Montrose, Colorado sees more than its fair share of adventurers. Lying between the famous ski resorts of Telluride and Crested Butte, the town has become a base camp for the thousands who descend upon the mountains each winter to test their mettle on the steep slopes.
Many of these visitors rent or own homes in the area that serve as temporary or seasonal winter residences. When designing and outfitting these homes, one local wholesaler has served as a reliable source since the early 1940s—Dahl Montrose. Now part of Hajoca Corporation, Dahl is one of the premier plumbing and heating suppliers in western Colorado, and also assists customers with steam shower design and installation services.
Jill Vincent, Dahl showroom manager, says that many seasonal visitors, as well as permanent retirees, come to her showroom in search of renovation ideas, some wishing to scale down on the outdated but commonplace use of whirlpool tubs.
“Many people find they rarely use the bulky jetted tubs that were so popular in the 1980s and 1990s and instead choose a nicely appointed shower,” explains Vincent, who attributes this trend to changing times. “An aging population does not want a large tub that they may struggle to enter and exit. Furthermore, modern society’s emphasis on speed and efficiency means soaking for hours in a tub is less popular than in past decades.”
While homeowners don’t mind ditching the jetted tubs, Vincent notes they very much want to retain the spa-like experience in their updated shower space and often incorporate steam to capture this resort-like feel.
According to Vincent, the market for steam technology has expanded in recent years. “As consumers become more conservative with their use of bathroom space, steam allows for a five-star feeling right in their home shower.”
Steam is an especially relevant and enjoyable experience in the Centennial State, where humidity levels are low and people are extremely active in the cold weather.
“Steam really has three major benefits for the people out here in Colorado,” explains Vincent. “It moisturizes and soothes dry airways, helps relieve the symptoms of allergies and provides a warm, relaxing environment for those returning from the cold mountains with sore, aching bodies.”
Steam benefits are by no means confined to winter, however, as those active in outdoor sports during the warmer months, such as hiking and rafting, can also enjoy a relaxing steam shower after a day of activity. In fact, steam can actually make any exercise more productive with its healing properties.
Many of Vincent’s customers already have an appreciation for the health and wellness benefits of steam. The exception, she notes, are the out-of-state visitors, who hail from warmer, more humid places, and who are unfamiliar with SteamTherapy.
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To attract customers’ attention, Dahl’s showroom plays relaxing music straight from a MrSteam working display featuring iSteam, the revolutionary touch screen steam bath controller. The showroom’s unit features a Bluetooth Audio Streaming System that blends sound with the steam bath experience. “When they ask where that soothing music is coming from, it’s a perfect opportunity for us to introduce steam technology and its accessories,” explains Vincent.
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Although Vincent recommends steam technology to all customers, she admits that most are on the higher end of the economic scale and tend to use a professional designer for their remodeling projects.
Vincent observes that most people fall in love with the steam shower experience, with some even choosing to install one of several accessories that, when utilized together, provide a spa experience for nearly all of the senses. “On the whole, our customers do not purchase steam solely because it adds monetary value to a home, which it does,” points out Vincent. “People buy steam to use it and enjoy all of its inherent benefits.”
Dahl Montrose has been selling MrSteam products for over 20 years and has nothing but praise for the brand. “They are constantly innovating and do a fantastic job educating our consultants about all of the benefits of steam,” says Vincent.
As long as western Colorado remains a hotspot for the adventurous, it will continue to be an ideal location for steam technology. After all, few experiences can beat putting your cold, tired body into a soothing steam shower to help gear up for another outdoor adventure.
If you're based in western Colorado, we hope you'll visit this steam shower showroom.