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laxman

We are thinking of remodelling our shower to include steam shower.

My question is about the drainage from steam generator. Where does the the drainage go to? Can it be released into to the shower stall? Can I combine grainage from the pressure valve and the auto-flush?

Thanks,

Laxman

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John Bridge

Hi Laxman,

I've never run into a steam generator that had to be drained. They operate sort of like the inline waterheaters. Water goes straight through. Maybe there's something I don't know about, though. I haven't done a steam shower in many years. :)

PharmD

Laxman,

Actually, most of the generators I looked at when I was shopping for one either recommended flushing regularly or they had an "autoflush" option. I guess there must be some residual water in the boiler even after running it full bore... I bought a Mr. Steam unit, and chose not to go with the autoflush option due to cost factors--I figure I'll drain it every few times it gets used. It's just a matter of opening a valve...

Jason

Billy

Can't you flush it into the steam room or shower area? Then it will go down the shower drain.

Billy

PharmD

Billy-

I would guess it depends on where the steam unit actually is relative to the shower. The only place I could put mine is in a crawlspace about 10 feet away--not really an option for me. However, I know that there are some units that fit nicely in a 16 inch stud space that would probably allow you to do this. Or I suppose if it's close enough, you could run the drain in there. I just thought about something: in some shower pichers I've seen on this site, there is a fixture exactly like a tub spout about 6 inches off the floor. Could this be a steam shower drain?

Jason

doitright

Hi Laxman, Welcome! :)

Most steam generators have a valve for the drain/flushing. The auto fill option attaches to this valve. With the auto fill option, the unit needs to be piped to a drain. With out the option the units should be flushed occassionaly, but a drain is not necessary (as you can use a bucket if necessary).

What's most important, is to allow the steam unit to cool a minimum of 2 hrs. before flushing.

MHI

I just thought about something: in some shower pichers I've seen on this site, there is a fixture exactly like a tub spout about 6 inches off the floor. Could this be a steam shower drain?

Jason

That would be a toe tester, you stick your foot under it to see if the water temp is right before diverting it to the shower head. Not very common, and most bathrooms I've seen it in also have a bidet.

I haven't installed a steam unit with an autoflush yet. I'm not sure its really needed. The high pressure relief valve doesn't get piped to a drain, the chances of it opening are slim. For the unit to build up pressure, the steam head would have to be blocked. Its more of a "just in case".

The autoflush would have to go to a drain. If I were to run the drain into the shower, there would have to be a special outlet that was available in the same finish as the rest of the shower components. If not I would plumb a seperate drain like a small standpipe similar to a washing machine for it. :)

laxman

Thanks for all the advice.

My intial concern about letting the drainage into shower stall was the water temparature. But atleast one generator (MrSteam with auto-flush) has a delay feature. Auto-flush waits for two hours before flushing the tank. I called technical assistance at the vendor and she suggested that I install another steam head and use it to drain water from both the auto-flush and the safety valve. In other words, have two steam heads in the shower. One for steam and the other for drainage.

Laxman

PharmD

That would be a toe tester, you stick your foot under it to see if the water temp is right before diverting it to the shower head. Not very common, and most bathrooms I've seen it in also have a bidet.

Ahhhh--a toe tester. I guess I'll just stick my hand in there before I get in; a guy like me needs one of those like he needs a jet of H2O up his *ss. :eek:

Jason :)

rbeck

Laxman,
How did that work out, piping both drain lines into the steam shower?

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Can't you flush it into the steam room or shower area? Then it will go down the shower drain.

Billy

PharmD

Billy-

I would guess it depends on where the steam unit actually is relative to the shower. The only place I could put mine is in a crawlspace about 10 feet away--not really an option for me. However, I know that there are some units that fit nicely in a 16 inch stud space that would probably allow you to do this. Or I suppose if it's close enough, you could run the drain in there. I just thought about something: in some shower pichers I've seen on this site, there is a fixture exactly like a tub spout about 6 inches off the floor. Could this be a steam shower drain?

Jason

doitright

Hi Laxman, Welcome! :)

Most steam generators have a valve for the drain/flushing. The auto fill option attaches to this valve. With the auto fill option, the unit needs to be piped to a drain. With out the option the units should be flushed occassionaly, but a drain is not necessary (as you can use a bucket if necessary).

What's most important, is to allow the steam unit to cool a minimum of 2 hrs. before flushing.

MHI

I just thought about something: in some shower pichers I've seen on this site, there is a fixture exactly like a tub spout about 6 inches off the floor. Could this be a steam shower drain?

Jason

That would be a toe tester, you stick your foot under it to see if the water temp is right before diverting it to the shower head. Not very common, and most bathrooms I've seen it in also have a bidet.

I haven't installed a steam unit with an autoflush yet. I'm not sure its really needed. The high pressure relief valve doesn't get piped to a drain, the chances of it opening are slim. For the unit to build up pressure, the steam head would have to be blocked. Its more of a "just in case".

The autoflush would have to go to a drain. If I were to run the drain into the shower, there would have to be a special outlet that was available in the same finish as the rest of the shower components. If not I would plumb a seperate drain like a small standpipe similar to a washing machine for it. :)

laxman

Thanks for all the advice.

My intial concern about letting the drainage into shower stall was the water temparature. But atleast one generator (MrSteam with auto-flush) has a delay feature. Auto-flush waits for two hours before flushing the tank. I called technical assistance at the vendor and she suggested that I install another steam head and use it to drain water from both the auto-flush and the safety valve. In other words, have two steam heads in the shower. One for steam and the other for drainage.

Laxman

PharmD

That would be a toe tester, you stick your foot under it to see if the water temp is right before diverting it to the shower head. Not very common, and most bathrooms I've seen it in also have a bidet.

Ahhhh--a toe tester. I guess I'll just stick my hand in there before I get in; a guy like me needs one of those like he needs a jet of H2O up his *ss. :eek:

Jason :)

rbeck

Laxman,
How did that work out, piping both drain lines into the steam shower?

vBulletin® v3.7.4, Copyright ©-, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

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