Does size matter when it comes to steam generators? The answer is less obvious than you might think.

We get asked quite a bit if a 3.5KW steam generator is robust enough to generate the steam necessary to create a complete steam shower experience. The answer is yes in more ways than one. While a big honking 6.5KW steam generator might sound like a good idea we've opted to for a slightly smaller steam generator in all our units and here's why:

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1. Power Consumption and Wire Rating

The first consideration when sizing our generators was the power consumption and necessary wire rating. A 6.5KW steam generator requires ~27 amps and this does not factor in the other power requirements for the enclosure like lighting, fan, etc.. Once you account for these other features the total draw exceeds 30 amps. This means you'll need to run larger wiring for installation which is more costly. This not only increases your upfront cost in materials but it also increases your monthly electric bill as the larger unit consumes more electricity.

We then asked ourselves if we would be sacrificing performance by using a more cost effective and efficient steam generator? Surprisingly, we found that the answer was also no! Let us explain below.

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2. Performance vs. Size

In addition to a slightly smaller generator being quieter to operate, we have found that the total amount of time it takes to completely envelop a steam cabin with a 6.5KW steam generator versus a 3.5kW steam generator is approximately 45 seconds faster. That's right....only 45 seconds! Once the cabin is fully immersed in steam there is no way to tell the difference between the two different sizes. Furthermore based on industry standard sizing guidelines a 7KW steam generator is suitable for 101-250 CuFt which equates to 14-35 CuFt per KW. This standard translates to an operating range of 50-125CuFt for a 3.5Kw which falls well within our steam shower size ranges of 80-100 CuFt making a 3.5KW generator a much more suitable choice.

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Conclusion

Having a larger steam generator might sound good on paper but in the end it's louder to operate, costlier to install, costlier to operate and takes up more cabin space. Sacrificing noise, cost, and space for a dubious at best steam improvement didn't sit right with us. When designing our steam shower,s we have always considered what is best for our customer experience and sizing our steam generators is no exception to this policy. When it comes to size our steam generators are just right.