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Bruce Silva
Bruce Silva

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# Temperature and Steam Logging with Python and Arduino

You ever start a project just to “see if it works” and end up obsessed for a week straight? Yeah, that was me—trying to figure out how to track steam levels in a DIY sauna setup. Long story short: sensors, Python, Arduino… and a few too many cups of coffee.

So, what started as a random weekend idea turned into a legit little dashboard tracking temperature and steam over time. And let me tell you—it’s weirdly satisfying watching your data come to life in real time.

But first, let’s talk context.

Why I Even Tried This

Okay, so I was looking into wellness trends (don’t judge), and somehow I ended up reading about this thing called a

Yoni Steam Cleanse Chicago il. It’s this gentle herbal steam bath designed for self-care—and apparently it’s a big thing in holistic circles.

That got me thinking: what if you could log the steam and heat from one of these setups using something super basic like an Arduino? I mean, if you’re already into DIY and tinkering, why not track it?

Wait, So What Are We Actually Talking About?

Let’s break it down real quick. You don’t need to be an engineer, promise. These are the five key terms I kept running into:

  • DHT11 Sensor – For capturing temperature and humidity.
  • Arduino Uno – The brain of the operation.
  • Python – Where all the data goes to chill (or not chill, depending on your heat levels).
  • Serial Communication – Sounds fancy, but it’s just how Arduino talks to Python.
  • Matplotlib – For pretty little graphs that tell you what’s going on.

How to Build It (And Not Freak Out)

So here’s the super non-scientific way I did it:

  1. Hook up the sensor to the Arduino — seriously, it’s like four wires.
  2. Write a tiny Arduino sketch to send temp and humidity data via serial.
  3. Use Python to read the data — I used pyserial and logged values every 2 seconds.
  4. Visualize it with matplotlib — turns out graphs are the fun part, who knew? 
import serial
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import time

ser = serial.Serial('COM3', 9600)  # Adjust to your port
temps, hums = [], []
times = []

start = time.time()
while time.time() - start < 60:  # log for 60 seconds
    line = ser.readline().decode('utf-8').strip()
    try:
        temp, hum = map(float, line.split(','))
        temps.append(temp)
        hums.append(hum)
        times.append(time.time() - start)
    except ValueError:
        continue

plt.plot(times, temps, label='Temp (°C)')
plt.plot(times, hums, label='Humidity (%)')
plt.xlabel('Time (s)')
plt.legend()
plt.show()
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And the Steam Part?

Well, that’s where it got interesting. Once I had it running, I tried simulating steam conditions—like placing the sensor near a warm herbal setup (a mock version of a Yoni Steam Cleanse in Chicago session). The humidity spikes were actually super noticeable.

You’d think it wouldn’t work well in a humid environment, but hey, the data was solid. I even got a friend who recently tried a Chicago Yoni Steam Cleanse at an actual spa to compare notes—and our humidity curves? Not that different.

Wild, right?

So Why Bother?

You might be thinking: “Cool… but why would I do this?” Well:

  • 🧪 It’s low-cost and weirdly fun
  • 📊 Real-time feedback helps you see results instantly
  • 🧠 You learn Python without the boring tutorials
  • 🛠️ You build something that actually feels useful
  • 🌿 And hey, if you're into wellness, it gives you a more technical lens

Final Thoughts

Look, I’m not saying everyone needs to become a sensor nerd. But if you’re the kind of person who likes mixing wellness with tech—even just for fun—this is one of those mini-projects that actually feels rewarding.

Give it a try this week—you’ll see. All it takes is a little curiosity, some wires, and the willingness to mess up a few times.

Let me know if you build something. I’d love to swap weird steam stories.

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