Installing a Steam Bath

Do you love steam baths?  Feel that you can't survive without them?  If you are one of those who live for steam, consider getting a steam bath installed in your home.  Having your own is the ultimate for many steam bath lovers and getting one may be easier (and less expensive) than you think.

There are two basic choices when installing a steam bath in your home.  You can convert your existing bathtub or shower or you can install a modular steam bath.  There are several steam bath designs which are self-contained and simply need appropriate plumbing and electrical connections.

Converting an existing bathtub is also fairly easy.  A steam proof door must be installed and a steam generator must be connected to the bathtub enclosure.

Preparation

Steam is a highly penetrating form of moisture, so any room that has a steam bath must be properly prepared to prevent moisture damage.  If steam gets into the infrastructure of your house it can cause serious structural damage.

If you are in the process of constructing a new house, it is a simple matter to have the builders use the proper materials to steam proof your bathroom.  If you are installing a steam bath in an existing house, you must verify that the bathroom can withstand steam.

The basic principals in safe steam bath installation are to 1) prevent the steam from escaping, 2) collect the condensed water without dripping on the bathers, and 3) allow the water to drain.  To achieve these three goals, the steam room must be completely sealed and insulated, it must have a sloping ceiling, and it must have proper drains. 

To prevent steam from escaping beyond the steam bath, the structural materials should be waterproof and have an underlying vapor barrier of thick plastic.  Sheetrock or plaster must be designed to withstand moisture or covered with a waterproof finish.

The walls and ceilings of the steam room must be covered in a impervious material like ceramic tile or glass.  All the joints and connections must be sealed with silicone to prevent any moisture from escaping.

Once the underlying structure has been prepared, the next thing to consider is the height of the ceilings.  In order to maximize steam build-up and prevent cold spots, the ceiling should be lower than 8 feet high.  It should also be slanted to allow condensation to slide down the ceiling rather than drip on the bathers.  A slope of 2 inches per foot is appropriate for a steam bath.

If you are converting a bathtub into a steam bath, you need to enclose it with a suitable door.  Small steam areas (the size of the bathtub) should have a narrow gap at the bottom of the door to allow for airflow.  Larger steam rooms can be made airtight.

The bathroom should still be constructed to contain steam even if you are installing a modular steam shower.  These units contain steam pretty well but still release moisture into the surrounding bathroom area.  Modular steam showers have the advantage of having extra features such as multiple shower heads, built-in seating, lighting, and even CD players and telephones.

But no matter whether you are installing a modular steam shower or converting an existing bathtub into a steam shower, you still need to select and install a steam generator and all the connectors and make sure that everything is working correctly. 

For your very own steam bath you need the proper sized steam generator.  Most manufacturers provide guidelines for choosing a generator which take into account the size of the steam room and the materials used to construct it.  Generators are usually rated by the number of cubic feet of the steam bath, but additional capacity must be added if your steam bath is constructed of heat absorbing materials such as glass, concrete, or marble.

Once the proper steam generator has been selected, you have to decide on an installation location.  The generator should be installed in a low traffic area.  Possible locations include bathroom vanities, bedroom closets, or insulated attics or basements.  The steam generator should not be installed outdoors or in a cold location.

Most steam generators can be installed up to 20 to 40 feet away from the steam bath, which gives you plenty of options when choosing a location.  Besides being in an insulated spot, it also needs access to electricity and water.  There should also be a drain close by.

The electrical connection probably has to be 240 volts and the water supply can be either hot or cold.  The line from the steam generator to the steam bath should have a slight slope and avoid any gullies that could trap condensation.  Pockets of condensation could prevent the proper flow of steam resulting in a dangerous build-up of steam pressure.

One final consideration about where to install the steam generator -- make sure that it is accessible for servicing.  Although most units are quite dependable, you don't want to be tearing open walls if your steam generator stops working.

Installation

Even though either hot water or cold water can be used to feed the steam generator, hot water is preferable because it will create steam faster.  To make a connection between your hot water heater and the steam generator you must first turn the water heater off and drain it.  Cut the pipe from the water heater in two places to install a tap.  After the tap has been soldered into place, run a line from it to the steam generator.

With the steam generator in place, make the connection from the hot water heater to the generator and solder it.  The steam outlet is now connected to the steam bath with ½ inch copper pipe.  The pipe is run from the generator to the steam head in the bath.  The steam head should be installed low to the floor – between 6 and 24 inches from the shower floor.

As noted above the steam pipe needs to have a slight downward slant and must be free of gullies or turns that could trap condensation.  Once it is in place and the connections soldered, wrap the steam pipe with insulation. 

With all the connections soldered properly you can turn the water heater back on and allow it to fill with water.  As the water is re-heating, connect the controls to the steam generator.  The control panel can be placed either in the steam bath or on the outside wall, but it must be installed away from the steam head.  Follow the manufacturer's directions for making the connections between the generator and the control panel.

Plug in the steam generator and test it by using the control panel to turn it on.  If everything is connected properly the unit should light up.  Don't use the steam bath right away, however.  Wait at least 24 hours to allow all the connections to dry properly.

This is a job that can be handled with anyone with moderate plumbing skills.  If you have not done this type of work before, you may prefer hiring a licensed plumber to install a steam bath for you.  If you decide to do the work yourself, it may be worth while to hire a plumber to inspect your work before using the steam bath.