Steam Generators that Power Your Steam Shower

If you own or are planning to own a steam shower in the near future, you probably know the importance of a steam. In a steam shower, a steam generator is responsible for producing steam for the steam shower. There are various models with different features that can range in price from less than $1000 to several thousand dollars.

The difference between a steam shower and a sauna is they type of heat that is being generated. A sauna surrounds you with a dry heat while a steam shower will wrap you with a relaxing and warm air that will penetrate sore and tired muscles and achy bones relieving everyday pains and strains; helping you to breathe better and sleep soundly. Some of the major benefits of using steam showers include clearer skin removing pimples, blackheads bumps, helps you battle infections and inflammation in the nasal area, increased blood circulation and helps you lose weight.

When buying a steam shower you have to take into consideration the technical specifications as well as the overall configuration. You’ll have to hire a contractor to install it. You have a choice of buying a complete steam shower with everything included and ready for installation or buying a steam generator and then installing it later. Shower size is an important consideration when purchasing a steam generator for your steam shower. If you need any help in selecting the right steam generator or installing it, give us a call, we’d be happy to help you out. 

Soak Celebrates Christmas All Over the World

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and this Christmas they’ll be celebrating everywhere from Saskatoon to San Pedro de Alcantara, Spain the special magic of this time of the year. At Soak Saskatoon your favourite local retailer of steam showers, steam baths and hot tubs we like to take a look at how the rest of the world celebrates this special time of the year.

In Kaikoura, New Zealand, it might be the middle of the summer but they’ll be celebrating outdoors with backyard barbecues. Whether you want to hike the rainforest of the Kaikoura mountain range or on cruise the waters of Kaikoura Bay, you’ll be treated to some of the most scenic landscapes or a biodiverse marine environments on the planet. In Costa Rica the Posada season begins when carolers go from house to house while co-workers and families get together in homes and restaurants for long joyful meals.

Christmas or Jul which predates the Christianity in Norway has come a long way from days of old where sacrificing animals and drinking beer was the norm. The scent of baked Christmas cookies fills the air (seven different kinds, at minimum) and saving up for the right Christmas gift. The more adventurous Christmas partyer will make an excursion up to a cottage in the mountains, followed by a relaxing dip in a hot tub or steam bath. Life is about finding the perfect balance between partying and practicality.

A Vanity Cabinet that Accentuates Your Bathroom Curves

If you’re looking for a cost effective bathroom renovation that will give your bathroom a breath of fresh air, a bathroom vanity cabinet that is fresh and stylish might be exactly what you’re looking for. The OJS-034-600 creates a big impression in spite of its small footprint 603mm (23.75 in.) X 558mm (22 in.) X 756 mm (9.75 in.) In fact you could say that it becomes the focal point of any bathroom it calls home.

Coupled with any one of our stylish basin-style sinks, the OJS-034-600 comes with two deep drawers for ample storage space.  Its four chrome finished legs add to its contemporary appeal.  

An additional storage cabinet and mirror can be purchased separately.

Often overlooked in the design process, a vanity cabinet is more than just for storage but an important part of a functional bathroom design. Finding the right cabinet that doesn’t take up too much space but can provide adequate storage space isn’t always that easy. Come down to our store conveniently located at 714 A Circle Drive East in beautiful Saskatoon to find out about our Christmas deals on cabinets, vanities, steam showers and steam baths!

Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Steambath

There are many great Christmas gift ideas that you could buy for your significant other that would make taking a steambath that much more fun. Here is list of our top 5 Christmas gift ideas:

• A gentle exfoliating scrub helps prevent clogging and sweat that gets trapped. The Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub available at Sephora is excellent on all skin types.
• The perfect scrubbing mate for your exfoliating scrub is the Aquis Exfoliating Back Scrubber that will help you get to all those hard to reach spots.
• Cherry Vanilla Bath Bombs made of baking soda, organic citric acid, salt, sweet almond oil, and fragrances are soft on the skin and have a pleasant scent. You can find them on Etsy.
• If you prefer traditional soaps made with natural and organic ingredients such as lavender, shea butter and verbena, you can find a full line of French soaps from l’Occitane en Provence.
• Nourishing your skin after your steambath is a must. There are many effective face moisturizers on the market from Olay and Maybelline or RoC.

