Steam Shower Units
Although steam shower units are becoming extremely popular amongst homeowners as an alternative to the traditional bath and shower set up, the use of steam for bathing and relaxation is not a new phenomenon. As a matter of fact, steam has been used in this way for literally thousands of years. Back in ancient Roman times, steam baths were considered a hub of social activity, a place where important decisions were made by important people. Back then the steam was produced by having a pit of hot rocks, or coals, in the middle of the room, and pouring cold water over these rocks to produce the steam. In the early 1980’s expensive trips to health spas became extremely popular, as people once again found the benefit of steam to both their health and wellbeing.
Steam is well known for it’s health and medicinal properties. It is reported to help with many ailments such as body aches and pains, arthritis and back aches. It is also believed that a steam shower can help with nasal congestion bought on by the common cold or from hay fever, as it will clear your sinus passages. Likewise it can help to open up the pores of your skin and release toxins that have been trapped in there. Another popular belief is that regular steam showers are beneficial in the fight to reduce weight, and many people have reported that along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, a steam shower can really help to easily shed those pounds.
Thanks to modern technology, we can now have this same setup in our very own home via the use of a steam shower unit. For those that don’t know, a steam shower is basically an enclosure that is installed in your bathroom that looks very similar to a shower enclosure. The difference is that these units are completely sealed in order to keep the steam in. Steam units for shower use consist of small jets that are strategically placed along the walls of the enclosure. I say strategically because more often than not these jets will correspond to acupuncture pressure points in your body. The ancient art of acupuncture, coupled with the therapeutic benefits of steam, give you an overall sense of wellbeing when using these units.
The steam is usually created using a generator; water is boiled at high temperature within a compartment that is around the size of a bread box. Once the water reaches boiling point, the steam that is created is then pushed through these jets and into the shower enclosure, similar to a kettle spout when it boils. Because you are using this steam instead of the regular flow that you get from a shower, you are actually saving a heap of water. Your average steam shower unit will only use around 1 or 2 gallons of water for ten minutes of use. Compare this with the 100 gallons that is used from a traditional shower and you will see why it is such an eco friendly solution. That said, the generator used to produce the steam uses electricity, so you will need to decide whether the payoff is worth it if helping the environment is your main aim.
Because of the rising popularity of steam showers, there are many companies that now manufacture these units, and many different sizes, shapes and styles that you can choose from. The one that is right for you will depend on a few factors. For example, you can get single or double steam showers, and most of them will come equipped with seats, so that you can enjoy your steam shower in comfort, or optionally with a loved one. Another deciding factor will be the number of jets within the shower. The lower end of the scale can have as few as 5 or 6 jets, whereas the top models can have up to 24, giving you a more even spread of steam throughout the enclosure. Finally, the space available in your bathroom will be another deciding factor. For smaller bathrooms, a corner steam shower unit will be more beneficial, as it utilises space that would otherwise be wasted.
Steam showers units are generally not something that you want to be installing in your bathroom by yourself. The installation process is actually quite involved, and you will need to keep this in mind when working out how much money you can afford to spend on a unit. Firstly, you will need to hire a tiling contractor to get the enclosure installed. You will then need to hire both a plumber and an electrician to ensure that everything is operating according to health and safety standards. Because these units use a combination of water and electricity, it is important for your own safety, and that of your families, that everything is done properly. Although the price ranges differ greatly from one model to the next, you will be looking at an average of around two or three thousand dollars to have the unit purchased, installed and hooked up ready to go.
When shopping around for steam shower units, you will notice that there are many added extras available that will try and entice you into buying a particular model. For instance, many units now come equipped with colored lights that utilise the concept of chromatherapy. This alternative style of therapy is also known as colorology, and works on the principal that specifically targeted light beams can help to balance a person’s energy throughout their body. It is also believed that particular colors will help to effect a persons emotional state, and these lights are used to help induce a more calming atmosphere in your steam shower unit. If chromatherapy is not your thing, then there are plenty of other batrhoom light fixtures that can be utilised to great effect.
Other extras that many steam shower units come equipped with include thermostatic control, in order to get the temperature just right, a timer, to turn the steam on and off at regular intervals, and even radios and mp3 players, so that you can cue up some relaxing classical music, jazz, nature sounds, or whatever else will get you into a calm and relaxing mood.
One of the most respected names when it comes to bath and shower accessories is Kohler. Kohler steam shower units come in a variety of sizes and style, along with all the added extras we’ve mentioned above. Their website has a comprehensive list of models that you can choose from, along with a handy calculator that will help you decide which unit is the one that is right for your bathroom. When looking at spending such a large amount of money, it pays to shop around. Spending a few hours researching the product that you are after will not only save you money, but will make you more knowledgeable about the products available.
