Review of the Mr. Steam
Mr. Steam is usually compared to Steamist, Delta, Elite Steam, and Amerec.
Mr. Steam is not a low psi steam generator with cheap pressure release valves that produce high condensate and a heavy wet steam.
If using 3/4 inch pipes (not 1/2 inch pipes) and you are getting one of the latest Mr. Steam generators it is not loud like the early generations that you may have heard many years ago.
Mr. Steam is a single tank generator (not dual tank). I will go in detail on who prefers a single tank duty cycle steam versus a constant steam like Thermasol. Unless you have a clear understanding on which one you prefer you can buy a continous or duty cycle type when you would prefer the other. About 50% of my customers say they wish they had bought the other type and vice versa.
Many people don't like to stay at the same temperature thermocline. Many people like to have a single tank that gets the temperature in the room over 114 degrees (120 or even higher) and then let the steam turn off. This allows for heat shock proteins and deeper vasodilation and then the body cools off just enough to where you crave more steam.
Note: The cheaper brands keep the room hot due to high latent heat from too much condensate in the steam. These can have you waiting 5 to 10 minutes for the next steam cycle and you may feel the need to dump cold water on the thermostat. With Mr. Steam (assuming if you size the killowatt size just right), you should never feel the need to pour water on it to kick the steam back on.
The steam from Mr. Steam is dryer (less condensate) comparing it to every other single tank brand out there. (yes, I have reviewed every brand and have videos on my biohack page showing my reviews).
Mr. Steam does not make a drippy steam. Since it uses less water than the low psi brands it doesn't creates steam and heat traps at the ceiling (Brownian motion).
If you are on a very strict budget, we have returned steam generators from people who bought the wrong size. Please contact us if you want one of these.
visual of a low psi model
visual of a high psi model
Mr. Steam generators are in a class of their own. I have to say this is the best built single tank pressurized steam generator on the market. I can go into detail why. Although I am not a fan of single tank, non-continuous steam, this is the driest of all the single tank brands I have reviewed. There is a lot of confusion between open tanks and closed tanks. This works at a much higher pressure than all the other single tanks I have reviewed. If you want that pleasant feeling steam you don't want it muggy and heavy and the steam hits you in the face right when you walk in the steam room. Most people are calling me about the Kholers, the Steamists, the Amerecs, the Elite Steams and I tell them, every component of Mr. Steam can handle high pressure and it gives a very intense fluence of steam and doesn't spit out water like the low pressure models that can't handle pressure like Mr. Steam.
Note: most of the really cheap single tank steam generators work at 15 or lower psi and have lots of condensate.
If you are going to get a single tank generator make sure you have 3/4 inch pipes. Try to avoid water hammer.
Their steam tanks are stainless steel. Although not 304 surgical steel, the cleaning system is the best I have seen. It does cost extra. For those that have a pre steam inline water filter, you don't need to buy the cleaning system. Their heating elements last many years before servicing if it is maintained well by not letting limescale build up. Let me know if your water is hard. I recommend a water softener if it is especially if the elements aren't surgical steel.
I also recommend trying a continuous type steam room to compare and really get to know your steam before considering which brand to get. Most people do not consider steam duty cycles, latent heat index and how higher humidity in relation to the steam room design can affect your steam experience. Please take my Steam Quiz. I will pick out the generator based on your answers. Also, take my sizing quiz. My quiz just might get a different size than you originally thought was the right size for your steam room.
As far as relative humidy vs absolute humidity, since the Mr. Steam generator is not a constant steam and constant temperature type, it can get very hot and steamy over 114 degrees giving it a high relative humidity for a few minutes and go through the cycle to a high absolute humidity. If you are ever in the gym, and they have a Mr. Steam, it gets really hot and then it cools down just enough (but not too much) and then turns on again before most people would even think to splash water on the thermostat. This is why I give any correctly sized steam room using a Mr. Steam and score of A to A+. If you don't size it right and have an 8 foot or 9 foot ceiling and we weren't aware of it, then having a messed up thermocline can bring the steam room experience down to a B or even as low as a D- if the room is over 8 foot tall and ceramic.
