Plumbing Supply Birmingham AL | Five Reasons Why Your Bathroom Needs a Steam Shower

Economists and personal-finance gurus are always keen to remind us that there is a difference between wants and needs.

Needs, of course, are things like food, shelter, and transportation. Wants, on the other hand, make our existence way more comfortable and fun. 

For example, You need a home but want to add on a beautiful deck addition. We need to get dressed in the morning… and those stylish shoes really bring the ensemble together.

But here’s the cool thing: having a steam shower in your home addresses both wants and needs. Yes, you can really have it both ways. 

Let’s take a look at five reasons a steam shower at home fulfills basic needs, like wellbeing, as well as providing for the equally important “wants” side of life, too.

A steam shower creates a spa experience at home, creating a daily stress-free zone. Just 10, 15 or 20 minutes in the steam shower unwinds both the mind and body, lowering stress levels. 

Steam shower therapies like Aromatherapy, Chromatherapy, and Music therapy further engage the senses, taking relaxation and focus to even deeper levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, a full third of U.S. adults regularly do not get their recommended amount of sleep (7 to 8 hours for adults). 

Sleep is not a luxury, the CDC reminds us, as a lack of sleep contributes to big-time health problems such as heart disease, as well as scary mistakes like auto accidents or mistakes in the workplace.

And here is where steam comes in: Taking a nightly steam before bed helps establish a sleep routine, or good sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene means taking steps to help body and mind shift into the sleep phase.

A nice steam shower session, especially with added calming essential oils such as lavender, can create just such a ritual.

Steam may also be beneficial in improving sleep cycles. In fact, a recent study found that inhaling warm steam “increased deep sleep leading to an improved subjective sleep quality in participants with mild sleep difficulties and anxiety.”

Whether you’re a weekend warrior who just completed a half-marathon, the results can be the same: delayed onset muscle soreness.

One of the benefits of a steam shower is it can help in recovery, by reducing pain, soothing muscles, and increasing circulation to foster healing.

Taking a steam shower is like putting yourself into one giant heat pack. In fact, using heat to treat your knees can increase their flexibility.

That’s why some people will take a steam as a warm-up prior to an exercise session, as they may then experience a greater ease of movement and range of motion.

Top athletes also use steam to aid muscle recovery, as steam may help remove lactic acid and rebuild muscles micro-damaged during exertion.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that for thousands and thousands of years, cultures around the world have turned to steam not only for bathing, but also for another very important benefit: social connection. 

In Iceland, for example, most towns have a social life centered around a geothermically heated pool, where residents gather to chat and relax.

Fostering these strong social bonds is a wise investment, as it enhances health and longevity.

Multiple research studies suggest that feeling connected to others boosts emotional and physical wellbeing, by improving immune function, lowering anxiety and depression, and quelling inflammation.

If you’re on the fence about investing in home improvement projects like a steam shower, remember this advice: Making small upgrades over time serves a seller immensely.

Upgrades like outdoor lighting or a walk-in pantry can be gradually checked off your list, all the while boosting your enjoyment of the home while you are in residence. And, when it comes time to sell, these home improvements garner higher resale prices as well as lowering the time spent on market.

It’s especially wise to focus on the master bathroom, as having an up-to-date, spa-inspired bathroom is one of the top three investments that adds resale value.

According to Zillow, the term “steam shower” in a listing led to a 29% higher sale price when compared to homes that did not include a steam shower. A steam shower catches future buyers' attention, lending a home that important “wow!” factor.

Even if you don’t plan to move, installing a residential steam shower is also a savvy investment if you decide to remain your home and age in place.