How to choose a Mixer Shower

If you’re renovating your family bathroom or ensuite, adding a shower is often a top consideration. Showers are a far more practical alternative to bathing, helping to save you time and water in the long run. However, with so many different options to pick from, it can be difficult to know which one to choose for your newly renovated room.

When it comes to finding the right shower, one of the options you may be considering is a mixer shower. Mixer showers are a convenient and practical solution, but they come in different types and styles so you need to be aware of the various options you’ll have to choose between before you start making a purchasing choice.

With this in mind, here we look more closely at how to choose the right mixer shower for you, including the various options you have to pick from and the essential considerations to keep in mind so that you can make a well-informed buying decision.

What do you need to consider?

There are four main things that you need to consider when choosing the right mixer shower for your bathroom.

1. Water pressure - do you have enough water pressure? Unfortunately, not all properties have the same water pressure and if you live in an older property that has a gravity fed system, you’re more likely to experience issues surrounding water pressure. Since not all mixer showers are designed to be compatible with a low pressure system, it’s important to determine whether you’re likely to encounter a problem with your water pressure before you start shopping so that you can select a mixer shower that will work with your existing setup.
2. Style – mixer showers come in all kinds of different shapes and styles to suit every bathroom and every preference. Whether you’re trying to create a contemporary aesthetic with a modern mixer shower, or you’re keen to add a touch of vintage glamour with a more traditional mixer shower, there is sure to be a style out there to suit your requirements. Choosing a style that complements the rest of your bathroom fittings is also often important, and that is why there are both square mixer showers and round mixer showers so that you can achieve a coordinated look.
3. Finish – as mixer showers also come with a variety of different finishes, you will need to decide whether to choose a model that matches your existing bath or basin taps. There are chrome, brushed brass, and matt black mixer shower finishes to pick from to complement your room’s existing features and fittings. Bear in mind, too, that different shower finishes have different maintenance requirements. While classic chrome is relatively quick and easy to care for, it can be more challenging and more time consuming to keep matt black mixer showers or those made from brushed brass in top condition at all times since they can easily become stained.
4. Concealed - can you have a concealed mixer shower? – concealed showers are becoming more popular, where the shower components are hidden behind the bathroom wall. However, not all bathrooms are compatible with this type of shower. You need to have the right type of wall to allow the components to be hidden within it. A stud wall is the best option for this. It is very difficult to fit a concealed shower in a solid wall. In such cases, you will either need to build out, or you will need to opt for an exposed mixer shower instead with all of the components visible on the bathroom wall itself.

The different types of mixer shower

There are two types of mixer shower that you can pick from – exposed and concealed versions. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, and both can work well in a wide range of different bathrooms. Here, we take a closer look at the differences between the two.

Exposed mixer showers

An exposed mixer shower is a shower that has all of its components attached to the bathroom wall in full view. There are two main types of exposed mixer shower – bar valve showers and concentric valve showers. The valve body is mounted onto the bathroom wall, and the pipes come out of the wall so that they can be seen. This type of shower is especially popular in traditional bathrooms, and having exposed pipework and components is particularly fashionable at the moment.

There are both one and two outlet exposed mixer showers available on the market. A one outlet option comes with either a fixed pipe or hose coming out of the shower to the shower head while a two outlet option comes with both a fixed pipe and a hose.

Generally, an exposed mixer shower is a more affordable choice for people who are renovating their bathroom on a budget, and it also offers the convenience of being quick to fit, without any need to replace or remove the tiles. This type of shower is also easy to replace and comes in a great choice of styles, finishes and shapes to suit every taste and every bathroom.

Concealed mixer showers

Concealed mixer showers come in three main types – digital, concentric and thermostatic shower mixers. Of these three, the most popular type is the thermostatic shower mixer which has a valve inside that automatically regulates the temperature of the water, ensuring that the same temperature is maintained even if somebody turns on a tap elsewhere in the house.

This type of mixer also switches off the flow should the water temperature become too hot for any reason, thus ensuring the safety of the person using the shower.

Concealed mixer showers come in 1, 2 and 3 outlet options, with all of the pipework being hidden inside the wall and the heads being fed by arms or hoses that are mounted onto the ceiling or wall. As the pipework and other components are hidden, this type of shower is more modern and creates a more designer look in a contemporary bathroom. On the downside though, concealed showers are harder to install, taking more time and usually requiring new wall boards or re-tiling to be done.

Concealed mixer showers come in a huge variety of styles including different colours, shapes, and sizes, so there’s something to suit every room. This is also the best type of shower if you want to opt for a large round or square shower head that is up to 400mm, but it’s important to check that your bathroom wall is compatible with this type of shower before you commit to your purchase.

Not all walls are suitable to have pipework concealed behind them and if you have a solid wall you will either need to build out, or you’ll need to opt for an exposed mixer shower instead that doesn’t require the pipework and components to be hidden behind the wall.

Modern mixer showers

Modern mixer showers come in both square and round options, and there are plenty of different colours to pick from including classic chrome, matt black, and brushed brass to name just a few.

Most mixer showers on the market today are modern in style and work perfectly in most bathrooms, whatever their décor. If you’re opting for a contemporary look for your space, you’re sure to find plenty of different shower options to suit your requirements.

Traditional mixer showers

Although there are fewer traditional mixer showers on the market, the range is increasing thanks to the growing popularity of more classic-themed bathrooms. Exposed valves and pipework are currently very on trend, and these exposed mixer showers are proving to be a great choice for all kinds of homes.

Different outlet options

Mixer shower valves come in a choice of 1, 2 or 3 outlet options.

Twin valve options come with two outlets, one having a temperature control handle and the other having a flow control handle. A variation on this style is the twin valve with a diverter which also features two outlets with one having a temperature control handle and the other with a handle to control the water flow but the flow control can be diverted between two heads.

Triple valves are also an option. These have a temperature control handle and two flow control handles, while a triple valve with a diverter has a temperature control handle and two flow control handles with one of the flow controls being capable of being diverted between two outlets.

It’s essential to have an outlet option such as a shower head or a bath filler for every outlet, with bath fillers being a bath overflow filler.

Now that you have all of the key information you need to choose the right mixer shower for you, it’s time to check out the range and discover the options that best meet your needs. Whether you’re looking for a modern design or something more traditional, you’re sure to find something that fits into your bathroom, your budget, and your requirements.