Choosing a Shower

Choosing a Shower

Showering has come a long way since the days of attaching a rubber hose to the bath tap. Today Bathroom Showers are now an essential part of every modern home and are more economical to run when compared with having a bath.

When it comes to choosing a shower there are so many choices available, from power showers, electric showers, shower control and kits, shower accessories, shower body jet and the ultimate wet room, even the smallest of spaces can accommodate an area for showering.

Before choosing a shower, it is important that you understand the way the hot water is already heated in your house and you should check that your water pressure is compatible with your choice of shower.

Where hot and cold water are both supplied from storage tanks at equal pressure, a mixer shower is the most economical option. Specially designed systems are required when hot water is to be supplied from the mains via a multipoint heater or combination boiler.

Most modern showers are designed to be flexible to different water pressures (such as stored hot water and cold mains), however, for optimal performance, many showers require a minimum flow pressure of 1.0 bar.

Power shower

A power shower is an all-in-one shower incorporating a powerful electric pump that boosts the rate that hot and cold water are supplied to the shower head from the storage cistern and the hot water cylinder. A power shower is unsuitable where water is supplied direct from the mains supply using a combination boiler. The water supply must always be above the unit to ensure that the pump is always primed and does not have to suck any air.

Electric shower

Aqualisa Quartz Electric -8.5kw with Adjustable Height Head

An instantaneous electric shower in most cases is connected to the mains cold water and an element within the shower heats the water as it passes through. The wall unit electric shower controls allow either less water at a higher temperature or more at a lower temperature, so the spray is weaker in winter when mains water is colder. Some models have a winter/summer setting. The unit must be wired to an electric power supply and meet Wiring Regulations requirements. Where mains water pressure is too low, a tank-fed pumped electric shower is available.

At Ocean Bathrooms you can buy the Aqualisa Quartz Electric 8.5kW with Adjustable Height Head an ideal choice if you want to conserve energy usage and need to save stored hot water. The Quartz Electric priced at £195.68, heats water for showering on demand – providing hot water for as long as it’s required.

Mixer showers

Mixer showers are wall units and they will mix the existing hot and cold water, in a special valve, before it is available at the shower head. You can buy thermostatic mixers with a temperature limiting device to stop very high temperatures being selected by the user – ideal if you have young children.

You can now buy computerised models with a control panel to programme temperature and flow rates and store the data for each user. Mixer showers can be linked to a pump to give a power shower performance, however, they are not suitable if you have a combination boiler supply of water under mains pressure.

Hansgrohe Ecostat S Thermostatic Mixer

A potential drawback to installing a mixer shower is that it will usually be connected to pipes which also supply water to other facilities (taps, toilet cistern etc) and when these are in use the flow rate to the shower will be affected.

The Hansgrohe Ecostat S Thermostatic Mixer is ideal for concealed installation with an in built shut-off valve allowing the maximum temperature setting to be adjusted on installation.

Price: £380.70 inc. V.A.T.

Shower Tower

A Shower Tower is also a wall unit and it incorporates a thermostatic mixer shower with a number of adjustable body jets. Shower Body Jet Systems also have a fixed shower head and a hand-held spray, and can be bought to fit into a corner, on a flat wall, over a bath or designed for wet rooms.

Most require a minimum ceiling height of 2.2m and a pump is usually needed to boost water pressure.

Shower Fittings & Accessories

Once you have chosen the ideal shower type, the next consideration is your choice of shower fittings including the style and design of the shower head, and shower controls. These shower accessories give the finishing and defining touches to your shower and bathroom suite.

Extra-large showering areas combining both a hand shower and head shower are now the preferred choice of the style conscious consumer. They are both stylish to look at and convenient to use. The choice of two showerheads provides a flexible showering facility.

Regulations

It is important to note that if you are going to install a shower there are specific regulations that you should adhere to:-

• The electrical connections to an electric shower are covered by many regulations and should only be installed by a competent and qualified electrician.
• An electric shower must be installed on its own circuit and not spurred from any other connections or appliance.
• Drainage for the shower water can be provided by an existing bath or shower tray waste, but must be via a 40mm diameter waste pipe and discharge into a foul water drain.

Ocean Bathrooms is always pleased to offer professional advice when choosing a shower. We also supply and install an excellent range of shower doors and cubicles, shower controls and kits, shower body jets, shower supports and wet room accessories.

We have a fully working showroom if you need inspiration or alternatively do visit the comprehensive Shower section on our website.