VIRTUAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTER

MrSteam has created the Virtual Spa, an all-in-one tool to help you work with your customers to plan and customize their shower solution. There are five simple steps:

1. Enter shower dimensions and room materials to automatically select the right sized generator. The homeowner might rely on your expertise at this point to make sure they are inputting accurate dimensions.
2. Choose a control package and finish that suits the customer’s taste. The various control packages are further outlined here – while specific finishes might be selected in consultation with a designer.
3. The customer will select items a la carte, including seats and lighting.
4. They can then opt for Steamtherapy accessories to enhance their experience.
5. Finally, they can add a towel warmer from one of MrSteam’s many models.

Once they’ve completed this simple process, they can print or email their selections, find a local dealer, or even call MrSteam for additional help. Technical specifications are sent automatically with their email.

Check the suitability of any materials with your current manufacturers. Walls and ceilings must be constructed of water-resistant, non-corrosive surface, such as tile, natural or man-made stone, molded acrylic, or other non-porous material. The ceiling should be sloped to control the direction of condensation, and you need to include a floor drain.

Windows that are part of the steam room should be double paned and tempered safety glass. You want to limit the steam room ceiling to eight (8) feet in height. Exceeding this height, while it is possible, will require adding to the size of the generator selected.

The shower, including the door frame, need to be fully enclosed. There is no need to include ventilation in the shower stall, but you will need to include a vapor barrier and/or waterproof material behind any surface material.  

You should also not locate any heating or air conditioning vents inside the shower.

You can learn more about steam room wall preparation by visiting the Tile Council of America, Inc., website. They can provide a guideline for steam room construction. Waterproof membrane is very important. Call (864) 646-8453 or go online at www.tileusa.com to order your free copy of the TCA Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation.

You need to prepare a fully accessible area for the generator, along with any SteamTherapy components.  MrSteam recommends placing a generator in one of the following places in the home:

• Under a vanity
• In a closet
• Under a bench
• In a heated attic space

Once the generator is in place, you’ll work with your plumber and electrician to make the appropriate connections:

• You can install the generator up to 60 feet away from the steam shower – and even locate it on another floor altogether. This can include either an attic or basement if they are insulated. And with our industry exclusive wireless control you can install the generator up to 90 feet away from the shower
• Running appropriate power to the generator and making sure it has its own dedicated fuse
• Running water to the generator and making sure there is a way to flush the tank after use

Place the steam head away from user, while installing the control unit as close as possible. MrSteam recommends that the steamhead height be 6-12” from the floor, while the control should be installed 5-7’ from the floor.

MrSteam generators can be installed up to 60 feet from the steam room when steam lines are properly insulated. The generators come standard with a 30-foot cable, but an optional 60-foot cable is available for purchase if needed.

We do recognize that sometimes the bathroom design or other factors requires that you exceed this 60-foot line. If you are faced with a situation like this, we recommend that you consult with MrSteam through our Customer Service Experts to learn how best to proceed. 

The generator should be installed with a 12″ clearance, though the back of the steam unit can be placed against a wall. The reason for this is not because of heat. MrSteam generators are zero tolerance, which means they don’t become hot on the outside. The 12″ clearance is only needed for any future service and maintenance.

Yes, you can situate the generator above the shower. However, make sure that you do not install the generator or plumbing lines in an unheated attic or any other location where water could potentially freeze. The generator can also be located in a service room, equipment room, or boiler room in a high rise, under a vanity, in the wall, or almost anywhere else.

The one thing to be certain of is that you provide easy access as required by electrical codes for future maintenance and potential service. Under no circumstances should you install the generator outdoors or inside the steam room.

The steam generator must be installed upright and level. MrSteam generators use electronic water probes, which allow us to accurately read the water level inside the tank. Placing the unit on its side means that we don’t have the ability to read the correct water levels. 

Position the steamhead 6″ to 12″ off the floor. This ensures that the steam will be emitted at just the right level to fill the steam shower from top to bottom

No.  PEX is plastic and is not rated for steam, which reaches temperatures of 212ºF.

Absolutely not. The steam line should never create a “U,” as this forms a trap.  The trap, the lowest point in the system, collects condensation.  Subsequent back pressure in the system created by condensation in the trap can become hazardous. Residential steam generators are intended for atmospheric operation only, and back pressure in the steam line created by the trap will force the pressure relief valve on the steam generator to open.

The steam line can be pitched in either direction, either toward the steam outlet or toward the steam generator. The pitch should be ¼″ per foot, which allows all the water and condensation to drain from the steam line. 

You should always use unions. In the unlikely event that the unit ever needs to be removed for repair, this makes removal much less time consuming and costly.

Steam cools as it travels through the steam line. To reduce heat loss, MrSteam recommends 220-degree rated fiber glass insulation.

Extending the life of your unit is important. Doing so will mean far fewer maintenance calls – which ultimately translates into a happier steam bather and homeowner!

AutoFlush flushes sediment out along with left-over water after every steam. This means that sediment takes a much longer time to build up. While many users enjoy their steam showers daily or weekly, other bathers may wait a long period between steams. With the AutoFlush unit, you avoid the problems that stagnant water just sitting in your generator can cause.

Nobody likes a noisy steamshower, which might detract from the bather’s sense of tranquility and desire to escape the stresses of everyday life. MrSteam recommends installing a pressure reducing valve to reduce the water intake noise.

