Bathroom Help
A Guide to Showers
How they operate
Different types of shower operate in different ways. Mixer showers take a hot and cold water feed from you existing water system and mix the water in a cartridge in the shower valve body. Water of the correct temperature (controlled by you through the use of a lever or handle) is then supplied through the showerhead. Electric showers take a cold water feed and heat the water over an electric element to supply water at your chosen temperature through the showerhead. Shower panels operate in a similar way to Mixer showers as they take a hot and cold water feeds, and blend them into your ideal temperature, they will however require a higher water pressure due to the body jets and choice of shower heads.
Production
Mixer showers are generally manufactured from cast brass, with a ceramic disc cartridge, and maybe some decorative chrome plated plastic trims. Electric showers are made from plastic mouldings designed to be decorative and made to cover the electrical and other working parts of the shower. Shower panels are generally pre-plumbed to connect the shower valve, body jets and shower heads, they are easier to install than other shower types but will need a high pressure water supply.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Many household cleaners contain abrasives and chemical substances, and should not be used for cleaning plated or plastic fittings. These finishes should be cleaned with a mild washing up detergent or soap solution, and then wiped dry using a soft cloth.
Types of Showers
Mixer Showers Packs (sometimes called Thermostatic Shower Valves), these have a valve that mixes the hot and cold water the water for your shower is then delivered either through a slide rail and shower head or a fixed shower head; Electric Showers allow a cold water supply to be heated within the unit delivering an invigorating hot shower through a slide rail handset; Shower Panels and the other main style of bathroom shower, these usually have a choice of headsets and integrated body jets.
Electric Showers
Electric showers operate from the cold water feed in your home. The water is heated by an electric element in the shower unit. Electric showers are generally suitable for high and low pressure systems. The power of water flow from an electric shower goverened by the electrical the wattage, the higher the watts, the more water the shower can heat as it passes over the element.
How to clean electric showers: Many household cleaners contain abrasives and chemical substances, and should not be used for cleaning plated or plastic fittings. These finishes should be cleaned with a mild washing up detergent or soap solution, and then wiped dry using a soft cloth.
Shower Panels
Shower panels are complete showering systems that usually include body jets and a choice of shower heads. They require a hot and cold water feed, usually with a minimum of 2.0 bar pressure. These panels are suitable for fully modulating combi boilers, pumped water systems and high pressure unvented heating systems. A shower panel usually has a thermostat to regulate the water temperature to prevent extremes of heat, they also have a diverter that allows water to be diverted between the overhead shower head, a hand held shower head, and body jets or rain bars. Please note these functions only work independently, not together.
How to clean shower panels: Many household cleaners contain abrasives and chemical substances, and should not be used for cleaning plated or plastic fittings. These finishes should be cleaned with a mild washing up detergent or soap solution, and then wiped dry using a soft cloth.
Mixer Shower Packs
A mixer shower (sometimes called a thermostatic mixer valve) requires both hot and cold water feeds usually with a minimum of 0.1 bar pressure. Thermostatic mixer showers are normally suitable for fully modulating combi boilers, gravity fed hot water systems and high pressure unvented heating systems. Thermostatic mixer showers operate with a large ceramic disc inside a cartridge, the disc opens to allow the water through the shower valve. Mixer valves sold by Big Bathroom Shop are also fitted with a thermostat to help regulate the water temperature thus avoidiing extremes of temperature and preventing scalding.
How to clean mixer shower packs: Many household cleaners contain abrasives and chemical substances, and should not be used for cleaning plated or plastic fittings. These finishes should be cleaned with a mild washing up detergent or soap solution, and then wiped dry using a soft cloth.
Bath Screens
The majority of bath screens these days are frameless; that is to say they are made from 6mm toughened safety glass, which is fitted to a hinge mechanism. The glass usually has no frame around it giving a contemporary, modern feel to the scarren. This hinge is then fitted to an adjustable wall channel during installation.
How to clean bath screens: After use, your bath screen should be cleaned with soap and water, and then dried with a clean cloth. This is particularly important in hard water districts where insoluble lime salts may be deposited on the product.