Whether you’re a new steambath owner or you’ve owned one for years, everyone enjoys getting a gift that they can use that helps them look and feel your best.

Look and Feel Your Best with these Anti-Ageing Tips

Although we don’t want to admit it, everyone gets old and will get wrinkles. It is not something that you can stop from happening, however, there are measures that you can take that will make you look and feel your best.

The best tip that we can give you is to be happy. Stress hurts you both psychologically and speeds up the ageing process. If you’re happy on the inside, you’ll look great on the outside Happiness does a body good.

The next thing that you can do is eat plenty of vegetables and reduce your sugar intake. There is strong evidence that supports the theory that oxidative damage caused by toxins and metabolism contributes to the aging process at a cellular level. If you eat food that is high in antioxidants you will be protected from oxidative stress. Sugar is a direct cause of aging and significantly reduces the lifespan in animals and humans.

As you age, your skin like everything else doesn’t renew itself as quickly as it used to. It starts to lose moisture, and sags leading to drooping chins and baggy eyes. Sun damage, facial expressions and lifestyle choices, all play a role in the ageing process.  

And while you can’t stop Father Time in his tracks, steaming your skin in a steambath or steam shower for up to fifteen minutes opens pores, increases sweating, stimulates circulation, and eliminates toxins. It’s important to remove dead skin before and after, apply a moisturizer after and drink a lot of water to maximize the benefits of this anti-ageing remedy.

Making Your Bathroom Kid Friendly

Many of our customers have asked us how to keep they can keep their children safe in their bathrooms. It’s a very logical question when you consider that thousands of bathtub accidents occur every year in Canada and the US. Most of the time, accidents occur with children less than two years of age. Usually they suffer bruises and lacerations from slips and falls but sometimes burn-related injuries from scalds are the culprits. We don’t advise that children bathe in a spa or steambath because the currents make it more difficult for them to keep themselves upright and could lead to tragic consequences.

So how can you keep your little ones safe in the bathroom? Bathtubs that are fitted with non-slip mats, treads or tape reduce the chances of slips and falls. While in the bathroom, children shouldn’t be standing too near the steam bath. Jumping and rough play around the tub should be discouraged. In your regular bathtub, you can cover faucets and bath controls with faucet covers or other soft, secured materials to reduce the chances that a child bumps into one by accident. Water that falls on the floor should be cleaned up immediately.

In order to avoid accidental burns, you can equip your faucet with an Anti-Scald Device. There are two types of devices on the market one that monitors temperature and another that monitors pressure. The best alternative is finding a device that combines both functions. Most importantly never leave your child unattended near your tub. It only takes a few seconds for an unfortunate accidental drowning to occur. 

You’ll Never Want to Get Out of your Shell Series Massage Bathtub

After a rough day at the office or on the job site, you’ll look forward to coming home to your Shell Series A202B Massage Bathtub. Your sore muscles and aching back will thank you when you climb into massage bathtub for a soak.

Available in a left or right hand configuration, this free standing tub will give a contemporary look to your bathroom while providing you total relaxation.  It’s made of a composite blend of durable synthetic and natural materials the deep and wide bathing well (59” X 31.5” X 27.5”) offers high water capacity and optimal interior space. It comes in standard white but is also available in other colors. Its computer control remote, air and hydro massage jets, a constant heat function, a hand-held shower¸ head cushion, FM radio and multi-colored LED tub lighting will let you enjoy your A202B for hours on end.

