How to Choose the Right Shower for Your Bathroom

Do you wish your shower had better pressure or didn’t run out of hot water so quickly?There’s nothing better than jumping in a high-pressure shower after a long day at work, and it’s easier than you might think to get that spa-like experience at home. In this post, we look at some of the different types of shower and what you need to consider when choosing yours.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Shower

Although you might have a shower already in mind, there are a few things that should guide your decision. Without taking these factors into account, you won’t get the best performance out of your shower.

Your Water Heating System

Although most homes now have a combi boiler, there are other types out there and which one you have will dictate which type of shower works best.

• Combi boiler: Supplying hot water on demand, combi boilers can handle most types of shower. If you want a power shower, a combi boiler system is the best.
• Gravity-fed water system: More common in older homes, this type of water system is known for weak water pressure. Because of this, rain showers aren’t a great choice, but you do have the option of adding a shower pump to get a better experience from a power shower.
• Unvented system: This gives high pressure as well as large volumes of water, which is great for electric, mixed, and power sowers.

Your Water Pressure

If you want a high-pressure showerhead, you need sufficient pressure from your water system to cope with it. If you have weak water pressure, these aren’t going to be a good option.

When shopping for a showerhead, there are specific options for low- and high-pressure water systems. So make sure you know your pressure to get the best option. If you’re unsure, your plumber will be able to give you their advice!

Types of Showers

With so many showers on the market, more expensive doesn’t always mean better performance. We’ve covered some of the shower types here to help you make the right decision for your bathroom.

Thermostatic Mixer Shower

This shower has a thermostat which automatically adjusts the temperature of the water to avoid it overheating. This helps to reduce the cost of heating in your home, saving you money in the long-run and gives you the peace of mind that children aren’t going to get burned.

This type of shower isn’t affected by others in the house running a tap or flushing the loo. The downside is this is one of the more expensive options, costing up to £500 for a high-end model.

Manual Mixer Shower

This type of shower also mixes hot and cold water to give you a customised temperature. However, unlike a thermostatic shower, a manual mixer shower needs to be done by hand, rather than a thermostat automatically controlling the temperature.

These are easy to install and do best in homes with high water pressure. However, if you have low pressure, this type of shower won’t improve that so you’ll still have weak pressure.

Power Shower

Like a manual shower, a power shower uses a mixture of hot and cold water which you manually control to adjust your water temperature. The difference is that a power shower comes with an additional pump which boosts the water flow.

These are a popular choice because they give a spa-like experience, but they do use more water than other shower types. If you’re on a water meter, you’ll notice a jump in your monthly bill if you install a power shower.

Electric Shower

Electric showers heat water on demand directly from the cold water supply. This means you won’t run out of hot water and it is more affordable since you’re not using your heating system every time you shower. However, they are bulky and don’t look as sleek as other types.

Smart Shower

Smart showers are controlled via an app or voice assistant like Alexa. Through these, you can set the temperature, water flow, and even play music. These are, of course, one of the most expensive types of shower, but they are the most customisable and allow you to keep an eye on your heating and water usage.

Need More Advice?

If you’re struggling to pick the right shower, give us a call at Abacus Flame today. We’re a plumbing firm based in Eastbourne and can give you our expert advice on the best type of shower for your home. We can also give you a great price for installation as needed.