subject: Getting To Know Your Power Shower [print this page] Before you install any shower, you must first determine the type of water supply that is already in place, as this influences how the shower performs. If you live in an area where the water pressures are normally low, or if the water circulating system in your home is fed by gravity, you can have a good enough shower, but you will also need a cold water storage tank, that will be located in the loft, while you keep the hot water storage tank in an airing cupboard.
There are a few solutions, if the water pressures still remain low. Raising the level of the cold water storage, may add a slight increase in the gravity feed, and including a lower pressure can also boost the water pressures. Combi boilers will normally have higher pressures, and mixer showers can combine the hot and cold water to produce water at desired temperatures.
A cost-effective solution is a power shower includes a pump that boosts the pressure of the water that is sent to the showerhead. The power shower adds a lot more flexibility and enjoyment to your shower, because you can include thermostatic sensors that controls that automatically re-adjusts the ratios of hot and cold water, whenever temperatures changes are detected. For example, if a cold or hot water tap is turned on in another area of the house, the temperature of the water at the shower is mostly likely to be affected.
Your shower will be fed by both a hot and a cold water supply, and the benefits become even more apparent when there are a lot of users, who may be using various sources of either the hot or cold water, to create changes in the water temperature, that can be uncomfortable for those who may be taking a shower. Power showers are also equipped with safety features that shut the shower down, if any of the water supplies are halted. If the cold water supply was suddenly stopped while some was in the shower, the result could be disastrous.
Your home must be capable of handling a power shower, as they are not suited for all environments. If you are using a gravity fed system that contains a cold water storage tank in the loft area, the tank must be at least one meter above the shower head. If this presents a problem, you can consider installing a low pressure pump to increase water pressure.
There are multiple benefits from using a power shower. You not only get a deeper cleaning, but the powerful water streams, can invigorate and massage nerve endings in the skin. You can be invigorated while still being relaxed as the shower wakes you up in the morning.
One of the disadvantages noted, is that you may use more water than normal, because the water is forced to the shower head a higher pressure, which also means a higher volume of water. The effect can be dramatic, if there are relatively large numbers of people in the home, who may be showering regularly. Since there will be larger volumes of water flowing to the shower, you should be sure that the plumbing in your residence is robust enough to handle a larger amount of water.
A power shower can be a cost-effective solution for more powerful showers in areas of low water pressure. Before installing a power shower, you should ensure that it works with your water-circulating system.
