If you’ve decided to bring some spa luxury into your home, your next big question would be: What kind of home spa should I go for?
More precisely, you’d be thinking about choosing between a steam bath or a hot tub, since these are the two most popular home spa options on the market.
You see, treating yourself with regular heat therapy, be it a steam room or a hot tub, can provide amazing health benefits.
But the question as to which one should you choose can be quite confusing. After all, both an Amerec steam generator and a Jacuzzi hot tub have their fair share of pros and cons when it comes to cost, installation, and therapeutic benefits.
So, let’s dive into the details and see which one best fits your home spa needs.
Steam room vs. hot tub: A complete breakdown of health benefits
Health benefits are one of the foremost reasons why people go for home spa solutions in the first place. So, let’s first look at the key health benefits you can expect from using a steam room versus a hot tub on a regular basis.
The health benefits of steam room
- It significantly improves your blood circulation
- Helps lower blood pressure levels
- It is key to stress relief and dealing with anxiety
- Natural remedy to clear nasal or respiratory congestion
- Promotes healthy skin
- Aids workout recovery
- Loosens up stiff joints
- Burns calories
- Boosts immune system
- Helps drain bodily toxins
The health benefits of hot tub
- Like steam room, it also helps with stress relief and relaxation
- It relaxes muscles
- Helps you improve your sleep
- Provided relief from pain
- Improves cardiovascular health
- It can improve potential insulin sensitivity
- Hot tubs are known for passive calorie burning
As you can see, both steam rooms and hot tubs pack a punch when it comes to holistic health perks.
However, when it comes to health benefits such as improved respiratory system, calorie burning, and detoxification steam rooms tend to be much better.
Hot tubs, at the same time, excel more at benefits like pain relief, improved sleep, insulin sensitivity, and cardiovascular health.
Note: Be sure to check the Florida 40 year recertification requirements before installing a steam room or hot tub in an older building.
The cost of purchasing and installing steam rooms vs. hot tubs
When installing a home spa, one of your biggest decision points will be the upfront cost of installation. Here, you’ll have to factor in the cost of installing a steam room or a hot tub.
So, here’s a quick breakdown:
The cost of installing a steam room
Installing a steam room can be equivalent to a major home improvement project. That’s because it typically involves hiring professionals who repurpose your bathroom.
Not to mention, it also involves running new plumbing and electrical lines, constructing a sealed enclosure, and installing a steam generator unit.
But that said, the average cost of installing a steam room ranges between $5,000 and $15,000. While high-end luxury steam rooms can cost upward of $50,000, the same can’t be said for regular residential steam showers.
The cost of installing a hot tub
Compared to steam rooms, hot tubs require much less invasive installation.
Here, you’ll need to have an electrician hook up the dedicated GFCI electrical circuit, and potentially have a concrete pad poured or patio area prepped for the tub’s location. But that’s it, you don’t need much extensive installation.
The tub itself gets delivered and installed by professionals with only a minor setup required.
Talking about the upfront cost, quality hot tubs generally cost in the range of $6,500 and $20,000. Also, the more luxury models can even cost upward of $30,000.
So although straightforward, installing a hot tub is usually more expensive than steam showers.
Which one is better for a home spa?
Now that you’ve seen the best of both steam rooms and hot tubs, it’s about time you decide which one is the right option for you.
For instance, if you want the best of detoxification, calorie burning, and immunity boosting benefits, then a steam room could be the best way to go. Not to mention, it can also be more affordable compared to a hot tub.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a spa solution that provides hydromassage, relaxation, stress relief, pain management, then you should definitely go for a hot tub.
