Last Updated on May 12, 2023 by Pro Handyman Editorial Team
Choosing the Perfect Shower: An Exhaustive Guide to Shower Types and Technology
Selecting the proper shower for your bathroom is essential to creating the perfect bathing experience. This comprehensive guide aims to provide a detailed understanding of the diverse shower types, technologies, and key considerations in making your choice.
Critical Elements in Choosing a Shower
Choosing a shower isn’t just about aesthetics. The technical aspects of the shower, including water pressure and pipework placement, are equally important. For example, knowing your boiler type and water pressure can help you decide on the kind of shower that will best suit your needs.
Different Types of Showers
There are primarily three types of showers:
- Electric Showers
- Mixer Showers
- Digital Showers
Each of these showers comes with unique features, and the best one for you will depend on your preferences, boiler type, budget, and water pressure.
Thermostatic Mixer Showers
Thermostatic mixer showers are widespread due to their two-part system: the valve and the shower head. The valve adjusts temperature and flow by mixing hot and cold water. They come in various styles, choosing an exposed or concealed mixer, depending on your preference and the overall bathroom aesthetics. However, they require good water pressure to function optimally.
Electric Showers
Electric showers are wall-mounted units that heat cold mains water on demand, making them an energy-efficient choice. Although the design options are somewhat limited, they are ideal for extra bathrooms and busy households, as they maintain pressure when other water outlets are in use.
Digital Showers
For a modern showering experience, digital showers are the way to go. They allow you to pre-set the temperature and water flow and switch between different spray types. These showers come with a diverter, like a valve, and a shower head. The diverter can be positioned anywhere, ensuring a neat finish. In addition, the wireless control feature lets you set the water temperature before stepping into the shower.
Choosing the Right Shower
Understanding your property’s water heating system is crucial when choosing a shower. Combi boilers heat water on demand and usually provide good mains pressure for a power shower. However, older properties may have low-pressure gravity-fed systems, necessitating a pump for a better showering experience.
Understanding Exposed Shower Systems
With their aesthetic appeal, exposed showers are a viable option if your wall doesn’t allow channeling. They can be retrofitted easily, causing less disturbance to existing tiles. In addition, the hot and cold water feeds are the only parts that go into the wall, requiring minimal depth.
Shower Head Choices: Fixed vs. Flexible
When selecting a shower head, a handheld shower alongside a fixed shower head provides flexibility, especially if users have a significant height difference. It’s also a convenient option for rinsing the shower screen or tray.
Water Conservation in the Shower
You can conserve water without sacrificing your shower experience. Models with ‘lower flow’ technology provide the same pressure sensation while using less water. Aerated shower heads also use less water by mixing air with water to produce a steady spray.
Guide to Purchasing the Ideal Shower:
A soothing shower, either warm or cool, can be a boon to your physical and mental well-being. Quite frequently, a shower set is an unsung companion to a bathtub, constituting the nucleus of your bathroom. With the appropriate shower valve, you can guarantee an enjoyable showering encounter, eliminating the risk of an unexpected scalding or freezing trickle.
Assessing Shower Size
Your initial step when selecting a shower is to consider the size and blueprint of your bathroom. The primary choice you’ll make is the placement of the shower. Even a minor modification in your existing plumbing could be costly and time-intensive. It would help if you were exact with all measurements to incorporate a shower bath, enclosure, or shower tray. Selecting the ideal shower can be daunting, given the countless options available. Scrutinize the other factors outlined here before you finalize which battery would best suit your bathroom.
Considering Bathroom Layout
- Dimensions: Ensure to measure the available space for the shower unit meticulously. Showers come in various forms and sizes, and you must ascertain if the measurements align with the type of shower you plan to buy.
- Style: The bathroom is potentially the most frequented room in your house, especially during morning peak hours. Make sure the shower integrates effortlessly into your bathroom’s functionality. Given the limitless array of styles and finishes available, finding a shower that meets your preference will be a breeze.
Understanding Water Pressure
The nature of the water pressure in your dwelling can assist you in deciding the kind of shower you should purchase. For instance, a combi boiler in your home would suggest high water pressure and a mixer shower would be ideal. If low water pressure is a concern, an Electric Shower is the perfect choice for a low-pressure system. The essential advantage of this shower is the immediate and consistent availability of hot water. Since the water heats only when required, this system is energy-efficient, and you’ll never have to wait for the water to warm up. An electric shower offers hot water for a prolonged period, regardless of the number of users. In addition, this shower is adaptable, as it can provide a cold-water feed.
Selecting the Right Valve Type
Your options include a Pressure Balance Valve and a Thermostatic Shower Valve. A pressure-balance valve comprises a single handle controlling the water’s volume and temperature. On the other hand, a thermostatic valve has two handles, one containing the water amount and the other managing the temperature. This valve allows you to alter the flow volume while maintaining a constant temperature. If you seek no fluctuation in water temperature (particularly important if children and elderly individuals use the bathroom), a thermostatic shower valve is a superior choice.
Determining Power
If you’re purchasing an electric shower to counterbalance the low water pressure in your house, contemplate how potent you wish your shower appliance to be. Note that a shower capable of maintaining a robust flow of hot water for longer will necessitate a motor with a higher power rating. In this case, a power shower would be a superior option. A power shower incorporates an integrated pump that significantly enhances the water flow rate, mainly if your bathroom shower utilizes a gravity-fed water supply system. This shower type is the right option if you face a persistent low water pressure issue. Also, this shower is an ideal choice if mixing cold and hot water is essential to achieving the perfect temperature.
Establishing Price
Determine your budget for your Shower Set . Carefully considering all the above factors will enhance your understanding of the valuable features you require for your bathroom. The shower cost can range from £28 to £556, with hundreds of options within this bracket. However, if you are willing to invest a more significant amount initially, you could undoubtedly procure a premium product that will stand the test of time.
Future-Proofing and Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities
Select the proper shower enclosure for your bathroom to future-proof your shower unit. The four primary types of showers are walk-in, cubicle, open, and closed.
- Walk-in Showers: These are practical, stylish, and open-fronted. As this shower is level with the floor, it is simple to customize to your preferred style.
- Cubicle Showers: Available in square, rectangular, or quadrant shapes, cubicle showers come complete with wall panels, doors, and trays, ready for installation. This shower unit is watertight, so protecting the surrounding masonry against stray water splashes is unnecessary.
- Open Showers: These do not have a door. The waterproof shower panels are simple to install and clean. This shower fits neatly into any bathroom layout; you can position the open side wherever you prefer.
- Closed Showers: These require three walls, either glass shower panels or bathroom walls. The shower door prevents water from splashing out.
Conclusion
The finish of your shower can add to the overall aesthetics of your bathroom. From the warm appeal of brass and bronze to the relaxed elegance of chrome, numerous options exist. Remember to consider the finishes on your Shower Set to ensure a cohesive look.