If
you are thinking about changing your shower you may well have looked around a
few bathroom shops and been surprised by the number of choices you have. Even
choosing a shower valve can be a confusing business so here's a guide to tell
you what is what when it comes to showers.
Manual
Shower Valves
This
is the most basic type of shower. Most manual showers have a single lever
control that you use to control the flow of the water and the temperature. They
are very simple to use and usually are not expensive.
Thermostatic
Shower Valves
The
great advantage of a thermostatic shower valve is that it can provide a
constant, even temperature and cope with
fluctuations in the flow and temperature of the hot and cold water feeds. Most
thermostatic valves have extra anti-scald safety features and will cut off the
flow of water if the cold water supply fails.
Concealed and Exposed Valves
Concealed
/ Exposed refers to the way the shower valve is mounted on the wall. A
concealed shower valve is built into the shower wall so that most of the valve
is hidden and only the control levers are visible. An exposed valve is mounted
onto the shower wall so that the whole mechanism is visible. Many shower valves
can be mounted either exposed or concealed.
Twin Shower Valves
Unlike
a single lever valve, a twin valve has
two controls, one control for the rate
of water flow and a second control for the water temperature.
Triple Shower Valves
A
triple valve has three controls; one for the water flow, one for the temperature and a third which is
usually a diverter. The diverter is useful if you have two shower heads. It's
becoming more common to have a fixed shower head above the shower and a
hand-held shower head as well. The diverter on a triple shower valve allows you
to select which shower head water is fed to.
Sequential Shower Valves
This
is one we get a lot of questions about. A sequential valve has a single lever
that works rather like the knob on your cooker. When the lever is fully
anti-clockwise the shower is off. As you rotate the lever it turns the shower
turns on. With a sequential valve “on” means fully on so
you have full pressure straight away. As you rotate the lever further you
increase the temperature of the water.
Shower Panels
A
recent newcomer is the shower panel or shower tower. This is a single unit that
contains everything you need for a sensational shower. Specifications vary but
usually include a shower valve (often thermostatic), a diverter, a fixed shower head, a hand held shower and several body jets.
Shower panels are easy to install but can require quite high water pressure to
work well so you may want to install a shower pump as well.
Customized Showers
These
days, shower components are standardized
enough that you can pretty much pick and choose the parts you want to create
the shower of your dreams. You can choose from hundreds of shower valves, diverters and stop valves, have multiple heads, ceiling mounted heads, riser rails, rigid risers or body jets to build exactly the
shower you want, individual and
customized to your own needs. After all, how else will you get a shower with 16 jets
and a 12 inch shower heads?
Electric Showers
Electric
showers heat the water as it passes through the shower so they only need a cold
water supply so you have simpler plumbing and don't need any hot water to run
them. Electric showers are particularly popular in en-suites.
Power Showers
A
power shower is basically a shower with a built in pump. A power shower needs
both hot and cold water supplies. A power shower does not heat the water; it
pumps water through and increased water pressure, giving you a stronger shower. Power showers
are ideal where you have low water pressure, perhaps in a bungalow.
So
there you have it. Not quite everything you need to know about showers, but a good start! bathroom, shower, diy,
shower valve, shower head, electric shower, power shower
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