With so many types and styles available, choosing a new shower can feel quite overwhelming. Worry not because we are here to help you make the best possible selection.
Key Shower Types
Before you even begin thinking about showers, you need to figure out your water heating system and bathroom’s plumbing. If you don’t intend to make changes in those areas, know what you have at your disposal. The thing is, they might limit your options.
Electric Showers
Electric water showers take water from the water supply and run it through a heating element. The heating element is placed inside the heating unit, and as long as you got electricity and running water, you will always have hot water.
Mixer
Mixers use a combination of hot water and cold water from the main water supply. Unlike electric showers, the water is not instantly heated. In places with low water pressure, a pump is added.
Thermostatic showers
These showers are perfect for houses where elder members and children are living. Once you set the temperature, it will be the same on every tap. Furthermore, there is no risk of freezing if the temperatures go below zero.
Eco showers
This type of showers is usually combined with a mixer or an electric shower. They limit the water flow to a usable level that offers up to 50% water saving compared to standard mixers.
Water Systems
Here are the most common water systems that can be found in most residential buildings and houses.
Gravity system
Nowadays, only older homes have gravity systems. They come with a hot and cold feed. The hot feed can be heated via any external source like an immersion heater. The water pressure depends on the distance between the feed and the showerhead. For adequate pressure, the distance needs to be three to four meters. But even if the distance is smaller, you can always add a booster pump for extra pressure.
Main Pressure System
This system also goes by the names “sealed”, “unvented”, or “pressurized”. The pressure is kept at a minimum of 1 bar by the main water supply. Ideally, the pressure should be close to 3 bars, but not more than that. There is a pressure-limiting valve that keeps the pressure below 3 bars.
Combination Boiler Systems
In this system, pressured cold water is heated whenever needed. Therefore, if everything is in order, one should never run out of hot water. For best performance, it is recommended to have a system featuring a flow rate of twelve to fifteen liters per minute. The bigger the showerhead or more nozzles it has, the greater the water pressure needs to be. Using a thermostatic shower mixer is recommended to even out the temperature fluctuations that can happen.
Types of Showerheads
Most showerheads fall in one of these main types:
- Handheld
- Combined with a series of body jets
- Handheld on a slider rail
- Fixed on a wall
- Ceiling mounted
Consider a Walk-in Shower
At one point, enclosures were all the rage. However, nowadays, most people prefer walk-in showers more. They are way more stylish and more spacious. They are more of a shower area than anything else.
All-in-One Systems
They are also quite popular, but they often cost more than the average walk-in shower system. An all-in-one system offers way more features than any other shower system. Features such as body jets, LED mood lighting system, music, fragrance, and even sunbeds.
In Conclusion
Want to learn more about shower systems? Head to Myhomeware Australia and check out their offerings. They have it all, and they are willing to help you make the right selection.