The simple answer is YES. If you don't have the budget to install a brand new steam shower unit, you can actually transform your existing shower into a steam shower with a few simple modifications.
While steam showers can be inside a traditional shower and bathroom footprint, a sauna requires its own room.
Prefabricated steam showers can cost from $1,500 to $6,000, while custom units can range from $6,000 to $14,500 or more, depending on the fixtures and materials. If part of a larger renovation, adding a steam shower will increase your total bathroom remodeling price.
It's completely possible when you convert your traditional shower into a steam shower. How does a steam shower work? If your existing shower space is large enough, sometimes your contractor may only need to remodel the shower area rather than the entire bathroom.
Studies have shown that steam showers can increase a home's value by as much as 30.7%. MrSteam now offers a free “Ultimate Guide To Installing Home Steam Showers” for kitchen and bath professionals who want to encourage clients to invest in a steam installation project.
Steam opens your pores and cleanses your skin. It can help loosen any dirt and debris buildup, which can help improve the appearance of your skin. Lowers blood pressure. The heat in a steam room can dilate, or enlarge, your blood vessels.
Turn your bathroom into a sauna by raising the temperature of your hot water heater to 140 °F (60 °C). Shut the door, and stuff a towel underneath it to cover any cracks. Fill your bathtub with hot water until it's halfway full and let steam fill the room.
It can be installed up to 60 ft away in a closet, vanity, attic, or basement - basically any dry, heated location - with 12 inches of space around the generator for ventilation.
You'll need a licensed plumber to make all the necessary water connections for your steam room. Your plumber will install the water supply feed to the steam generator, the steam line to the shower, and also install the drain line from the generator. Make sure you find someone who knows the building codes in your area.
Common problems with steam showers include temperature fluctuations, inconsistent steam production, leaks, mineral buildup in the generator, electrical issues, mold and mildew growth due to high humidity, and challenges in maintaining the proper functioning of digital controls and sensors.
Depending on the scope of the project, you can convert an existing shower into a personal steam shower or take a new space and build-out a steam spa. You will want to consider the overall space, interior plumbing, electrical for the steam generator, materials needed, and ventilation.
It is also necessary to keep your bathroom door shut while you have the shower going and do not run your exhaust fan. I also plug the tub while the shower water is going to help add more steam.
An infrared radiator can be easily integrated into almost any shower and turns an existing shower into an infrared cabin at the same time, without taking up any more space.
It's as simple as transforming your ordinary bathroom into a health oasis, where you can rejuvenate and revive with a daily session in a steam room. By the simple act of installing a steam shower in your bathroom, you can create a wellness retreat at home that can have a profound effect on your health and happiness.
The cost of installing a home sauna varies based on type, size, materials, location in the home, and whether it's a wet or dry sauna. In general, the average cost of installing a home sauna is between $3,000 and $10,000.
Whereas a sauna creates dry heat, a steam shower uses wet heat and close to 100% humidity – so a steam shower might actually feel as hot as a sauna despite keeping its ideal temperature between 90 and 120 degrees, much lower than a sauna's ideal temperature.
Health Benefits
Saunas, with their dry heat, are renowned for improving circulation, promoting detoxification through sweat, and inducing muscle relaxation. On the other hand, steam rooms excel in respiratory benefits, providing relief for conditions like asthma and sinus congestion due to the moist, steam-filled air.
The simple answer is yes: inhaling steam during a hot shower can help clear out your airways and improve your breathing. Read on to learn how to use steam to support lung health.
Contraindications to sauna bathing include unstable angina pectoris, recent myocardial infarction, and severe aortic stenosis. Sauna bathing is safe, however, for most people with coronary heart disease with stable angina pectoris or old myocardial infarction.
The average cost to install a steam shower ranges from $2,800 to $7,100, with a national average of $4,300. Budget more for custom designs and luxury models. For most homeowners, installing a steam shower costs $2,800 to $7,100—but you could pay up to $25,000 for a custom design.
The cost varies depending on how many professionals are called in to help build your steam shower. Typically, most people require the assistance of a plumber, an electrician, a tile contractor, and a shower door installer.
Electricity cost to run a steam generator is relatively small. Based upon an average kilowatt rate of $. 08 per kilowatt hour, it will cost about $. 30 to operate a 7kW steam generator for 30 minutes.