As more people begin to design the bathroom of their dreams, performance showering is quickly becoming one of the hottest trends. Just as gone are the days when bathrooms were strictly utilitarian, so, too, are the days when a shower was merely a place to get clean.
What is Performance Showering?
Performance showering is the introduction into the shower of multiple water sources and controls. Body sprays, body jets, thermostatic valves, hand showers, volume controls, toe testers, steam showers and shower heads are all possible components of a performance shower.
Designing the Shower
When deciding to create a performance shower, several things should be taken into consideration. The first is determining just what the home, water source and hot water heater can support.
Multiple sources of water use a lot of gallons per minute, or gpm. A body spray will take about 2-1/2 gpm, and there are typically at least three of them to create a pressure balancing loop. A typical shower head will use 7 gpm, and most performance showers will take two. A rain shower head, however, can use 12 or more gpm; be sure to ask what the gpm is when deciding what to install. A hand shower, used for cleaning the shower, as well as another source of water, will take approximately 3 gpm. So a performance shower will typically use around 25 gpm.
If the home uses well water, a typical well’s output may be as little as 5 gpm, so the only performance shower component to be considered would be a steam shower. Town water will typically yield enough water, but the size of the hot water tank comes into consideration. A 25 gallon tank, with the equation above, will yield a 1 minute shower, making an upgrade of the hot water tank a necessity.
Once the homeowner knows how much water output their home can support, it’s time to start selecting fixtures.
Controlling the Shower
Most homeowners are used to the type of shower valve that turns the water on at one constant pressure; turning the handle will result in temperature control, not volume. This is what is known as a pressure balancing valve.
To control the many different sources of water in a performance shower system, a thermostatic and volume control system will need to be utilized.
A thermostatic valve controls the temperature of the water only. It will not turn off or on the various sources of water; it will merely set the temperature exactly how it’s wanted, even before entering or turning on the water. To turn on the water, volume controls are needed.
Volume controls are used by each component of the shower. They will typically be placed near the system they are controlling, for example, a hand shower on the far end of the shower, will have its volume control right next to it. Volume controls will turn the water on or off for each source, and can make the stream harder or softer. Each shower head, hand shower and toe tester will have their own. Each set of body sprays will be grouped together onto one, to help maintain even pressure.
Lay it Out
The next step is determining where to place each component in the shower. The optimal design will ensure that the bather has water directed at them from all angles. Body sprays should be aimed to hit the bather in the shoulders, middle and lower back. Be sure to take precise measurements to hand to the plumber before having them installed.
Performance showers come in all styles and finishes, so finding a style that suits the bathroom should be fairly simple. Try asking if the faucet that has been selected has matching shower components. Above all else, be sure to use and enjoy the shower, once it’s in.
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