Taps, Showers and Water: Choosing Fixtures That Fit Your System

Bathroom and kitchen fixtures are chosen on appearance and fail on compatibility. The deciding factor is almost always the water system you already have, and it is worth establishing that before looking at anything.

Know your water system first

Broadly, homes have one of a few arrangements, and they behave differently:

• High pressure mains-fed — water straight from the mains, often with a combination boiler or an unvented cylinder. Most fixtures work.
• Low pressure gravity-fed — a tank in the loft feeding a cylinder. Pressure depends on the height of the tank, and many fixtures will not work properly. Look for products stating a low-pressure rating.

Fixtures state a minimum pressure requirement, usually in bar. Fitting a fixture rated above your available pressure produces a disappointing trickle, and this is the single most common fixture mistake.

If you are unsure which system you have, a plumber can tell you in minutes, and that call is cheaper than the wrong shower.

Taps

• Check the hole configuration your sink or basin has — one hole, three holes, or a specific spacing. This constrains the choice more than anything else.
• Check the minimum pressure rating.
• Spout height and reach against what you actually do — filling large pots needs clearance a short spout will not give.
• Ceramic disc cartridges last longer than rubber washers and do not drip as readily.
• Finish. Chrome is durable and easy to clean. Brushed and matte finishes show water marks less but can be damaged by abrasive cleaners.
• Whether replacement cartridges are available, which decides whether a dripping tap is a small repair or a new tap.

Showers

• Electric showers heat water themselves and work regardless of your hot water supply, though flow is limited. Rated in kilowatts — higher gives better flow.
• Mixer showers blend existing hot and cold, so performance depends entirely on your system pressure.
• Thermostatic valves hold temperature when water is drawn elsewhere in the house. Worth having, particularly with children or older people.
• A pump can solve low pressure on a gravity system, but it cannot be fitted to every setup — mains-fed systems generally cannot be pumped.

Electrical work in bathrooms is regulated in most places and needs a qualified electrician. This is not a DIY area.

Water quality and filtration

Buy filtration for a problem you have identified, not in general:

• Hard water causes limescale on kettles, taps and inside appliances. A softener addresses it at the whole-house level; descaling addresses the symptom.
• Taste and odour — usually chlorine, which a simple carbon filter handles.
• Specific contaminants — if you have a genuine concern, test the water rather than guessing, and choose a filter certified for that specific thing.

Filters have a running cost. Check the replacement cartridge price and interval before buying, since that is where the real cost sits.

Before you order

Establish your water system type and available pressure before choosing anything. Check the fixture's minimum pressure rating against it. Check the hole configuration and spacing on your existing sink. Check replacement cartridges are available. And use a qualified installer for anything involving electrics in a bathroom.