Let the good times flow in the bathroom

Saturday, July 07, 2012

Enhancing the water system in your home will ensure sensory pleasure, says Kya deLongchamps

We are a nation of shower lovers, but standing exposed in a stream of water, we expect a vibrant, effective, sensory experience. Matching your shower to the water system in your home, will ensure sensory pleasure over a damp squib.

Gravity-fed mixer showers: Traditional mixer showers use the same water that feeds your kitchen, laundry and bathroom. With part of the water descending from the cold-storage tank and mixing with water from the hot-water storage, the weight of water will depend on where the loft tank is in relation to the shower head. Have your plumber determine if an extra pump will be needed to avoid a feeble spit from the ‘head’ of water: 0.5bar is the minimum for anything approaching an invigorating feed — 3-4m distance between shower head and tank should be enough.

Shower pumps for gravity-fed, low pressure: To opt into the luxury of say a tower shower (added directional jets from an upright column) demands pressure. Pumps deliver more water per minute through a dedicated hot-and-cold supply. In a power shower, the pump is integrated into the shower and the shower technology finely controls pressure and temperature. Alternatively, a separate pump unit can be concealed within four metres of the hot-water cylinder and linked to any shower. The hot press is generally ideal. With extra, pumped muscle, a small tank will be quickly emptied of hot water by a generous mixer spray head, running at 11-25 litres per minute. Consider increasing the capacity of your hot water tank from the get-go. A pump can generally only be fitted to a gravity-fed, low-pressure system and your plumber can balance out a high and low pressure supply, between the cold and hot water, with a dedicated valve.

Electric showers: Electric showers draw mains water, heating the supply as it’s drawn over an element in the unit’s housing, adjusting automatically to stabilise the chosen temperature to around +/- 1.5C. Cheaper than erratic use of the immersion, and using about 30% of the water of a power shower, electric showers are ideal if you have low pressure, don’t have gallons of hot water always available, and want a shower ready at any hour of the day. A tank-fed, pumped electric shower, such as the Triton 80i, can overcome seriously ropey pressure.

Standard electric showers work independently of your domestic hot-water system, and can be installed by a RECI qualified electrician and competent plumber in a couple of hours. It will be linked back to the main fuse box by its own independent circuit and RCD.

The only slight disappointment with electric showers, especially marked if you have a deep, private well, is its seasonal performance. In winter, when the ground temperature is lower, it takes more of the shower’s energy to heat the water, reducing the power of the flow. Economy settings save wattage in the summer when the incoming supply is warmer. The unit housing the shower is a little bulkier than a non-electric mixer, but in sleek chrome and glass, confections such as Triton Aspirant are far from unattractive.

Combination boiler and sealed water systems: Ideal as a mixer, a combi-boiler system heats water as you need it. You can tell if you have a combination boiler system by the lack of storage (immersion tank), and if you do, the system is under pressure and the flow rate is fine for a mixer shower at 12-15 litres per minute. There is a slight delay when starting up, as the water travels from the boiler to the shower head, but, oil or gas-fed, they are convenient and energy-efficient. If you enjoy a modern, sealed (pressure) water system, the water pressure will ensure a forceful shower balanced for temperature at source. Don’t attach a pump if your pressure is anywhere near 1.5 bar or you’ll be blown out of the bath riding on a soap tray.

Thermostatic showers: A dedicated thermostatic model ensures a safe, comfortable supply of water at a pre-determined temperature. If you have young children in the house or anyone with a physical challenge, this is peace of mind. Some models have a remote unit for the heating controls, cutting down visible bulk. A shut-down feature on a thermostatically controlled shower will stop the supply instantly if the temperature alters dramatically.

Head first: Pipe-work, valves and controls hidden or on show, it’s up to you, but with the shower head you must ensure your model is for either a low-pressure or high-pressure system. Mismatch and you’ll have a dribble of disappointment or an exploding shower head snaking around the enclosure. A wide spray is great, but needle points of water or a powerful single jet will pummel tired muscles back to life. We’re not all primed to enjoy an abrupt, overhead drenching from a rainfall-style outlet. Fixed shower heads are tidy, but a multi-position rail is useful for the variety of heights in a family.

Water-saving heads: Reducing water usage by as much as 75%, water-saving shower heads work by three methods: by providing less water through a dedicated spray pattern, by pulsating the supply to imperceptibly reduce the water, or by adding air (aerating) to fatten up a modest feed. You need a certain amount of water for wetting your body down and rinsing away detergent products, so less water is less water, regardless of feel. Where the flow is reduced without aeration or pulsating features, it can feel prodding on sensitive skin. Aerating showers have a moving element that creates a noise, so try it out on the showroom floor to ensure you can stand the buzz.

Have a shower already? Retrofit a simple water-saving shower head, such as the aerating EcoCamel, to standard fittings. At €34.95, it’s worth the experiment; www.purchase.ie. The Just Water Company have a series of aptly named spoiler heads, with a meaner flow and a pause function for, say, working up a lather in your hair. The spoiler head runs the shower through a pressure compensator to deliver a reasonable, 7.5 litres per minute. From €19.99; www.justwatercompany.ie.

In pulsating models, the Nordic Eco Galant saves as much as 60% on water and is recommended for retrofit on power showers; €44.50. Suppliers include www.EnergyEfficientIreland.ie. If you love overhead indulgence, Hansgrohe’s luxurious Raindance Ecosmart air-injection head (above) warms the skin quickly and gently. Reducing water usage by 10%, it can halve the flow to 9.5l per minute instantly, as required.Home