Typically, a shower kit will comprise of a shower rail, hose and shower head. Some shower kits will also include a mixing valve with taps that can mix the supplied hot and cold water feed to your desired temperature. However, a shower kit does not generally include the tray, shower enclosure, waste plug or drainage pipes. The following guide will highlight some of the key considerations to look at when choosing a shower kit.

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Choosing a Shower Kit

1. Hard Water Areas

Hard water can be corrosive and damaging to appliances in the home. Within a shower kit, the shower head may gradually become blocked or water flow restricted over time. This is due to the build-up of limescale on the inside of the shower head and around the holes from where the water is sprayed. If you live in an area where hard water has been a noticeable problem then a couple of options exist to help keep your new shower kit clear. Firstly, you could install a water softener to the shower supply. Secondly, some manufacturers sell shower heads designed for hard water areas. The showerhead may include small pins that can be pushed through the holes to keep the water flow clear.

2. Concealed or Exposed Shower Kits

A concealed shower kit will hide all but the most necessary shower pieces behind the tiled wall. Typically, this will mean that having a fixed height shower head will forego the need to install a shower riser or sliding rail. Exposed shower kits are ideal where there is a large disparity between the height of its users allowing the shower head to be moved up or down depending on who is using the shower. Concealed shower kits are ideal to create a modern, minimalistic, clean-cut, designer finish. Your choice is likely to be influenced by either functionality or aesthetic demands.

3. Type of Shower Head

A standard shower kit will only include a single shower head. The shower head could be handheld on a shower slider or fixed to the wall at a given height. If you are willing to pay a little more you have the option of choosing a handheld shower on slide-rail also with an overhead rainfall rose. You should also consider that some shower heads give the option to choose different spray settings. Using a dial on the showerhead you may be able to vary water speed, intensity and the number of open holes.

4. Mixers, Thermostats & Bath Mixers

Typically, a shower kit will require that a hot water supply is supplied to the shower. This hot water will be heated by your homes heating system. This is different to an electric shower that will just take a cold water supply and heat the water directly. A mixer will require a hot and cold water supply to the mixer. The mixer will then blend a certain amount of hot and cold water together depending on the selected tap position.

A thermostatic valve will minimise the risk of scalding or suffering those sudden bursts of hot/icy cold water when someone flushes the toilet in another part of the house. A thermostatic valve is a worth while addition if your budget allows. Alternatively, the cheapest option is to have a splitter than connects the shower hose to your bath taps.

5. Finish & Additional Extras

Finish - The most popular finishes for the showerhead and fittings is either white or a chrome plating, the most popular being a chrome-plated finish.
Soap Dish - If you use a bar of soap in the shower then this may be a useful feature to check for in your shower kit.
Body jets - Most shower kits do not include body jets, but occasionaly they may. If you are after body jets then it would be worth looking at shower panels.

6. Water Saving Showers

Water can be saved through a few different measures. Firstly, reducing the duration of your showering session will drastically cut down the amount of water used. Secondly, you could set the spray setting on the showerhead to a lower throughput. Alternatively, some manufacturers now supply shower kits with the ability to aerate the water. This is advertised to use less energy to heat the water.

7. Guarantee, Quality and Delivery

You will not want to change your shower kit on an annual basis due to its poor quality and finish. When choosing a shower kit consider the guarantee you will receive. In addition, check the base material that is used for the shower rail, showerhead and the internal workings of the mixer valve. Finally, you will want to make sure that your chosen shower kit is available when required. Therefore, it is advisable to buy the kit with plenty of time before your project commences so as to avoid dissapointment.