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What you may not have thought about when embarking on your bathroom remodelling quest is that there are a number of different types of shower that you can install. Each of them has their pros and cons, work better in some situations than others, and sometimes it’s just down to personal choice.
If you want to learn more about the showers that are available to you so that you can make an informed decision, this is the perfect guide for you, as we take you through each type in excellent detail. You could say it’s the ultimate buying guide for different plumbing systems.
What are the Different Shower Systems?
There’s a lot to think about before you can start getting into the details of each type of shower, and while this section will start with the various systems, it’s going to delve a lot deeper into it than that. To start, however, here are the different types of shower system:
Before you pick the type of shower you want, you should take a look and see what your water pressure is like. You can do it yourself, using methods we have highlighted in our water pressure guides, or you can get a plumber to come out and measure it for you – whatever you are more comfortable with.
Your water pressure will dictate the type of shower you are able to have, as well as the one that suits your home best. This is something we look at further in the next sections.
Also Read: How to Increase Shower Pressure
Now, look at the water system you have. There are three main types in the UK, and your home is likely to have one of them installed. Here is some more information on each:
Once you have identified your boiler and have a clear idea of what you want and need in your home (with regards to the type of shower), you can move onto the other factors.
While these are mostly cosmetic as well as functional, they are aspects we have extensive guides on so that you are able to make a good and informed choice:
What Do I Need to Know About Electric Showers?
These tend to be the top choice for most homes, especially since it doesn’t rely on the boiler for hot water. Instead, it takes water from the cold supply and uses its own heating elements within the unit to heat the water up.
Due to it being separate from your normal hot water system, you can have a hot shower whenever you want, and you never need to worry about the hot water running out, or needing to switch it on prior to washing.
They can also be used with any plumbing system because of the fact that they use the supply of cold water as opposed to hot. However, as a sneaky top tip, you will achieve the best pressure levels if you use an electric shower with a gravity system.
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What Do I Need to Know About Manual Mixer Showers?
This is another common and familiar system, and the name is actually quite self-explanatory. It takes water from the hot and cold supplies that already exist in your home, and then combines them within the shower unit.
It usually comes as a deck mounted unit and has a shower handset integrated, and this can be attached to the wall if needed, which is what makes them so popular with shower baths. They also work with shower enclosures, making them quite a versatile option.
Additionally, they are compatible with all plumbing systems for extra flexibility. It is important to note that because they take water from your existing supply, the flow rate of water to the shower will not be increased. So, if there is low pressure within the rest of your home, there will be with your shower.
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What Do I Need to Know About Thermostatic Showers?
These work in a very similar manner to the manual mixer showers we talked about in the above section, in that they take water from the existing supply. However, there is one main difference with these.
The thermostatic shower uses a pre-set thermostat to keep the water temperature consistent at all times, even if you are using water elsewhere in the home at the same time.
This is implemented to help prevent things like scalding, and it also means that you don’t need to live in fear if you hear someone washing the dishes while you are in the shower.
These units can be deck mounted for shower baths, but they can also work as part of a concealed or exposed unit, making them versatile. Additionally, they work with all plumbing systems.
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What Do I Need to Know About Water-Saving Airdrop Showers?
In good news for the planet, people are starting to become more conscious of their impact on the environment, and so eco showers have become more popular in recent years. Airdrop showers are fantastic because they save masses of water without impacting the way it feels.
So, even though you are using less, the pressure and general feel of the shower doesn’t seem to be any different. They have been designed to suck air into the water, providing you with a refreshing shower that feels a lot like you are standing outside in the rain.
The air that has been added to the system reduces the amount of water that is needed, saving you money as well as helping the environment out. You won’t feel the reduction in water, but you will feel massively refreshed.
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What Do I Need to Know About Digital Showers?
These work in a very similar way to mixer and power showers, but they give you a lot more control over the temperature. While a standard mixer or power shower will need the flow adjusted to either hot or cold to achieve the right temperature, a digital shower will allow you to do the same but through the special panel on the shower itself.
If you go one step further and buy a smart shower, the process is very similar, except that you can set the temperature from your phone as well. You can use several different modes on the shower as well, such as the warm-up mode which will gently heat the water to your desired temperature before you get in.
This eliminates the dreaded hand under the stream to check that it isn’t cold anymore. The panel also means that you have complete control over both the temperature and flow at all times, so you always have it just the way you like it.
Smart showers do tend to take things one step further, because there isn’t just phone connection available. You can also hook it up to your Alexa or home assistant, adding it to your smart home network and creating an even more advanced system. These systems are also compatible with all plumbing networks.
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What Do I Need to Know About Power Showers?
While this can also refer to any shower with a powerful flow, it is also a specific type. It is similar to a standard mixer in that it uses water from both the hot and cold taps and combines them to get to the right temperature.
They also tend to have a booster pump with them because they are often installed in homes that have low pressure. There are actually two main types of pump; plastic and brass. The plastic models tend to be cheaper than the brass ones, and are quite reliable.
They can be quite noisy though, and tend to need more maintenance overall. The brass models are more expensive, but they also tend to last a lot longer and are considered more heavy-duty than the plastic ones.
They work well with most plumbing systems, but if you have low pressure, you should stick with gravity. If you have the additional pump with the shower, you cannot really use it with a combi boiler.
Further Reading: Power Shower Installation Guide
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Choosing a Shower Head
There are five main types of shower head:
- handheld
- handheld on a slider rail
- fixed (mounted on the wall)
- ceiling mounted
- those that are combined with a series of body jets
To Conclude
Hopefully, this guide has been able to help you on your quest to find the perfect shower for your home. There is so much to choose from, and we know that you are going to make the best decision possible with our help.
From the classic electric shower to something a little kinder to the environment (and your water bills), everything is covered in great detail. We even take a glance at some of the fancier models with their new tech.
What did you think of our shower buying guide? Did it answer all of your questions, or are there areas that you felt needed improvement? We love hearing from you, so leave us a message in the comment section below.
