Steam shower

A steam shower is a type of bathing where a humidifying steam generator produces water vapor that is dispersed around a person's body. These types of showers are becoming increasingly popular in many countries. . A steam shower is essentially a steam room that offers the typical features of a bathroom shower.

Steam showers are generally found in self-contained enclosures that prevent the water vapour from escaping into the main part of the bathroom, avoiding damage to drywall, paint, or wallpaper. Steam showers are available in a variety of materials, including but not limited to tile, acrylic, fiberglass, stone, and wood.

It is possible to convert an existing bathroom shower into a steam shower by adding a steam generator. The steam generator will produce steam and water (a byproduct), which must be connected to a drain below the shower, or designed to drain into the base of the shower.

Most steam shower rooms are sold as stand-alone shower units with between 6 and 32 jets located above the head, along the back or behind the lower legs. Modern steam showers may provide additional features such as foot massagers, ceiling rain showers, television, radios, telephones, audio input from an MP3 or CD player, chromatherapy or aromatherapy.

Steam showers are often available in gyms, but have also become a more common bathroom fixture in recent years, primarily due to falling costs.

The water vapour produced by these shower units is often referred to in common speech as "steam," but this is a misnomer. In physical chemistry and in engineering, steam is a completely invisible gas and would result in serious burns if applied in the shower.

A Steam Shower can use Solar Thermal technology and lessen the electric bill drastically by heating the water with the sun.

See also

• Banya (sauna) -- A Russian steambath
• Hammam -- A Turkish steambath
• Steam room --Traditional
• Sauna
• Solar hot water