[vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_facebook type=”button_count”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_tweetmeme share_via=”YinzBuy”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1606731333432{margin-top: -5px !important;}”][vc_pinterest][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]When it comes to relaxation and pampering yourself with a luxury spa experience, one of the best places to unwind is in a steam shower. Although these aren’t the everyday gadget you’d find in the typical home, they can do wonders for your body, mind, and overall health.
Steam showers are warm, moist vapor filled rooms typically kept at temperatures between 105°F and 115°F. Much like a sauna, steam showers can be beneficial to individuals trying to alleviate dry skin or even lose water weight. They can be pricey investments, but the benefits are well worth it.
Read on to learn all about steam showers, their benefits, and the expenses of acquiring and powering these luxury spa tools. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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What’s the Difference Between a Steam Shower and a Sauna?
A common misconception is that steam showers and saunas are the same, so people will sometimes use these names interchangeably. However, despite their various functional and beneficial similarities, these two structures do indeed differ.
There are some clear differences between steam showers and saunas, which are detailed in the table below:
| Steam Shower | Sauna | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat and Moisture Levels | Relies on moist heat | Relies on dry heat |
| Interior Materials | Made with waterproof, nonporous materials such as ceramic tiles or glass blocks | Made from materials that can withstand high temperatures and low humidity, typically kiln-dried wood like cedar or spruce |
| Average Operational Temperature | Between 105°F and 115°F | Between 160°F and 200°F |
| Humidity Levels | 100% humidity | 10% to 20% humidity |
| Heat Source | Generator located outside the shower | Heater is located inside the shower |
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Are Steam Showers Safe?
Overall, steam showers are extremely safe spaces to unwind. Use and maintain them as directed, and you don’t need to worry. They are a great tool for relaxation, and can even alleviate some symptoms of common illnesses like allergies or a cold.
The steam shower’s heat and moisture help the muscles in your body relax while simultaneously warming the mucous membrane. This promotes deep breathing, which can help break up congestion in a person’s lungs or nasal cavities.
Although there are many health benefits of steam showers, there are some safety concerns to consider before use.
Since steam showers create an intensely warm and moist environment, they can be high-risk areas for bacterial growth. If a steam shower is not properly cleaned regularly, bacteria can quickly grow in this optimal environment, which has the potential to cause health complications from exposure.
In addition to regular sanitization, you can also mitigate your bacterial exposure in steam showers by wearing sandals and sitting on a towel or shower bench rather than having direct contact with the shower’s structure.
Another common concern regarding steam showers is the significantly high temperatures they run at. These temperatures can quickly dehydrate the shower’s users and potentially cause them to lose consciousness if they remain inside too long.
We’ll discuss how long your steam shower sessions should be in more detail later on, but the best way to prevent these occurrences is to be plenty hydrated before stepping into the shower and limiting your session time.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
How Expensive is a Steam Shower?
If you’re considering installing a steam shower into your own home, you probably want to understand how expensive it will be. They’re a significant investment, but have many benefits that make them a worthwhile consideration.
The overall cost of a steam shower depends on your needs and desired options. Assuming a basic steam shower generator and an existing standard 3’ x 3’ x 8’ shower enclosure, you should expect to pay around $5,000. This includes parts and labor for installation.
What happens if you want something more, or don’t have an existing enclosure? Steam shower generators start around $1,000, with top end models nearing $7,000. The variation in price is based on the kW rating of the unit and based on the options they ship with. The price goes up with the kW rating and also if you want to incorporate additional spa-like elements, such as:
- Mood lighting
- Stereo
- Aromatherapy oil pump
- Customized interior
The kW rating of the unit you’ll need is determined by the size of your shower stall and the material it’s made from. This steam shower sizing guide can help you identify the appropriate size generator for your space. Based on the size and location of the room, the shower enclosure, and even the height of your ceilings, your needs will vary.
Purchasing a steam generator alone assumes that you already have a standard shower enclosure in your home. If you’re building a new bathroom, or looking to replace an existing enclosure, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of the shower space itself. The cost of the shower enclosure can range from $1,000 to as high as $10,000. This is based on size and if you’re using a prefab shower or having one custom built.
What are the Installation Costs?
The last element to factor in is the cost of installation. A steam shower generator will require both a plumber and an electrician to install. Depending on your existing materials and the complexity of the install, you can expect to spend $500 to $1,000 on installation of the generator.
At the end of the day, the average cost of a steam shower is reasonable for the benefits you’ll receive from it. If you’re already budgeting for a bathroom remodel, then it’s not much more of a stretch to add in this luxurious element.
Of course, if you’re handy, you can do the work yourself and shop for cheaper parts if you need a more economically-friendly option. If you are looking to do it yourself, check out this well reviewed generator system that you can buy for under $2,000. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a whole new shower as part of a bathroom upgrade, check out our deep dive on a corner steam shower enclosure. Also coming in under $2,000, you’ll get a shower, steam shower, massage jets, and more all in one unit.
