Why should you change the stones in your sauna heater?
Have you ever wondered how often you need to change the stones in your sauna heater? Do you know why they should be replaced? And how do you know when it is time to replace them? How do you even change the stones in the sauna heater? What about the old stones, what should you do with them?
You will get the answers to these questions in this article!
A sauna heater is the heart of the sauna. That is why it is important to remember to take good care of it. Keep the stones in order and you can enjoy good steam for longer.
Why you should change the stones in the sauna heater
The stones in the sauna heater have a very important job. They heat up and thereby give heat to the entire sauna. One might think that stone is a material that can withstand everything unchanged, but this is not the case. Stone is malleable. Think about the rocks by the sea, little by little they have gotten rounder and lost their original shape.
This also happens in the sauna.
The stones work hard in the sauna. Stones are under a great deal of pressure as they get hot and water is thrown at them over and over again. In some saunas, this happens once a week and in other saunas every day. Heat fluctuations, heat, humidity, and water gradually begin to wear out the stones. Stones that have been in use for too long begin to weather and crumble little by little.
Dust from the stones and small pieces of stone drift to the bottom of the heater. They clog the air circulation but can also cause rusting. When the air circulation is blocked, it means that the steam is compromised. Even your electricity consumption may increase (if you use an electric heater). These are the reasons why the stones in the heater should be replaced and checked regularly.
How do you know when it is time to change and check your sauna stove stones?
Well, there are a few good rules or indicators for this. The first sign is that you notice the level of the stones in the stove dropping. We have a so-called pillar sauna heater at home and you can clearly see how the level of the stones has decreased. (See the image below.)
Another way to check the stones is to take two stove stones and knock them together. If and when the stones start to crumble, then you know it is time to replace them with new ones.
The third is, of course, that you do not even remember how long it has been since the last change.
The fourth indicator could be that the stove no longer heats up properly or heats up slowly.
And finally, when the stones turn light grey or start to discolour because of the water, it is time to replace the stones.
As a rule of thumb, check the stove stones once a year and replace them if necessary.
Mondex’s website says that the stones should be replaced every 100th sauna session. Thus, if you take a sauna twice a week, the interval between stone change is one year. I think this is a great rule of thumb.
If you take care of your sauna regularly (ie you wash the sauna two or three times a year) make a habit of checking your stones every time you wash it.
The lifespan of the stove stones also depends on the quality of the stones and how many stones you have.
Remember that your sauna and especially the heater need care. It is a small thing but lets you enjoy your sauna year after year.
What happens if the stones in the stove are not changed regularly?
The condition of the stones in the heater affects the service life of the heater itself. Keep the stones in good condition so that the heater stays in good condition.
Over the years, the stones will sink down and may start to press the resistors of the electric heater.
Dust and crumbs coming off the stones settle on the bottom of the heater. They can damage the bottom of the stove, by rusting which can make a hole in the stove.
If you use an electric heater, electricity consumption increases. The stones heat up slowly and the heating time increases.
This is how you replace the stove stones
- Start replacing the stones by removing the old stones from the heater.
- Clean the bottom of the heater. Remove broken stones and stone dust.
- Wipe the inside and outside of the stove with a wet cloth.
- Check the condition of the stones before putting them in the heater.
- Start stacking with bigger stones.
- Proceed one layer at a time.
- Place the elongated stones between the resistors.
- Check that there is enough air between the stones and the resistors.
- Note that the stones move and find their position over time.
What should you do with old sauna stove stones?
The sauna stones have come from nature, and it would be best to return them back to nature. They can be used to delineate flower beds or decorate the side of your house.
I hope this article on why you should change your stove stones helped you. Please remember to pay attention to the heart of your sauna.
Love, Kati
As a source, I used many websites like Mondex and Saunology.
