Here's a question that maybe popped up in you mind: what else could I use the steam generator for ... I mean besides just simply making steam? Could it be connected maybe to small turbines that would be caused to spin and thus generate enough electricity to power a house?

Well, the question is not so much 'could you' but rather 'should you'. You probably could from a technical and engineering point of view but it most likely wouldn't be feasible logistically.

Here's why.

We're talking houses here - residential area. The kind of steam pressure that would be needed would easily mark this as a 'commercial' installation.

Small turbines spinning at very high speeds are not exactly the usual house DYI project. Should a blade come loose it would fly off for great distances if not properly enclosed in industrial-strength enclosures. Good luck trying to explain to your local city inspector the installation you have set up ... and try to imagine the look on your insurance agent's face when you tell them what you got going.

The turbines you'd probably end up using will most likely put out 480V AC current or something along those lines - you'd need transformers then to get current usable for typical house needs.

Would such a setup be energy efficient? Most likely not ... if you have an engineering degree you could probably run the numbers and see how it would work out but just thinking about it for a little while could tell you that it's most likely not feasible. We most likely won't be seeing any steam-powered houses anytime soon.

Meanwhile, if you want steam generators for that sauna project you meant to tackle ... that's a different story.

Consider checking out the Coasts steam generators or the Steamist steam generators.

So, you've done your research, you talked to your friends or your doctor maybe and now you've decided that you'd like to get a sauna for your house.

Do you go with a big sauna that requires its own dedicated space or do you invest in a portable infrared sauna? Just how portable is a portable infrared sauna?

Let's look at your options.

First, we have a portable infrared sauna like the one on the left - truly portable ... you can open it whenever you need it, wherever you need it and then you can store it again when you're done. The advantages of this are pretty obvious: if you're tight on space, then this infrared sauna will not get in your way. You'll be able to take advantage of the sauna benefits and you won't have to sacrifice expensive real estate to do it.

The other so called portable infrared sauna is portable in the sense that your bed or your mattress is portable: you can move it to a new location when you move your residence (it's not permanently attached to your house) but you won't be able to pick it up and take it away for the weekend somewhere.  I know ... the term can be a bit misleading but technically it still fits under the 'portable' category. It's important to be aware of the difference when you research saunas online and see this big wooden structure described as 'portable'.

Which one should you get? There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to each.

The truly portable infrared sauna as explained above in the first case will allow you to get the benefit of sauna usage without having to dedicate a lot of room to it. The second kind of 'portable' infrared sauna will give you a more realistic sauna experience ... that is, if you have the space to put it somewhere.

Either way ... be informed, know you options and go get your infrared sauna.

So...you finally got that expensive sauna you've always wanted (or maybe your going to a health club/gym that offers saunas for use) and you're wondering - 'What's the big deal with these sauna suits that people are wearing?' Do they really compare to a real sauna session? Are they a cheaper alternative to an expensive sauna?

The sauna suits that are sold today are more rugged than ever, able to withstand use and abuse. Those who wear them claim that the sauna suits help them make the most of their exercise experience. What do you need to know when you look for one and what are the benefits of having a sauna suit to begin with?

First...the benefits. Sauna suits help you lose weight faster (after all, that's one reason why many people use sauna suits to begin with).  The main way in which sauna suits accomplish this is by increasing your level of sweating during your exercise routine. They help you sweat faster the toxins and free radicals in your body which has as a benefit the overall improvement of your immune system...so that's a good thing.

The problem is that sauna suits can actually be quite good in accomplishing this, increasing your rate of sweating to levels that sometimes can be dangerous, easily leading to dehydration. Actually, that's one of the main things to watch out for when using a sauna suit - you'll want to make sure you're drinking enough water to make up for the water lost during the exercise routine.

In addition to dehydration, remember that sauna suits increase your sweat level by the fact that they keep your body in an enclosed system. During a typical exercise routine (without a sauna suit) your body will sweat but at the same time it will cool off since the sweat is allowed to evaporate. That does not happen when using a sauna suit and this can increase your body temperature to levels that can lead off to heat stroke.

So ... sauna suits can certainly help in your weight loss goal but keep this in mind - most of the weight lost during an exercise routine with a sauna suit is actually water weight - and that will easily come back on unless you actually follow up the exercise routine with a proper diet.

In conclusion: sauna suits are a great tool in helping you accomplish your weight loss goal and you should probably invest in one but keep in mind that everything needs to be done in moderation. With a sauna suit on, your body will sweat and heat at levels that are highly accelerated and you must be careful to keep properly hydrated and give the body a chance to cool off - don't go over board when using a sauna suit during your exercise routine.