanger built into the furnace. Without this, its operation is impossible. Most often, such a tank is installed in a washing room or mounted on the wall of a steam room next to the stove, if its dimensions are larger than the area of the firebox. When choosing a location for a container, it is necessary to take into account that the length of the pipes should not exceed 2.5-3 m. Remote tanks can be made of stainless steel or enameled, cylindrical, rectangular or even triangular in shape - for installation in the corner of the room.

Advantages:

the tank is installed where it is more convenient;
Large containers can be used;
there is no direct contact with fire, so the tank can be enameled and with thinner walls.

If 6-8 people regularly steam in a sauna, a remote tank is an excellent option.

Flaws:

without maintaining a fire in the firebox, the water quickly cools;
the oven cannot be used without water in the circuit;
more complex installation compared to a built-in tank.

Tank on a pipe or “Samovar” design

This option involves installing a tank around a chimney, and in some models the pipe is located outside the tank, in others - inside.

In height, the tank can occupy the space from the stove to the ceiling, partially extend into the attic, or be attached only to small area chimney above the stove. The most convenient container shape is cylindrical, but there are many models with rectangular, triangular and oval sections. Heating of water is carried out using smoke passing through a pipe, which has a very high temperature.

Advantages:

fast and uniform heating of water;
does not reduce the heat output of the furnace;
space saving;
you can install a container of any volume;
the water stays hot for a long time.

This tank is suitable for any bathhouse and any number of people. It all depends on the size of the container.

Flaws:

installation complexity;
increased soot deposition on the walls of the chimney.

When installing the tank, it is necessary to select the correct fastening elements in order to securely fix the tank in a vertical position. In addition, you will need to install pipes for supplying cold water and discharging hot water, and install a faucet.

Which material to choose?

The popularity of cast iron tanks has decreased markedly with the advent of stainless steel tanks. However, in most old baths you can see just such tanks, traditionally bowl-shaped, built into the stove. Large tanks were additionally secured with metal chains suspended from ceiling beams to reduce the load on the oven.

Advantages of cast iron:

very durable material;
has the ability to retain heat for a long time;
not subject to corrosion;
resistant to high temperatures;
easy to clean from dirt.

Flaws:

weighs a lot;
takes a long time to warm up.

Enameled steel containers are excellent as remote tanks. In the absence of direct contact with fire and careful handling, they are very durable. There are models for installation on a pipe, mostly rectangular in shape. The most important thing when installing and operating enameled tanks is to avoid mechanical damage. In places where the enamel is chipped, unprotected metal begins to rust very quickly. Minor damage can be repaired with special paint, but if the chips are large, the tank will have to be replaced.

Advantages:

relatively light weight;
aesthetic appearance;
ease of care.

The only disadvantages of enameled products include low resistance to mechanical damage.

Stainless steel tanks

The most popular type of sauna tanks. Due to the variety of models, such tanks can be mounted in any of the described ways - built into stoves, mounted on a wall or around a chimney. The main thing here is to choose the right wall thickness and container volume.

Advantages:

long service life;
resistance to deformation and corrosion;
light weight;
variety of models in shape and size;
hygiene;
heat resistance;
high thermal conductivity;
attractive appearance.

Flaws:

high price;
cool quickly.

Other selection criteria

Volume of the tank

In order not to make a mistake with the size of the tank, it is enough to make a simple calculation. On average, one person needs a bucket of water for washing, that is, 8-10 liters. Knowing how many people will visit the bathhouse regularly, you just need to multiply this number by 10 and add another 20-25 liters in reserve.

PhotoVolumeDimensionsMaterial and thicknessApproximate price


	60 l	500x505x250 mm	stainless steel, 1 mm	RUB 3,990
	31 l	500x365x170 mm	stainless steel, 1 mm	RUB 3,290
	80 l	450x600x300 mm	stainless steel, 1 mm	RUB 9,690
	90 l	-	stainless steel	RUB 4,410
Tank on a pipe (for Dobrostal stoves)	52 l	385x385x830	stainless steel, 1.5 mm	6,900 rub.

