Tech Notes
Which Shower Should I Choose?
By Steven Jones
Wed, 4 Apr 2007, 07:05 PST

Having a shower installed, either above the bath or in a separate shower stall, is a great way to enhance your bathroom's function and increase its appeal. In these modern days of busy lifestyles and deadlines, we're often pushed for time, so having the option of taking a quick shower, rather than waiting for the tub to fill, can save you precious time on a daily basis. Showers are not only more convenient than baths, they are generally considered better for the environment as on average they use considerably less water than it takes to fill a bath tub.

If you're thinking of adding a shower to your bathroom, there are various types to choose from, and variables such as your plumbing and hot water systems as well as your budget will influence which shower is best for your requirements.

For instance, thermostatically controlled mixer showers are particularly popular with families, as the temperature and pressure of the water is automatically controlled. This eliminates the risk of the shower running at extremes of temperature and prevents scalding from hot water or shock from very cold water. Another benefit of a thermostatic shower is that there are no electrical components to install. However, the cost of the thermostatic control valves that are required to operate these showers does make this a more expensive choice.

If your water tank isn't sufficiently high enough to give enough water pressure for a shower, you have the option of installing either a power shower or a mixer shower with a booster pump. Mixer showers can be either manually or thermostatically controlled, although manual ones are cheaper. Booster pumps can be integrated into the shower unit or installed separately, in a convenient location such as a nearby airing cupboard or under the bath.

If you're looking for a shower with the most economical running costs, you might want to consider an electric shower, which heats water from the cold water supply within the shower unit, as it's needed. This means you don't need to use hot water from your storage tank, and you won't run out of hot water. However, the flow rate of electric showers tends to be poorer than that of mixer showers. The initial installation cost will be higher as well, as there is plumbing and electrical work involved.

Fitting a bath/shower mixer tap and putting up a shower rail above the bath is a comparatively easy way to put in a shower without the need to have any extra plumbing or electrical work done, thus saving you money on professional fees. Providing you have sufficient water pressure, this type of shower should work fine.

With any type of manual mixer shower, bear in mind that it won't compensate for any variation in temperature or pressure. So, if someone flushes the toilet or runs the cold tap in the kitchen, this will take cold water away from the shower, leading to a sudden increase in temperature. An alternative is a pressure balanced mixer shower, which is able to compensate for fluctuations in pressure, thus helping keep the temperature more stable.

If you're in any doubt as to which sort of shower would be best for your bathroom, it's worth seeking advice from a qualified plumber. But, once your shower's installed, it should be a great asset to your bathroom and you may well wonder how you lived without it!