Warning: I never want to oversize an single tank steam generator. Those who have ceramic or other porous walls if the steam comes out too much and there is too much latent heat, most of the hot steam will be trapped under the ceiling and stick to the walls. The more oversized the generator the harder it is to get steam out of the steam trap. This heats the walls up and the steam turns off since the thermostat thinks it has reached the set temperature but it is really just from a hot room. This is why at gyms when they clean the steam room and spray down the walls and ceiling with cold water to clean it, the steam quality is at it's best. Once the walls become (too) hot from improperly sizing it, the steam turns into condensate and starts sticking to the hot ceiling. Notice that when the ceiling is cold there is no drippiness.
A dual tank (slower burn steam rate) is much easier to work with in preventing steam traps and keeping the steam drier with less condensate. Also, another problem with oversizing a single tank model is feet burn. It can come out too strong and burn your feet as the steam comes out of the steam head. You may want to consider a wooden enclosure to go around the steam head if this happens.
Pros: I talk a lot about high psi steam generators and atmospheric steam generators. Mr. Steam is not one of the cheap low psi models that spits out a lot of water but it does have a single tank. it does give me a nice relief when it is not on a steam cycle so I go slower into cardiac drift. That is one thing I like about single tanks. I can stay in for an hour if I want if the duty cycles are long enough.
If getting a Mr. Steam generator and you don't size it right, it will not give you the experience you are seeking. Oversizing will generate more steam and this will make too much latent heat and trip the thermostat. (yes, pouring water on the sensor messes it up and it never works like new the more you do this). If the room gets too hot too quick by getting the wrong size, the room will not feel like a steam room, it will feel like an air filled room with hot vapor. This will not be a saturated steam room that most people crave but don't get.
Mr. Steam gives a really even steam distribution if sized correctly. If not sized right, you will feel like you need to put a milk crate on the bench to get to the next 12 inch higher thermocline. If you are the type that likes to sit on the SECOND TIER BENCH in a gym steam room and like the 120 degree intense heat, if the ceiling is above 7 foot you will feel as if you are sitting on the floor. No one goes to the gym and sits on the floor but that is what it will feel like if sitting on a single story bench and the 2nd story bench that you are used to will feel like sitting on the first story bench. DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF OVER SIZING. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET HOTTER, THE STEAM IS JUST GOING TO GET TRAPPED (BROWNIAN MOTION).
If you don't size the Mr. Steam generator correctly it will not give a dryness fraction of 95 to 100% which is not considered heavy and muggy.
If you want the feeling of intense steam duty cycles with a high dryness fraction and want a steam room that doesn't just stay at the same temperature the entire time this is the brand that I have the least customer service issues with. I can help you tweak your steam room if using this brand. Tweaking the room for a single tank is different than tweaking it for a Thermasol (constant steam) or a Steamcore (constant steam and constant temperature).
We are a small team who are highly opinionated about steam rooms. We are all in our 50's and 60's. We have been steam rooms with all different ceiling heights, different walls (ceramic, natural stone) and know from all the mistakes people make to know how to get you an A to A+ steam room set up.
See my Biohacking page (definitely read that page, our most informative page). If you want to talk to use we are highly seasoned steam enthusiasts, not just a sales rep that's just going to ask you your steam room length, width, height and wall material. Our calls are at least 30 minutes to an hour long. So, call us when you have time to talk. You will be happy you called us.
Mr. Steam quality analysis:
If you want a generator that is not a continuous and has duty cycles this is the brand to get. You either love duty cycles or hate them.
Their generators have one large heating element (high watt density) and put out a high fluece steam. It fills up the room much quicker than the types that are slow burn and takes almost twice as long to put the same amount of steam in the room.
If you don't mind not having a quick start steam and want a super strong fluence this steam is worth waiting for. Mr. steam has the most whole body therapy steam out of all the brands due to it's high fluence. You don't just feel the steam in your upper body. The steam cloud lingers further to the floor. This is the difference between what a slow burn and a fast burn steam generator offers.
