What are the different types of steam generators?

Steam generators fall into three practical types: single-room residential generators for a home steam shower, multi-room commercial generators for spas and hotels, and generators that come bundled in a complete control and shower package. Within each type you then choose an output in kW that matches your room's volume.

Restore Suite sells ThermaSol generators in all three types, so you can compare them side by side in our steam shower generators and packages collection. The specs and prices below come from those product pages. Prices change, so confirm them before you order.

How does a steam generator work, and what do all types share?

Every type does the same basic job. A heating element boils water in a tank, and the steam travels through a pipe to a steamhead inside your shower or steam room. The generator itself sits outside the room, in a closet, vanity, attic or utility space. The ThermaSol generators we sell can be installed up to 50 feet from the room, which gives your builder real freedom on placement.

What changes between types is how many rooms the unit serves, how it keeps steam steady, how it handles mineral buildup and which controls it talks to. Those four questions sort the whole category.

Type 1: What is a single-room residential generator?

This is the type most homeowners need. One generator serves one steam shower or steam room. In our catalog it comes as the ThermaSol Pro Series, in three tiers.

Tier	Output	Steam and cleaning features listed	Price
Pro Series I Essential	11 kW, for 241 to 395 adjusted cubic feet	Constant Steam, Fast Start steam in seconds, split tank	$4,399.97
Pro Series II Advanced	8, 10, 11, 15, 20 or 24 kW	FastStart, PowerFlush pressurized sediment cleaning, split tank	$3,799.97 to $6,999.97
Pro Series III Ultimate	6, 8, 10, 11, 15, 20 or 24 kW	Patented SmartSteam, FastStart, PowerFlush, drain pan and safety relief valve included	$4,499.97 to $8,299.79

All three are listed as made in the USA, with a stainless steel body and Incoloy low-watt-density heating elements. They link to ThermaSol controls over two-way digital CAN-bus communication. If you want a deeper look at the three tiers, our ThermaSol brand review covers what you get and what to weigh.

Type 2: What is a multi-room commercial generator?

A commercial generator is built for facilities with several steam rooms, such as a day spa or hotel. The ThermaSol Day Spa DS-Series serves two, three or four rooms from one stainless steel unit, and a steam distribution module sends steam to each room independently or to several at once. It is CSA/CUL listed and fitted with an ASME safety valve.

You size it by the combined volume of all the rooms: 10 kW for up to 600 cubic feet, 12 kW for up to 1,000, 16 kW for up to 1,600 and 20 kW for up to 2,600. Prices on the page run from $3,699.97 to $10,199.97 depending on the output and the number of rooms. Businesses can find related equipment on our commercial saunas page and in the B2B program. A home with one steam shower does not need this type.

Type 3: What is a generator sold inside a package?

Some buyers do not want to pick a generator, a control, a steamhead and a shower separately. Packages bundle those parts. Two examples from our catalog:

• The ThermaTouch 7-Inch Round Wellness Steam Package with Steamhead is $6,499.97.
• The SignaTouch 5-Inch HydroVive Wellness Steam Package runs from $8,999.97 to $11,199.97 and adds a HydroVive rainhead with a steamhead.

Read each package page closely, because contents differ. For example, the SignaTouch 5-inch package does not list a digital valve, while the HydroVive Total Wellness Package includes a steamhead and a digital valve. Check whether a generator is included or sold separately before you compare prices.

Does the control system change which type you buy?

It can. The generator talks to a control over two-way digital CAN-bus, and the controls are where the experience differs day to day. The Pro Series I page lists compatibility with ThermaTouch, SignaTouch, the Serenity Light and Music Series and HydroVive. The Pro Series II and III pages mention ThermaSol controls and accessories including HydroVive and Serenity systems. In plain terms, the generator you buy today should still work if you upgrade the touchscreen later, but confirm the pairing on the product page before you commit.

