Steam Baths and Saunas

Nothing clears the sinuses like steam, nor soothes aching bodies like dry heat.

Steam bathing contributes to a brighter, healthier outlook on life, improves blood circulation and metabolism, and provides a safe haven from mental and physical stress.

Styles and Types

Steam units are generally installed in custom showers, but they may be placed in standard prefab shower enclosures or standard tub - anyplace that can be enclosed to keep the steam in. For optimum use, the ceiling in your steam room/shower should be seven feet high.

Regardless of the installation, the cubicles must be sealed, so shower doors must be custom-fitted to completely cover the opening. Conventional showerheads and controls will share the same space so you can shower off after your steam treatment.

Steam units are becoming very popular for use in conjunction with a program of aromatherapy. Most offer a receptacle for aromatic scents that vaporize with the steam to provide an even more soothing environment.

Saunas can similarly provide relief from an active, sports oriented lifestyle, or just help you recover from the fatigue of the day-to-day demands of family and work. They deep clean the skin by opening pores and flushing impurities from the body.

A sauna is a dry heat bath taken in a well-insulated room lined with untreated, kiln-dried soft wood and heated with igneous rocks. Optimal sauna temperatures range from 160" to 190" Fahrenheit. Relative humidity levels, which are controlled by the bather sprinkling water on the hot rocks, range between 10% and 30% depending upon preference.

Materials
The steam-generating unit is an electro-mechanical device that can be concealed in any convenient location adjacent to the shower enclosure, behind walls or inside cabinets. There is nothing to consider, decor-wise, regarding their design, except the controls, which are available in a choice of finishes.

Saunas, on the other hand, are usually sold as complete rooms, either in kit form, or as assembled units.

You can buy the heater by itself, but then you would have to build a suitable enclosure out of materials of your choosing. Most prefab designs use cedar because it stays cool to the touch, cleans easily with soap and water, doesn't splinter and resists stains and decay.

Options to Consider
The compact steam generator hides quietly in the vanity, closet or even an insulated attic or basement. In addition, low voltage controls are safe and easy to operate, and the system is virtually maintenance free.

Since the heating units are hidden from view, there aren't any decorative concerns to deal with other than the electronic controls, which are available in a choice of trim options.

Since you'll probably spend more time than normal in your steam room, you should definitely provide a seat so that you can relax and let the steam take effect. You might even consider installing waterproof speakers connected to your sound system.

In addition, our steam units have the capability for automatic back flush and drainage of the steam generator to prevent chemical or lime build-up.

To implement this feature, however, a drain line must be installed at the generator, so this will have to be decided before construction begins. The steam generator will need to be sized to fit the available space. We will help you determine this

Plan the location of steam nozzles so they won't injure a person seated in the enclosure. Slant the ceiling away from the seating area to ensure that condensing water won't drip on someone in the seat.

Don't buy a steam or sauna unit without consulting with your electrician. The place chosen for the unit must be accessible for service.

Both steam and sauna units require a dedicated electric supply line, however. In most cases, this will be a 220-volt line rather than standard 110 volts.

While the steam unit takes up little additional floor space in your bathroom, a sauna will require a considerable amount of room, usually as much or more than a separate shower unit. Make sure you have the space available.

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