Commercial steam generators and residential steam generator
Commercial steam generators are designed to withstand the demands of full time use in health clubs, hotels and spas. They also have additional maintenance, safety and convenience features. With a residential steam generator, you can convert your existing shower into a steam shower. The shower must be constructed of tile, marble or other steam-resistant material and be watertight.
Commercial Steam Generators:
In choosing a steam generator for your installation, pay close attention to the sizing and specification charts. Steam generators are selected based on the volume (in cubic feet) of the steam room. Certain additional factors affect the correct sizing of the generator: construction materials such as glass or glass block, natural marble or other stones, piping longer than 25 feet from the steam generator to the steam room, or exterior walls and outside windows. In any of the above conditions, add about 15% to the calculation of steam room size for each condition. When in doubt, choose the next size generator, or call for guidance.
Steamroom Requirements and Recommendations:
The steam room must be completely enclosed with non-permeable tiles or equivalent.
A waterproofing membrane must be applied prior to tiling. A special steam door should be used for heat sealing and steam containment. Anti-skid surfaces should be added to the floor if necessary. A floor drain is required. Walls and ceiling must be covered with water-resistant, non-corrosive materials, such as tile, molded acrylic or fiberglass.
The ceiling and the seats must be sloped to allow for condensate runoff. The steam room is not to be operated above 120 degrees F (49 deg. C) Locate the steam generator within 50 ft of the steam room. Do not position the steam generator inside the steam room, outdoors, in an unheated space (where it could freeze), near combustible or corrosive materials (high concentrations of chlorine in a pool equipment room is an example), or in areas accessible to the general public. 10)Install the steam generator on a level surface, providing sufficient space around it for servicing.
Provide protection against contact with hot surfaces (steam line, safety valve and drain valve) In choosing a steam generator for your installation, pay close attention to the sizing and specification charts. Steam generators are selected based on the volume (in cubic feet) of the steam room.
Certain additional factors affect the correct sizing of the generator: construction materials such as glass or glass block, natural marble or other stones, piping longer than 25 feet from the steam generator to the steam room, or exterior walls and outside windows. In any of the above conditions, add about 15% to the calculation of steam room size for each condition.When in doubt, choose the next size generator, or call for guidance.
Residential Steam Generators:
One of the benefits of a gym membership is being able to enjoy the sauna or steam room. Now it is possible for you to have your own steam bath at home. All you need is a steam generator and either a steam shower or sauna. Then you can enjoy rejuvenating in the cleansing humidity and heat of steam. If that sounds enticing, here are some answers to steam generators to help you make it a reality in your bath. With a residential steam generator, you can convert your existing shower into a steam shower. The shower must be constructed of tile, marble or other steam-resistant material and be watertight. The steam generator should be located outside of the shower, nearby, and will require a plumbing connection to the water supply, plumbing from the steam generator to the shower, and an electrical connection to the generator.
Steam generators are selected based on the volume (in cubic feet) of the area to be used. Certain conditions require more powerful steam generators than size alone would demand.
The steam generator is by far the most important part of your steam shower. It's important because it creates the steam! As with everything else, not all steam generators are made equal. There are many features, functions, and limitations to every steam generator that the average homeowner doesn't know. Not only are these features critical to the quality and value of your steam generator, they impact the enjoyment of your steam shower over its lifetime. Needless to say, buying the right steam generator is absolutely crucial to building the perfect steam shower!
Power OutputA more powerful steam generator will be able to provide more steam over a wider space as well as produce hotter steam. Having more steam and hotter steam means more enjoyment and more relaxation. An undersized steam generator will irritate you faster than anything else.Start-up Time
You just got home from work or a baseball game and you're tired. You throw off your clothes and plop yourself down in your steam shower at home and the last thing you want to do is wait for it to start up. I know I hate waiting for anything, whether it be a steam shower or a cheeseburger. When it comes to picking steam generators, get one that starts up fast or you'll regret it later. Having to wait 15-minutes each time you want some steam gets old pretty fast. Efficiency Control
You don't want a steam generator that hogs up power and wastes energy. Some steam generators use older parts and older engineering designs that take longer to deliver hot enough steam and use up far more energy. Worst of all, inefficient steam designs are horrible at controlling temperature. The steam will always come out too hot or too cold. Going "green", and picking a more efficient steam generator means reduces water, power, and energy waste benefiting you as well as the environment.Noise ControlSteam showers are supposed to be for relaxation, right? If so, you'll definitely appreciate a quiet steam generator and not one that starts and stops and emits all kinds of weird sounds while you try to relax.Easy Configuration
Not all steam generators are easy to use. They have confusing controls or buttons that aren't intuitive. You'll want something easy to use and remembers your favorite settings so you can spend more time relaxing and less time having to remember what settings you used last time. You'll might also like having a remote control so you don't have to walk over to the wall or wherever the settings are.Cleaning Feature
Some steam generators come with special cleaning functions to reduce calcification build-up. Others use a simple drainer at the bottom relying on gravity to "clean" the inside tank (this is certainly not as effective).Plumbing Distance
This is the maximum distance that your steam generator can be installed from the steam room. A stronger generator can be installed farther away without noticeable effects on the quality of steam coming into the steam room. Being able to install your generator further away may be preferable if you want to hide it somewhere or place it where the noise won't bother people taking a steam bath. Do keep in mind that a noisy unit can still irritates others that are located near the generator.Quality
As with all products, quality make a big difference. A broken steam generator can mean costly repairs and a lengthy downtime for your steam shower. A poorly constructed steam shower may also leak and give you all sorts of plumbing and electrical problems which could mean very costly home repairs. Find out what your steam generator is made of and what materials and parts are used inside. Higher quality steam generators will give you a better experience, last longer, and increase your enjoyment overall.Safety
Your personal safety should never be overlooked. Steam generators should have automatic shut off features in case of malfunction or unit overheating. You should never forget that steam generators are a mixture of water and power--a combination that shouldn't be taken lightly.Warranty
Steam generators are not cheap to repair or replace. You don't want to worry about expensive equipment breaking down or that your steam generator won't last forever.