Bathroom Shower Designs: What Are The Different Types Of Bathroom Showers?
A bathroom shower is a crucial addition to any bathroom. While it is great to unwind by taking a soak in the bathtub, sometimes you just want to take an invigorating shower. When it comes to choosing a shower for your newly remodeled bathroom, it is tempting to pick one based purely on its design and looks. However, whilst it is only natural to want a visually appealing shower, it is also important to take in to account the functionality and practicality of your choice of unit.
There is a wide range of bathroom showers on the market, ranging from the basic to the more luxurious. Before selecting the one for your bathroom, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the different types of showers and how they function.
Types of Shower
Electric shower
These comprise of a unit mounted on the wall, which is heated electrically, and is plumbed in to the mains water supply. This combination means these types of showers are not dependant on your homes heating system. A key benefit of these types of showers is that they can provide a continuous flow of water, unlike systems, which are tank-fed. A downside is that the water flow with an electric shower can be weak, particularly during cold weather, when the water from the mains is colder.
Mixer showerMixer showers are fitted with inlets for hot and cold water, or mixed, and are good options for those looking for an affordable shower solution. There are a few variations of mixer showers to suit your budget and requirements.
Push-on mixers are usually used over the bath by connecting them to the bath. The main selling point of these mixers is that they are cheap to buy, and can be set-up very easily. You just need to pull them off the taps when you want to use the bath. Their main drawback is that they can often slip off the tap, which can get tiresome.
A better option may be a bath / shower mixer, which is fitted with a bath mixer tap. Unlike the push-on mixers, they are part of the whole tap configuration, thus solving the dislodged hose problem. These types of mixers are also very cheap and do not require any extra plumbing.
If you prefer a wall unit, a manual mixer is an option. With these units, a single valve connects the hot and cold water supplies. Controls on the unit make it simple to adjust the hot and cold settings and the force of the showers water flow. You can also get a wall unit mixer fitted with a thermostat, which will make sure the water does not get too hot.
Power showerPower showers feature an electric pump, which can control the pressure of the water as well as the temperature. A power shower can be great to use, however they do have specific installation requirements regarding the type of water supply feeding the shower, so it is best to check these requirements beforehand.
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