Steam Stopper FAQ’s
Why should I buy a Steam Stopper vs a Showerdome?
Quite simply, it does the same job for less money.
Steam Stopper is sold direct to the public thereby avoiding the middle man margin.
Each Shape has pre-trimmed options to suit most of the standard showers in New Zealand making them very easy to install, no cutting of Steam Stopper is needed.
Product & Effectiveness
How does a Steam Stopper stop condensation?
A Steam Stopper Stops Steam by separating the ‘Hot Damp Air’ ( inside your shower ) from the ‘Cold Damp Air’ ( outside your shower ).
Steam is only produced when these air masses mix together causing moisture to condensate therefore forming steam.
Where does the Steam go?
The Steam Stopper actually STOPS Steam from being created so there is no steam to go anywhere.
Will my mirror get foggy?
No, if your Steam Stopper is correctly fitted there will be no foggy mirrors as there will be No Steam to condensate on your mirror.
Do we leave our bathroom window open?
No, we reccomend you close your bathroom windows while having a shower once the Steam Stopper is installed. An open window will allow cold damp air to enter your bathroom therefore increasing the possiblity of Steam.
Opening a window during the day AFTER having a shower to reduce any room Humidity is good thing to do as this will help clear any humidity during the day.
A Steam Stopper is designed to STOP STEAM as it stops the mixing of Cold Damp Air in your bathroom with the Hot Damp Air in your Shower.
Do I need a bathroom Fan?
You do NOT NEED to use your bathroom fan. All Councils recommend installing a bathroom fan. A fan is designed to move steam out of a bathroom, if you have no Steam you no longer ‘need’ a fan. but it is ‘recommended’ you have a fan but you do not have to use it.
Will my Shower feel Claustrophobic?
Your shower will not feel claustrophobic as the Steam Stopper is not stopping light and once you are in your shower you will not affect you.
What are the key differences between a Steam Stopper and a Showerdome®?
- The Steam Stopper has a Textured outside surface which refracts light & colour enabling the Steam Stopper to absorb colour from surrounding surfaces and virtually disappear. This texture means if you ever scratch the Steam Stopper the scratch is less visible.
- The Steam Stopper has a crystal cut ‘geodesic’ design which is pleasant to look at, modern in shape but also incredibly strong.
- The Steam Stopper installation process uses Aluminium U-channels which are screwed to the walls or shower lining which the Steam Stopper then fits into.
- These channels make the Steam Stopper incredibly easy to remove for cleaning and reinstalling.
- The Steam Stopper is factory cut to fit most standard size showers. This makes it incredibly easy to be a DIY install as no trimming is required. See our range of standard sizes here.
The Steam Stopper is supplied complete with required aluminium ‘U’ channels, stainless Steel screws, screw driver bit and installation and care instructions.
Read more on the Benefits in this link
Will a Steam Stopper help reduce mould and mildew in my bathroom?
Yes, by Stopping Steam we also stop condensation. The Steam Stopper will stop dampness from feeding any mould spores in your bathroom. A Steam Stopper will keep your bathroom dryer and warmer.
Can a Steam Stopper really help me save on my power bill?
The Steam Stopper keeps warm air inside your shower which would otherwise escape into the greater bathroom space.
This means that you can shower at a lower water temperature and save money by not wasting energy to just to keep warm.
What is the difference between a Steam Stopper and the Bath Dome?
Steam Stoppers are for virtually all showers whereas the Bath Dome (which we also manufacture ) is for Shower-over-bath installations. A bath door, which provides an all round frame, is needed for the Bath Dome to work.
Installation & Fit
Can I install a Steam Stopper myself, or do I need a professional?
The Steam Stopper is designed as a DIY installation. Steam Stoppers are factory precut to std shower sizes. Once the aluminium ‘U’ channels ( supplied ) are fitted, the Steam Stopper will just slide into place.
How do I know which Steam Stopper shape and size is right for my shower?
Measure from the shower wall to the outside of your shower door frames, or in the case of a 3 sided ( alcove ) shower, measure wall to wall and wall to outside of the door frame.
Can I trim my Steam Stopper myself ?
Yes, The Steam Stopper can be further trimmed if required by reference to our trimming instructions found here.
What tools do I need for a DIY installation?
To Install all you need are
- A drill (to drill holes in the U-channels)
- A hacksaw (to cut the U-channel to size)
- Stainless steel screws and a driver bit which are supplied with all Steam Stoppers.
- Installation instructions found here.
- You do not need to trimmed any of our std Steam Stoppers as they are already cut to fit most of the std showers in NZ.
Will the Steam Stopper fit a frameless shower?
Yes, Steam Stoppers will fit frameless showers. Steam Stoppers come in standard sizes which don’t need to be trimmed. The Max sizes available can be trimmed to fit virtually any shower shape and size including 1400, 1600 and 1800 long showers up to 1m wide.
Frameless showers have a few special challenges that need solving, but nothing is impossible. The key consideration is that all sides of the Steam Stopper need to be supported.
Some Frameless showers with support rails or glass supports installed may require extra onsite trimming to get the Steam Stopper to sit correctly on top of the glass walls.
If you have any questions go to our contact page and tell us your concern and send us some photos of your shower, we’ll reply with some help
Can a Steam Stopper be fitted to a walk-in Shower?
A Steam Stopper cannot work on a walk-in shower where no doors are present.
Maintenance & Cleaning
How do I clean the Steam Stopper?
With just a sponge and water !
The Steam Stopper is designed to just sit on top of your existing shower enclosure.
It is designed to be easily lifted off and removed for cleaning, with just a sponge and water, using a mild detergent if needed.
I wash my Steam Stopper outside with a car brush, and just dry off with a towel before returning it to the top of my shower. Easy!
Watch the cleaning video here
What is the warranty on a Steam Stopper?
Steam Stopper comes with a 5 year warranty against faulty workmanship or defects, but in reality, the Steam Stopper is made from a sanitary grade acrylic material which is UV protected so will not fade or deteriorate over time. If the Steam Stopper is treated with care and cleaned every so often, it will last a lifetime. There is nothing to break and nothing to deteriorate.
Where can I find an installer in my area?
We have installation partners throughout New Zealand. Just enter your details here, and we’ll put them in touch with you.
Why is my mirror still fogging up after installing a Steam Stopper?
The Steam Stopper will dramatically reduce the amount of condensation in your bathroom but other factors may mean that the Steam Stopper is not 100% effective.
If you live in a cold environment, or one which is not well insulated, the outside temperature is a determining factor, with any great temperature variation between the inside showering temperature and the outside bathroom temperature creating opportunity for condensation.