Type
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Shower set. Kits including a mandatory shower set of accessories:
hand shower (watering can, hose and, most often, fastening system in the form of
hydromassage panels.
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Top shower. Kit consisting exclusively of the upper shower - a large watering can mounted over the head of the bather. Bathing under such a shower is not only more pleasant for many, but also allows you to free your hands, while
flexible hose has to be held in hand. And although for manual hoists are also available fasteners that allow you to install them on the wall above the head, but a specialized upper shower is better for this - a large watering can be more effective.
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Shower system. Somewhat expanded version of shower set: the equipment of shower system includes not only a hand-held watering box with a hose, but also an upper shower or a bar-pipe for the installation of a separately purchased watering can of the upper shower. There are also
, shower systems with vent, the design o
...f which includes an appropriate drain.
— Hydromassage panel. The device is in the form of a wall panel with hydromassage nozzles. The mixer is integrated into the same panel, another practically mandatory element of the equipment is the upper shower (cf. «Complete»). Hydromassage is not only pleasant in itself - it contributes to the normalization of metabolism and can have a soothing or tonic effect, depending on the settings. However, it should be borne in mind that for the normal operation of hydromassage panels usually require a fairly high pressure in the water supply - at least 4-5 atm.
— Hand shower. Separately sold nozzle for flexible shower hose. This item can be useful in the case that the existing watering can be broken, or its characteristics do not suit you (recall, shower watering can differ in the features of the jet, have different settings, and so on. N.).
— Hygienic shower head. Separately sold nozzle for hygienic shower. The shower itself is used to wash parts of the body - for example, the groin area after a visit to the toilet. This type of watering can be distinguished from conventional manual (see above) by two features: a small diameter and a shut-off valve, thanks to which water comes from the watering can only by pressing a special button or lever. This allows you to carefully process the desired areas of the body and accurately dose water.
— Hygienic set. Kits, including both a hygienic watering can (see above) and a hose, as well as a fixing for a watering can be provided for, but these are mandatory). Hygienic kits, in fact, is analogous to the showers described above and fundamentally differ only in the type of watering.Size
The size of the overhead shower head supplied in the set (see "Complete set"). For round watering cans, this paragraph indicates the size, for other shapes - the length (the largest of the two main sizes).
The larger the overhead shower - the more space it covers, the easier it is to "fit entirely" under the jets and the higher the throughput can be (see "Water consumption overhead shower"). On the other hand, the cost of a watering can directly depends on the dimensions. As for specific figures, the size
up to 20 cm is relatively small, although such watering cans are very popular due to their availability and low consumption. Models
21 - 25 cm can be classified as medium,
26 - 30 cm - relatively large, and the largest watering cans for the overhead shower have dimensions
of more than 30 cm.
Jet settings
The number of settings provided in the hand shower for top shower (see "Complete set").
If you have
several settings, change the jet features and, accordingly, adjust the shower to the user’s wishes. For example, one watering can provide «rain» (ordinary drops of medium size), «waterfall» (stream in the form of water wall) and «stream» (continuous jet under high pressure); there are other modes, their specific set for each model is worth specifying separately. In any case, the more settings - the wider the choice of the user, but the more expensive and more difficult the watering can be on the background of models with
one mode upper shower.
Shape
The shape of a complete watering can of the top shower (see «Type»). From a technical point of view, shape has some influence on shower performance: for example, at the same size (width or diameter)
square upper shower will allow more water than
round shower. However, in practice, the effectiveness of the shower and the sensation of its use are determined by so many different factors that the effect of the shape of the watering on their background is simply lost. Therefore, usually the choice of this parameter is solely due to the aesthetic tastes of the user or the requirements for the design of the bathroom. Therefore, in addition to the round and square form, there are
oval,
rectangular and
non-standard.Water flow
Water consumption during operation of the upper shower (cf. «Equipment»). Indicates the amount of water passing through the watering can with the tap fully open and the water pressure 3 bar (standard household water pressure).
The higher the bandwidth of the watering can be - the more powerful and intense the shower becomes. On the other hand, high water consumption is undesirable if you want to save water - for example, if you have meters installed or if water is supplied from a boiler with a small volume. In addition, it is worth remembering that the watering can have different settings and features of water supply. So, by selecting the lake with the right parameters, you can get a nice and effective top shower even when
low water flow. Actually, a low value in this case is considered to be up to 10 l /min; the average is 10 - 20 l/min, and in the most productive watering can be up to 30 l/min and even more.
Tilt angle
The top shower angle is tilted in both directions. Not all models have adjustment, and even those in which it is constructively laid have different angles. By itself
the ability to adjust the inclination angle of the upper shower allows you to adjust the flow of water to the desired side for the needs of a particular user.
Jet settings
The number of
jet settings provided in the complete manual or hygienic watering can (see "Complete set"). However, hygienic leukemias are usually made
single-mode - this is quite enough considering the application. But in conventional manual waterjets can be several, which allows you to change the characteristics of the jet at the request of the user - for example, instead of the usual thin jets, turn on a hard jet from a single large nozzle or a solid «soft» Flow from water filled with air bubbles. The specific set of settings can be different, it is worth to refine separately. However, in any case, the more options - the wider the choice of the user and the more complicated and more expensive the watering box itself.
Water consumption
The throughput capacity of a manual shower watering agent, in other words, the amount of water it gives out per minute when the faucets are fully open. Since the capacity is not only related to the design of the watering box, but also to the pressure in the water supply, it is customary to specify an average value - at a standard pressure of 3 bar.
The higher this parameter - the more intense the impact on the body can have a shower. At the same time, high water consumption can become a problem when there are water meters or when there are limited supplies - for example, if hot water is supplied by a boiler. Also note that
, low throughput can be compensated by certain jet settings.
Tap type
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Double lever. Classic version with two separate swivel taps, one of which is responsible for hot water, the second - for cold. The advantages of twin-valve mixers are simplicity, reliability and accuracy of temperature setting. On the other hand, they are less easy to adjust than single-piece.
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Single lever (joystick). One lever capable of moving in two planes is responsible for all adjustments in such mixers. When moving in one plane (usually right-left) the temperature is adjusted in the other (up-down or from itself - on itself) - pressure. In addition, such a mixer allows you to «remember» a certain variant of temperature - it is enough to close the water without moving the lever in another plane. But tuning accuracy in such models may be lower than in two-valve.
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Thermostatic. Mixers equipped with a thermostat - a mechanism for maintaining a constant temperature of water at the outlet. This is the most advanced and convenient option, but expensive. It is enough for the user to choose the desired temperature (in degrees) and pressure, and the thermostat will automatically adjust the proportion of hot and cold water. There are models both classic with swivel regulators and
thermostatic with button (read more about the button below).
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Buttoning on. Type of mixers con
...trolled by pressing a button. This way a certain amount of water is supplied, which helps to save money.
— Single-valve. A variety found in hygiene kits (cf. «Type»). In fact, such a device is not a mixer, but simply a tap designed only to open and close the water. The idea behind this design is that only cold water is often used for hygienic showers, for which one valve is sufficient.