Cast iron stoves long burning fireplaces: what you need to know when buying

Recommendations for choosing a stove

A number of factors are taken into account in order to select the most suitable fireplace for a particular environment.

It is important to know the size of the room. It matters how long the operation is needed, what other functions are required, what fuel will be used

Even the exterior of the stove influences the choice.

Heated area

Fireplaces have various shapes and sizes, and therefore installation is carried out in a room of almost any size (taking into account the distances necessary for fire safety).

For small rooms, choose products that are installed against a wall or in a corner. These ovens have one door with a glass insert, which can have one or two doors. Corner models take up less space, and therefore are suitable even for very small rooms.

If the size of the room allows, a fireplace with two or three glass walls or a panoramic view will look good. The latter option is located in the center, and you can admire the flame from anywhere.

Important! The power of the fireplace also depends on the size of the building. It needs to be chosen correctly for high-quality heating.

Additional functions

If necessary, the fireplace serves not only to heat the room in which it is located. If you connect a heat tank, hot water heating will also heat other rooms, including those on the upper floors.

For this purpose, air ducts are also used, which are easier and cheaper to install. But with their help it will be possible to heat only the neighboring rooms.

Stoves are also used for cooking. In the design, one or two burners are provided for this. An oven is often present.

Each of these options adds complexity to the design and increases the cost of the fireplace. For this reason, it is recommended to consider what exactly is required from the oven, as well as how often it will be used.

Power

This indicator determines how much the oven can heat up. If the thermal insulation is done properly, 1 kW for 20 - 25 cubic meters is sufficient. Sometimes the power is selected with a small margin in case of severe frosts. But you should not add more than 15 - 20%, otherwise the room will overheat.

Attention! For exact figures, the necessary calculation is made, taking into account the heat loss. Quite often, a lot of it leaves through windows and doors.

Therefore, with panoramic glazing, you will need a furnace with a higher power.

Term of work without interruption

In this case, the use of the oven matters. If this is the main heating device in the house, a long burning fireplace will do. It is enough to flood such a device in the evening, and at night you will not have to get up to add firewood.

The upper wall of the combustion chamber heats up less due to the double afterburning technology. The burners located on it will not be able to boil water or cook food. That is, you have to choose between the heating duration and the cooking function.

Fuel type

Most often, firewood is used to light the fireplace. But there are models designed for fuel briquettes or pellets. This characteristic is usually found in the description.

Photo 2. Cast iron fireplace Lava from the manufacturer Guca can work on wood, briquettes and brown coal.

Oven exterior

It is advisable that the stove matches the style of the entire room. But when choosing, you should be guided not only by this. For example, corner or vertical models are suitable for small spaces. There are, on the contrary, fireplaces that are installed only in spacious rooms - for example, a panoramic view.

Types of long burning cast iron stoves

Multifunctional combined oven "La Nordica Rosa".

• Heating stoves. As the name implies, they are intended only for space heating.
• Heating and cooking appliances, which include a hob and an oven in their design.
• Units with an installed hot water tank.

Multifunctional cast iron stove L-08 C.C.E "Hergom"

Multifunctional ovens equipped with all of the above options, i.e. hob, oven, hot water tank and drying chamber. Many of the stoves have a large door with heat-resistant glass installed in it, thanks to which you can observe the picturesque play of fire. Thus, the stove can also serve as a fireplace.

If you plan to live at the dacha all summer, only occasionally going to the store for the necessary products, a multifunctional oven is exactly what you need. It will help not only to heat the house in case of inclement weather, but also to cook dinner, bake bread, and also heat the required amount of water.

Corner combi oven - practically does not take up space

A corner stove can be triangular or pentagonal in plan, but the walls of its back are usually located at an angle of 90 degrees, so it fits perfectly into the corner of the room. However, it must be said right away that corner models of stoves are most often produced in combined versions, that is, the body is made of high-quality steel, and the firebox, grate and stove are made of cast iron. Moreover, if only a cast iron grate is installed in a steel furnace, then it is better to choose a model in which the combustion chamber is lined with a heat-resistant material, so as not to do it yourself later.

