What is the difference between thermostatic and manual shower

Showers have fast become the focal feature of our bathrooms thanks to their ease of use and, in many cases, mobility benefits. There are various types of shower, however, and one of the lesser-known designs is the thermostatic shower. But just what is a thermostatic shower and how does one work? There are many questions around this shower type, so, Plumbworld has made a complete guide to help you understand how a thermostatic shower functions and what you need to know prior to buying one.

Read on to learn more about thermostatic showers, how it differs from other types, how to fit one and much more…. A thermostatic shower is a type of mixer shower which features a thermostatic valve that maintains a constant water temperature.

The thermostatic valve is what makes this type of unique, mixing both hot and cold water together to a consistent and predetermined temperature. By doing so, this prevents scalding and cold shock which makes it extremely well-suited to families with young children or the elderly. This is, therefore, a safe multi-generational shower.

In short, if your shower is prone to running either too hot or cold or even consistently fluctuates in temperature and suffers from unusually low water pressure, a thermostatic shower could be the answer. A manual mixer shower will mix hot and cold water to a set temperature but, unlike a thermostatic shower, it cannot react to sudden changes in temperature. A thermostatic shower instantly reacts to a change in water temperature and adjusts the water accordingly to get it back to the pre-set temperature.

This avoids the threat of scalding or cold shock. Thermostatic showers are more reliable for controlling temperature and avoiding potential injury. Thermostatic showers differ from an electric shower in a number of ways, the main difference being that they rely on a mains water supply to operate. A combination of water pressure and temperature allows a thermostatic shower to function.

Unlike a thermostatic shower, electric showers have their own heating element - which is usually seen in a box on the wall - so they only need a cold water supply, whereas thermostatic showers need hot and cold water.

Read more: Electric Shower Guide for Buyers. Electric showers, however, can be more economical as the temperature is not affected by water usage in other parts of the house. Thermostatic showers store water at a high temperature before mixing it with cold water in a valve to a temperature that you have pre-set.

Along with mixing the water together, the valve will also instantly react to changes in water temperature. It will immediately adjust the mixed water to return it to the pre-set temperature. It is this feature that makes a thermostatic shower the most reliable and controller-friendly.

Thermostatic shower valves will also shut down immediately should the cold-water supply fail. This is done in order to avoid injury to the user, such as scalding, by the hot water. This built-in safety system marks thermostatic showers out among other types as family-friendly and multi-generational. These elements work together to keep the temperature you have selected at a constant and adjust where necessary.

Bar shower valves feature slimline controls and a compact size that make them an excellent choice for small bathrooms. Manual valves offer a high level of temperature control, but if the cold water supply is reduced by turning on a tap or flushing the toilet, for example , the temperature of the shower will change, and could be either freezing cold or boiling hot depending on the circumstances. You will therefore have to manually adjust the temperature to compensate for this change as it happens.

We wouldn't recommend manual valves to a household with children, elderly, or the less able, as there is a scalding risk if the water gets too hot unexpectedly. Manual variants tend to be less expensive than thermostatic mixer showers, and usually have a simpler use of operation. A thermostatic shower houses a thermostat in the shower that controls the temperature of the water automatically.

This means that if the temperature of the incoming water changes by turning on a tap or flushing the toilet, for example , the shower will compensate for the changes and keep the temperature stable and constant for you. No manual adjustment is required by the user as the shower can adapt to the water change itself within seconds. Additionally, if the cold water fails either a blockage or similar , the shower will shut down to prevent the risk of scalding.

More and more modern mixer showers tend to be of the thermostatic variety. A pressure-balanced mixer shower, as the name implies, compensates for changes in water pressure. It has a diaphragm inside the product which reacts to pressure changes, therefore maintaining the temperature. These showers are effective when you have changes to pressure by turning on a tap or flushing the toilet, for example , however they aren't effective if the temperature of the water changes such as when the hot water abruptly goes cold.

How does a thermostatic mixer work? The thermostatic valve mixes the hot and cold water to your pre-selected temperature and reacts instantly to any changes in the pressure or temperature of the water supply by re-adjusting the mix of hot and cold water. Should there be a failure in your cold water supply, the thermostatic valve will automatically shut down.

Advantages and benefits A thermostatic mixer valve offers three key benefits: safety, convenience and economy. Should you wish to stop the water, the thermostat will automatically find the exact same temperature when you re-start the flow. Show more Show less. Thermostatic concealed mixer. URL copied. Thermostatic exposed mixer. Thermostatic mixer for exposed installation.

Manual showers Manual shower mixers are simple to work and relatively easy to install. They must be independently supplied with hot and cold water feeds.

The single lever controls both the temperature and flow of the water. What is a manual shower? The manual shower controls the temperature of the water by manually adjusting the valve to the desired temperature before showering. It will not shut off automatically if there is hot or cold water failure, it will need to be turned off manually. Like most mixer showers, manual mixers can be exposed, or concealed.

However they could be a safety concern as if not used cautiously a user could scold themselves.