You’ll never have to worry about your massage bathtubs drainage capabilities. The efficient pipe rinse system and pipe drain system coupled with a water pump protection feature ensure that your pipes always clean waste water and bacteria that accumulate inside your pipes.

A massage bathtub that you’ll never want to get out of and always want to get into to, the Shell Series might be the right tub for you.

How to Reduce Moisture on Your Bathroom Walls

I am sure that most of us have found water stains on our walls after we have a steam bath or steam shower. It’s actually quite common for steam to condense on our bathroom walls. The reason being is that most bathroom vent fans aren’t designed to remove all steam in a matter of seconds.

So what can you do to reduce moisture on your bathroom wall? First of all you have to choose an exhaust fan with the correct capacity for the size of your bathroom. Multiplying the length and the width of an 8 foot ceiling bathroom, i.e. 8x 10 = 80 cubic feet would require that you need an exhaust fan that can handle at least 80 cubic feet per minute (CFM) or more.

The easiest thing to do is to turn the vent fan on before you start your shower, and let it run for a 15 to 30 minutes after you finish your shower. You can install a timer switch so you don’t have to go back to turn off the vent fan.  Humidity sensing fans use specialized sensing technology to detect on automatically exhaust fan has enough capacity for the size of the bathroom.

Another way to ensure proper venting is by connecting the exhaust fan to the outdoors through the wall or roof. Clean the venting ducts if its air flow is restricted by the configuration make sure the duct is as short as possible with least amount of turns.

The Ultimate in Steam Shower Design with the Rain Series

There are many excellent steam showers on the market. Some of them come with features like multi jets or a drenching rainfall showerhead. And while these are desirable features, the Rain Series has something that most steam showers don’t, flexibility.

The Rain Series has all of the standard bells and whistles that most steam showers come with like computer controlled remote, and steam with temperature display except it provides multiple options like an overhead rain shower and a hand-held shower, back jets and side jets, overhead LED lighting and LED chromatherapy lighting. And don’t forget an aromatherapy port and FM and Bluetooth audio to make you get the most from your time in your steam shower.

Rain Series Steam showers come with vent fan and alarms, a steam generator cleaning function and decorative floorboards. Some models come with dual seating or foldable seats. Backed by a comprehensive warranty that includes 1 year on labor, 2 years on parts (Excluding Decorative Floor Board) and 3 years on Acrylic, Soak stands behind the quality of the Rain Series steam shower.

The Healing Power of Phototherapy

Phototherapy, also known as light therapy uses ultraviolet lighting to treat emotional issues such as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and skin conditions such as psoriasis, acne and wrinkles. Over the years the technology that was used to deliver light therapy has evolved from polychromatic polarized light, lasers, fluorescent lamps and dichroic lamps to include light-emitting diodes or LED lighting.

Inspired by the numerous benefits that can be reaped by phototherapy, many of the steam showers that Soak Saskatoon carries including the Blue Series, Modern Series, Rain Series, Legend Series and Luxury Series utilize LED lighting to deliver those benefits to its customers. They can choose from red, ocean blue, light blue, green, purple, etc… and choose from various settings to shower with their preferred color of lighting.

According to Ayurveda, the 5,000 year old traditional medicine of India, every color has certain healing energies such as blue which increases calmness and aids in relaxation or red which encourages vitality, stamina and physical energy which can be used to control our moods.  Combining the healing properties of both of these established beliefs can not only start your day on the right foot but help you live the kind of life that you want. And with the relaxing properties of pulsating water in your steam shower, you can increase those benefits exponentially.

Vote for Soak Saskatoon – It’s the Canadian thing to do!

As Canadians go to the polls tomorrow, your friends at Soak have an election thought for you, vote for Soak Saskatoon as often as you can! Sure we might have an important decision to make tomorrow, but taking care of our bodies is just as important.

