The Great Advantages of Mixer Showers

Let's face it, you want a shower. You've heard a lot about mixer showers. You don't even know what they are.

You're most likely wrong if you answered no to any of these questions. You've come to the right place if you are looking for a mixer bathroom and want all that you can about them. So, welcome! Let's get to it!

What is Mixer Showers?

Mixer Showers were created by wizards who use blazing magic to transform a regular shower into a marvellous device that mixes hot and cold water from various sources. The showerhead hits your body and causes you to scream at the shockingly cold water.

Showerhead

Okay, so they didn't use magic (and weren't wizards), but it is an ingenious invention that many bathrooms in the UK have. It's basically a shower that connects both hot and cold water sources in your home. The hot and cold water are mixed in a valve, then it is sent to the Shower Head. It finally flows out at a higher flow rate than with Electric Showers. Your water pressure will determine the flow rate you get. You can control the water flow and temperature either via a shower valve, or by setting bath taps. It allows you to control the water flow and temperature with fine control.

Before you purchase a mixer shower, make sure it is compatible with your home's water system. Many of them can be used with any system. However, some will not work with low-pressure systems such as a combination boiler or cold water tank. This infographic will help you determine which showers are suitable for your home.

If you have a low pressure system, you can always add a water pump to increase your flow rate. You can find out more about shower pumps by consulting our guide and common questions about them.

An electric shower is not a mixer shower. It requires hot water from the source. A mixer shower is able to produce the perfect temperature by mixing hot and cold water before it sends it out of the shower head.

Key Features:

• Both hot and cold water are required

• Electric showers have a stronger water flow

• Concealed styles available

Ideal for: Gravity fed water systems or homes with a large hot-water supply

Is a mixer shower electric?

Mixer showers don't require electricity to operate as they are mechanical. This is great news for power outages! If you wish to add a shower pump to increase the water pressure, you will need to have a power source.

Are mixer showers better than electric?

This question will depend on your specific needs and circumstances. Mixer showers can be used with any type of water system or boiler, except that some are only compatible with combi boilers.

These are some things to keep in mind when you decide if a mixer shower is right for you.

• Mixer showers are more powerful. The flow of electric showers is usually less powerful. You can increase your mixer shower pressure by purchasing a water pump.

• Ideal for large hot water tanks. Combiner showers are best when there is a reliable hot water supply. An electric shower may be better if you don't have a reliable hot water supply.

• Are you concerned about your boiler breaking? This may not happen every day. However, if your boiler fails, your mixer shower will not provide hot water.

• Your household water pressure is a key factor in your shower pump's performance. A shower pump can be a great help for low water pressure, as we have already mentioned. Be aware, however, that two people can shower simultaneously, and the pressure may drop.

Mixer showers offer a wide range of styles and options. They can be divided into two types:

• Exposed Valve Showers

• Concealed Valve Mixer Showers

What's the difference?

A concealed valve shower is installed in the tiling of your bathroom's shower enclosure, rather than an open valve shower. This gives your bathroom a cleaner and more elegant appearance. The only thing that will be visible are a control panel and the showerhead.

A few mixer showers have thermostatic valve control. These valves are quick to react to temperature changes and ensure that the water doesn’t scald. A thermostatic valve will protect you from being shocked by hot water when someone turns on the cold water tap in your kitchen.

Types of Mixer Showers

Let's have a look at some of the different types of mixer showers on the market.

Single lever shower mixers 

This shower has a single lever that you can move up or down to regulate the water flow. You can adjust the water temperature by moving the lever side to side. There are two types of showers: exposed, which has the plumbing and shower valve on the wall; and concealed, which has the plumbing fixtures inside the wall while the shower lever valve is outside.

Single lever shower mixers

Sequential Mixer Showers 

This shower is the easiest to use, thanks to one rotary control. The control is turned to turn the shower head. The hotter the water gets, the more you turn the knob. This type of shower has one drawback: you cannot control the flow rate. This type can be purchased in concealed or exposed form, just like a single-lever mixer shower.

Concentric mixing showers 

These are two rotary style controls, which sit on top of one another. You can turn on the shower and control the water flow by turning the outer control. The temperature is controlled by the inner control. Turning one direction will heat it up and turn the other to cool it down. This mixer shower has the advantage that the inner control can be set to your desired temperature before you turn it off. The shower will then instantly return to the same temperature as it was last time it was turned on. There are both concealed and exposed models.

Dual control mixer showers 

This shower has two controls. One controls the flow, one controls the temperature. The temperature can be set to your preference for the next use, just like concentric models. Some models have diverter valves that allow you to change the water flow between two shower heads, or even a filler. Dual controls are usually hidden.

Bar mixers

There are two controls, but they can be found on the same bar. The one controls the water flow, while the other controls the temperature. You can have diverter valves as an alternative to flow controls. This allows you to switch between an overflow and separate shower handset. These can be purchased in either vertical or horizontal versions.