Mr. steam does not have the maintenance issues like other single tank generators. Many people want to save by getting a cheaper Chinese import steam generator. If you want high maintenance then look for steam generators that have galvanized zinc coated heating elements. The better ones are naturally corrosion and rust resistant. With cheap elements you may need to replace them as they get coated with mineral deposits. THIS STUFF LEACHES OUT INTO THE STEAM. I DO NOT LIKE BREATHING IN STEAM THAT IS NOT PURE.
Mr. Steam does not use cast aluminum tanks like other single tank generators. These are things that are not advertised and most people would not know to avoid this unless they did their research.
The Cuing system in the Mr. Steam generator works without the need to splash cold water on the thermostat. If you are used to seeing people do this, you will not have this problem. The duty cycle is perfectly times (based on a 7 foot ceiling) and if you have a taller ceiling or anything that can affect it I can figure it out so you pick out the right generator.
The steam is balanced and doesn't fluctuate too high if it is sized right. About their cuing system, when the water drops just 3mm, the system brings water back in but not too much to change the steam quality by having a heavier steam sometimes and a dryer steam the next cycle. Cheaper generators don't control the input water like this. If you ever tried a Mr. Steam and then went to a steam room that has a Steamist or Amerec you will know the difference after a few duty cycles. I like every duty cycle to be the same and consistent. Most people don't know to expect this if they haven't done research like I have
Know before buying a steam generator
Know before buying a steam generator
Know before buying a steam generator
Call us at 1-800-336-9285 for sizing before you buy.
Most people size their generator wrong.
When you call me, there is no question that you will not under or oversize your generator. I know how to avoid dripiness without slanting ceilings. I know how to get a room to stay at over 95% dryness the entire session. I know the top steam room complaints with each brand and how to fix them before they happen.
I will go over what is needed to avoid heavy maintenance issues. After talking to me you will know how to prevent your ceiling from having a steam trap even if you have an 8 or 9 foot ceiling. I will help you choose between single, dual tank, and atmospheric type generators and pros and cons of each.
I will go into detail on the differences between wet and dry steam. I will let you know if you need a water pressure reducer, a water softener, or anything needed to avoid maintenance issues. My team who I have trained have years of experience comparing steam rooms and understanding the small changes, if any, that are needed to have an A to A+ steam quality. We don't just ask for your steam room measurements. Our consultations make sure every question is answered, even questions you don't know you have yet.
We are here to offer our knowledge and research and hopes we will earn your business.
Relative VS Absolute Humidity
Concerns: Since this is a single tank that and is a fast burn steam (doesn't come out slowly like atmospheric slow burn type), if you have a ceiling that is over 8 foot tall, it is easy to create a steam trap due to brownian motion (if you studied this in physics in high school, now is the time where it comes in use). Another concerns is feet burn. You don't want a higher killlowatt steam generator blowing on your feet during its duty cycle.
Mr. Steam doesn't have a problem with drippiness within the first 30 minutes if sized correctly. If not sized correctly all the steam goes to the ceiling and will trip the thermostat too quick and it will not be steamy. Oversizing means less steam. Not more steam. People don't understand this until they experience it. If you have a ceiling 8 foot tall or higher, I strongly recommend the floor fan to bring the hot ceiling thermocline down. Also, it saves a lot of money since the steam generator doesn't have to work so hard.
Before choosing a single tank generator know the following:
Know that with this type you likely won't be able to stay in for the same time as a continuous type without having to exit the steam room (assuming you have it set at the same temperature you would on a Thermasol). If you like to stay in the steam room for a short time (15 to 20 minutes), you may want it more intense to raise your core temperature or a steam with less duty cycles so your core section never gets steam under 110 degrees). 110 to 114 degrees is the sweet spot.
You will like the Mr. Steam experience if you want to get your core temperature up by having your core go over 114 degrees for brief times and bring your heart rate down several times during a longer steam session. For those who want the shortest, time efficient steam sessions may want a continuous and constant steam where you can set it at your desired temperature and it stays at that and doesn't fluctuate within 1 to 2 degrees. Not everyone likes this type since it can heat the body up too quickly. Mr. steam generators produce a steam that fluctuates in temperature more than the dual tank types. After talking to you it will be clear which type you prefer. If you don't know yet it is easy to find out after we talk.
