Eight Things to Look For When Buying a Steam Shower
A steam shower looks like a normal shower, but it’s not—it’s actually closer to a sauna with a showerhead included. A steam shower is a watertight, enclosed glass stall with a steam generator included. The steam generator heats water to the boiling point, and then the steam is forced into the stall through several steam jets lining the walls. The entire stall, including floor, ceiling, and sides, must be made of a waterproof material that can withstand a moist, warm environment without damage. Most steam showers include a normal showerhead, and some come equipped with aromatherapy, benches, radios, and more.
But not all steam showers are as great as they seem. Before you buy, here are a few things to look for.
All-in-one or conversion equipment? You have a lot of options when it comes to installing a steam shower. You can convert a regular overhead shower into a steam shower by buying equipment piecemeal, but don’t expect to install it yourself unless you are a competent electrician and plumber. If you buy an all-in-one model, make sure it’s of high quality by looking for the following qualities.
The right frame for the job. The frame that holds the glass panels in place should be made of thick, sturdy aluminum—not plastic. Some companies use a plastic frame coated in metal to save costs, but the metal can wear away from the plastic and weaken the frame. Look for a solid aluminum frame instead, of a thickness of about 1.5 mm. Some companies use aluminum frames as thin as 0.5 millimetres, but these dent easily.
Quality fixtures. As with the frame, watch out for fixtures made of chrome-plated plastic. The chrome wears off easily, the fixtures look and feel cheap, and the plastic is easy to break once it’s exposed. Instead, choose showers that have fixtures made of chrome-plated metals.
A company that tests. Some companies do product tests of each shower they sell to examine how their shower components hold up over hundreds of thousands of uses. And some don’t.
When buying a steam shower, ask the company whether they do product tests, and how rigorous they are. Some companies test their door rollers, fixtures, electrics, steam jets, and other features over thousands of consecutive uses, and the best companies test each shower before it leaves the plant. Ask your company about its testing practices before you buy.
Blinding brightness is bad. The floor of the shower is usually made of a sheet of acrylic material over some layers of fiberglass. You’ll want this later to be thick, and you’ll want the acrylic to be of good quality. Low-quality acrylics often have a bright white color. They’re bad for any steam shower—most importantly because they’re more vulnerable to fire than higher-quality materials. If your shower floor looks too bright, it may be using a bad-quality acrylic.
Safety first. The doors and walls should be made of tempered safety glass about 5-6 millimetres thick. The edges should be covered by the frame, as safety glass edges are most vulnerable to cracking.
Steam showers have heavy electronics—everything from the steam showers to the radio and foot massagers are run by electronic circuits. Look for a company that product-tests its electronics for safety. It’s also a good idea to buy steam showers that have received approval from an independent third-party electronics assessment firm, such as UL, ETL, or CE, depending on the country you’re buying from.
Check the weight. If you get a high-quality shower, it should be heavy and sturdy. All-metal frames and fixtures, thick glass and acrylic all add to the weight and the feeling of sturdiness. If your new steam shower feels flimsy, it probably is made from low-quality materials.
Get a warranty. You never know what will grow wrong. When buying a steam shower, choose a vendor that offers a warranty. Discuss how long the warranty will be active, and what it will cover, before purchasing a shower.
A steam shower can add luxury and value to your home, and it can transform your bathroom into a spa retreat at the same time. But if you buy a cheap steam shower with a lightweight frame, low-quality acrylics, substandard fixtures, and no safety assessment, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Take your time when choosing a steam shower, and you’re sure to find a good one.