Aside from offering an opportunity to belt out your favorite tune, shower sessions are highly therapeutic. They allow you to shut the world away for a moment and unwind as you cleanse your body. It is thus no wonder that, for most people, shower time is an almost sacred affair.
Choosing the right shower system for your bathroom is the first step towards enjoying such blissful shower experiences. It can, however, be a challenging task given all the options available and the plumbing semantics involved. Add budgetary issues to that and it gets even more confusing.
Well, fret not, here are top considerations to guide you as you hunt for the right shower system for your needs.
Water Pressure
For any type of shower to work efficiently, it requires a certain amount of water pressure. Large shower heads, for instance, often require higher water pressure to run. If the pressure is too low, they can malfunction or underperform.
Before you begin shopping for your shower, find out what the water pressure levels are in your home. No, eye-balling it will not be sufficient but you can get a pressure gauge and run a quick test. Alternatively, you could call in a plumber to check the pressure for you. This might be a better option because they might be able to advise you if any water pressure issues need fixing.
Once you are appraised of your pressure levels, you can compare the readings to the minimum pressure ratings indicated on showers. If a shower exceeds the pressure levels of your water supply, you may need to explore other options or consider installing a water pump.
Your Preferred Shower Experience
What would be the ideal shower experience for you? Do you enjoy scalding hot showers? Lots of water? Or perhaps some steam to clean out your pores? While these questions may sound vain, their answers could help you zero in on a specific type of shower.
If you are keen on high water volumes, options such as rain and waterfall-style showers would be ideal. On the other hand, if you prefer steaming, look out for shower systems with mist and or steam generator features.
Body showers are highly recommended if you enjoy hydrotherapy. They consist of multiple facets that jet water towards your body at different angles. With the right pressure setting, this type of shower system could feel like a nice deep tissue massage.
Environmental Consciousness
On average, about 12-15 liters of water or more are used per minute in a shower. On top of that, the longer your shower session, the higher the power consumption. If you are environmentally conscious, this should be the wake-up call to consider getting an eco-friendly shower.
Eco-friendly showers vary in design and mechanisms but their goal is the same, to conserve water and electricity. Some brands offer models that oscillate between mist and water rinses. Others are fitted with aerators which dispense less water at high pressure to reduce water wastage.
These are just a few of the options in the market but you will encounter many more. Aim for an eco-friendly model that strikes a balance between sustainable practices and a pleasant user experience.
Budget
The price range between shower system brands and models is quite vast. On the upside, that means you can find a shower for almost any reasonable budget. On the flip side, too many options can equally be overwhelming.
As you weigh your options, keep in mind that expensive showers are not necessarily better. The more important thing to consider would perhaps be value. What features does a shower system offer? Are they commensurate with the pricing? Does the model have a reputation for being durable?
It is also advisable that your budget accommodates possible extra costs such as installation and other accessories you might need. You could try and mitigate such costs by asking the dealer if they offer installation services.
Safety
There are 2 aspects to shower safety: water control and electrical safety. Both are crucial influences on
Water control entails ensuring that the water flow is adequate for the shower system to run as it should. If your water flow levels fluctuate a lot, consider having your plumber install a control valve in your bathroom. This would allow you to conveniently regulate the water flow whenever necessary. Visit XHVAL to learn more about your control valve options.
On electrical safety, ensure that the shower system is properly installed and is compatible with the power output of the electrical wiring in your house. If you have children, consider safe alternatives like thermostatic showers that you can preset at an ideal temperature. This would eliminate the risk of them fiddling with it and putting themselves in danger.
Summarily, Water and electricity are ordinarily a combination for disasters like electrocution. For this reason, it is advisable that you:
Buy only authentic shower systems
Have a professional install your shower unless you are knowledgeable in how to do it
Follow the manufacturer’s user instructions to the letter
Conclusion
A good shower is a long-term investment. So, while finding the right one may feel a bit tedious, it is worth the effort. In addition to the ideas on this list, do not shy away from taking a peek at product reviews. While they are subjective opinions, they could give you some useful insights on which brands to focus on.
