How to buy a Steam Shower for your Home

What is a Steam Shower

Having a steam shower in your home provides a spa experience. By turning your ordinary shower stall into a steam shower, you will not need to wait for your bathtub to fill for a relaxing bath or for the water to heat up in a sauna. The steam shower is an enclosed room that can be filled with steam released from the steam generator. The steam generator will heat the water up and the steam will disperse into the room. Adding a seat will allow you to sit and relax in the steam. Building a steam proof stall will prevent the moisture from damaging the room’s walls. Activating the button installed in the shower stall triggers an electric valve to fill the steam generator with about a gallon of cold water. After the water comes to a boil, the pipe channels will deliver the steam to fill up the stall for enjoyment. Steaming for 20 minutes consumes 2 gallons of water which is less than showering with a water-saving shower head which sprays about 50 gallons of water in 20 minutes. However, your electric bill does go up due to the heating of the water to the point of boiling to provide steam.

Tips for Buying a Steam Shower

The first step to buying or installing a steam shower in your home is to find a dealer.  You can purchase the Mr. Steam or Whirlpool brand or other steam shower brands. The contractor will help you install your generator which should be installed within 25 feet from the shower stall. After the generator is installed then you will need to hire a tiling contractor and also a shower-door installer to build a stall that is steam proof to prevent the room’s surrounding from being damage by the steam. The plumber can connect all the pipes and the electrician will hook up the generator's 220-volt electric cable. Other gadgets such as digital controls, remotes, and entertainment system can also be installed. The cost of the entire system is around $2,500 in installation excluding what you pay for the stall and door and extra entertainment add-ons. You can get a steam-ready enclosure which only needs some wiring and hook up for around $2,000 to $4,000 to save time or buy a steam shower kit to save money on installation. Be sure to ask for referrals for a plumber or electrician for plumbing hook ups. It is also a good idea to buy a warranty in case the steam shower does not correctly function.