To get a the most powerful shower available to you the following questions should be answered;
- What plumbing system do you have?
- Do you want a walk-in or over the bath shower?
- What is your water pressure?
There are 3 mains systems and each one works differently and will therefore give you different shower options.
Gravity Systems
These have a hot and a cold feed; the cold water is stored in a tank in the loft and the hot water tank in the airing cupboard. The hot water is either heated by a boiler or an immersion.
The distance between the bottom of the cold tank to the shower head dictates the pressure you will get. The greater the distance the greater the pressure.
Mains Pressure System
As the name suggests the pressure to the hot and cold supplies is dictated by the pressure in the mains water supply. The hot water can be heated directly by a combi boiler or in a cylinder.
A pressurised system with an unvented cylinder provides a powerful shower.
Combi Boiler
With a combi boiler there is no need for tanks or cylinders as pressurised water is heated on demand. To have a powerful enough shower you need to make sure that the boiler can deliver 12 to 15 litres of water per minute.
Once you have determined which plumbing system you have you can move onto phase two and see what options of shower are available to your type of system. You always have the option of changing your system if you feel that it is necessary but that will be a much larger job than just changing your shower.
Electric Showers
These types of shower draw the water from a cold-water supply and heat it on demand so you will always be able to have an instant hot shower. As the water is being heated as you need it there is no wastage and therefore the electric shower is very energy efficient. There are different kilowatt ratings for electric showers and the higher the kilowattage the better the flow of water will be.
Mixer Showers
Mixer showers are ideal for homes with a combi-boiler or a large capacity hot-water cylinder. It is possible to install a mixer shower to a gravity-fed hot water system with low pressure, but a pump would be required. Mixer Showers draw water from hot and cold supplies, mix them within the unit and then deliver it through the showerhead.
Thermostatic Showers
Thermostatic electric showers and mixer showers are the perfect solution if you have children or elderly people will be using the shower; once the ideal temperature has been set there are no fluctuations even if another tap is turned on in the house.
Eco Shower Options
With the growing concerns for the environment an Eco shower can offer up to a 50% reduction in water usage compared to a normal mixer shower. They limit the water flow to an efficient level no matter what your pressure system but also maintain your ideal temperature.
Digital Showers
There are many advantages to having a digital shower; they come in either mixer or electric, there is no unsightly plumbing viable as the water comes through the ceiling or wall to the shower head and they are easy to install.
The digital shower is becoming increasingly popular because of the state-of-the-art technology and modern, sleek designs.
The shower is controlled by a panel which talks to a power unit (installed either in the loft or airing cupboard).
High- or Low-Pressure Water Systems
To check which pressure system you have, take a quick look in the loft and airing cupboard.
If you have a hot water tank in airing cupboard but no cold-water tank in your loft you have an unvented high-pressure system.
A combi boiler will mean that you have a high-pressure system.
A hot water tank in the airing cupboard and a cold-water tank in the loft you have a gravity fed low-pressure system. This will not limit your choice of shower as power showers are designed with this system in mind or alternatively you could add a pump.
If you are looking at changing your shower but are baffled by the technical jargon, please contact us for a no obligation survey and quote. We can explain the systems to you and help you decide which one is the right shower for your home. Our telephone number is 01473 715566
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