Showers don't just provide a way to get clean, their therapeutic and relaxation properties are well documented. Some people invest large amounts in what they see as one of the most important elements of the household. Nothing quite beats jumping into the shower after a hard day's work, or indeed to wake oneself up. This guide aims to acquaint the reader with some key factors to consider with choosing a shower. Not all homes will be equipped to accept certain showers, so it's important to check yourself or seek the advice of a friend or plumber.

The most versatile system is the electric shower, which can easily be installed in any household. Only connected to the cold supply, these shower units heat the water through a long, twisting heated copper element, which rapidly heats the water. When I lived in a student house, these were a godsend as even after three guys had used the shower, there wasn't cold water left for everyone else. The main disadvantage with electric showers is that they don't generate the pressure of showers connected to the hot water mains.

Not all homes have shower access to the hot water mains, but if they do then they are a popular option, with more versatile options for fitting shower heads. Some busy homes would have people racing to get into the shower first thing in the morning though, so a compromise with a two bathroomed household could be to have an electric in one bathroom and one connected to the hot water mains in the other. Although these have always been extremely popular in countries such as Germany, mixer showers are much more common nowadays in the UK. These don't require separate hot and cold taps, instead they work by rotating a single handle left or right.