Steam Shower Generator and Enclosure Options
Do Steam Showers Use A Lot of Water or Power?
Steam showers are highly efficient with their use of water so that they won’t be a financial strain in this sense. On average, a steam shower will use one gallon of water for every 15-minute session.
This is exceptional, particularly when you consider the fact that the average American shower lasting 8 minutes can use about 16 gallons of water!
In terms of power, a steam shower doesn’t use a lot, but the actual cost can vary based on your particular unit. Depending on your steam generator’s size, space it needs to fill, and any extra elements attached to the unit (ex. stereo), the overall power usage will change. When it comes to a standard steam generator, here’s what you can expect for power usage costs:
| Size of Generator | Cost Per Shower* | Cost Per Year** |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 kW | $0.29 | $15.21 |
| 6 kW | $0.39 | $20.28 |
| 7.5 kW | $0.49 | $25.35 |
| 9 kW | $0.59 | $30.42 |
| 12 kW | $0.78 | $40.56 |
| 15 kW | $0.98 | $50.70 |
| *Based on the US average cost of $0.13 per kWH, assuming a full 20 minute steam session plus warm up time. | ||
| **Based on the standard recommended usage of one session per week. | ||
Even if you’re using your steam shower once a week, the power cost is minimal. Even some of the largest units will only set you back $50 a year. That’s far more economical than a trip to the spa![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Can You Lose Weight in a Steam Shower?
While you can lose some weight in a steam shower, they are not tools to be used as an alternative to physical exercise. If your goal is to lose mass amounts of weight, you won’t accomplish this by just sitting in a steam shower.
That being said, steam showers can certainly benefit your body by supplementing physical exercise, as the heat helps elevate your heart rate and can stimulate your body in ways you can’t achieve with typical exercise.
Since your heart rate is elevated while you’re in the steam shower, and you are likely sweating profusely from the high temperatures, you will burn calories and might discover you’ve lost a pound or two after a session.
Unfortunately, this slight weight loss is generally attributed to the amount of water your body has lost through sweat, not from burning calories. You will likely regain this weight once you rehydrate.
If your goal is to simply keep off water weight on a daily basis (which typically accounts for about 2-4 pounds), then yes, steam showers can help you lose weight. Otherwise, you’ll need to rely on more physically demanding forms of exercise.
Can a Steam Shower Help Lose Belly Fat?
No, steam showers cannot help you lose belly fat. As we mentioned previously, they are only beneficial in losing and keeping off water weight. As stubborn as belly fat may be, you’ll have to focus on other methods to lose it for good.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Do Steam Showers Help Dry Skin?
One of the best health benefits of using a steam shower is the help it offers for dry skin. If you suffer from dermatitis, eczema, or easily irritable and dry skin, a steam shower can be a great tool to have, due to its moist environment.
Although steam showers tend to dehydrate the user while they sweat, the moisture in the air helps to rehydrate the skin, and can even rebalance overactive sebum glands typically found in oily or acne-prone skin.
While the moisture helps to rehydrate the skin, the intense heat will also trigger your sweat glands to open up. Once your pores are open, the moisture helps to cleanse them of toxins, dirt, and dead skin. This helps your dry or irritated skin find relief, and it’ll feel far healthier after a steamy session.
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How Long Do You Stay in a Steam Shower?
One of the most important parts of using a steam shower is your routine in terms of session length and frequency.
Ideally, your stay in a steam shower should be between 15-20 minutes long at a time. This is the perfect amount of time to fully reap the health benefits of a session, without risking serious dehydration and its nasty side effects.
If you begin to feel light-headed or dizzy at any point in your session before the 15–20-minute mark, you need to end your session then and there. Steam showers can be dangerous if you stay inside past your body’s physical limits; you don’t want to push this boundary.
How Often Do You Steam? Is it OK to Steam Every Day?
How often you should use a steam shower every week depends on your level of experience. If you are new to steam showers and aren’t quite used to their environments, you should limit yourself to using it two or three times a month, until you’ve grown accustomed to it.
If you are accustomed to a steam shower environment, the frequency of use becomes more of a personal preference. Some people are comfortable using it maybe 5 or 6 times a month, but it is generally recommended to only have one session per week.
It is not OK to steam every day. If steam showers are used too frequently, you risk severely drying out your skin or promoting skin sensitivity. Using it more than once a week also means you are potentially dehydrating your body regularly, which can be dangerous in itself, especially if sessions aren’t capped at the 20-minute mark.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Final Thoughts
As a luxury tool, steam showers have many health benefits as long as they are used appropriately. Remember to acclimate yourself to their environments before opting for weekly sessions.
If you are hoping to have a steam shower of your own to cut the cost of spa visits, they can be relatively cheap to purchase, install, and run depending on your desired size and customization. In fact, when you consider the average spa visit is $100 per trip, if you normally go once a month, a steam shower installation pays for itself in about 4 years![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
As noted on our Affiliate Disclaimer page, links to products inside this blog could lead to sales commissions (at no additional cost to you) which allow this site to continue operations.
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