Guest Blog #138, Entry #607, August 3, 2011
Purchasing a steam shower for your bathroom does not have to be an overwhelming experience. Consumers are typically bombarded with a long list of different brands, price discrepancies and questions that most customer service representatives in the industry don’t have answers to. Lucky for you, I do and I’ve included them below.
Certified or Not?
Most people aren’t aware that if their purchase is for a home being newly constructed, their steam shower unit almost always needs some sort of certification. The most common certifications a steam shower unit will have are C-ETL-US and C-UL-US certifications. So if you’re looking into purchasing one, ask the customer service rep, “Is this unit ETL or UL Certified?” We recommend ETL or UL Certified units for most customers, so as a rule, new constructions requires a model that is certified, and for certain home remodels, you may be able to get away with a non-certified unit. But always ask, and always check with your contractor or inspector about local codes and requirements.
Price
Understanding the price part of this equation is easy. Never pay more than $6,000 for a modular steam shower and if you pay less than $3,000, buyer beware. If someone pitches you on a modular steam shower unit that is more than $6,000 including shipping, they are marking it up WAY to much and you should shop around. If you find a steam shower for anywhere under $3,000, you’re most likely going to get what you pay for. That isn’t to say that you’re 100% safe within the above price ranges, but now you at least know what to expect.
Materials
Many steam shower manufacturers have given these products bad names over the years because they used cheap materials in their units so they could offer up more affordable models. The problem is that while in the process of creating models that retail for under $3,000 they built inferior products. Here’s what you want your unit to include…
Fiberglass Reinforced Acrylic Base
Make sure that the unit you purchase has a fiberglass reinforced acrylic base. Many manufacturers skimp on the type of acrylic they use. If you don’t get a unit that comes with this type of base, the unit will seem a bit flimsy.
Sealed Glass Frames
A sealed glass frame is HUGE and units that tout this feature are always among the best reviewed in the industry. The tempered glass that is used in steam showers is expensive. Most steam shower units on the market come with what is called a frame where the glass is free floating. Tell your sales rep you want a unit where the glass is pre-sealed or factor-sealed. This will make the install easier, and will also cut down the instances of glass damage that free floating frames are known to cause.
Glass Thickness
Another important factor is the thickness of the tempered glass. The thicker the better. Look for glass that is around 1/3 (8 millimeters).
Trust The Supplier More Than The Manufacturer
A lot of steam shower buying guides tell you to trust the manufacturer, but who you really need to trust is either the dealer your purchasing the unit from, or their supplier. Ask where the units ship from, and always inquire about where spare parts ship from if you need them? If their answer is China for either question, find another source. Trusted dealers, suppliers & importers have both units in stock housed in warehouses in the US, as well as a wealth of spare parts including glass panels, plumbing components, electrical control panels and so on. All steam showers on the market today are manufactured in China, but you want to deal with a company, that ships the units and parts from the US.
Warranty
A final word of caution concerns the warranty for these types of units. The industry standard is a 3-5 year warranty, but understand that for almost every steam shower on the market, the warranty only covers, (1) the steam generator, (2) the electrical control panel and (3) the water and heat pump if your unit includes a whirlpool tub.
FURTHERMORE, the warranty is typically only valid as long as the unit itself is in production. So always inquire about how long a specific model has been around and ask if the dealer feels that model will be around long enough for its warranty to be fully honored.
In general, buying a steam shower is no different than buying a car, except often times you’re buying a steam shower without ever getting to see it in person. So be careful, ask the right questions and shop around.
Ted Hust is the owner of BathroomGetaways.com which is one of the leading online retailers of steam showers, bathroom vanities and other bathroom remodel products.
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Reta says
Really love each of these steam showers