Sauna 101.com -- Info Guide to Saunas and Steam Rooms for the Home

Sauna Steam Rooms & Cabinets

Unlike infrared sauna and Finnish sauna, which are a dry-heat sauna, steam rooms and steam cabinets offer a wet sauna experience. This form of wet sauna is also sometimes called Russian sauna. There are several styles to choose from:

Built-in steam rooms are often designed to replace your shower, turning your bathroom into a multi-function spa. Common features include multiple hydro-therapy massage jets, detabable showerhead and a steam generator. There is usually a built-in bench to sit down on as well. Sizes and shapes vary but these are meant to be installed by a professional.

A steam cabinet is a portable, free-standing unit designed to be located anywhere and easily moved. Portable steam cabinets don't require plumbing or special wiring. You simply fill the built-in steam generator with water and plug it in. Some steam cabinets look like a small shower stall, while others are a two-piece hinged unit that you sit inside of, leaving just your head outside the unit.

External steam generators can also be purchased to transform your existing shower or enclosed bathtub into a steam room. See steam generators for more info.