Installation method

Several factors are important here: the performance of the stove, the area of the steam room, the volume of the container. If the room is spacious and the stove has small sizes, it is not advisable to reduce its performance with a built-in tank of 60 liters or more. In this case, the tank must be made remote or mounted on a pipe. If the steam room is small and the efficiency of the stove is high, the water in the small tank will quickly boil away. That is why it is necessary to carefully analyze all the conditions and select the optimal solution.

Convenience in the bathhouse also means a lot. The tank should be located so that the risk of getting burned on a hot surface is minimal, and water intake is convenient. If the container is located high (remote or samovar type), a tap is needed to supply hot water. Drawing water through the top is very inconvenient and unsafe.

If you carefully study the conditions, think through and weigh everything, choosing a hot water tank will not be difficult. With a well-chosen design, bath procedures will bring you only comfort and pleasure for many years.

Approximate cost of stainless steel and enameled tanks

Tank typeHeightVolumeWall thickness, mmCost, rub.

Video - How to choose a water tank for the stove

Video - Remote tank for the oven

Video - Samovar-type tank for a bathhouse stove

Choosing a water tank for the bath

If you decide to build a bathhouse on your site, you have to solve many problems. Firstly, you should consider the external and internal appearance of the future structure. And if earlier the whole design, as a rule, boiled down to the construction of the simplest log “chicken coop” with a combined sink and steam room and a tiny dressing room, now luxury baths with many separate rooms are being built. Some even manage to equip them with a mini-pool. Secondly, the choice of materials and components. The bathhouse will have to be equipped with everything necessary things and, among other things, put a water tank in it: separately for cold and for hot. As it turns out, today there are many options, and choosing containers is not so easy.

Hot water tank

There are quite a lot of requirements for a hot water tank. It must be resistant to corrosion, temperature changes and retain heat well. And naturally, it should be a metal water tank. All that remains is to find out what metal it is made of. Hot water containers are made of stainless steel or cast iron. Theoretically welded square tank from sheet material can also be installed, but it will rust and leak much faster. At first glance, a stainless steel container seems preferable: it is lighter (therefore, it will be easier to install), heats up quickly and is not subject to corrosion. However, such a water tank will cool down faster. In addition, thin-sheet containers can become deformed over time. WITH cast iron product Nothing like that can happen, but it will be much more difficult to install.

Now let's talk about the form. In principle, any will do, but experts do not recommend purchasing square tanks. This will inevitably lead to the emergence of zones with different temperatures, which lead to expansion and deformation of the metal. When choosing a shape, you should be guided by the method of heating water (direct or indirect), as well as the installation location. There can be three of them: directly above the firebox ( traditional version), a remote tank with a heat exchange system through copper or brass pipes or directly on the chimney (“samovar” tank). It is unknown which method is preferable, but recently the second and third options are increasingly being chosen. This allows you to increase the space in the bathhouse due to the fact that the water tank is moved outside of it.

The dimensions of the container should be calculated based on the fact that each person needs approximately 10-12 liters of boiling water. However, it is not recommended to install a hot water tank less than 50 and more than 100 liters.

Cold water tank

In principle, such a container can be made of any material: either metal or plastic. True, there is one caveat: plastic containers should not be located near the heating zone or in the steam room - from high temperature they may become deformed. And some types of plastics begin to emit harmful substances when the temperature rises, sometimes with unpleasant smell, substances. Connoisseurs can be advised to return to old Russian traditions: use a wooden barrel or tub as a water tank. Such containers are not only functional, but also create a special atmosphere and are an excellent addition to the interior.

Water bath containers: how not to make a mistake when choosing

The main elements of a bathhouse, if you intend to get maximum pleasure from the process, are a stove and a water tank. In order for everything related to the water tank in the bathhouse to be done correctly, we will dwell on the main issues that may arise when independent arrangement steam rooms

The main questions that arise when choosing an element such as a tank for a bath are:

Its parameters
Which type should I choose: remote, built into the oven, on a pipe?
What should it be made of: steel, stainless steel, cast iron?