I’m not sure why anyone would want to drain back into the shower. It’s not necessary to push water and any possible sediment through a steam head back into a shower and onto tile and grout, especially in a newly renovated shower. To keep the shower looking immaculate and new, it is best to flush dirt and sediment into a drain.

We always recommend a condensation pan. In some areas, building codes require it. The last thing a homeowner wants is to fail their plumbing inspection because you failed to supply this simple unit.

The ideal location for the atomizing nozzle is within 10 feet of the steamhead. The length of tubing between the AromaSteam pump and the atomizing nozzle in the steam line shouldn't exceed 30 feet. Unlike the generator, you can’t install it on a separate floor as the maximum height difference between the AromaSteam System and the atomizing nozzle can’t exceed six feet.  Meeting these requirements will ensure that the aroma oil is fully vaporized for even distribution in the steam.

Be sure to install the AromaSteam system in an accessible area so that you can monitor the consumption of essential oils and be able to easily replace the bottle when needed. 

Placing the steam head near someone’s seat could make the steam shower experience less than pleasant. The steam head and the steam emissions are extremely hot, so you should not locate the steamhead where someone might come into direct contact with these elements. Because of this, MrSteam recommends positioning the steam head at a distance from the seating area.

I hope that plumbers and homeowners alike find the answers to these questions useful. We know that a successful MrSteam steam shower installation means years of steam happiness – and want to support you as you make that happen. Our Customer Service Experts in New York City and Los Angeles are available to assist you eleven hours a day. We’ll give you experienced assistance every step of the way. Do let us know if there are any other plumbing questions we can answer – and congratulations on making the right steam shower choice!

While methods vary, we’ve found that the most common way to include steam in a commercial project is through the specification of an architect or an engineer. Many hotels have staff on board who are qualified to ensure that products such as steam are part of hotel planning.  If you’re just getting started with steam, you will probably want to reach out to a wide cross section of influencers, including but not limited to:

• Architects
• Engineers
• Designers
• General contactors
• Developers
• Plumbers and electricians

There are two variables that help us determine the answer:

• The amount of time that the steam room will be in operation during the day
• The physical size of the room

We suggest using our CT Day spa generator for rooms that contain fewer than 675 cubic feet and which are used six hours a day or less. This generator is provided with all of the apparatus needed for complete operation of the room.

If the room will be in more continuous use or is larger than 675 cubic feet, you should opt for MrSteam’s CU series of pressurized boilers. This equipment is constructed specifically with durability in mind, and is capable of running 20-22 hours a day, seven days a week.

You can find the proper size by multiplying the inner dimensions of the steam room by length width, and height to find the total cubic feet of the room. Because commercial steam rooms run for extended periods of time, you do not need to upsize for materials like marble or stone. These materials are calculated as part of a residential homeowner’s requirements, because homes generally operate the generator from a cold start. 

While MrSteam supplies the commercial steam generators and is always happy to answer questions, we don’t provide actual room design.  Generally, an architect and general contractor are employed to manage this task.  However, as most commercial steam rooms are constructed of tile, MrSteam always suggests that these professionals consult the Tile Council of Americans guidelines to construct a commercial steam rooms. These guidelines can be found at www.tcnatile.com/faqs/63-steam-rooms.html.

A successful steam room requires both a plumber and an electrician to complete installation and to operate it.

A plumber must connect a water line to the generator, along with a steam line that originates at the generator and is brought into the steam room. Because commercial steam rooms are often in continuous operation, it is important to blow down or drain the steam room daily. This may require connecting the generator blowdown to a drain line or a blowdown tank, specifically in those cases when it is a code violation to discharge hot water into a drain.

The electrician supplies power to the generator, as well as a separate 120 v power supply to the steam generator to operate the controls. This includes installing:

• The temperature control on the generator
• The steam solenoid on the steam line
• The sensor inside the steam room
• The time clock that operates the automatic blow down valve.

The electrician must be aware of the voltage and phase required to operate the generator.  Control voltages and cycles change from 60 cycle 120v within the United States to 50 cycle 220v in many foreign countries.  It is always important for the electrician to let MrSteam know where the generator will be shipped. This is paramount when manufacturing the generator, as shipping the wrong voltage to a job site is always costly. 

Electricians must also be aware that they will provide the control voltage separately to run the temperature control, blowdown and any other accessories specified with the job.

Once you determine the appropriate generator based on the room’s size, you will need to order three components for each steam bath:

• The steam generator. The purchase order must include the appropriate voltage and phase.
• The control package, which consists of the digital one temperature control and sensor, steam solenoid, and steam head with steam deflector.
• The automatic blowdown assembly, which includes the 24-hour seven-day time clock.

MrSteam’s commercial installation manual lays out a detailed plan for maintenance on all of their generators.

A daily blowdown of the unit should be considered mandatory. While this can be done manually, the smart choice is to add the automatic blowdown assembly with the 24-hour 7-day time clock so that the process is handled automatically for the club.

A monthly inspection of wiring is suggested to detect any possible leaks.  Generators that come with probes should be inspected every three months to ensure that no debris or sediment has built up inside. Generators that use a McDonnel Miller outside feeder assembly (MrSteam CU 2000 units and higher) should be checked every three months to prevent scale build up. 

MrSteam’s commercial installation manual lays out a detailed plan for maintenance on all of their generators.

Water quality varies from location to location.  MrSteam’s commercial installation and operation manual (page 10) offers a detailed breakdown of acceptable water feed quality that can be used in both generators and inside the tank.  Club operators should meet with local water quality personnel to guarantee that the water flowing through their units is treated properly for long-lasting durability of the equipment.