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Guide to Different Types of Showers

Introduction

Deciding between different types of showers can be a complicated task. There are so many different shower types and styles out there for bathrooms. You also have to consider things like shower trays, and shower head fixtures. The decision you make will be influenced by your room size and the plumbing system you have.

Below is a guide to different types of showers for your home.

Concealed shower

A concealed shower is where the main parts of the shower such as valves and pipes are hidden away, usually hidden inside a false wall. The only parts of the shower that are visible are the taps and shower head.

Advantages:

Concealed fittings make your shower look modern and tidy.
There are less things to clean inside your shower.

Disadvantages:

Fixtures need to be hidden inside a wall behind your tiles.
Time consuming to install.
Expensive to install.

Mixer Showers

Mixer showers is where hot and cold pipes enter your shower. Temperature is then controlled via tap, which mixes the hot and cold water together. Mixer showers can come as a concealed unit, where most the parts are hidden behind the tiled wall. Or it can be a non-concealed shower, where there is a wall mounted rail, and bracket for the shower head.

Advantages:

Cheap to buy, especially if they are a mounted rail version.
Unlikely to malfunction due to its simplicity.
Can work with any plumbing system.
Is ideal for shower bath combos too.

Disadvantages:

Does not increase water pressure. Will use your existing pressure, such as that coming out of your taps.

Thermostatic Mixer Showers

When it comes to knowing about different types of showers, people get confused between thermostatic mixer showers, and electric ones. Thermostatic mixer showers prevent the risk of burning or freezing whilst showing. They have the capability to regulate the temperate accurately. When adjusting the temperate control, the device automatically mixes your hot and cold water feeds to a particular temperature. Thermostatic mixer showers do they mechanically, where as an electric shower controls the temperature electrically.

Advantages:

Prevents unexpected changes in temperature.
Maintains water temperature.
Protects you from unexpected changes in the water supply. This means the pressure remains the same even if someone flushes the toilet, or turns on a tap.

Disadvantages:

Expensive to buy.

Electric Shower

Electric showers only require a cold water supply. They heat up the cold water electrically via an element (like you have in your kettle).

Advantages:

Looks very modern.
Saves money on water usage.

Disadvantages:

Electric showers are typically more bulky than mixer showers.
They require a high capacity electrical supply to be run directly from the fuse box, on its own dedicated circuit.
Can be expensive.

Typical Requirement for Electric Showers

Must have a running pressure of at least 1 bar.
The flow rate should be about 8 litres per minute.
Maximum static pressure about around 10 bar.
Must be installed on its own electric circuit, not spurred off from any other connection. Using a 10mm electrical cable.
Electric shower requires a fuseboard (With MCB and RCD) capable of provided at least 60 amps.

Eco Showers

Eco showers are available for both electric and mixer showers. Although Eco versions are more expensive to buy than standard types, it will help reduce water wastage by up to 50%. Therefore owning an Eco shower will save you money in over its life time.

Advantages:

Helps to save water, and therefore money.
Comes in electric and mixer variations.

Disadvantages:

They are slightly more expensive.

Wireless Digital Showers

Wireless digital showers are controlled by a remote in the shape of a panel. This means you can turn the shower on and set the temperature, outside of your shower. The remote can normally be used up to 10m away.

The receiving box is usually located within a wall, behind your shower tiling. This main unit also controls the flow and temperature of the water to your shower.

They can come as mixer or electric variations and be operated by remote control.

Advantages:

You can control the temperature and flow of your shower remotely.
Look very modern.
Look neat and tidy. Most the pipes and fittings are concealed within your shower wall.

Disadvantages: