There’s nothing like a rejuvenating blast from a power shower to awaken the senses and set you up for the day.
But what is a power shower and how does it differ from other types of shower systems? Let’s dive into the world of power showers and highlight the key features and benefits.
What is a Power Shower? All You Need to Know
Power showers are like traditional mixer showers in that both combine hot and cold water from your supply to achieve the perfect temperature. But unlike mixer showers, power showers also come with a built-in pump that increases the water pressure to deliver a more enhanced and satisfying shower experience.
Using a gravity-fed system, hot and cold water from the tanks is delivered to the power shower. A valve then mixes the water until the ideal temperature is reached before the pressure is boosted by the pumps, resulting in a revitalising and refreshing shower.
Power showers have become popular with most modern bathroom designs and homes with hot and cold water tanks. As well as being a simple and cost-effective shower solution, installing a power shower will make weak and feeble showers a thing of the past.
What are the Key Benefits of a Power Shower?
The main reason for choosing a power shower over other types of showers is that it makes a huge difference to homes with older plumbing systems and low water pressure.
If you live in a property with a cold water tank in the attic that feeds a hot water tank elsewhere, a power shower will give your water pressure a much-needed boost and significantly more oomph when you come to take a shower.
How does a power shower do this? By taking water from the cold pipe, mixing it with heated water from your hot water tank, and pumping it through the shower head, turning an annoying trickle into a satisfying cascade.
As well as the one obvious advantage of power showers over traditional mixer showers, they are still an affordable and cost-effective solution to low water pressure for many homes.
What are the Different Types of Power Showers?
There are two main types of power showers: thermostatic power showers and manual power showers. But what is the difference?
1. Thermostatic Power Showers
A thermostatic power shower delivers a constant temperature and pressure level regardless of other influences like someone running a tap or flushing the toilet. Simply set your desired temperature and the thermostatic power shower will do the rest. That way, you’ll avoid any spikes or sudden drops in water temperature and also benefit from a steady water flow.
Thermostatic power showers contain a smart tool that continuously monitors and automatically adjusts the water temperature and flow rate to provide an optimum shower experience. They are popular with high-occupancy homes and families keen to avoid the risk of sudden temperature spikes and unsatisfactory showers.
2. Manual Power Showers
Whereas thermostatic power showers adjust the temperature and water flow automatically, manual power showers rely on the user. That means you’ll manually have to turn the temperature dial with your hand while you’re showering until you reach the right heat.
While thermostatic solutions provide a consistent temperature and water flow regardless of what else is happening in the home, a manual shower won’t. As a result, you may find your water pressure drops when someone else turns on a tap in another room, and you may also experience bursts of hotter or colder water while you take a shower.
Are Power Showers Suitable for Every Home?
No, some circumstances make power showers unsuitable for certain homes. The biggest factor is the boiler itself and whether your property has a combination boiler, a pressurised system, or a gravity-fed system.
When it comes to low pressure shower systems, it is often found that many homes have dedicated pumps for either one shower or a pump for several products in the house. The risk with a pump or power shower with a cold water tank and heating cylinder, is that you may run out of water.
Therefore, not all homes are necessarily ‘suitable’ for a power shower. However, if low water pressure is an issue your home faces, then consider upgrading your boiler system as this could provide the most effective solution.
Are Power Showers Compatible with Combination Boilers?
As a rule, power showers are not compatible with combi boilers. This is because combi boilers take water from the mains and heat it as and when required.
Are Power Showers Compatible with Pressurised Water Systems?
Again, due to the way that pressurised systems fill their hot water tank directly from the mains supply, it is not compatible with a power shower.
If your home has either a combination boiler or a pressurised system, the most suitable type of shower is a standard mixer or digital shower in your bathroom or wetroom. Of course, you can also improve the flow of water coming from your shower by simply choosing a different type of shower head.
Ultimately, in the majority of cases, power showers are recommended for homes with gravity-fed water systems only.
What is the Difference Between a Power Shower and an Electric Shower?
The main difference between a power shower and a standard mixer shower is the pump that forces water through the pipes at a higher pressure to achieve a better shower experience. But the difference between a power shower and an electric shower is a little more subtle.
When a power shower combines a cold water feed with water taken from a hot water tank commonly stored in an airing cupboard, it causes the water pressure to drop. The power shower’s in-built pump then kicks in to boost the pressure so that you end up with a powerful water flow from your shower head.
An electric shower, on the other hand, only uses cold mains water for the supply. It takes this cold water and passes it through an internal heater tank which heats it almost instantly until you reach your desired temperature.
In theory, electric showers should never run out of water which makes them popular in high-occupancy homes where the shower is in almost constant use. Not only that, but any problems you may experience with your boiler or hot water tank will have zero impact on the performance of an electric shower, and they also tend to be cheaper than other types of shower applications, making them ideal for low-cost bathroom renovations.
Is a Power Shower Part of Your Next Bathroom Project?
At KNB, we’ll help you incorporate a power shower into your next bathroom or wetroom project. With over 30 years of experience in modern, bespoke, and traditional bathroom design, renovation, and installation, you can trust us for all your bathroom needs. Request a brochure or contact us today.