In selecting a shower, you will need to know a certain amount about the water supply in your home. The diagrams in the basin tap and mixer section should help you if you are not sure. There are three types of shower:
1) Mixer Showers
There are four main types of shower mixer valve: Thermostatic, Manual, Pressure Balancing and Venturi mixers.
Thermostatic Shower Mixers
Thermostatic Shower Mixers are the most popular showers on the market as the built in thermostat controls the water temperature. This means that the water temperature is unaffected by other factors which may affect water supply to the shower such as a washing machine or someone flushing a toilet. Most thermostatic shower valves will have a maximum temperature stop at around 41 degrees, to prevent accidental scalding. In most cases these can be over ridden but they are designed to ensure that a temperature override does not happen accidentally.
The most popular models are generally ‘dual control’, which means that there is one control for the temperature and one for the water flow. The alternative to this is a ‘single sequential’. Here the single control knob or lever is turned to open the flow, and then by turning it further, the temperature is controlled.
An advantage of dual control shower mixers is that the temperature can be left set at the desired temperature, eliminating the need to set the temperature each time the shower is used.
There are two main types of dual control shower valves: Concentric, where the flow control knob is inside the temperature control; the other style is where the two controls are totally separate. There is no difference in functionality between these styles.
As well as coming in different styles, not all thermostatic shower valves are suitable for all types of water supply. Please check the suitability at the time of ordering. Both of these styles are available in exposed or concealed versions. Discuss with your installer whether a concealed or exposed shower is more suitable for you. Concealed shower valves normally require around 100mm depth of wall.
A manual shower mixer may have one or two control knobs or levers. They offer no automatic temperature control of the water, so there is a risk that the water temperature could suddenly change due to an external factor such as someone flushing a toilet.
Many older manual mixer showers can have a very similar appearance to some concentric controlled thermostatic mixers. In these instances it is often quite easy to upgrade from a manual shower to gain the benefits of a thermostatic shower.
The most popular type of manual shower, not bought for replacement purposes are single lever mixers as they are often stylish and attractive. If you wish to select this type of valve, you can use devices such as pressure equalising valves, which will offer a level of protection against sudden temperature fluctuations.
Pressure Balancing Shower Valves
Rather than using a thermostat to control the temperature, a pressure-balancing valve (PBV) balances the pressures of the hot and cold supplies. This provides a very similar level of control to a thermostatic valve. PBVs are mainly used in conjunction with combi boilers or multi-point water heaters which are not fully modulating.
Venturi Shower Mixers
Venturi Shower Mixers are fed by mains pressure cold water and low-pressure hot water and provides a performance shower by using the Venturi principle. The most popular example of this is the Trevi Boost.
Shower kits
It is normal to have the shower kit (handset, slide rail etc) from the same brand as the shower valve (or vice versa, depending on which item you select first).
The first thing you need to consider is whether you want a slide rail kit or a fixed head kit. It is not unreasonable to want to have both and we offer a package from Grohe, which enables you to easily do this.
The next thing to consider is what sort of spray pattern(s) you would like. Most of our showrooms offer you the option to try out different spray patterns. Please note that some patterns will require higher pressures than others in order to operate satisfactorily. For example the aerated ‘Champagne’ function generally require 3 bar pressure.
The images below show the four main types of spray pattern. Please be aware that some manufacturers use different terminology.
Integral Power Shower
Integral power showers have their own built in pump and takes water from your gravity hot water cylinder and cold water tank.
These are often the easiest and lowest cost way of providing a power shower when the house has a low pressure water supply. Most models have the pump inside the control box, so you may notice a small amount of noise.
Electric Showers
Electric showers take water from the mains and heat it instantaneously.
Electric showers come in various different outputs. The higher the power level, the better the performance. Higher power electric showers will require larger power cables than lower power models.
Where there is no easily usable source of hot water, electric showers are often the easiest shower to install.With electric showers, it is important to consider whether your existing electrical installation needs to be upgraded. Your electrician will be able to advise accordingly.
Some shower enclosures, particularly corner situated enclosures require the same manufacturer’s tray. When you are selecting your enclosure confirm which trays are compatible - often the display will indicate the suggested tray.
Confirm the size of the opening for your shower door and consider the thickness of the tiles. The amount of adjustment between different ranges of shower doors varies and these are indicated in the manufacturer’s literature.
Shower enclosure manufacturers recommend that you install a shower door on to tiles rather than the tiles butting up to the shower door.
Shower enclosures vary in height, check height restrictions on loft conversions or similar situations. Kielder shower trays from Trevi have a lower profile and these can help in these situations.
Don’t forget to order shower wastes. If you have a powerful shower, order high capacity typhoon wastes which will speed the drainage of water.
Door actions:
Shower enclosures open in various different ways. Please note that shower enclosure manufacturers do not always use the same terminology. Most of these types of door can be used with several types of enclosure.
Pivot door
These open out, so it is important to ensure that you have enough room in the shower or bathroom for this. Other names and variations of this door style are hinged doors and full opening doors.
Bifold door
A Bifold door opens into the enclosure while folding on itself. Also known as Folding doors or Infold Doors, by Matki.
Sliding door
Sliding Doors are popular for larger door openings. They are normally 2 panel or 3 panel.
In-Swing door
These open into the enclosure without folding. Also known as Gliding Pivot and Infold.
Walk-in enclosure
These enclosures come in various different sizes and generally have no moving parts.