Pentagonal models of cast iron or combined stoves are slightly larger than triangular ones, since they are often equipped with a small hob.

Corner ovens are heating or heating and cooking. Due to their compact size, it is difficult to lay more functions in them.

Wall-mounted cast iron stove

Wall-mounted stoves can be installed both in the corner and against the wall of the room. They are very small or are fairly large devices. Such large ovens are usually equipped with several or even all possible functions. Wall mounted radiators can be designed for installation in kitchens or living quarters.

We cannot fail to mention the models with ceramic lining. Such a coating is not only a decorative decoration, but also a material that improves the operational characteristics of the ovens.

Ceramic cladding is both a decorative design of the stove and additional heat accumulation

• Ceramic cladding, due to its high heat capacity, contributes to the preservation of the generated heat for a longer time.
• At the same time, the ceramic surface does not heat up to too high temperatures, since its thermal conductivity coefficient is much lower than that of metal. This significantly increases the safety of operation, reduces the likelihood of accidental burns.
• Ceramic finishes can have different colors and relief patterns. Tiles of different thicknesses are used for facing the stoves, and some ceramic finishes very faithfully imitate the tiles that are traditional for decorating brick stoves.

Cast iron heater manufacturers

The Russian market offers heating devices for summer cottages of foreign and domestic manufacturers. The most popular foreign manufacturers: SUPRA, GUCA, JOTUL, EFEL.

SUPRA has existed since 1878. It is the first manufacturer of cast iron stoves to manufacture an appliance with a combustion control function. At the moment, the SUPRA lineup consists of 140 models. CLASSIC, ASTRA, ALTIMA are made of cast iron. For all these models, the chimney can be connected both from the top and from the back.

For the smallest rooms (30 m2) there are COLMAR models, for the largest (up to 200 m2) - GOTHAM and TOMERA. Cast iron fireplaces ELOBIK and TRIVIK are designed with a view of the fire from three sides. For those who are not very fond of black, the Ivory TOLOS E 03 appliance is suitable. All SUPRA models burn for about 10 hours on one tab, the door glasses are self-cleaning. In addition to firewood, they can be heated with peat and pellets.

The JOTUL company has existed for 160 years and all this time has been producing cast iron wood-fired stoves.The classic Jotul F602 is very similar to the simplest potbelly stove, but it is equipped with a door with glass and a hob. Jotul F100, F3, F8 models have an enlarged glass door and a long burning function that allows you not to add fuel for 10 hours.

Video clip about the work of the cast iron firebox Jotul l 18:

Guca is the leading ironmaker in the European region. Has been working since 1958. Products at a relatively low cost are of high quality. The most popular ARINA model is made in several versions and is designed for rooms with a volume of up to 240 m3, equipped with a long burning function and self-cleaning glass. The efficiency reaches 85%. Models GUCA GULIVER - heating and cooking, in addition to the hob, are equipped with an oven. GUCA LAVA is more powerful, therefore a heating circuit can be connected to it.

From domestic manufacturers for very small houses, cast iron stoves are produced by: the Udmurt Balezinsky Foundry and Mechanical Plant and the Chelyabinsk Power Machine Building Plant. The device of the Udmurt plant "Dachnaya stove PCh-2" (for rooms with a volume of 100 m3) is compact, with one cooking zone and an upper chimney connection. The products of the Chelyabinsk plant are small, have two cooking burners, peat, coke and even garden waste can be used as fuel, in addition to firewood.

The ARDENFIRE series of cast iron fireplaces are produced by G.K.Meta. The devices of this manufacturer are equipped with heat-resistant glass doors and can heat rooms with a volume of up to 200 m3. Meta uses components from France and Japan in production. It is worth noting also the company Ekokamin, which produces a whole line of Bavaria fireplace stoves. Meta and Ekokamin products are not inferior in quality to foreign counterparts.

