Adding an extra shower to your home won't just ease the pressure during the morning bathroom rush, it will probably increase the value of your home too. Modern homes are built with at least two bathrooms or shower rooms for every three bedrooms, and there's a lot to be said for never having to wait to use the loo or have a shower. So where do you begin on your shower purchasing journey?
The first main choice to make is whether you are going to look at an electric shower, or a shower which is connected to your central heating boiler. One type of shower is not "better" than the other, and your choice might be limited depending on what type of heating system you have, the capacity of your combi boiler or the mains water pressure coming into your house. If you're not sure about whether your combi boiler would be able to cope with the addition of another shower into the system, get advice from a plumber. Electric showers are stand alone in that they heat the water themselves, so just need to be connected to a cold water supply. That also means that they can be fitted in homes which don't have central heating, and they will still allow you to have a hot shower if the boiler isn't working. Electric showers can be more complicated to fit though, and you?ll need a properly qualified electrician to run a cable from your shower to the consumer box, and fit the shower in your bathroom. So start by thinking about what heating set up you have at present, whether your boiler would cope with an additional shower, and the costs associated with getting the different sorts of showers fitted.
Setting a budget for any project is wise, and there isn't much to choose between the costs of buying an electric shower and buying a plumbed in model. Large DIY superstores will sell both types of showers starting at around £65 to £75 for the most basic models. If you're in the market for an all singing, all dancing shower cabinet with several shower jets, lighting and even a built in MP3 player, you could easily spend £1000. Take a look around various websites to get an idea of prices before you set your heart on a particular type of shower. Fitting costs will bump up the overall total considerably. Expect to pay around £250 for a qualified electrician to fit your electric shower and provide the necessary cabling. A plumbed in shower may be cheaper to fit, but this will depend on whether the necessary pipework is present already and if not, how complex it will be to fit. There are lots of variables in all of this, so make sure you get at least three plumbers in to quote for the work so you can be sure you?re getting a good value price.
Again, there is no right or wrong answer about whether it is best to buy your new shower in a traditional high street store, or online. There's a general perception that buying online is cheaper, but that's not always the case when you add in delivery charges. Make sure you consider all of the options before making your decision. Most large websites have great customer service lines and online chat facilities so you can make sure you get all of your queries answered before hitting the "buy" button.
If you're in the market for a very basic shower, then thinking about extra features might not apply. Most of us like a little touch of luxury though, and there are lots of optional extras which can transform your average shower into something really special. Some items are entirely practical, such as a pump which will increase the flow of the water from the shower head or a shower seat which will allow someone with mobility issues to shower in comfort. (We have a buying guide for that too). Other accessories like televisions, fancy lighting or remote controls are becoming more commonplace, but are still going to add considerably to the overall budget and the complication of finding someone who knows what they are doing to fit it for you.
