Shower Heads and Handsets.

 

Shower heads fall into 2 basic categories, either fixed or sliding. A fixed head is mounted directly onto the wall or ceiling, while a with sliding type the shower head is clipped onto a wall mounted rail and can be slid up or down to adjust the height.

Shower fixed head
This shows a wall mounted fixed head in a modern style. The nozzle end rotates to produce different spray patterns, and is usually attached to the pipe by a swivel mount, allowing the spray to be directed.

A fixed head is not ideal for use with a surface mounted valve.
Typically a sliding kit has the same type of adjustable spray pattern, but the head can be moved up or down the rail to adjust the height, and can also be completely removed. This feature is useful for cleaning down the shower cabinet or bath.
sliding rail shower kit
ixed drencher style shower head
The drencher type head is another variation of the fixed head shower. These come in different sizes up to about 200mm diameter, and give a very soft shower, almost like natural rain. Sometimes these are reffered to as Rainshowers.

They do require a fair amount of water to work well, so be careful that your water system is up to the required standard.
Showers also come in more traditional styles. This particular type is a complete surface mounted valve, riser and fixed shower head. The rose can be larger than that illustrated, but again be careful that your water system can deliver enough water for a large rose to work properly.

It is also possible to have a traditional style fixed head with a separate valve and hidden pipework..

 Traditional style shower riser with fixed rose.
Tradiional style rising rail shower.
The sliding kit is also available in the traditional style.

Unlike the more contemporary models, there is not normally a variable spray pattern with this type of traditional style shower.
As an addition to the above shower styles there are various options for body jets and rainbars which provide additional shower jets. These are connected to the shower valve by way of a diverter which directs the water either to the overhead shower or the jets, or both. Many combinations are possible, but all will be limited by the available water supply.

Complex systems with body jets etc work best on an unvented system, or gravity with a pump.

Shower body jets.

 


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