In a country house, it is much easier and easier to put a cast-iron stove than to build from bricks. If you do not live in the country in winter, such a heating device may be the most profitable option.

Wood-burning cast-iron stoves for summer cottages - advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• They can be very tiny.
• Cast iron resists burnout and destruction from corrosive gases longer than steel.
• Thick walls accumulate heat and continue to release it to the room, even when the combustion process stops.
• It can withstand winter periods of inactivity.
• A simple stove for short-term burning can "digest" everything that burns, ridding the area of ​​debris, deadwood and trash.
• Cast walls are reliable, durable, do not deform.
• The functionality of heating and cooking models replaces several devices, thereby saving the owner's money and space in the house.
• They have a modern attractive design, they will be able to decorate the rustic style of the house.

Cast iron wood burning stove

Cons of cast iron:

• It has a considerable weight, which complicates the installation and transportation of heating equipment.
• Thick walls of cast iron take a little longer to warm up than steel (although, as already mentioned, this significantly extends their service life).
• Fragility is the weak point of such units. They need to be very carefully delivered and installed in place.
• The material is sensitive to sudden changes in temperature. Situations such as the ingress of cold water on a hot surface should not be allowed - cracks may appear.
• The need for installation on a secure base. Actually, this is a mandatory requirement for any heating device. The foundation for the cast iron version is made easier than for brick buildings, but more serious than for light steel.

Principle of operation and device

The simplest stove consists of a chimney, a combustion chamber with a grate, on which firewood is placed. Under the firebox is an ash pan, a place where ash is poured, and which is periodically cleaned out. Some units are equipped with a baking oven and / or a hob.

The presence of a damper for traction control makes it possible to maximize the heating efficiency. By closing the damper in time, you can save all the heat inside the room, preventing it from escaping into the chimney.

The principle of operation of the long burning oven

The combustion reaction requires oxygen supply.This is ensured by means of a blower - a door in the lower part of the oven, which regulates the intensity of the air supply.

Why choose cast iron over steel. A mixture of condensate and flue gases, which forms especially strongly in cold weather, settles on the inner walls, having a destructive effect on the metal.

However, cast iron is much more resistant to corrosive processes than steel. Therefore, a cast iron stove will last longer. Especially if you take good care of the walls of the device, regularly cleaning them from plaque.

What properties should a heating unit have for a summer residence?

1. Withstand temperature changes and not be afraid of freezing, since at times the room turns into unheated.
2. Have a fast warm-up rate to quickly heat up a frozen house.
3. Do not cool down as soon as a portion of the fuel burns out.
4. Be undemanding to the type of fuel (at the dacha, in wood-burning stoves, not only regular woods are burned. Sometimes branches, paper, old boards and rubbish come in).
5. The hob is a very important part for a summer cottage. Here they not only cook food, but also boil tea, preserve berries and vegetables, and sometimes heat water for household needs.
6. The presence of a fireplace component is not so important, but if a living flame is visible through the glass door of the stove, this will add a special romance to the evenings spent in the country.
7. Finally, the heater must be compact. It is rare to see a large country house. And in a small room, every square centimeter counts.

All these requirements are met by modern cast-iron wood-burning stoves.

Cast iron stove manufacturers

SUPRA, France. Long burning units of this brand operate on most types of solid fuels. The burning time of one bookmark is about 10 hours.

GUCA, Serbia. It produces cast-iron fireplace stoves, high-power units with a hob, heaters with three combustion modes. The equipment is characterized by high efficiency.

EDIL KAMIN, Italy. It specializes in the production of long-burning fireplace stoves in luxury cladding. Units with secondary combustion are equipped with an improved air supply system to the furnace.

TULIKIVI, Finland. It supplies heating units with natural stone cladding to the market. Talc magnesite panels give the heaters an original, stylish appearance and serve as a heat accumulator.

KOTA, Finland. The advantage of the fireplace stoves of this brand is the original heat exchange device, due to which the percentage of heat loss is noticeably reduced in comparison with similar units from other manufacturers, the emission of carbon dioxide is reduced, and there is less incombustible residue. The heater is designed to be used as the main source of heat energy.

