Bathroom renovation is undoubtedly a heavy work, there are not many safe shortcuts available, but it is worth it to be able to design your own shower space. There are multiple options to customize your bath and shower experience to include exactly what you want, and what you don’t or won’t use. The technology is designed to make life easier, and for some shower systems, installation is also easy. Finding the perfect shower for your bathroom based on the features you want to use is easier than you think.
What is a Full Shower Set ?
The shower system includes the basic elements of your shower experience: shower nozzles or faucets, and diverters or thermostats for determining flow and temperature. These are very standard and expected, but in addition to things like rain shower heads, the shower system can also include a separate hand shower, body spray or separate control of the water volume and temperature of multiple outlets.
All these exterior-facing fixtures or decorations are things you install on the shower wall. They can be standard or customized. For example, any additional faucet needs to have its own pipe behind the wall, and retrofitting is the best time to place pipes to optimize the performance of different outlets. Shower panels and shower kits can be used to create a complete shower system experience for any plumbing arrangement, but without extensive changes.
Whether you buy a fixture separately, choose a shower panel, or buy a ready-to-use shower system kit, the basic components are the same. The variety will depend on how you incorporate them into your bathroom design.
Off the shelf
Three different types of shower systems
If you want a new shower room without all the renovation work, then the shower panel is an attractive choice. These models have all the familiar functions of a shower, are equipped with a body sprayer and a hand shower, and are easy to install. Some models can even provide you with better water pressure and temperature control without the need to update the household plumbing system.
The shower panel is installed on the shower wall and connected to the usual shower arm and control valve pipe. The water is then directed from the panel to the body spray, hand shower or rain shower outlet, rather than through internal pipes in the wall. These devices usually have an additional water heater for more specific temperature control. These are usually compact, affordable, and can provide customized shower systems without the need for a full remodel.
There are many manufacturers offering complete shower system kits, each of which is included, all sold at one price. These kits, also called shower spas, are usually the easier options to make. These kits will include fixtures from the same design series without having to find all matching hand showers, decorative kits and body sprays. Flipping through hundreds of possible handle faucets just to find a hand shower that looks like a similar style has been done for you. In most cases, you can choose the finish you want, so when you install them in the shower room, the style and color are the same.
You can choose the look you want based on all the different elements at once, instead of hoping that the individual purchased products will merge together after installation. It is always better to know exactly what you get before you buy.
However, the pre-selected shower kit is still a separate device. For example, you are completely free to replace traditional thermostatic valves with higher-tech and more modern products. If you want to design a shower, you can have an all-brass shower system and add a Kohler DTV or Moen U digital display. You can choose even if you use a pre-packaged shower system.
Or do it yourself
The advantage of bathroom fixtures is that they are durable and can be reinstalled. Therefore, if you already have some favorite fixtures, you can certainly keep them during the renovation process. There is no need to purchase a complete shower system kit to easily supplement the additional shower system components you may need. Depending on the parts you want to assemble, it may even be cheaper. However, it does require you to do your homework, and it may be more shopping than simply finding an all-in-one shower setup.
What to look for
Three different bathroom and shower systems
Whether you are looking for a separate fixture or want to buy a kit, it is helpful to understand what shower system components are and why you want to use them in your home shower.
Outlet-The water outlet, also known as the shower unit, is where the water drains from the shower system. There are many different outlets, and their arrangement in the shower room is also different, depending on the installation design you choose.
Shower
Hand shower
Body spray
Three different types of side-by-side shower heads
Shower head-The shower head is installed on the wall or ceiling through the shower arm. These are the most basic requirements for a shower. Without some form of shower head, you may only have a bathtub. Most shower heads have different water pressure settings, from simple rinsing to massage actions, and even spray options. Learn more about the features of shower heads in our shower head buying guide.
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Hand shower-The hand shower is connected to the water supply system through a hose, allowing the bather to have more range of motion. The shower head of the hand shower usually also provides various settings, from flushing, massage or concentrated flow. They are very suitable for cleaning in hard-to-reach places and for more practical housework, such as cleaning household pets.
