North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Showers’ Category

Most people tend to choose a rectangular or square shower tray, thus overlooking a strong new contender in the market. The quadrant shower tray and its close relative, the offset quadrant shower tray, are designed as two squares connected by a curve. The difference between the quadrant and the offset quadrant is that the offset shape is different, being longer than the quadrant tray, with one long curve in the front.

Shower trays form the base of a shower and are an ideal solution for a shower enclosure with odd angles or design. Quadrant and offset trays are widely available and fit in nicely with the minimalist or modern shower design. Another quality that makes them attractive is that they take up less floor space in comparison to regular shower trays, yet compare favourably in cost and quality.

There are other factors to consider with all shower trays. Make sure you choose one with a non-slippery surface. Take careful measurements of the bathroom floor and the height of the bathroom, so that you choose the right size. Quadrant and offset quadrant trays do require a higher drainage system, and if you have opted for a high pressure shower, you must consider the depth of the shower tray before making your purchase.

The quadrant and offset quadrant shower trays will certainly add a distinct and attractive flair to the look of your design. Bathroom suppliers like UK Bathrooms can help you choose the right shower tray for your bathroom.

Before you install a new shower system, you will need to determine the type of shower system that works best in your situation. The available water system will play a key part in deciding which one is the right one.

*If water pressure is not an issue, the easiest and cheapest system is a mixer system. A mixer tap is connected to a hose and shower head. Water force and temperature is controlled by hot and cold taps. No additional plumbing is necessary; however available water pressure is a factor.

*A power shower relies on an electric pump to maintain adequate water flow. Power showers don’t work with well with water supplied by a combi-boiler under mains pressure and, due to the fast rate of water flow, they require an adequately-sized drain pipe to ensure water drains properly.

*Electric showers are fitted wall units that are plumbed into the cold water supply with an electrical element heating the water. Because electric showers require an electric circuit, a certified electrician must check your work to ensure it complies with appropriate wiring regulations.

*Manual and thermostatic mixer systems are wall units that use dials to mix hot and cold water and control the water flow.  The thermostatic system includes a built-in stabiliser to prevent too-cold or too-hot water.

*A shower tower combines a thermostatic mixer with adjustable jets. This type of system requires at least 2200 mm of ceiling height to work efficiently.

Not everyone has a big bathroom. Some must settle for just a shower, and even then it needs to fit compactly into a corner for there to be any room whatsoever left to move around in the bathroom. If you are planning a bathroom remodel, and this sounds like the amount of space you have to work with, then consider going with a quadrant shower cubicle.

Not only do quadrant shower cubicles sit tightly in the corner, but they have a curved front to take up less space than the traditional square or rectangle shower cubicles. You can also opt for an offset quadrant shower cubicle, which has one side longer than the other and adds a bit more room to the shower area. Both types of quadrant shower cubicles sit in a shower tray, which raises it up off the floor, allowing for easy installation and access later to pipes.

Quadrant shower cubicles also come with a variety of door options. Choose a quadrant shower cubicle with one shower door or two, sliding or fixed. If you decide on one shower door it can often be adjusted so that it opens left instead or right, or the opposite. That kind of flexibility adds to the appeal of quadrant shower cubicles.

When deciding which size of quadrant shower cubicle will work best in your bathroom space, take the measurements from one you like then use tape or string to mark where it will sit, then take into account opening doors and getting in and out. If it’s too tight, or you have plenty of room, adjust accordingly and choose a different size.

Do you dread taking a shower, because the shower head drips and dribbles water, never rinsing the shampoo from your hair completely? Do you keep turning the mixer taps, hoping they will magically deliver strong water pressure for once? If so, then you should consider installing a shower pump in your home.

The traditional water systems found in British homes are gravity-fed and rely on the height of the water tank to determine water pressure. The result: water pressure as low as 0.1 bar. When you add a shower pump to the system, you see improvements in water pressure, sometimes up to 3.0 bar depending on the pump.

You will need to hire a professional to install a shower pump. He will start by looking at your water system, as not all will work well with a shower pump. Small homes should have at least a 120 litre cylinder for hot water and 225 litre cold water storage. Larger homes should have a 166 litre cylinder and 450 litre capacity.

We found three different shower pumps available at betterbathrooms.com. The PR50D pump offers 1.5 bar, the BP65D delivers 2 bar, and the BP100D increases water pressure up to 3 bar. You can’t just choose the most powerful pump, though, and expect 3 bar throughout your home. Depending on the situation, it may deliver 2 bar water pressure. Your professional installer will help you pick out the right pump for your home’s needs.

Running a water pump does come with a bit of noise, but since you’ll be in the shower – taking longer than usual now that you have water pressure – you probably won’t be able to hear it.

1. You can run two showers at the same time. Electric showers do not tap stored hot water. Instead, they draw in cold water and heat it in the shower, as it is needed. If your home has low hot-water pressure, the traditional shower can use the stored hot water while the electric shower pulls in cold water to be heated in the shower.

2. Multiple showers can be taken in a row. As long as you have electricity, everyone will get a hot shower. Electric showers work well for families with many members.

3. You can take long, hot showers. Electric showers allow you to take as long as you like, and never again fear that cold water will come blasting out of the shower head. No one likes that moment.

4. If you live alone, you won’t ever have to mess with mixer taps again. With electric showers, you set your temperature just once. There are also separate flow controls with electric showers. Again, set them just the one time.

5. Electric showers are more energy efficient, as they only heat the water when it is used. Opt for electric showers if you want to save money in this area of your monthly budget.

Electric showers come in multiple shower head styles and finishes, including white, chrome and satin. Installation should be done by a qualified professional.

