New shower for bathroom needed - what type?

[Deleted User]

4 bed house so we've got a regular boiler not a combi. i.e. you need to heat water up to use.

Got an existing shower in the ensuite. Pretty sure its not powered.

Want to add a shower to the main bathroom. Currently there are the mixer taps on the bath with shower bit.

Whats the best way to achieve? Can I just buy new taps/shower bit?
Will I need a powered pump? I guess cold will be at mains pressure but hot will be from hot water tank so will this provide enough pressure?

Remember in old house we had a power shower but this had a cold tank in the attic so I guess thats why?

wallbash

but hot will be from hot water tank so will this provide enough pressure?

Most older houses have this set up and many are happy

Personally I would be looking at a cheap ' Can I just buy new taps/shower bit?' for the family/ main bathroom and invest in a really nice power set up for the ensuite .

Can't remember when I last used the bath in the main bath room ( and that has a jacuzzi)

Owain_Moneysaver

You need to find out whether your cold and hot are at mains pressure at the bath. You can't assume.

Mains pressure is preferred.

Most showers will require both sides to be at the same pressure. If you have mains cold and loft tank hot then you can pump the hot, or fit a pressure balancing valve on the cold to drop the cold pressure.

How well do the mixer taps currently work?

You can get bath mounting (deck mount) thermostatic mixer showers eg

http://www.qssupplies.co.uk/bathroom-furniture-shower-taps/78032.htm

alan.t

as above, you need to check if mains pressure or gravity fed hot water system, if gravity the pressure of the hot will be the same as the cold water, and will mean you need a low pressure shower or a pumped shower. Huge variation on the market, stick to british based suppliers if possible, every shower and taps will need spares at some point, if you go too cheap you will never get spares and pay more in the long run. A decent bar type shower can be had for little over £100 if you want something really fancy check out the latest ranges of digital showers, great gadgets and performance

notanewuser

We had a similar dilemma a few years ago. Kept shower as was in ensuite (just changed enclosure and tiles) and added an electric shower over the bath in the main bathroom. Replaced the mixer tap with a mixer tap and shower set. So now we're covered in the event the boiler breaks down (and they do!) or if we're without power.

[Deleted User]

We have no cold tank just one hot tank it seems. House is 2000.

Apparently its an unvented pressurised system which I think, means hot and cold water at pressure?

alan.t

Spot on with the hot and cold at pressure. just check when ordering the shower you are getting one that is suitable for high pressure(most are nowadays)

Socksey

And whatever you do... don't get a cheap plastic valve... they leak.... with potentially catastrophic results... :-(