A time when showers were merely an oddity in the homes of people it has now become more important for its ability to cool down, warm off, and wash quickly. As the demand for showers increased and so did the possibilities of how showers were designed.
Modern showers feature two kinds of thermostatic valves, and diverters for multi-component systems, and manual or digital control systems.
Valves to regulate temperature
Although showers are fairly simple to install, they come with an issue. The water comes from a shared source which causes the temperature to change and sometimes drastically, as the other tap or toilet is drawing warm or cool water. If there is no temperature regulation, water could suddenly get too cold or hot when the nearby sink or toilet is being used.
To this end, two types of valves that are more advanced have been introduced to replace traditional valves that control the temperature of your shower.
Valves that are mechanical or pressure-balancing
Sometimes, they are referred to as anti-scald or mechanical valves, this model utilizes the variance in pressure caused by sudden temperature fluctuations. Once you’ve switched on the water and set it to the ideal temperature, this system will work to maintain the water at the desired temperature.
If that someone flushes the toilet, or is using in the bathroom, the abrupt increase or decrease in temperature can trigger an increase in pressure within the valve. The valve is then able to move and rebalance the pressure, thus avoiding injuries.
It is important to note that this valve functions by altering the amount of pressure, not the temperature. In the end, your flow out of your shower head can be increased or decreased when the water is diverted to other appliances.
Furthermore they are not a great option when renovating an older house, since corrosion in pipes could hinder the effectiveness of the valve. The pipes being tested for pressure prior to buying the valve will ensure that there are no problems after installation.
Thermostatic Valves
An alternative that is more expensive than pressure balancers, the thermostatic valve was designed specifically to preserve both temperature and pressure. Another benefit of this type of valve is the capability to set water temperature prior to turning on it on. This is which allows users to get in without waiting for water to warm up or to make a few small adjustments to bring the right temperature.
Traditional Mixing Valves
The mixing valve works like the name suggests. Its basic purpose is to pull water into the shower head via the hot and cold faucets. Based on the control system it could be as easy as an omnidirectional knob that draws water from the faucet in your bathtub as well as a knob for standalone showers.
Most often found in older houses mixing valves aren’t anymore popular and may be dangeroussince they do not regulate sudden changes in temperature. Showering puts showering people particularly the older and young at risk of getting burned whenever a person flushes the toilet or when the washer goes through cycles.
Transfer Valves and Diverters
When you’re dealing with something other than a shower, you’ll require diverters to channel water to the various components. They control the direction of water but not the temperature, and are utilized alongside valves for pressure-balancing or thermostatic control.
Diverter Valves
Diverters are available in three distinct alternatives. Tee diverters can be described as the simplest kind and comprise the pull arm, which is located near the tap. When the water is at the desired temperature, raise the arm, that blocks the tap, directing flow of water towards the shower head.
A different variant can be the 3-valve diverter. This type of diverter lets you alter the temperature of cold and hot water separately, and then turn the center knob in 180° to redirect the water from the shower to the tap. The main distinction between this diverter and the other type that is the two-valve diverter is that the former has a single, rotating control for cold and hot as well as a second control that can divide the water between the tub and the shower.
Transfer Valves
Diverters can switch on the water flow from a tub and shower transfer valves permit the water flow to be directed to multiple outlets simultaneously. These valves are great for shower walls, or running an handheld shower head with out switching off the shower head that is in use.
Transfer valves typically allow only one of two parts at once however, some valves permit greater than two parts. These valves’ setting can activate either one or two components at the same time, but not use all three at the same time.
Digital Controls
Digital control panels are the ideal choice if you’re looking to have complete control of the shower, without the mess with manual controls. Controls allow for a broad selection of programmable options that provide a more personalized experience that requires only a only a little effort to recreate each time.
Aesthetics
It is an all panel that takes much less room than the manual control. Furthermore it will not suffer from the same corrosion issues like handles made of metal. Multiple components systems can be managed by one panel, which means there is less mess.
Temperature Setting
The panel lets you establish a precise temperatures for water. Once you’ve got that ideal temperatures, then you are able to then program your temperature into one of presets for users. These controls could also be programmed to heat up, pause or run in an alarm. More sophisticated controls could contain additional options, such as steam settings.
Manuel Control Systems (Trim)
Manual trims are commonly found in bathrooms. These knobs regulate the temperature of water and also the flow of water through a shower/tub combination.
Trimming for the Bath/Shower
This trim combination is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you imagine the shower. Most often, the trim is comprised of knobs or handles that can be used for cold and hot water, along with an adjustable diverter. The diverter lets you change the water’s flow between the shower head and the tap head.
Shower Trim
A shower trim is utilized to make showers stand-alone. Control options can accommodate several components, the water is typically delivered directly towards the shower head. The most basic version of this trim is one knob or handle that is moved or raised to switch on the water and it rotates both ways to alter the temperature. The drawback to this kind option is the fact that a lot of models do not permit you to regulate the amount of water flowing out of the showerhead.
