NOWADAYS MANY PEOPLE PREFER A SHOWER TO A BATH, AND IF THE TWO CAN BE SEPARATE SO MUCH THE BETTER. HERE’S OUR GUIDE TO BASIC CHOICES, PLUS INSPIRATION FOR DELUGE AND DOWNPOURS, PULSATING JETS, CHANGING LIGHTS, AND EVEN SWEET SCENTS AD MUSIC...

Which Shower: Mixer Or Electric?

MIXER SHOWERS

Mixers have a simple valve that blends hot and cold water and regulates flow. A mixer with a thermostatic valve will maintain a constant temperature.

WHY CHOOSE A MIXER SHOWER:

• You get a powerful flow rate.
• There is a good choice of styles.
• You can have fancy extras, such as body jets.
• Mixers suit all water systems.
• They use an existing hot water system and so are often more economical than an electric shower.
• There is no need for an independent electrical supply.
• They are more reliable and have longer guarantees.

WHY AVOID A MIXER SHOWER:

• A mixer shower can potentially run out of hot water if demand is heavy.
• Mixers are more expensive to buy, though often cheaper to install.

ELECTRIC SHOWERS

Electric showers heat water drawn from a cold mains water supply – but only what’s needed. This suits homes that have no (or a difficult-to-access) hot water supply or limited storage for hot water. A more expensive fitting with a high kilowatt rating will provide a more powerful shower.

WHY CHOOSE AN ELECTRIC SHOWER:

• It heats the water continuously.
• It is relatively inexpensive to buy.

WHY AVOID AN ELECTRIC SHOWER:

• Flow rate is much lower than a mixer shower, especially in winter.
• Units are bulky and can be ugly – there are fewer design choices.
• It needs to be fitted by a registered electrician, and must have its own electricity supply, direct from the fuse box on its own dedicated circuit.

Water Pressure

Your home’s water pressure is crucial to your choice of shower and its performance. It’s highly technical stuff, so involve an expert from the beginning. Get a good plumber to do an initial recce.

LOW WATER PRESSURE

Homes with low-pressure water systems have:

• A cold water storage tank.
• A lagged hot water storage tank.
• A high-pressure cold tap.

DO

• Choose a mixer shower valve designed to give a high flow.
• Choose a mixer shower valve designed for a UK water system.
• Have thermostatic controls.
• Fit a pump

DON’T

• Choose too large a showerhead.
• Buy a cheap imported shower.

HIGH WATER PRESSURE

Homes with high water pressure systems have:

• No cold water storage tank.
• High water flow and pressure from all taps, hot and cold.

DO

• Choose a mixer shower designed for a high-pressure water system.
• Fit a pressure-reducing valve if necessary.
• Have thermostatic controls to control water temperature.

DON’T

• Fit a pump – it is illegal in the UK.

COMBI GAS BOILERS

Water pressure has been boosted in many smaller homes by a modern combination boiler (a ‘combi’).

These homes have:

• High-pressure water from mains.
• Hot water heated by the boiler.
• Little or no stored water within the system.

DO

• Make sure your combi can cope with your choice of fittings.
• Fit a thermostatic valve to control temperature.

DON’T

• Fit a pump – it is illegal in the UK.

The Spa Shower

Showers are becoming increasingly sophisticated: body jets can be fitted for a ‘directional massage’. Or you can have a wall-fixed ‘panel’ with mixer, body jets and shower head all in one unit. Overhead shower roses can deliver effects that include ‘champagne flow’ (a mix of air and water). Cubicles can have steam units which can diffuse essential oils for aromatherapy. This can be enhanced with sounds, or music, and a new treatment called ‘chromatherapy’ is based around a sequence of coloured lights.

Shower Cubicles

A conventional cubicle fits against two tiled bathroom walls. The swing of the door can affect the way you use the rest of the bathroom. It must not conflict with other doors, fittings, furniture etc.

• A standard pivot door can be hinged on the left or right.
• Saloon doors can open outwards or inwards. They reduce the opening area but are fiddly to use.
• Bi-fold doors fold in the middle then glide to one side. They are a good space-saver. But they can be awkward, and reduce internal space.
• Sliding doors are useful for very small spaces. New techniques for shaping and joining glass, and attaching fixings, have produced the ‘frameless’ shower enclosure, with expanses of safety glass (clear or coloured). Look for glass with an easy-clean finish to cut down on hard-water streaks.
• ‘Walk-in’ showers take up less space, but they are easy to use and good looking. Typically, they have a large tray, and a fixed screen.

Eco Note

A shower uses about a third less water than a bath so it uses less energy to heat water. However, a power shower can use more water than a bath within five minutes.

Useful Trade Associations

The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA, formerly the KSA) (01905 726 066; kbsa.co.uk)
The Independent Bathroom Specialists Association (IBSA) (0870 240 8028; ibsa.uk.com)
Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE) (01708 472 791; iphe.org.uk)
The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC), covers England and Wales; (02476 470 626; aphc.co.uk)
Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) (020 7313 4800; eca.co.uk)
National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) (020 7564 2323; niceic.org.uk)

Pointers

• Get professional advice at the outset.
• Shower installations must conform to local water authority regulations.
• To get minimum pressure for a just-adequate shower, the base of the water tank must be at least 1m higher than the shower rose.
• Add a ‘remote’ pump to a mixer valve to get a ‘power shower’.
• In hard-water areas, a water softener could remove scale from pipes, hot water cylinders and showerheads. For details, call 01494 484 000; or visit ecowater.co.uk.
• Alternatively, look for a shower designed to cope with limescale.
• All-in-one, or integral power showers combine a mixer valve and a pump in one convenient unit.
• A curtain won’t stand up to a power shower – get a screen or cubicle
• No room for a separate shower? Fit one over your bath.
• Before adding a mixer shower to your bath check whether the bath has one tap hole or two.
• Provide easy-access storage for gels, sponges, and body brushes.
• Combine an overhead shower with a separate handset for rinsing.

Shower Essteam by Jacuzzi

Jacuzzi will never let you down on high-tech bathroom products. The overhead Shower Essteam unit provides showering, hydro massage and steam options, all from the click of a button. Buy with the shower enclosure for the full experience, defiantly a feature piece for your bathroom.

Overhead detail £8450

www.jacuzzi.co.uk

Bristan 1500 Power Shower from Tap store

There is no point in spending a lot on a shower if the water just trickles out! Tap Store has a wide range of showers to suit your budget, including this power shower by Bristan.

£194.00

www.tapstore.com

The Free Standing Sculpture from Roman

The Roman walk in Free Standing shower has 10mm thick toughened glass and a drying area. A safety shut off valve protects the user in the event of cold water failure.

A very contemporary product for a modern house and simple enough to fit in with various interior styles.

Dimensions: 170 x 70cm

Prices from: £2800

www.roman-showers.com

Avensys Traditional by Grohe

“Featuring a ceramic-look lever for flow control and a capstan handle to manage temperature, the Avensys Traditional combines period charm with Ghohe StarLight® technology. Both the concealed and exposed models are suitable for high and low pressure situations, and are enhanced by a traditional-style overhead shower.”

£730.43 from Ripples

www.ripples.ltd.uk

www.grohe.co.uk

Rio Shower from Crosswater

“The ultra thin Rio shower head from Crosswater provides a spectrum of stunning colour effects that provides an invigorating shower in the morning or a soothing shower by night, depending on the settings selected.” Crosswater

£2499

www.crosswater.co.uk