If you only want a basic setup, a generator plus a compatible control is a perfectly reasonable build. If you want light, sound and a rainhead on the same screen, a package saves you from matching the parts yourself.

Is a steam shower the same as a steam room for generator purposes?

The equipment is the same, but the room is not. A steam room is a sealed enclosure built for steam, while a steam shower is a regular shower enclosure that you convert. Either way the generator is sized to the enclosure volume, and either way the enclosure needs to hold steam in. The installation guide above covers the sealing details. If you are weighing both layouts, our guide to using a steam room explains how sessions work once the system is running.

What does a generator cost to run?

We do not publish running-cost figures for steam generators because they depend on your session length, your local electricity rate and the output you pick. What we can say is that the kW rating on the product page tells you the electrical load while it heats, which is the number your electrician needs for the circuit. A smaller output sized correctly to a smaller room is usually the sensible route, and an oversized unit is not a fix for a room that leaks steam.

How do you choose between the types?

Start with how many rooms you are serving. One room means a residential Pro Series generator. Two to four rooms in a business means the Day Spa. After that, the choice is between buying parts and buying a package.

Then size the output. Steam rooms are sized in adjusted cubic feet, which is room volume corrected for the surfaces in it. Our steam generator size calculator does the arithmetic. The only room range we state from a product page is the Pro Series I: 241 to 395 adjusted cubic feet. For the Pro Series II and III, send us your shower dimensions and we will check the output before you order.

Which features are worth paying for?

Three differences affect daily use. Steady steam matters if you dislike swings in temperature, which is what Constant Steam and SmartSteam address. Sediment cleaning matters if your water is hard, since PowerFlush uses pressurized water to clear it. Included parts matter for your plumber's time: the Pro Series III ships with a pre-plumbed safety relief valve and a stainless steel drain pan.

What should you plan around the generator?

A generator is only one part of the build. You also need electrical service for its kW rating, a water line, a drain and a vapor-sealed room. Our steam shower installation guide walks through the planning, and a licensed electrician should confirm the circuit for whichever output you pick. If you are still deciding between a steam shower and a sauna, the steam sauna buying guide lays out the trade-offs.

What are the honest limits of this comparison?

We sell ThermaSol, so this article only covers what we carry. ThermaSol is one of several steam generator makers, and we have no customer reviews on these products yet, so the comparison rests on the specs rather than owner feedback. When two models look close, the better move is to match output to your room and then decide on controls.

Related reading: How much is it to make your shower a steam shower? · ThermaSol Pro Series I vs II vs III: Which Steam Generator? · Are Portable Steam Saunas Worth It? · ThermaSol SignaTouch vs ThermaTouch: Which Steam Shower Control? · What are the pros and cons of a steam shower? · Steam Shower Generator Electrical Requirements Explained · ThermaSol Wellness Steam Packages Compared · Mr. Steam Controls Compared: iTempo, TempoTouch, TempoFlex and iSteamX

Frequently asked questions

What are the main types of steam generators?

Single-room residential generators, multi-room commercial generators, and generators sold inside complete package bundles with controls and a steamhead. Within each, you pick an output in kW to match the room.

Which type of steam generator is best for a home steam shower?

A single-room residential generator. In our catalog that is the ThermaSol Pro Series I, II or III, sized to your shower or steam room.

Can one steam generator run more than one room?

Yes, a commercial unit can. The ThermaSol Day Spa DS-Series serves two, three or four rooms from one generator and can send steam to each room independently or to several at once.

How far can a steam generator be from the shower?

The ThermaSol Pro Series and Day Spa generators we sell can be installed up to 50 feet from the room, according to their product pages.

How do I size a steam generator?

Size by the room volume in adjusted cubic feet. Use our steam generator size calculator, and send us your shower dimensions if you are unsure before ordering.

Do I need a package or just a generator?

Buy the generator alone if your builder is supplying the shower and controls. Choose a package if you want the control, steamhead and shower parts matched. Check each package page to see exactly what is included.