| Remember the old days when a household shower | | | | increase for a number of reasons. Firstly, there's the |
| was nothing more than two rubber cups that | | | | environmental issue - instantaneous showers are 99 |
| resembled the implement used for milking cows had | | | | per cent efficient as they only heat the water |
| to be fitted over the hot and cold tap? Not the most | | | | required and used. This compares sharply to other |
| high-tech product ever invented I'm sure you'd agree. | | | | shower concepts, many of which rely on large |
| And then there was the age old problem of either | | | | volumes of stored hot water. |
| freezing or scalding yourself every time someone | | | | With the emphasis for the trade and homeowners |
| else in the house decided to run a tap, a bit like | | | | increasingly being on energy efficiency [ |
| shower Russian roulette. But we've moved on a lot | | | | instantaneous showers will doubtless remain a clear |
| since those days. | | | | choice for consumers wishing to do their bit for the |
| The electric shower, perhaps once looked upon as | | | | environment Secondly, there's the ongoing trend for |
| more functional than stylish is now competing with | | | | homeowners to renovate and extend properties |
| many other household items as the must have | | | | rather than moving house, a trend that's likely to |
| product for the house. Electric showers have evolved | | | | continue if the housing market levels out as |
| from the simple on - off unit of 10 - 15 years ago | | | | forecasters are predicting. Instantaneous showers |
| into high-tech designer toys for the upwardly mobile. | | | | are the perfect solution for second bathrooms or |
| Shower cubicles with build in steam and sauna | | | | en-suites, being simple and easy to install as well as |
| settings are readily available on the market, these | | | | taking up minimal space compared to a standard bath. |
| usually come complete with a built in radio to keep | | | | Finally, it's about consumer choice. The majority of |
| you entertained whilst you steam away. Who wants | | | | bathroom fixtures and fittings chosen and installed by |
| to stand up in a steam room or sauna whilst listening | | | | consumers in their home are chrome, which is firmly |
| to the radio? Why not sit down? These electric | | | | established as the chic and stylish material and finish |
| showers also come with a little seat to keep you | | | | for both contemporary and traditional bathrooms. |
| comfortable as you relax, and as if that wasn't | | | | However, whilst 95 per cent of the mixer tap valve |
| enough you can even get an electric shower with a | | | | market is made up of chrome units, the choice of |
| water massage facility. If you can't be bothered to | | | | electric and power showers is much more limited. |
| wait for your shower to heat up why not get a | | | | Instantaneous shower manufacturers have |
| remote controlled version that at the press of a | | | | developed showers available in classic white and |
| button allows you to chose a pre-set temperature | | | | chrome in response to the consumer market and |
| for your shower, turns the shower on, and even tells | | | | demand. |
| you when it's up to temperature. Now that's | | | | As with most markets, the manufacturers will |
| evolution. | | | | produce what ever they think the markets desires |
| Electric showers now make up 52 per cent of the | | | | and with the power of the consumer growing ever |
| overall shower market with approximately 1.4 million | | | | stronger who knows where the evolution of the |
| instantaneous electric shower units sold in 2006. And | | | | electric shower will end? |
| the appeal of the instantaneous shower looks set to | | | | |