Soak Saskatoon, located at 714A Circle Drive East in Beautiful Saskatoon, Saskatchewan has been in business since 2012 providing Saskatoonians and Saskatchewanians with high quality and affordable bathroom solutions that improve their bathroom spaces while adding value to their homes. With a wide range of steam showers, steam baths, porcelain sinks, toilets and vanities has your bathroom needs covered. We guarantee that you’ll find the product that you’re looking for.  Speaking of guarantees, all of our products come with comprehensive warranties. Throw in our attentive customer service and attention to detail and you’ll see why our customers love their Soak experience and refer us to their friends.

Our customers mean the world to us and we’ll go to all means to please them. They know that they can count on us when it comes to providing delivery, installation and follow up service. Our customers are our business. When it comes down to it, why would you want to shop anywhere else?

Nothing like a Warm Bath on a Cool Day

Oh autumn, the leaves are falling, the days are getting shorter and the air is cooling off. Whether you begin your day with a yoga session to stretch your muscles or go online to catch up on the news, nothing will ease you into your day more than a warm soak in your steam bath. Aside from doing your part for the environment because a bath uses less water than a shower, there are many health benefits to taking a bath.

Taking a dip in hot water physical pressure on the body allowing you to feel more relaxed. Unfortunately, stress accumulates in our back and neck and unless we can get relief through a massage or soaking in warm water, the discomfort will spread to other areas. Another benefit uncovered from a recent study is that soaking in a hot bath can lower your blood pressure. If you have a heart condition or suffer from anxiety a warm bath might be the cure. However, it’s important to consult your physician since a warm bath will also raise your heart rate. While we’re on the subject of studies, another study was published showing that people who suffer from diabetes and soak in warm water regularly were able to reduce their levels of sugar and glucose in the blood. All it takes is 20-30 minutes a day for 6 days a week and you could lose almost 2.5 pounds or 2 kilos.

Aside from the obvious health benefits, taking a steam bath just feels good. It starts your day the right way, ready to take on the day’s challenges.

What Homebuyers Want in a New Home?

According to the Realtor Magazine website, there are some new trends that there are some new trends that homebuyers are on the lookout for in 2015. And if you’re selling or flipping a home, you should pay attention to them.

Leading off the top 5 are coral shades. This blast of a new color is the easiest change to make if you’re a seller and will get you the biggest bang for their buck. Sherwin-Williams Coral Reef (#6606) is the hottest color on the market. Opening up your spaces is the way to go if you’re looking to sell to the mainstream. Removing the walls brings everyone together. The trend towards convenience continues in the home design as buyers prefer an off the shelf plan over a custom design plan. Quartzite is becoming the alternative to granite for countertops and flooring materials because of its toughness.

Number 4 on the list is freestanding tubs. While freestanding tubs may make you think of the excessive Victorian-style opulence it’s making a comeback in a big way. Because it compliments other design trends like open wall niches and single wash basins, the freestanding tub is the perfect fit for your bathroom. At Soak Saskatoon, you can pick from one of three styles from the Royal Series, the oval shaped, pitted M602, the M603 with a hand rail and the deep M706. Come by our showroom and check them out.  

The Hot Tub over Time

Hot tubs have been around as long as man. Since 2000 B.C when the Egyptians used hot baths for therapeutic value, man has known about the healing power of hot tubs.  It’s been reported that in 600 B.C., the Persian king Phraortes built one of the first hot tubs. Other primitive versions of hot tubs were calderas which are the cauldron-like volcanic holes usually formed in the earth following a volcanic eruption. Even philosophers including Plato and Hippocrates believed in the therapeutic value of water. Those philosophers were definitely on to something!

Later on the Japanese and Roman cultures integrated hot tubs into their lifestyles. The ancient Romans used three types of baths: the home bath (balnea), the private bath (balnea privata), and the public bath (balnea publica). Even when the Roman army was occupying foreign lands, they built their own baths in mineral and thermal springs.