1) Resin-Stone
The most popular type of tray in the UK market is the Resin-Stone tray. This is made from a composite of resin & minerals set in a mould with either acrylic sheet or gel coat for the surface. These trays are very robust and are often the most competitively priced.
2) Acrylic
Acrylic Trays are often perceived to be less durable than Resin-Stone Trays as they are much lighter. However, brands such as Showerlux and Manhattan make acrylic shower trays with extra reinforcement.
Acrylic trays come on adjustable legs, which make it easier to access the waste water pipe. They often come with an optional tiling upstand strip and many brands supply a waste fitting in the package. Acrylic Shower trays often have attractive design features such as having a totally flat base, unlike most resin trays.
3) Fireclay (Ceramic)
Fireclay shower trays are still available from various suppliers in limited sizes. Whilst they have a brilliant glazed finish, which matches other bathroom pottery, they are hard to transport, are susceptible to damage in transit and are often not compatible with many shower enclosures.
4) Pressed Steel
Pressed Steel shower trays are available from some suppliers and are made in the same way as a pressed steel bath. They normally come supplied with either legs or a cradle, like an acrylic tray. Please note that steel trays come with a price premium and have long lead times. Again, they are not often compatible with many enclosures.
5) Tiling Upstands
A tiling upstand is a strip, which runs along the outside edges of the tray, which touch the walls and is there to be tiled over. Most are integral with the tray but some makes of tray supply the upstand as an adhesive strip, which may or may not be used.
6) Riser Trays
A riser tray is one, which is on legs. These are often more popular where there is a solid floor so that it is easier to run the waste water away. With a Resin-Stone tray, this can make it quite high off the floor.
Mushroom wastes
These are just the same as a waste with a grid but are often thought to be more attractive.
With taps and mixers, please check whether the tap or mixer of your choice is high or low pressure and that it is compatible with your water system.
Washer Type Taps & Mixers
Most taps and mixers with hand wheels have internals with a washer. These are generally suitable for high and low pressure water supplies. They can come as separate taps and mixers for baths, basins and bidets. Sometimes the heads (hand wheels) are extra; please check at the time of ordering.
Ceramic Disc Taps and Mixers
Ceramic disc Taps and Mixers generally will turn fully off to fully on in either a quarter or half a turn. Manufacturers claim that as they do not have a washer, that they are maintenance free. Ceramic disc taps and mixer may often have the same visual appearance as washer type taps. Some ceramic disk mixers are only suitable for high-pressure water supplies. Sometimes the heads (hand wheels) are extra; please check at the time of ordering. Often ceramic disk taps feature a form of lever to make the head easier to turn.
Basin Taps
Basin taps are the simplest way of filling a basin. As the water is unmixed it can be either very cold or very hot and scalding may occur.
Single lever mono basin mixer
Single lever mixers allow you to adjust the amount of water and the temperature by moving the lever either up & down or left to right. Please check at the time of ordering whether your choice is suitable for high or low pressure water supplies.
This is simply a basin mixer, which uses one tap hole - can be any of the above types. For ‘stand alone’ bowl type basins, where there is no tap hole, some mono basin mixers have extra height options.
Most monoblock basin mixers mix the hot and cold water and deliver through the spout. Some basin mixers do not actually mix the hot and cold supplies but deliver them separately through the spout. These are known as dual flow mixers and are suitable where the hot and cold supplies are not of equal pressure. These can also be known as dual or twin flow basin fillers.
3 tap hole basin mixer
3 Hole basin mixers generally use the outside holes for the handles while the central hole of the basin is used for the spout.
Wall mounted basin mixer
Some basins, especially ‘stand alone’ bowls do not have tap holes. They would normally work with a wall mounted basin mixer of which there are various different styles.
Bath Taps & Mixers
Some baths come with tap holes and some without. Often acrylic baths are supplied without tap holes so that you can choose what sort of bath mixer/filler you prefer and then drill the tap holes accordingly.
It is therefore important that you consider the type of bath you want together with the type of tap or mixer that is going to fill the bath.
Bath Taps
Bath taps are the simplest way of filling a bath and are suitable for all baths with a tap ledge. As the water is unmixed it can be either very cold or very hot and scalding may occur.
1 tap hole bath shower mixers
1 tap hole bath shower mixers are often mounted at the corner of a bath and are most suitable for acrylic baths without tap holes.
2 tap hole bath shower mixer
These are the same as a bath filler, except they come with a shower attachment.
Bath filler provides mixed hot and cold water for bathing but has no shower attachment. Can be either for one or two tap holes or wall mounted.
Overflow fill
An overflow bath fill system utilises the overflow hole in order to fill the bath as well as acting as an overflow and pop up waste control. These systems need to be used with a separate valve, such as a Grohtherm 3000 valve, which would be wall mounted.
4 tap hole bath shower mixer
There are a variety of multi whole bath mixers on the market; some may have shower handsets that pull out. These are generally suitable for acrylic baths with a wide rim. The holes can be easily drilled by your installer.
Wall mounted mixers
Many of the above types of bath or mixer can be wall mounted can come in wall mounted versions. There are several baths in our Complete Suite brochure, which are particularly suitable for wall mounted bath mixers.
If you have young children you may be concerned about the risk of scalding by hot bath water. There is a variety of thermostatic bath mixers from the leading brands available, which controls the temperature of the mixed water.
If you are choosing a wall mounted spout, please ensure that the reach is far enough into the bath to clear any pop up operation knobs or slopes in the bath as watermarks will occur in time.
As with other taps and mixers, please check whether the tap or mixer of your choice is high or low pressure and that it is compatible with your water system.
