Essential guide to boilers

Whether you’re renovating a bathroom or installing a new one, getting the right shower will mean the difference between high-pressure jets of water and a lukewarm tickle. Read on to discover the main types of shower available, and which is best suited to your home’s water system.

The key types of shower

Electric

Quick and easy to install, electric showers draw on a cold-water supply and heat the water on demand so you can jump in at any time of day. They’re also extremely economic – up to 99.7 per cent energy efficient – as the cold water is heated by an element, providing hot water instantly, with no wastage. The higher kilowatt rating you choose, the better the flow will be.

Mixer

Mixer showers draw from both hot and cold water supplies and usually deliver higher flow rates. The shower works by mixing hot and cold water within the unit and then delivering it through the showerhead, which can be fixed, adjustable, or as a handset on a riser rail. They’re ideal for homes with readily available hot water, such as a combination boiler or large-capacity hot-water cylinder. If required, a pump can be added to a low-pressure, gravity-fed hot water system to increase water pressure.

Thermostatic

Once you have set your ideal temperature, thermostatic electric and mixer showers will automatically ensure this remains virtually constant – even if someone turns on a tap elsewhere in the house. Although temperature-stabilised electric showers provide adequate temperature control for most homes, the demand for thermostatic peace-of-mind is growing, particularly if children or elderly people need to be taken into account. 

Eco

Eco showers limit the flow of water to an efficient, usable level no matter what your household pressure system, whilst maintaining your selected temperature. Available in both electric and mixer variations, they can offer up to 50 per cent reduction in water usage when compared to conventional mixer showers.

Digital

Available in either mixer or electric variations, digital or remote control showers are an increasingly popular choice for the modern bathroom as they offer a combination of state-of-the-art technology, stylish design and ease of installation. The shower is controlled by a panel, which can be located within a 10-metre radius, giving you more freedom in your bathroom layout.

The panel then communicates with the power unit, located either in the loft or airing cupboard, to adjust the flow and temperature of the water. Water at a preferred temperature is then delivered through the ceiling or wall to the showerhead, and there is no unsightly plumbing visible.

How to identify your water system

High-pressure water systems

If you have a hot water tank, usually located within an airing cupboard, but don’t have a cold water tank in your loft, then you have an unvented high-pressure system. This can look similar to a low-pressure system, so always check to avoid any confusion. If you have a combination boiler, which heats water on demand so there is no hot water storage cylinder or cold-water tank, then you have a high-pressure system.

Low-pressure water systems

If you have a cold-water tank in your loft and a hot-water tank in your airing cupboard, then you have a gravity-fed system. It’s the most common household plumbing system and means that you have a low-pressure water system.

Having low pressure need not limit your choice of shower type – power showers are designed to offer optimum performance within a low-pressure scenario. And if your hot water cylinder is large enough, you could choose to boost your system pressure with a pump, which can enable you to have a mixer shower, if you desire.

Cold mains water supply

If cold water comes into your property through a rising main then you have a cold mains system. Most electric showers can simply be connected to a cold water mains supply – all you need to do is choose a style to suit your bathroom scheme. However, if your cold mains water supply does not have the required minimum pressure for such showers, a tank-fed, pumped electric shower would be a good choice.