It was really int the 1940s that the hot tubs craze hit North America.  The Jacuzzi brothers introduced hydrotherapy pumps were introduced by Jacuzzi. Fiberglass shell hot tubs made their appearance in the 1970’s and eventually overtaken by cast acrylic shells. The 1980s saw the introduction of models that worked as hot tubs, whirlpool baths, or sometimes both. Waterfalls were incorporated into the design with the increased flexibility of being installed indoors or out. The designs that came later expanded on these features and the rest is history. 

Is it Time to Replace Your Spa Cover?

Don’t be alarmed if your hot tub cover is starting to fall apart or lose its shape, it’s just nature’s way of telling you to change your spa cover.

There are a few ways that your hot tub is telling you it’s time for a new cover. When the cover is retaining water and is waterlogged you need a new cover. It seems more serious than you think. There are health risks of continuing to use a waterlogged cover because the vapor barrier fails due to the chemicals used to keep the water healthy eventually break down this barrier. The foam cores inside the cover will absorb the moisture from the warm and humid air underneath creating a paradise germs and bacteria. The condition of the vinyl will crack and break. Another cause of spa cover deterioration is forgetting to treat the cover with the suggested cleaning products regularly. We’re all busy but if you do not treat the vinyl on your hot tub cover using the recommended products the sun air, rain and snow will beat it up letting water in.

So what can you do to prolong your hot tub cover’s life expectancy? While we suggest that you use only those products that have been recommended for your hot tub, leaving the hot tub cover off for about 20 minutes after using chemicals in your hot tub, will allow the vapors that can destroy the plastic vinyl cover to escape. This also prevents them from staying in the hot tub, where they shouldn’t be. Be nice to your spa cover, don’t put anything heavy on it. And be careful how you handle it. Dragging it around on the ground will cause premature wear and tear. 

Energy and Money Saving Tips for Your Hot Tub

If you want to save energy and money when it comes to your hot tub, here are a few tips:

By starting your spa or hot tub with its cover on, you won’t lose as much heat. Think of it, because heat rises just like the heat rising in our home, by insulating the attic or keeping the cover on our spa, we can prevent up to 85% of heat from escaping through the roof. Also replace your cover if it’s ripped and cracked from age. Water will accumulate in the cover decreasing its effectiveness, wasting energy and money.

Another effective way to save hot tub heating energy is by creating a windbreak around your spa. By cutting wind exposure with shrubs, privacy panels, or fencing, as well as spa enclosures you can significantly reduce heat loss.

You can also take advantage of using off-peak heating. Since many power utilities offer reduced rates during off-peak hours, when demand is lowest, you can benefit from using those time slots to heat your hot tub. If your hot tub has a timer circuit that allows you to program off-peak heating your hot tub can maintain its heat for several hours after the heater is turned off by correctly insulating your spa and getting a good cover.

With the price of everything these days, everybody wants to save a few dollars more. These are some helpful tips for reducing energy to heat up your spa but there are many others. Check back regularly for more useful tips. 

What to Do with Your Hot Tub When You’re Taking a Vacation

You might just be getting around to taking a summer vacation. And when it comes time to pack your bags and head out there are a few things that you might do to keep your hot tub safe. If you’re leaving for a vacation in the summer or your tub is located inside your house, shocking the water with a small amount of chlorine, closing and locking the cover before turning it will ensure that it will remain in good working condition when you get back home from your vacation.  It will also sterilize the water eliminating the spread of germs and bacteria. It’s important to test the pH levels and add the correct chemicals before you close the cover.

Closing the cover will keep the sunlight out of the water and make sure that algae don’t grow. It will also keep it cleaner by keeping leaves, dust and debris out of your pool. Keeping the hot tub’s water temperature low by turning off the power will reduce the likelihood of algae and bacteria growth while allowing the chlorine to last longer. As a bonus, you’ll also save some money on your electricity bill which will help pay for that vacation that you just took.

Once you get back from your vacation, just turn the power on and your hot tub will be clean and ready to use.