META, Russia. You can buy inexpensively reliable domestic products with a laconic design. Cast units are made of high quality cast iron.

Stove made of domestic cast iron Meta

ECOKAMIN, Russia. It is engaged in the production of fireplace stoves "Bavaria" that meet the highest European quality and safety requirements. The fireplaces are designed to work in standard and economy mode, models with a stove are offered.

For the smallest rooms (30 m2) there are COLMAR models, for the largest (up to 200 m2) - GOTHAM and TOMERA. Cast iron fireplaces ELOBIK and TRIVIK are designed with a view of the fire from three sides. For those who are not very fond of black, the Ivory TOLOS E 03 appliance is suitable. All SUPRA models burn for about 10 hours on one tab, the door glasses are self-cleaning. In addition to firewood, they can be heated with peat and pellets.

The JOTUL company has existed for 160 years and all this time has been producing cast iron wood-fired stoves. The classic Jotul F602 is very similar to the simplest potbelly stove, but it is equipped with a door with glass and a hob. Jotul F100, F3, F8 models have an enlarged glass door and a long burning function that allows you not to add fuel for 10 hours.

Guca is the leading ironmaker in the European region. Has been working since 1958.Products at a relatively low cost are of high quality. The most popular ARINA model is made in several versions and is designed for rooms with a volume of up to 240 m3, equipped with a long burning function and self-cleaning glass.

From domestic manufacturers for very small houses, cast iron stoves are produced by: the Udmurt Balezinsky Foundry and Mechanical Plant and the Chelyabinsk Power Machine Building Plant. The device of the Udmurt plant "Dachnaya stove PCh-2" (for rooms with a volume of 100 m3) is compact, with one cooking zone and an upper chimney connection.

In a country house, it is much easier and easier to put a cast-iron stove than to build from bricks. If you do not live in the country in winter, such a heating device may be the most profitable option.

Cast iron stoves: advantages and disadvantages

Cast iron heating units have proven themselves from the best side, due to the ability of cast iron to accumulate heat and give it away for some time after the fuel has completely burned out. In addition, the list of advantages of a cast iron stove includes:

• Corrosion resistance and durability. Gray cast iron is characterized by a high carbon content and does not rust when exposed to condensate, therefore, such a stove for a summer residence is not afraid of cold kindling and can be used irregularly during the winter season without harm. A cast iron firebox is not damaged by acids formed when ash and soot are mixed with condensate moisture.
• Compact and attractive design. Wood-burning cast-iron stoves look aesthetically pleasing and stylish, organically fit into the interior of the room. The unit does not take up much space in a room or kitchen of a country house.
• A variety of models differing in functionality.

The disadvantages of heating units of this type include the high price. Cast iron stoves cost one and a half to two times more than steel ones. Also the disadvantage is:

• large weight of cast iron products, which complicates and increases the cost of delivery and installation of the heater;
• the tendency of cast iron to crack as a result of a temperature shock - you should avoid getting cold water on the hot surface of the heating and cooking stove;
• brittleness of cast iron - the material is capable of splitting with a strong point impact with a solid object.

Cast iron stove has a high price

Country stoves are inferior in efficiency to boilers, since they are capable of fully heating only one room, emitting thermal energy and providing convection. In the neighboring rooms, heat will only come with heated air. If the unit is supposed to be installed in a house with several rooms, it is recommended to choose a model with a built-in water circuit or, in addition to the oven, use electric convectors in the adjacent rooms, which will help maintain a comfortable temperature level.

What design to choose for a country house

What cast-iron heating stoves for a country house exist and how do they differ? By function, all structures can be combined into three large groups - heating, heating and cooking, fireplaces. Heating systems are designed exclusively for heating rooms. They are designed to maintain the temperature as long as possible. There are models with advanced functions.

