Due to large variation in temperature, the sauna stones disintegrate slowly but gradually during use. Disintegrating stones can be observed if stone pieces are found on the floor of the sauna room. It is also advised to rearrange the stones at least once a year or even more often if the sauna is in frequent use. When rearranging, you should check the durability of the stones by hitting them together. If stones crack and sound shallow it is time to change disintegrated stones with new ones. Also remove any stone debris from the bottom of the heater.

The piling of the sauna stones has a great effect on both the safety and the heating capability of the heater, especially for electric heaters. Always check the right heater stone size and amount from the manual included with the heater. Smaller 5-10 cm diameter stones are usually used in electric heaters as they fit well between heating elements. Smaller stone sizes are also used on the top layer of woodburning heaters as they create more surfaces for steam generation. Larger 10-15 cm diameter stones are used in woodburning heaters and also in selected Harvia electric heaters with larger stone capacity.

Start the stone piling by washing off the dust from the stones before placing them into the heater. Be aware, that the type and the shape of the heater affect the piling structure of the stones. Your best guide for doing this properly for your selected heater is to follow the instructions included in the heater manual. Here are a few important tips for piling sauna heater stones for all Harvia heater types.

• Do not drop stones into the heater
• Arrange the stones evenly and sparsely to make sure air can flow between the stones
• Do not form a high pile of stones on top of the heater
• Do not place stones on top of heater frame
• Place elongated stones vertically in the heater

Also notice that in electric heaters:

• Do not wedge stones between the heating elements
• Pile the stones so that they support each other instead of lying their weight on the heating elements
• Support the heating elements with stones so that the elements don’t bend

New stones may give the sauna a natural stone scent during the first heating. After piling the stones, we recommend heating the sauna and throwing enough water to douse all the heater stones. By doing this the unwanted stone scent will be dispersed after the first heating.

Water thrown onto the heater does not vaporise and runs through the stone compartment.

• Set a lower temperature.
• Make sure that the heater is not too powerful.
• Make sure that the ventilation of the sauna is arranged correctly.

• The sauna is too small in relation to the stove’s heating capacity. See the stove selection instructions.
• The flue does not have a good draught
• The burning material is moist or its quality is otherwise low.
• The smoke ducts of the stove are blocked. Clear the smoke ducts.
• Check how the stones are stacked. Remove small pieces of stone and stones that are less than 10 cm in diameter from the stone compartment. Replace disintegrated stones with large and undamaged ones.

Heater stones should be of a material that is as heavy as possible, dark in colour and large in size for them to be able to store as much heat energy as possible. Heater dealers sell stones that are specifically intended for use as heater stones, and that come from well-known suppliers, so their composition and suitability are guaranteed. Stone materials suitable for heater use include peridotite, olivine and olivine diabase. Surface rocks collected in nature are not suitable for heater use.

Ceramic “stones” and soft soapstones must not be used. They do not store enough heat when heating up the heater. This may result in the heater overheating, which in turn leads to the heating elements breaking.

The heater stones must be stacked in the heater in accordance with the installation and user instructions of the heater. Heater stones are available in two sizes.

Due to large variation in temperature, the sauna stones disintegrate slowly but gradually during use. Disintegrating stones can be observed if stone pieces are found on the floor of the sauna room. It is also advised to rearrange the stones at least once a year or even more often if the sauna is in frequent use. When rearranging, you should check the durability of the stones by hitting them together. If stones crack and sound shallow it is time to change disintegrated stones with new ones. Also remove any stone debris from the bottom of the heater.

The piling of the sauna stones has a great effect on both the safety and the heating capability of the heater, especially for electric heaters. Always check the right heater stone size and amount from the manual included with the heater. Smaller 5-10 cm diameter stones are usually used in electric heaters as they fit well between heating elements. Smaller stone sizes are also used on the top layer of woodburning heaters as they create more surfaces for steam generation. Larger 10-15 cm diameter stones are used in woodburning heaters and also in selected Harvia electric heaters with larger stone capacity.

Start the stone piling by washing off the dust from the stones before placing them into the heater. Be aware, that the type and the shape of the heater affect the piling structure of the stones. Your best guide for doing this properly for your selected heater is to follow the instructions included in the heater manual. Here are a few important tips for piling sauna heater stones for all Harvia heater types.

• Do not drop stones into the heater
• Arrange the stones evenly and sparsely to make sure air can flow between the stones
• Do not form a high pile of stones on top of the heater
• Do not place stones on top of heater frame
• Place elongated stones vertically in the heater

Also notice that in electric heaters:

• Do not wedge stones between the heating elements
• Pile the stones so that they support each other instead of lying their weight on the heating elements
• Support the heating elements with stones so that the elements don’t bend

New stones may give the sauna a natural stone scent during the first heating. After piling the stones, we recommend heating the sauna and throwing enough water to douse all the heater stones. By doing this the unwanted stone scent will be dispersed after the first heating.

Water thrown onto the heater does not vaporise and runs through the stone compartment.

• Set a lower temperature.
• Make sure that the heater is not too powerful.
• Make sure that the ventilation of the sauna is arranged correctly.

• The sauna is too small in relation to the stove’s heating capacity. See the stove selection instructions.
• The flue does not have a good draught
• The burning material is moist or its quality is otherwise low.
• The smoke ducts of the stove are blocked. Clear the smoke ducts.
• Check how the stones are stacked. Remove small pieces of stone and stones that are less than 10 cm in diameter from the stone compartment. Replace disintegrated stones with large and undamaged ones.

Heater stones should be of a material that is as heavy as possible, dark in colour and large in size for them to be able to store as much heat energy as possible. Heater dealers sell stones that are specifically intended for use as heater stones, and that come from well-known suppliers, so their composition and suitability are guaranteed. Stone materials suitable for heater use include peridotite, olivine and olivine diabase. Surface rocks collected in nature are not suitable for heater use.

Ceramic “stones” and soft soapstones must not be used. They do not store enough heat when heating up the heater. This may result in the heater overheating, which in turn leads to the heating elements breaking.

The heater stones must be stacked in the heater in accordance with the installation and user instructions of the heater. Heater stones are available in two sizes.