Steam shower whirlpool
Steam shower with whirlpool bath: steam, massage and shower in one cabin
This category is the full equipment in the combination area. A closed cabin sits on a tub with massage jets, plus a steam generator. So you can shower, bathe, have a massage and take a steam bath without changing the room. At Seniorbad the category comprises 32 models in the K60, K70, K80 and K88 series.
For whom this design is worthwhile
The honest answer: for households that really use all three functions. Anyone who only wants to shower and occasionally bathe is better served with a simpler combination, because there the technology, purchase and maintenance are considerably more manageable.
But if you regularly take steam and want to save the trip to the sauna in the cellar or to the studio, the combination makes sense. The practical advantage lies in the sequence: steam, then rinse off, then into the warm tub, all without a wet path over tiles. Anyone who wants to stand more securely adds a grab rail in the entry area.
What separates this category from the other combinations
The distinction is clear. Without jets and without steam it is a shower cabin with tray. With massage jets, but without steam, it is a shower with whirlpool. Only when both come together do you end up here.
Anyone who wants steam but needs no tub finds the suitable models among the steam showers. All combination variants at a glance are under shower bath combination.
Dimensions, series and space requirement
The cabins come as a square corner variant in 140 x 140 cm and in 150 x 150 cm. In addition there is a rectangular version in 180 x 100 cm, each in both orientations. These are the largest combination cabins in the range, and the space requirement is accordingly large. In addition to the pure footprint, allow room to move in front, otherwise the cabin does stand but is uncomfortable to enter.
The square models are intended for the corner and make efficient use of a room corner. The rectangular variant is the obvious choice when an existing bathtub is replaced, because its footprint usually corresponds exactly to this cut. In that case the connections are often already near the right position.
The four series differ in shape, depth of equipment and seat solution. The abbreviations in the product name give information about orientation and fitting type, where EH stands for a single-lever mixer and TH for a thermostat. Check the equipment list of the specific model, because there are noticeable differences between the series in the range of functions.
Technology, connections and care
Tub and rear wall are made of fibreglass-reinforced acrylic, the cabin of safety glass with aluminium profiles. In terms of connections you need hot and cold water, a drain and an electrical connection that supplies both the steam generator and the pump of the whirlpool function. The exact requirements are in the technical data and should be discussed with an electrical specialist before buying.
With care, two points come together. The jet pipes of the tub want to be rinsed regularly. The steam generator in turn builds up limescale with hard water and therefore needs the descaling provided for by the manufacturer. Both are no great effort, but have to be planned in, otherwise the function suffers after a few years.
A third point concerns ventilation. After each steam application there is moisture in the room, and the cabin itself also releases moisture afterwards. A window or a functioning extraction system is therefore a prerequisite, and the cabin door should stay open after use so that everything can dry through. That is the most effective care measure of all and costs nothing.
Frequently asked questions about steam showers with whirlpool
Technically, both functions are independent of each other, so they can be run in parallel. In practice, however, this rarely makes sense, because for the steam you sit in the cabin and for the massage you lie in the filled tub.
The usual sequence is therefore one after the other: first steam, then rinse off, then into the tub. The control panels allow both variants, you are free in the order.
In addition to the pure footprint, you need room to move in front, in order to get in and out comfortably. As a rough guide, at least 60 to 70 centimetres should stay free in front of the cabin, more is better.
Draw the floor plan to scale and place the cabin in it before you order. With these dimensions, the difference between fits and just about fits can no longer be estimated in your head.
Two things are due. The jet pipes of the tub are rinsed regularly, many models have a built-in cleaning function for this. The steam generator is descaled according to the manufacturer specification, how often depends on the water hardness at your location.
Both together are a few minutes a month. Anyone who lets it slide permanently notices it in a declining steam output and in deposits in the pipes.
If there were room for both, separate units are often more comfortable in use. The point is: in a normal bathroom the room is simply not there. That is exactly what the combination is made for.
On top of that, you only need one water connection, one drain and one electrical connection instead of two separate installations. In an existing flat this is often the argument that tips the balance.
EH stands for a single-lever mixer, TH for a thermostat. A thermostat keeps the set water temperature constant, even when water is drawn elsewhere in the household at the same time, and is the more comfortable choice for a cabin with several outlets.
Further abbreviations in the product names describe the orientation of the cabin and the equipment. The full explanation is in the technical data of the respective model.