Scheme: the principle of operation of a gas generator stove

Long burning heating stoves

Among heating furnaces, convection and gas generating furnaces are of particular interest. The first ones ensure the circulation of warm air between the walls of the furnace and the body, due to which they warm up the room faster, and gas-generating furnaces operate on the principle of double combustion of fuel.
The design of gas generating furnaces differs from traditional models. In the first chamber of this design, fuel slowly burns out. The pyrolysis gas released during combustion enters the second chamber, where it is burned out, and the heat goes to heating the room.

In the mode of maintaining the temperature, gas generator models can work for several hours. They economically and efficiently consume fuel, and the efficiency reaches 80-85%.There are models with automatic fuel supply. This is an expensive pleasure, but the owner of the house does not have to constantly monitor the consumption of firewood.

Drawing of a stove "Buleryan" for making with your own hands

What are the cooking and heating models

The upper part of such structures is a hob - solid, with one or more burners. They are designed for cooking, heating food, drying fruits. If desired, you can find designs complemented by a barbecue and / or oven.

In models of this type, two functions are successfully combined, but they cope with heating worse than "highly specialized" designs. It is better to install them in small houses. For spacious rooms, it is worth choosing powerful long-burning heating stoves.

Models stylized as hearths, fireplaces, tiled stoves look very beautiful. They often become the main detail of the interior. Stoves with glass doors and decorative elements look especially romantic. They are multifunctional - this is a plus, but lower performance should be attributed to the minuses. models keep warm worse.

Cooking and heating model with oven

Fireplace stoves - heating and romance in one bottle

Wood stoves with glass doors do not lose popularity over the years.

On the contrary, they are increasingly in demand among buyers who pay special attention to the aesthetic aspect of home decoration. The sight of the flames creates an atmosphere of romance, warmth, and intimacy.
Doors are made of high quality heat-resistant glass

The material is reliable, safe, does not emit harmful substances. Constructions of this type are more practical and fireproof than open fireplaces. In addition, they do not require major restructuring to install a chimney, which will inevitably have to be done if you build a traditional fireplace.

Heating the room remains the main function of such models, but aesthetics also plays an important role. Reflections of fire on glass and pieces of furniture are original light-color effects, the charm of which lies in their unpredictability. There are corner structures, and there are those that can be placed in the middle of the room. It all depends on the needs and wishes of the buyer.

Fireplace stove decoration

Classification

As already noted, country stoves can be classified according to the material of manufacture:

1. Cast iron.
2. Steel.
3. Brick.

The purpose of the device may be different:

• Heating - can only heat the room (s).
• Heating and cooking - equipped with a stove for cooking.
• Stove-fireplace - perform the function of heating the room and make it possible to admire the fire.
• Drying oven - has a baking compartment, drying cabinet.
• Stove-boiler - a built-in water circuit allows you to receive warm water for hot water supply or a heating system (the latter option is extremely rarely used for temporary dwellings).
• Stoves-heaters - with a compartment for pebbles, used in saunas and baths.

Finnish cast iron fireplace stove for summer cottages

Structurally different from each other:

1. Long burning ovens.
2. Units of normal, short-term combustion.

Separately, it should be said about pyrolysis structures or long burning. These devices require much less attention from the owner, since one fuel load can last up to 10 hours.

Pyrolysis is a slow, muffled combustion process with a small amount of oxygen. It is achieved due to the timely blocking of air flow into the combustion chamber. This is done using a shutter. The firewood is no longer burning, but smoldering. The gases that are released are additionally burned out in the second chamber, or under the roof of the same firebox.

However, before deciding to purchase just such a device, you need to know that they:

• Picky about fuel. Pyrolysis is achieved only with very dry logs (no more than 25% moisture).
• The units are much more expensive than conventional ones.
• If handled incorrectly, they can quickly overgrow with soot, smoke, and do not burn fuel.

Oven for giving long burning with hob Nordica

Heater designs differ by location:

1. Corner (placed in the corner, occupy the smallest space).
2. Island (placed in the middle of the room).
3. Attachable (mounted to a wall made of heat-resistant materials).

