How a Steam Cabin Can Improve Your Home's Value

Adding a steam shower to your home may feel like a luxury, but it can improve resale value. Plus, the spa-like experience can lower blood pressure and make you feel instantly relaxed.

Most steam shower systems use a water heater to generate the steam, which then flows through ports in the enclosure's walls and ceiling. Some manufacturers offer models with fast steaming that can produce a generous volume of steam in under a minute. However, that extra speed comes at a price—steaming uses far more energy than just taking a regular shower, which can increase your electric bill.

The steam can also open your pores, which helps to clean the skin and remove some dirt and debris. It also hydrates dry skin, leaving it soft and smooth. And if you choose to use essential oils, the vapor can help relieve sinus congestion as well.

Moist heat in general can improve circulation, and it's important for maintaining healthy organs and a strong immune system. Inhaling the warm air can even loosen up some muscle soreness after a workout, Tobiason adds. (Improved blood flow also helps wash away the waste products from exercise that would otherwise cause soreness and inflammation.)

However, you should never go to a public steam room or your own steam bath when you're sick. "You're at higher risk of picking up a bug or virus from all the other people in there," Tobiason says.

For most people, one 30-minute session of steaming per day poses no health risks, but it's best to keep in mind how acclimated you are to the heat. You can also reduce the frequency of sessions if you start to feel lightheaded or dehydrated. And always remember to rinse afterward, since lingering sweat or bacteria can lead to infections and other health problems. To prevent that, you should wear a pair of flip-flops and sit on a towel to avoid direct contact with the enclosure's floor.