There’s nothing better than a warm, refreshing shower in the morning, and with a variety of shower styles to choose from how do you decide what is the best type of shower system to suit your home?
Mixer showers
A mixer shower takes water from both the hot and cold water feeds and has a higher flow rate than an electric shower does. A mixer shower is great for a home that has plenty of hot water available and is suitable for a range of hot water systems. If your hot water system doesn’t provide a strong flow of water and you want to install a mixer shower then it is recommended that you install a pump. Make sure you choose a mixer shower with a thermostatically controlled valve to prevent sudden bursts of really hot water and to reduce the risk of scalding.
Electric showers
An electric shower is the only type of shower system that doesn’t work off a hot water system and as it doesn’t used stored hot water it’s ideal for using in an en-suite, plus if your boiler happens to break down you can still have a hot shower. An electric shower works by heating water from the cold water feed and there are a range of different power options available, the higher the kilo wattage of the electric shower the more powerful the flow of water.
Power showers
If you would prefer a more invigorating flow of water opt for a power shower, these work in the same kind of way to mixer showers by using both the hot and cold water feeds, but they feature a pump for a more powerful shower. Power showers can only be used with gravity-fed low pressure systems and are not for use with combi boilers and high pressure systems.
What’s the best way to clean my shower?
If you live in an area with hard water you will need to regularly clean your shower-head to prevent the build-up of limescale and to ensure the water flows properly. To keep your shower looking in top condition it is recommended that you clean it with warm soapy water and then dried and polished with a soft cloth afterwards.
Shower-heads
Shower-heads are available in a wide choice of styles ranging from large fixed shower heads which are perfect for a refreshing shower to shower-heads on a flexible hose that feature a variety of spray patterns so you can have a more invigorating soak.
Shower enclosure or shower over the bath?
If you are a family with young children including a shower over the bath is a more suitable option, make sure you choose a bath screen rather than a shower curtain to provide a much cleaner look to your bathroom. A shower enclosure features a spacious showering area and there are many styles and sizes available to suit even the most compact of bathrooms. If you need more inspiration read our advice on how to make a small bathroom feel more spacious.