Steam Shower Generators

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A steam generator sits out of sight, boils water and pipes the steam into a sealed shower or steam room. Output is matched to the volume of the enclosure, so the size of your room decides the unit, not the size of your budget.

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Sizing is the whole decision

Every generator is rated for a volume in cubic feet. Measure the enclosure width by depth by height and match it to the rating. Two things shift the answer. Glass, natural stone and unglazed tile absorb and lose heat faster than a sealed acrylic or porcelain wall, so a room finished mostly in those sits at the top of its band. And a ceiling above eight feet adds volume you may not have counted.

If your measurement falls between two sizes, take the larger one. An undersized generator runs continuously, never reaches temperature and shortens its own life. An oversized one simply costs a little more to install and run.

Send us the width, depth and height of the enclosure and the wall finish, and we will tell you which output to buy before you order.

The ladder

What each output band is for

Output Typical use
3 to 6 kW A single shower enclosure, often a retrofit into an existing bathroom
7.5 to 9 kW A larger shower or a small purpose built steam room
10 to 15 kW A full steam room, or a shower with a lot of glass and stone
20 to 30 kW Large residential steam rooms and light commercial
40 kW and above Commercial rooms, continuous duty, often multiple rooms

Residential units are almost always 240 volt single phase. Commercial units offer 208, 240, 480 and 600 volt in single and three phase, because that is what plant rooms actually have.

What else the room needs

A generator on its own does not make a steam room

A control

The control is the only thing you touch. It sets temperature and session length and lives inside or just outside the room. Controls range from a simple dial to a touchscreen that handles aroma, light and sound.

A steam head

The outlet the steam enters through, mounted low on a wall. Many take a few drops of essential oil in a small reservoir.

A sealed room

Steam needs somewhere to stay. A vapour tight enclosure with a sloped ceiling, a sealed door and no open vent. A standard shower with a gap over the door will lose steam faster than any generator can make it.

A plumber and an electrician

Water in, steam out, a drain, and a dedicated hardwired circuit. Both trades are needed, and the circuit must be sized against local code for your run length and wiring method.

Running it

Water, power and maintenance

A session uses a surprisingly small amount of water, under a couple of gallons on most residential units, against roughly forty for filling a bath. Power draw is real while it is heating and drops once the room is up to temperature.

The maintenance that matters is draining. Minerals in the supply concentrate in the tank as water boils off, and scale shortens element life. Some generators drain automatically. Where they do not, an autoflush accessory does it for you, and it is the single most worthwhile addition on a hard water supply.

Common questions

Steam generator questions

How do I work out what size generator I need?

Measure the enclosure width by depth by height for the volume in cubic feet, then match it to the rating. Go up a size if the room is mostly glass or natural stone, or if the ceiling is above eight feet.

Can I put a steam generator in an existing shower?

Often yes, if the enclosure can be made vapour tight. That usually means a sealed door, a ceiling with a slight slope and no open vent. The generator itself goes outside the room.

Where does the generator go?

Out of sight and within the run the manufacturer allows to the steam head. A vanity cabinet, a closet, the space under a sealed bench or an insulated attic are all normal.

Does it need a dedicated circuit?

Yes. These are hardwired appliances, not plug in, and each needs its own circuit sized by a licensed electrician against local code.

Is a control included with the generator?

Not always. Some listings are the generator alone so you can choose the control and trim finish, and some are packages with the control and head included.

What is the difference between a steam generator and a sauna heater?

A steam room runs around 110 to 120 F at full humidity from piped steam. A sauna runs far hotter and much drier from a heater with stones inside the room. The two are not interchangeable.

How long before steam arrives?

Typically ten to fifteen minutes on a residential unit, and some offer a faster start option.

Keep looking

Related categories

Commercial steam generators Saunas Sauna heaters