Which Power Shower to Choose

Power showers are showers that utilise a mixer unit with an internal pump which helps boost the water pressure that flows to the shower head. A power shower will have to be installed in a property in a low water pressure area. These are usually more suited to properties which have the cold water tank in the attic and the hot water in the boiler normally found in the airing cupboard. A power shower will not work with a combination boiler and it is not required if the water pressure is already high.

Combination boilers work by heating the mains water once the tap has been turned on. Houses with combination boilers should only need a mixer shower or if the pressure needs to be boosted, an electric shower which has an electric pump will help. A plumber may be required before installing a power shower to evaluate how much water your tank holds. This is because a power shower requires a large quantity of water to function properly.

Some people may worry that the pump may look bulky and unattractive, but some pumps can be sealed behind the wall of the shower leaving only the showerhead and the controls on display, although these types tend to be harder to install.

Power showers come with all kinds of features such as thermostatic controls, easy clean shower heads, eco-settings, multiple spray settings, height adjustable shower heads and automatic shut down. Thermostatic control allows the required temperature to remain constant even if the water supply is used somewhere else in the house such as the toilet or the kitchen tap. It is less likely that the shower head will block up from limescale by using an easy clean shower head. Preventing the shower head from blocking up ensures that the water flow will remain even.

Eco settings reduce the power by using natural gravity, therefore saving water. Multiple shower spray settings allow the individual user to choose from a range of relaxing water sprays to a more intense spray. The advantage of height adjustable shower heads is that it makes the shower more suitable for everyone in the house, from adults down to children. The automatic shut down feature is perfect and should be an essential feature when choosing a power shower as it ensures that the system will stop should the water supply stop for any reason.

Shower cubicles are a better choice for power showers than over the bath due to the high pressure involved as the walls of a shower cubicle will help to control the water better than a shower curtain or a screen over the bath.