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Three different styles of body spray
Body spray-The body spray is installed directly on the wall outlet, without shower arms or hoses. Their movement is limited to directional pivots, so the water flow can be directed in different directions under different pressure levels, such as a massage spray pattern. They need to connect pipes to different areas, and even different walls if necessary, to place the body spray where it is designed to be used.
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Three types of shower floor drains
Drain pipe-The drain pipe should be large enough to effectively drain water from the shower floor without creating a dangerous pool. It needs to be connected to the connecting drain, so it may be 2 or 3 inches in size. However, the drain connection does not limit the design. The grate cover can be round or round, whether it is a ceramic tile or a shower tray, it can be determined according to the requirements of the shower floor.
Many people choose to stay away from the obvious central drain grate and instead choose to install a linear drain. Whether planning a slanted tile floor or a specially molded fiberglass shower tray, linear drainage pipes can achieve faster drainage time and a more personalized style. The long and narrow grilles can be covered with gorgeous tool metal, or they can almost disappear, some of which are designed to seamlessly match the surrounding tiles.
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Volume control shower handle
Volume control-Volume control valves are used together with thermostatic valves. It is a separate control handle used to adjust the pressure of the water entering the faucet. Each water outlet should have a water inlet and a water outlet control.
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Three different styles of diverter valve
Diverter valve-The diverter valve directs the water flow to the outlet, such as between the bathtub faucet and the shower nozzle, or between the shower nozzle and the body spray. Although a single volume control valve or thermostatic valve can only regulate the water flowing to a single shower outlet, the diverter valve can control up to two outlets at the same time.
For most splitters, water pressure can only flow to one outlet at a time, unless it is on a splitter that allows two or three shared functions. Most handles will have a preset position to indicate each socket to indicate that it can switch to a pre-designated socket function at a time. Even the shared outlet splitter cannot be "between" or "in range" to affect the allowable water pressure of each shared device. It is worth noting that sharing the water outlet will distribute the water pressure, so although you can run two water outlets at the same time, the water pressure of both outlets will be significantly reduced.
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Temperature control options
Thermostatic valve-The operation of the thermostatic valve is more independent, most of which require separate temperature and water volume valves. They combine and mix the ratio of hot and cold water to maintain the maximum allowable temperature to prevent burns. A separate handle allows the water flow to be raised or lowered without disturbing the preferred temperature.
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Three pressure balance options
Pressure Balance Valve-The pressure balance shower mixing valve is one of the most standard valves, so you will often find these valves in hotels and rental housing construction. The temperature and volume are set in an easy-to-control fine adjustment, just a handle or knob can be turned to the temperature and water pressure you want. However, every time the shower is turned on, the pressure balance valve will not maintain the same precise setting and must be reset after changing or turning off the water pressure.
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Digital shower control-When modern technology meets old-fashioned, basic bathroom design, the shower becomes more luxurious. With digital shower control, you can set the water temperature to the correct temperature or many other options. Some models have features such as a wifi-enabled interface that can be used in conjunction with apps on your phone, allowing you to start showering from any room in your home, and can alert you when the shower water reaches a preset temperature. Others offer options such as a shower pause or an alarm and timer system so that you know exactly how long your morning routine will take. It just depends on the extra features you are looking for.
Purchase a full digital shower room
Water Heater-Retrofit is a great opportunity to renew an old water heater. The water heater should ensure that there is enough hot water for the entire family, including those indulgent hot showers. Make sure that your water heater is healthy every year without rust or damage. When installing a new water heater, make sure that the water heater flow rate matches the system flow rate.
Another option is no cans. Water heaters can now be used as whole-house tankless heaters or point-of-use tankless heaters, and they are more energy-efficient. Depending on the installation location, compared to older, larger tank heaters, tankless heaters generally use faster and have more consistent water pressure.
In addition to the above, Hot And Cold Faucet is also a very important part. Therefore, the selection of Hot And Cold Faucet also requires careful selection.