Review of popular models

Many companies that manufacture space heating equipment have earned a certain degree of trust from the consumer audience. This was facilitated by some of the qualities of the products presented: cost, efficiency, external design. Their names are considered branded, although this does not mean that there is no alternative, it is just that the buyer who cannot appreciate the quality of the offered products can be guided by the brands.

Stylish solution for home heating

A list of the best, according to consumers, brands can be compiled based on the statistics of any seller.

• Some manufacturers have their own unique characteristics. So, the company Eurokom (Poland), which represents the Ambra ovens, attracts with the vintage design of the oven facade. It imitates stucco molding, and the openwork pattern provides sufficient viewing of the combustion chamber.
• The Canadian company Vermont Castings, after merging with American manufacturers, is ready to provide a range of colors for cast iron stoves. It is known that the paint must be special, so rarely anyone takes this type of decor. As for the technical characteristics, then Vermont rightfully occupies a leading position. A wide range of capacities, a universal firebox that is suitable for using firewood and coal, a constant temperature control system - all these characteristics are inherent in each model of the company.
• The original design in the form of chasing on the body of the Castelno stove is the hallmark of the Irish stove. In a relatively small size of the case, it was possible to hide a device that develops a power of up to 14 kW. This figure contributes to the use of Castelno ovens in large rooms.
• Our Bavaria stove from the Ekokamin company occupies a confident position in the list of leaders. This model has several advantages, it is light and compact, but it contains a hob. Tiled sidewalls stylize the device and define its place in a particular design. The company presents corner and wall models, which differ only in the way of installation.

Before choosing a specific model, it is necessary to compare its characteristics with heat needs. Each kilowatt of power of a cast-iron fireplace stove is capable of high-quality heating of 10 m2 of area.

Fuel for cast iron stoves

Special attention should be paid to the quality of firewood, otherwise you can very quickly "ruin" an expensive stove

Wood used as fuel must have a moisture content not exceeding 20%. It is desirable that the logs have the same length, then their burning and smoldering will occur evenly, giving excellent heat transfer. Raw wood will reduce the efficiency of the stove and also contribute to an increase in soot deposits in the chimney.

Firewood prices

In addition to firewood in logs, fuel briquettes, pellets and coal can be used for heating cast-iron stoves. If you plan to heat the stove with coal, then for this it is worth purchasing its brown variety, since it is less energy-intensive and will not be able to overheat the walls of the stove

This is especially important for furnaces of a combined type, that is, from a combination of steel and cast iron parts.

Exploitation

Cast iron stoves and fireplaces are easy to use and durable. Cast iron does not corrode and does not burn out even with long-term regular fireboxes. The paint on the oven surface can be refurbished, if necessary, by purchasing an organosilicon spray paint.

To prolong the service life, it is necessary to regularly clean the stove and chimney from soot, and the chamber from ash. Cleaning is usually done in the spring, before the start of the summer cottage season. You can clean the chimney mechanically - with a brush, or chemically - using special bags that destroy the structure of soot when the stove is fired.

When using the hob, it should be remembered that cast iron is a brittle metal, it is afraid of temperature extremes and can crack when suddenly cooled. Do not allow cold water to spill onto the stove surface!

Glass doors of ovens and fireplaces are usually equipped with a self-cleaning function. If it is necessary to clean the glass from soot, you must use special soft products that do not contain abrasive inclusions.

With careful operation, cast-iron fireplaces and stoves can serve for decades, heating a country house and giving its inhabitants the warmth and comfort of a living flame.

Review of popular models

Table 2. Overview of popular models and their characteristics

Here is a far from complete list of manufacturers of fireplace stoves whose products are present on the Russian market. Among them, there are many domestic brands that produce models that are very worthy in terms of characteristics and external performance. And all would be nothing. Yes, only buyers are alarmed by the ridiculously small one year warranty, which is determined by some of our manufacturers. For Chinese teapots - and even then the guarantee is greater.