subject: Selecting The Perfect Shower [print this page] There are two main types of shower to choose from and the choice you make will depend on your budget and your current plumbing in your bathroom.
Mixer showers feed directly from your plumbing system. You will need to find which type of heating system you have to ascertain the pressure you have in your system, if you have a conventional gravity fed heating system you will need to check that the pressure is sufficient to "power" the shower. You can usually do this by gauging the flow of water through your standard basin or bath taps or from your existing shower enclosures. If the flow is not sufficient then you will also need to add a pump to the system, this will give you the extra flow you need otherwise you will just get a dribble from the shower.
The second type of shower is an electric shower, these are rated in kilowatts, the higher the kilowatt the better (and thus more expensive). In this system all you need to feed the shower is a cold water pipe. The cold water then flows over the heating element and is heated "on the fly" and this is why a higer rated element is better as it can heat a greater flow of water quicker thus you can get a much more powerful stream of hot water from the shower head.
Both types of shower are best installed by a qualified plumber or electrician a tip is to use the same installer who fitted your bath screen for example. If you cannot find an installer, then take a look online at some of the dedicated plumber directories, they should be able to provide you with a local contact.
A mixer shower is versatile in that there are a wide range of heads available, a particular favourite of mine is a square drencher head which gives a luxurious showering experience.
There is simply nothing worse than visiting a hotel or perhaps a relative or friend to find that you have to contend with a limp showering experience. Compare this to walking into a luxuriously wet shower with drencher, the pulsing of the water beads against your skin and the hot steam of the shower refreshing your pores. There is no comparison between the two, as I am sure you will agree.
Don't give your guests a woeful showering experience, choose the right shower for you and your visitors!