Adding a shower pump to a shower that is fed by a gravity feed hot water tank will greatly improve its performance. If you want to fit a mixer shower that works from an ordinary gravity fed system it is essential to consider the rate of flow that you can get from your shower head. In other words you need to know how much water can get through it. You will need 0.5 bar of water pressure to make it work properly and even then if someone turns on the water in another part of the house the water can go scalding hot, or freezing cold because the balance will be lost.

If you turn on your bath taps as far as they will go you will be able to see if the rate of flow is equal between hot and cold water. If one is coming through at a higher pressure the shower will not work as well as it should.

The way to resolve this problem is to fit a shower pump that pushes the water to your shower head at a greater pressure and gives a much better shower. This sounds like a good solution but you will need to have a large hot water storage tank to use a shower pump because it will use up to 25 litres of hot water per minute and a normal sized tank will empty very fast. 

To judge how much hot water you can store in your hot water tank monitor it for a few days and see how full you can get the bath before the hot water runs out. You may need to replace your hot water tank with a larger one before you can fit a shower pump.

If you want to fit a new electric shower always check out the existing cable and never assume that it will be suitable to use for your new installation. You might have to fit a new fuse and a new cable which goes right back to the electricity consumer unit. This is a job for an electrician. If you are not sure what is required it is always good practice to consult a plumber, or an electrician and get their advice.

Another thing to consider is how hard the water in your area is. Limescale builds up quickly inside electric showers and this is usually what finally leads to the need to replace them. Titanium lined showers which will not collect limescale deposits are available and these will give your shower many more years of life.

If you are using a combination boiler and the water is turned on somewhere else in the house the water pressure drops and the remainder becomes scalding hot, then the thermostat in the shower switches off and you freeze. To resolve this you could fit a thermostatic electric shower or even opt for a shower that uses the hot water from your combination boiler.

If you are in any doubt about the best solution for you, the best way to decide is to take a note of your current boiler type, shower type and wiring system and ask an expert to recommend the easiest and most practical way for you to fit a shower that meets your requirements.

Plastic shower curtains are the stereotypical choice for most bathrooms. However, why not experiment with different patterns and colours? Too often, white curtains reduce the bathroom to antiseptic conformity, clashing with the rest of the accessories and quickly looking dirty and tatty.

Nowadays, shower curtains are manufactured in a range of fabrics. Have you thought about canvas as a relatively cheap alternative? Many stores now offer high-quality, beautifully coloured, durable canvas curtains. They are ideal in a steamy environment, as the material is wrinkle resistant. There is no reason to throw away your old plastic shower curtain, simply stitch it to the shower-facing side of the canvas curtain and make it completely waterproof.

Polyester is another fabric rapidly increasing in popularity. Like canvas, it is a woven material and feels fabulously tough and smooth. A definite bonus is its easy to clean finish and wide variety of prints and designs, a real benefit for a household with children.

Two other materials enjoying a resurgence with interior designers and the fashion conscious are silk and satin. Both give your bathroom a sense of style and decadence. Anyone who has ever shopped for fabrics will know what a stunning the range of colours and finishes these materials are available in.

Although not waterproof, a relatively good-quality plastic or polyester shower curtain can easily be attached to the fabric and will instantly create a lovely warm atmosphere to any bathroom.

So, with a little sense of adventure, your bathroom could be transformed from a dull, functional washing room into an oasis of style and comfort.

Choosing a new bath is an investment, but what you pay for will be more than recompensed by the hours of pleasure it will give you. Think how much time you spend soaking away the cares of a busy lifestyle. Why settle for anything less than luxuriating in the bath of your choice?

There are many different types of bath to choose from. Naturally, what you buy will be dictated by the amount of space you have to work with. However, baths now come in many different sizes. If you have a very small bathroom, you could always purchase a vertical Japanese-style vertical soaking bath.

Even the most basic bath can now be found in a range of dazzling colours. There is no rule that forces you to have a standard white model. Match it with a brand new colour scheme. Make it the focal point of your bathroom and complement it with other accessories, such as towels and bathmats.

If you have a dual-purpose shower bath arrangement, don’t forget to factor in the shower curtain. These come in a multitude of colours, styles and designs and anyway, why stop at a plastic curtain? Buy fabric; hemp and cotton are relatively cheap. All you need is a shower curtain liner in vinyl to thoroughly waterproof it.

Scatter scented candles around the edge of the bath and perhaps add some plants. Many enthusiasts create miniature Japanese gardens in glass tanks and line the shelves next to the bath with fascinating creations.

Choosing the right bath taps for your bathroom suite may be a lot harder than you think. The vast range on offer means that you will definitely be spoilt for choice. Of course, the modern fittings will always prove popular, especially with anyone who is living in a relatively new house or apartment.

Single (monobloc) bath taps are now a common sight with the majority of new bathroom suites and not only will they save you plenty of space around the head of your bath, but they will also complement any modern design. Wall-mounted bath taps, however, are also becoming more widespread and will give a sleeker appearance to your bathroom.

Chrome is easily the finish of choice for modern bathrooms, but if you want to add a touch of tradition, gold coloured or bronze bath taps will be the best option. For stand-alone baths, they will also be the most obvious choice. These old-style fittings come in a range of different categories, such as Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian, so if you are trying to match up your bath taps to any other fittings, accessories or furniture, be sure that it is part of the same style. Mixing brand names is also something that is never recommended.

Since the arrival of power showers, combining showerheads with bathroom taps is not as popular as it once was, but if you feel installing an electric shower in your new stylish bathroom will take away from its character, there are a variety of options that will suit both modern and vintage designs.