With the economy on the up and the work books getting busier, Helen Smallridge explains why it’s more important than ever for plumbing installers to have lots of shower options up their sleeve to meet the varying requirements of each customer.

Showering is big business. As the quick, easy convenience of showering has taken over a long soak in the bath in the popularity stakes, it is now estimated that the average Briton takes a total of 227 showers a year – in contrast to just four baths.

It would seem, in fact, that it really is the hour of the shower – the average shower now lasts a record eight minutes and has been revealed as number two in a poll of the most important ‘mod con’ essentials for today’s consumers.

But, what does this all mean for the installer? With the economic upturn no doubt stimulating even more enquiries for shower installations, it is important that installers do their research on the current market and have a number of showering options that they can confidently recommend.

Variety performance

Naturally, different people want different things from their showers, so it’s really important for installers to have a good understanding
of the products that are available and to keep on top of new trends and innovations.

Against the recent digital technology boom, installers may find, for example, that customers are increasingly interested in the more technical options. In this scenario, an installer might do well to recommend a digital shower – highly desirable for many consumers and perceived as the ultimate contemporary design statement.

However, installers might find that some homeowners think digital showers are far too expensive and that they simply couldn’t afford one. In response, Bristan recently launched Artisan Evo Digital in a bid to address this growing market need – offering an easy, more affordable stepping stone into the digital world.

Alongside innovations, installers will also find that the popular traditional mixer shower category has plenty of options. From the cutting edge contemporary to the classically periodic, today’s mixer showers come in a raft of stunning designs as well as in many different types – the exposed to the concealed, single control to dual control, vertical bar mixers to sleek in-line showers, and so on. The result is a mixer shower to suit virtually every type of interior design.

Furthermore, mixer showers typically deliver great performance. Because they work by mixing the existing hot and cold water in a valve before sending on to the shower head, the flow of water, is normally very strong – obviously dependent on water pressure.

Installation benefits

As another benefit, most mixer showers are also designed to be retrofit. At Bristan, for example, easy-fix wall mountings are included with the majority of bar showers and riser rails, while adjustable wall brackets to fit over existing screw holes are also available. The result is a simple, easy fit for the busy installer and, in turn, less hassle and unnecessary tiling expense for the homeowner.

The power of electric

Equally, another option is the electric shower. Perhaps overlooked by some homeowners because they aren’t aware how much these have moved on, modern electric showers are now stylish as well as functional. They offer features such as digital temperature display indicators, touch controls and multimode handsets. Some are even available in contemporary colours – for example, gloss black.

Electric showers can also be installed just about anywhere – above a bath or within an enclosure – with the newest generation boasting as many as five water inlets and five electrical cable entry points for the ultimate in ease of installation. They also provide an instant supply of hot water and only heat the amount required, meaning that they answer the needs of many households.

In addition, electric showers offer water saving benefits. To put this into context, most electric showers deliver about 6 litres a minute – while a typical bath uses 80 litres of water. This means homeowners would have to shower for over 13 minutes to use the same amount of water
as that of a bath.

But the considerations don’t quite end there, with a host of special features also to be considered. Although safety should be the priority in every home, it becomes even more important when young children and the very elderly are present. Here, thermostatic products that maintain water supply temperatures at a safe level should be recommended because they can reduce the number of scald-related incidents occurring in the home.

Conversely, against the backdrop of the Code for Sustainable Homes, Part G of the Building Regulations and The Water Label, installers may find that some homeowners will be more concerned about the environment than luxury or aesthetics. If this is the case, showers with flow regulators
and aerated showerheads are a potential option because they can save a significant amount of water. For example, with an innovative eco-stop button, Bristan’s Artisan shower range can help users save up to 50% of their shower water usage.

Market advances

There have been many advancements in the shower market in recent years and keeping ahead with new product launches, trends and innovations can help to ensure that business isn’t lost amid the brightening economy. A customer will always be impressed by an installer who has excellent product knowledge and can confidently recommend showering solutions that answer their exact needs.