STEAMIST-STEAM-GENERATOR

Steamist steam generators:

These are great generators if you are on a tight budget or aren't too picky about the type of steam you want.

The Steamist (and their Elite Steam models) are single tank boilers. They work similar to the Mr. Steam. It does not have dual tanks and is not a continuous type steam. Usually elderly people like the single tank models because it allows longer duty cycles where the temperature drops in the room and they don't go into cardiac drift as fast. If getting a single tank model that works at a low psi, this makes more condensate. Many elderly people can stay in the steam room longer if the the duty cycle allows them to take a rest and get their heart rate down each cycle.

If you are using a ceramic or any other porous material for your walls and ceiling, you might want to upsize especially if your ceiling height is 8 foot and over to avoid steam traps. But, if you like a mild steam therapy session and want to stay in over 30 minutes to an hour, you can stay within the adjusted cubic foot recommendation. But, for those that have an 8 foot ceiling for example and using a single tank, it is hard to get the steam down from a 12 inch steam trap when the steam has a high condensate level.

If you don't want to upsize and keep the steam more uniform with less duty cycles, I recommend using a marine grade fan and suction cupping it on the wall to bring down the steam trap. If upsizing the generator and you don't want all the steam going to the ceiling so fast, I recommend a wooden enclosure to go around the steam head so it doesn't spray you and burn your feet.

The Steamist is probably the best generator to get if you can't afford the Mr. Steam and don't want to pay a lot extra. If you get a Steamist just know what to expect. It is not a continuous type. You might have to splash water on the sensor several times to jumpstart the steam but this can make muggier wetter steam that is not boiled back up yet and ready to be released. Just make sure you have a tall bench so you feel more of the steam near the ceiling since Brownian motion has a larger effect when single tanks release more grams of steam in a duty cycle than the slow burn that releases it slower over a longer time period.

Below are some videos I made in a steam room that has the Steamist steam generator.

Get help choosing a steam generator by taking my steam generator quiz. I will pick out a steam generator by the answers you choose. Take my steam quiz here.

Mr. Steam compare to Steamist (I have compared Elite Steam also):

So, I get called asking what I think of Steamist and how it compares to Mr. Steam which is way more expensive. Well, they are very similar in that they are a single tank pressure cooker but the steam quality is totally different. I talk a lot of my site the differences between low psi and high pressure release valves and how some put out 2 or 2.5 gallons of water per 30 minute session and others only use 1.5 gallons. The higher pressure the steam and the higher quality the valves, the less water that comes out in the steam (condensate which makes the steam fall to the ground and stick to the walls and ceiling more). Both of these brands are not continuous steam and they have much longer duty cycles compared to the dual tank models. Most people that have been in gyms that you have to wait and there is very little steam might know what it feels like to be in a long duty cycle.

Steamist is much cheaper but not as cheap as Elite steam. For those on very strict budgets that just want to have steam or may be selling their home and want to put something really affordable and not planning on using it may want to invest in a more affordable generator. Please watch my reviews on Steamist. I did about 20 videos (see some above) in a steam room with Steamist. I do not edit any videos and show the steam quality as it is. Make sure you research this type of steam unless you are on a super tight budget and can't afford a continuous type or one that makes drier steam.

I urge everyone who has hard water or the tank is not surgical steel and heating elements are not surgical steel to get an inline water filter and a water softener. With non pressurized types, there is no need for a filter or water softener as when water in a non pressure cooker type is boiling it is not under pressure so it doesn't stick to the surgical steel elements like stainless steel. If anyone has the opportunity to get a surgical steel tank, that will save a lot of headaches and not having to add mineral solution to the tank and elements every 90 days to clean all the crusty stuff off. Most people have a water hardness of 6 to 7 gpg. Below 4 gpg is soft. Above 10 is hard. See pictures above of inside a used tank.