Choosing the Best Shower Type for Your Bathroom: A Complete Guide (2025)

Choosing the Best Shower Type for Your Bathroom

Choosing the right shower for your bathroom is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during a renovation or upgrade. With so many options available, from mixer showers to electric models, it can be difficult to determine what will best suit your home’s needs. In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of showers, their pros and cons, and what to consider based on your bathroom layout, water system, and personal preferences.

1. Electric Showers: The Quick Convenient Option

Electric showers are often chosen for their simplicity and the fact that they heat water on demand, meaning you never run out of hot water. They’re an excellent choice for homes with limited space or where only one shower is in use at a time.

Why Choose:

Considerations:

✅ Instant Hot Water: Electric showers heat water as it flows through the unit, ensuring you have hot water whenever you need it.
✅ Easy Installation: Since they don’t rely on your central heating system, electric showers are straightforward to install and can be a good solution for homes without a boiler or where a quick bathroom upgrade is needed.
✅ No Need for a Hot Water Supply: Unlike mixer showers, electric showers don’t depend on a hot water supply from a boiler or cylinder, which makes them ideal for smaller homes or properties without an established water system.

❌ Energy Efficiency: While electric showers only heat the water you use, they can be less energy-efficient overall compared to other water heating systems. A 10kW electric shower consumes a significant amount of energy, which makes them less efficient than alternatives like a heat pump or a modern A rated boiler.
❌ Water Pressure: Electric showers generally provide lower water pressure compared to mixer showers. Since they heat water on-demand, they rely on your mains water supply for pressure, which can result in a less powerful shower experience.
❌ Limited Flow Rate: Electric showers typically offer a lower flow rate than mixer showers, meaning the water stream may feel weaker, especially when set to higher

2. Mixer Showers: The Balanced Consistent Choice

Mixer showers combine hot and cold water from your system, giving you control over both the temperature and water flow. They offer a more powerful and consistent shower experience, as long as your system is properly configured.

Why Choose:

Considerations:

✅ Great Pressure (with the right system): If you have a high-pressure hot water system, such as a combi boiler or a gravity-fed system with sufficient pressure, mixer showers offer a great balance of water flow and temperature control.
✅ Consistent Temperature: Mixer showers maintain a consistent water temperature, which is a huge benefit compared to electric showers, where the water temperature can fluctuate based on water usage in the home.
✅ Ideal for Larger Bathrooms: Mixer showers work well for large bathrooms with space for a more traditional setup.

❌ Water Pressure Dependency: The performance of mixer showers depends heavily on your water system. If you’re using a combi boiler or a low-pressure system, the water pressure can be inconsistent, especially when multiple outlets are being used at the same time.
❌ Requires Hot Water Supply: Unlike electric showers, mixer showers rely on an existing hot water supply, meaning you could run out of hot water if your system isn’t large enough.

Concealed vs. Exposed Mixer Showers:

Concealed Mixer Showers:
These showers have the controls hidden within the wall, creating a sleek, modern, and minimalist look. Ideal for contemporary bathrooms where you want to keep things tidy and uncluttered.

Exposed Mixer Showers:
The controls and pipework are visible, giving a more traditional or industrial look. Exposed mixers are easier to install and maintain but may not provide the same clean aesthetic as concealed units.

3. Power Showers: Strengthening Boosting Low Pressure for a Strong Flow

If you’re struggling with low water pressure, a power shower can help increase the pressure, providing a strong and satisfying shower experience. Power showers rely on an integrated pump that boosts the water pressure to give you a more powerful stream. These are not very common these days

Why Choose:

Considerations:

✅ Boosts Water Pressure: Power showers are perfect for homes with low water pressure, offering a powerful flow of water even in less-than-ideal conditions.
✅ Consistent Flow: These showers provide a consistent, high-pressure water flow, which is ideal for those who love a strong, invigorating shower.

❌ Requires a Hot Water Supply: Like mixer showers, power showers depend on your hot water system. If you have limited hot water storage, this could affect performance.
❌ Needs a Pump: Power showers require an additional pump, meaning installation is more complex and can increase costs.

4. Unvented Hot Water Cylinders: The Best Perfect System for Multiple Showers

If your home has multiple showers or taps that need to run simultaneously, an unvented hot water cylinder is your best choice. These systems store hot water at pressure, meaning they can provide consistent water flow to multiple outlets without compromising pressure.

Why Choose:

Considerations:

✅ Consistent Pressure for Multiple Outlets: Unvented cylinders store hot water and distribute it at mains pressure, making them ideal for homes with multiple bathrooms. You won’t experience pressure drops even when using multiple showers or taps at the same time.
✅ More Reliable Hot Water: Unlike combi boilers, which may struggle when multiple outlets are in use, unvented cylinders ensure hot water is available for everyone in the house.
✅ Great for Larger Homes: Perfect for larger homes or those with high demand for hot water.

❌ Installation Requirements: Unvented systems require a professional installation and must comply with building regulations. You’ll need adequate space for the cylinder and associated pipework.
❌ Water Pressure Dependency: Since these cylinders rely on mains pressure, homes with low mains pressure may require a booster pump to maintain strong flow.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Shower for Your Bathroom

Choosing the best shower type for your bathroom comes down to your water system, the number of people in your home, and your style preferences. Whether you opt for the instant hot water of an electric shower, the balanced performance of a mixer shower, or the high-pressure benefits of a power shower, the key is to choose a system that meets your needs.

If you’re unsure about which shower system is right for you, don’t hesitate to consult with experts who can assess your bathroom and water system to help you make the best decision. At EPM, we can guide you through choosing the perfect shower to suit your home’s needs.

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