When planning to install a shower the main considerations to take into account are the water pressure and the planning of the piping and drainage for the shower.
Ways of increasing the pressure:
It is best to use 15mm diameter supply pipes making the runs to the shower as short and straight as possible. The benefits include maintaining maximum pressure and minimising heat loss.
It is also advisable to minimise the use of elbows for pipe corners as this increases resistance in the flow of the water supply. Instead, it may be worth bending the pipes.
If it is a manual mixer that is being fitted, the cold water supply must be taken directly from the cold water cistern as opposed to a pipe supplying any other tap or cistern in the household, as it could cause extremities in temperature and scalding when the pressure is decreased.
In contrast, hot water can be taken from a branch pipe because if the hot water supply is reduced there will only be a reduction in temperature causing temporary discomfort. If the hot supply is to be taken from the cylinder distribution pipe the connection point should ideally be made above the height of the cylinder top.
If it is a thermostatic shower is being installed, then the hot and cold water supplies can be taken from the branch pipes as the water temperature is self controlled by the built-in stabiliser.
Drainage - see Drainage systems
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