Tank parameters

If you are used to doing everything with your own hands, then, of course, you will try to make a sauna tank yourself. However, you should first think about what type of container is suitable for your steam room, what principle of water heating will be used, what material to make the tank from, so that later you do not have to invest money in re-equipment again.

So, you must decide whether you will heat the stove in a sauna or simply heat the water using the heating element built into the tank. And in order to understand what is more profitable for you, heating a stove or using an electrically heated container, estimate how many people will steam at the same time. Another important factor is the volume of water that needs to be heated and the allowable time for heating to the required temperature.

Let’s say that if you want to steam alone, a person is unlikely to need more than fifty liters of hot water. But to please the whole family or group of friends, you need to install a water heating tank with a capacity of seventy or more liters.

Also pay attention to the thickness of the tank wall. It is this parameter that determines how evenly the water in it will be heated and how long its temperature will remain. But remember that the thickness of the tank wall directly affects its price and weight.

In any case, a stainless steel bath tank with a volume of up to fifty liters should have a wall thickness of 0.8-1 mm. For containers of larger volume, a wall thickness of 1.5 mm is desirable.

Advice from the master!

And do not forget that no matter what material the tank in the bathhouse is made of, you need to equip it with the optimal number of outlets and make an inlet for water. When choosing a tank in a store, ordering it in a workshop, or preparing to brew a canister for a sauna yourself, take into account all the parameters mentioned, and the process of washing in a sauna will be a complete pleasure for you.

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Selecting the type of container

It is known that when choosing a tank for a bath, you will need to compare the parameters of the main three types of tanks:

Traditional, built-in oven
Remote
On the pipe

Just a few decades ago, no one would have doubted that the best option The sauna tank is an option built into the stove. That is, the bottom of the boiler is completely placed in the upper part of the firebox, and, being in the hottest part, has the ability to accumulate the greatest amount of heat to heat and maintain the temperature of the water.

In the case of a built-in one, there is direct contact of the flame with the walls and bottom of the tank and the design of the container does not depend on the chosen method of smoke removal. You can take water from the tank built into the stove either with a ladle through an openable lid, or through a tap, where water from the tank flows by gravity.

Equipping the furnace with heat exchangers connected to the container copper tubes, allows you not to tie it to the location of the stove, providing the opportunity to install it in any convenient place. In addition, under the influence of the natural laws of physics and following the convection principle, cold water will descend through the tubes down into the heat exchanger located in the furnace, and, having heated up to the desired temperature, return to the container. The remote tank in the bathhouse can be placed in the washing room, where the main hot water is collected.

Of course, it is important that the water in the tank not only heats up quickly, but also that the required water temperature is constantly maintained with minimal energy consumption. For this purpose, many people prefer to place the sauna tank on a pipe that serves to remove smoke from the stove. The smoke released during the combustion process can reach a temperature of 500°C and, of course, the water in the tank located around the pipe heats up quite quickly.

The above means that when planning to place the tank on a pipe, you can choose containers of a fairly large volume, since the heating element can be used along its entire length - from the stove to the ceiling. In this case, the water will heat up not only quickly, but also evenly. This happens because by making an elliptical tank, you can heat even a large volume quickly, since the pipe in this case, passing through the center of the tank, is a kind of heat exchanger with a significant working heat exchange area.

In addition, when placing the tank on a pipe, the unpleasant situation with the possibility of getting into carbon monoxide inside the room, since the canister serves as a kind of fuse in case of smoke leaks.

If the type of tank is selected, it remains to decide on the type of fuel that will be used to heat the stove. In modern conditions, replacing wood stoves Electric heating elements are increasingly being used, because electricity is a cheaper and faster way to heat water compared to wood. However, many will argue that the smell of a burning log cannot be replaced by anything. And it’s hard to disagree with this.

But, on the other hand, if you really want to breathe in the smell of burning firewood without having to fork out too much to heat the sauna with wood, then after the steam room you can sit in the relaxation room in front of the fireplace with logs crackling under the influence of the fire.