Home Steam Generator Review - The Most Important Part Of Home Steam Showers

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 Output

A 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 Control

Steam 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. For peace of mind and maximum comfort, make sure you go with a reputable brand and a reputable warranty. A good warranty doesn't have fineprint allowing the companies not to have to repair your steam generator when it breaks under normal wear and tear within the warranty lifetime. Check for fineprint and thoroughly question your salesman when you don't understand something.


Now it's time to go straight to the brand comparisons. Watch as the top brands go head to head with their best home steam generator models. I lay out the facts and features of each brand's best model for you to decide.

Information is current to the best of my knowledge as of 9/8/10.
There may be some inaccuracies due to conflicting information released on the internet.