Choosing a Shower That Actually Works With Your System
The right shower depends far more on what your hot water system can deliver than on which fitting looks best in the showroom.
The right shower depends far more on what your hot water system can deliver than on which fitting looks best in the showroom. Getting this wrong is one of the most common causes of bathroom disappointment.
Combi boiler homes
A mains-pressure mixer shower usually works well, since the combi already delivers mains pressure without needing a pump.
Gravity-fed cylinder homes
A power shower with its own pump is often needed to get a decent flow, since gravity-fed systems rely on tank height for pressure.
Unvented cylinder homes
Mains pressure is already available without a pump, similar to a combi, provided the incoming mains flow rate supports it.
Planning a new shower
Tell us your hot water system type and we'll recommend a shower that will actually perform once it's fitted.
Questions we get asked
Can I fit a power shower to any system?
Power showers need a low-pressure gravity feed to work correctly; fitting one to an already mains-pressure system is unnecessary and can cause issues.
Why did my new shower disappoint after installation?
Mismatched shower type to system is the most common cause, for example fitting a mains-pressure shower to a gravity-fed cylinder without a pump.
Does shower choice affect the rest of the house?
A shower drawing heavily from a combi or shared system can affect other outlets used at the same time, worth considering for busy households.