There are many types of showers, from futuristic smart showers to the popular electric showers. However one type of shower that is lesser known is the thermostatic mixer shower. This shower type follows the principles of a mixer shower, but keeps a constant water temperature.
What Is A Thermostatic Mixer Shower?
A thermostatic mixer shower is a type of mixer shower that utilises a thermostatic valve to ensure that the shower maintains a constant water temperature.
The risk of scalding (and freezing cold water) is significantly reduced with a thermostatic mixer shower, making it the perfect shower type for all the family.
How Does A Thermostatic Shower Work?
The thermostatic valve is used to combine stored hot water with cold water to your predetermined temperature. The valve then continually monitors the temperature of the water to ensure it doesn’t fluctuate, giving you the best showering experience.
From a safety aspect, thermostatic valves are designed to immediately shut down if the cold-water supply fails. This prevents extremely hot water from flowing through and potentially causing scalding.
Inside the shower itself, there are three core elements working together to give you the best showering experience. The element increases or decreases in size based on the water temperature to control the amount of hot and cold water coming through. This then supports the piston which moves across the water entry points to regulate the temperature and maintain the constant temperature which has been set. Finally the temperature control is the part of the valve that you can see and control within your shower to set the temperature you’d like.
What Does A Thermostatic Shower Look Like?
- Thermostatic showers aren’t as sleek as smart showers, but they’re more minimalistic than electric showers. You’ll tend to find a thermostatic shower has one of the following designs:
- Bar valve - a slimline bar shape with a twist feature for controlling the temperature
- Concealed valve - the control sit behind a plate fitted on the wall and includes controls for the temperature
- Exposed valve - all the controls are exposed, and you often have more than one water outlet (a hand held shower head, and fixed shower head)
- Traditional valve - very similar to the concealed valve, however using traditional designs for the controls.
How Does A Thermostatic Shower Differ From A Mixer Shower?
Both mixer showers and thermostatic showers mix hot and cold water together to get your preferred temperature. Where a mixer shower differs is that it cannot react to sudden changes in temperature, a thermostatic shower can.
How Does A Thermostatic Shower Differ From An Electric Shower?
Electric showers are fed cold water and contain their own heating element in which to warm the water to your desired temperature. Due to this electric showers require a large box on your shower wall to operate; whereas thermostatic showers use a small valve and combine the water behind the scenes.
Perfect for the family, both young and old, speak with our team today to learn more about thermostatic mixer showers.
