The Best Value Steam Shower Vs. Traditional Shower

Steam Shower

• Steam showers were first introduced during the late 1960s in swanky spas, resorts, golf and athletic clubs. Today they are popular fixtures in homes. There are three basic components to a steam shower: a steam generator, one or more steam outlets and one or more showerheads. The generator houses the heating element used to produce steam, which moves through the steam outlets and fills the shower stall area. The shower jets can run simultaneously while the stall fills with steam or you can turn them off. Owners can add an endless number of additional features and accessories -- such as built-in sound systems, televisions, telephones, massage jets and sitting benches -- and choose from an array of glass styles and shapes.

Traditional Shower

• A traditional shower features one showerhead, installed six to eight feet from the floor of a shower stall or the bottom of a bathtub. Traditional showers are void of innovative features, but creating an at-home spa experience often starts with upgrades to a traditional shower. Owners will swap out the showerhead and replace it with one that has multiple jets, variable water speeds and the ability to detach the showerhead and use it as a handheld appliance. They also install multiple showerheads in various locations, such as on the ceiling for a “rainforest” effect, and on the sides of the shower walls.

Similarities and Differences

• Steam and traditional showers are similar in that they are used for body cleansing and designed to drain and not contain water like a bathtub. A traditional shower does generate steam, but not nearly to the degree or intensity of an actual steam shower. Steam showers require shower walls that can withstand temperatures up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit and a sealed shower stall, with no more than a 3/8-inch gap to prevent the steam from escaping. Steam showers are also more expensive, with prices starting around $2,000, as of September 2011.

Value Considerations

• While a steam shower requires a significant upfront investment, the monthly costs for electricity and water are not as costly as it might appear. The units use common 110-volt outlets for the steam generator, and they might only hold around 2 quarts of water. The actual costs for water and electricity will depend on how often and how long you use the steam shower. Steam showers also provide aroma and hydro-therapeutic health benefits in terms of relaxation and soothing aches and pains. If you used a steam shower twice a week, and the unit lasted for five years, a $2,000 investment would cost under $4 per use. The cost would be more, of course, depending on the extra bells and whistles you add to the steam shower. When you consider the additional benefits that a steam shower provides, in comparison to a traditional shower, a steam shower is a value-added home fixture.