Choosing the Right Shower for your Bathroom

Looking for a new shower? With the huge range of options out there, buying a shower can be daunting. You also need to make sure you choose a shower that’s suitable for your system and your personal needs. If you are trying to work out which type of shower your need, you need to be aware of your bathroom set-up. These are 3 main things you will need to consider:

 1. What type of water system do you have? Pressurised (mains) systems and gravity-fed (tank-fed) systems work very differently, so that will determine what kind of shower you need.

 2. How is your water pressure? If it is low, choose a shower that boosts the water as it passes through the unit. This is less likely to be an issue if you are using mains pressure.

 3. How big is your water tank? Do you find you often run out of hot water? You can address this concern with an electric shower.

With these things in mind, our guide will explore the different kind of showers we offer while providing advice on how to choose the right one for your bathroom!

Electric Showers

Unlike most other showers, electric showers only need a cold-water supply. Instead of taking hot water from your boiler or hot water tank, they instantly heat up the water themselves with a built-in electrical heating element. They mix this hot water with cold water to reach your desired temperature. As they only heat the water that’s used, they can help you save money on your energy bills. They also allow you to have an instant hot shower at any time, even if your heating fails!

There are 2 types of electric showers on the market today: Mains Fed or Tank Fed. Both of these are easy to install.

Mains fed

This is the ‘standard’ electric shower. It’s fed by your home’s mains water supply (the same feed as your kitchen tap), which generates enough pressure for the shower to operate. This means you have a constant supply of clean, safe water for you shower. Mains fed electric showers also allow you to choose a more stylish shower unit rather than just a white box on the wall. For example, check out this sleek, gun metal Aspirante Shower by Triton. Bear in mind that poor mains water pressure can affect the performance of these showers. A shower pump can help with this - speak to one of our staff for advice on choosing a compatible pump.

Tank Fed

For homes that have no mains water supply, this shower is the perfect solution for instant hot water. Connected to your cold-water storage tank, tank fed showers have a pump which boosts the water through the unit, so it has similar pressure to that of a mains fed shower This is ideal for homes with lower water pressure. We stock a wide range of tank fed showers, such as this one from Triton.

Mixer Showers

Most mixer showers don’t need a source of electricity to run as they are purely mechanical, which is great for power cuts! Ideal for large hot water tanks, these showers mix hot and cold water together to provide the perfect temperature. They use the pressure within your water system to operate, and they often have a stronger water flow than electric showers. However, if your water pressure is struggling, it can be boosted even further with a shower pump (bear in mind that you will need a power source for this). You should also be aware that if two showers are running at the same time, the pressure will dip. Mixer showers also offer a wide range of versatile style options. These are generally split into two categories: Exposed Valve Showers and Concealed Valve Showers.

Exposed Valve Mixer Showers

Exposed shower valves are a good choice for solid brick walls that can’t house a concealed shower valve. These visually striking showers can also be installed as a design statement in both traditional and modern bathrooms. They are quicker and easier to fit, as it’s only the hot and cold-water pipe feeds that need to be tracked within the wall, not the whole valve.

Concealed Valve Mixer Showers

A concealed valve shower is built into the wall of the shower enclosure, so all that’s visible is a neat control panel and the shower head. This creates a sleeker and less cluttered appearance, which looks great in modern or more luxurious bathrooms.

Note: Some mixer showers also offer thermostatic valve control, such as this Triton model. These valves quickly react to sudden temperature changes to prevent scalding. So, if someone turns on a cold water tap in the kitchen, a thermostatic valve ensures nobody in the shower is shocked with a sudden jet of hot water!

Power Showers

Compatible with gravity-fed systems, power showers use a built-in pump to boost the pressure of the water. This is the perfect shower if you are looking to improve weak water pressure.

There is often some confusion over whether a power shower is the same as an electric shower. A power shower does require electricity for the pump, but it does not heat your water. A power shower requires both a hot and cold-water supply as it takes hot water from your system and combines it with the cold-water supply to achieve the right temperature.

We stock a wide range of stylish power showers which will complement a modern bathroom - we even have manual and thermostatic options available. Power showers should be quick and easy to install, especially if you are replacing a mixer shower. For advice on installing a power shower, talk to a professional plumber first.

Digital Showers

Digital showers are the height of bathroom technology. They are great for anyone who wants a high-tech upgrade for their bathroom! Their stand-out feature is their control panel, which displays useful information like the water temperature and flow rate. This means you can accurately adjust the water temperature by a degree - some even give you the option to set up profiles for each member of your household! A well as being highly practical, these showers are also incredibly stylish and neat.

Digital showers work like mixer showers as they take hot water straight from your boiler and offer thermostatic valve control. At Bathshack, we have digital showers for all types of water systems. There are models available for mains pressure water systems and combi boilers, as pumped options for low pressure or gravity fed systems. Be sure check what digital shower is compatible with your system by speaking to one of our team or consulting a plumber.

Feeling more confident about your shower knowledge? Browse our full range of showers and accessories today to find the perfect option for your bathroom. If you need help making your choice, our team will be happy to answer any questions you have. Don’t hesitate to Contact Us, or book an appointment for one of our showrooms on the island of Ireland to view a selection of our showers up close.