| If you are thinking about changing your shower you | | | | sequential valve has a single lever that works rather |
| may well have looked around a few bathroom shops | | | | like the knob on your cooker. When the lever is fully |
| and been surprised by the number of choices you | | | | anti-clockwise the shower is off. As you rotate the |
| have. Even choosing a shower valve can be a | | | | lever it turns the shower turns on. With a sequential |
| confusing business so here's a guide to tell you what | | | | valve "on" means fully on so you have full pressure |
| is what when it comes to showers. | | | | straight away. As you rotate the lever further you |
| Manual Shower Valves | | | | increase the temperature of the water. |
| This is the most basic type of shower. Most manual | | | | Shower Panels |
| showers have a single lever control that you use to | | | | A recent newcomer is the shower panel or shower |
| control the flow of the water and the temperature. | | | | tower. This is a single unit that contains everything |
| They are very simple to use and usually are not | | | | you need for a sensational shower. Specifications |
| expensive. | | | | vary but usually include a shower valve (often |
| Thermostatic Shower Valves | | | | thermostatic), a diverter, a fixed shower head, a |
| The great advantage of a thermostatic shower valve | | | | hand held shower and several body jets. Shower |
| is that it can provide a constant, even temperature | | | | panels are easy to install but can require quite high |
| and cope with fluctuations in the flow and | | | | water pressure to work well so you may want to |
| temperature of the hot and cold water feeds. Most | | | | install a shower pump as well. |
| thermostatic valves have extra anti-scald safety | | | | Customized Showers |
| features and will cut off the flow of water if the cold | | | | These days, shower components are standardized |
| water supply fails. | | | | enough that you can pretty much pick and choose |
| Concealed and Exposed Valves | | | | the parts you want to create the shower of your |
| Concealed / Exposed refers to the way the shower | | | | dreams. You can choose from hundreds of shower |
| valve is mounted on the wall. A concealed shower | | | | valves, diverters and stop valves, have multiple |
| valve is built into the shower wall so that most of | | | | heads, ceiling mounted heads, riser rails, rigid risers or |
| the valve is hidden and only the control levers are | | | | body jets to build exactly the shower you want, |
| visible. An exposed valve is mounted onto the | | | | individual and customized to your own needs. After |
| shower wall so that the whole mechanism is visible. | | | | all, how else will you get a shower with 16 jets and a |
| Many shower valves can be mounted either exposed | | | | 12 inch shower heads? |
| or concealed. | | | | Electric Showers |
| Twin Shower Valves | | | | Electric showers heat the water as it passes through |
| Unlike a single lever valve, a twin valve has two | | | | the shower so they only need a cold water supply |
| controls, one control for the rate of water flow and | | | | so you have simpler plumbing and don't need any hot |
| a second control for the water temperature. | | | | water to run them. Electric showers are particularly |
| Triple Shower Valves | | | | popular in en-suites. |
| A triple valve has three controls; one for the water | | | | Power Showers |
| flow, one for the temperature and a third which is | | | | A power shower is basically a shower with a built in |
| usually a diverter. The diverter is useful if you have | | | | pump. A power shower needs both hot and cold |
| two shower heads. It's becoming more common to | | | | water supplies. A power shower does not heat the |
| have a fixed shower head above the shower and a | | | | water; it pumps water through and increased water |
| hand-held shower head as well. The diverter on a | | | | pressure, giving you a stronger shower. Power |
| triple shower valve allows you to select which | | | | showers are ideal where you have low water |
| shower head water is fed to. | | | | pressure, perhaps in a bungalow. |
| Sequential Shower Valves | | | | So there you have it. Not quite everything you need |
| This is one we get a lot of questions about. A | | | | to know about showers, but a good start! |