A couple of weekends ago I was dragged off to look a new housing scheme not far from us. Quite a big site, with a mix of starter homes, three bedroom semis and ‘executive ‘ homes. Two things struck home. Firstly, all of the homes, even the small ones, had both a bathroom and an en-suite; each with a shower. Secondly the systems were fed from a pressurised hot water cylinder.

That site is pretty typical of what is happening in the new housing market : two showers are almost the norm and a pressurised cylinder, or a combi, is overwhelmingly the hot water system of choice. For many people the equipment they see in new housing becomes the benchmark for their own homes.

What other trends are now driving the shower market and what opportunities do they present for the plumbing and heating engineer?

• Some of the key ones; Around 65% of UK homes have at least one shower.
• Taking a shower is now a more frequent way of washing than taking a bath.
• Replacement and additional showers are now becoming the most important part of the market as homeowners refurbish their bathrooms or add an en-suite.
• As homeowners make their second time purchases they trade up, with pressure of water and ease of use as their key requirements.
• Bathrooms and showers are treated like kitchens; rooms where style and finish are used to express the owner’s personality. They are prepared to spend well on their bathrooms.

Apart from trends within the shower market there are others that have an effect on how customers choose or use their bathroom and shower equipment. For example, 65% of households are made up of only two people, frequently both working, so they may not be short of money, but their time is precious so a second shower makes lots of sense. Another important trend is the growing number of so called ‘ grey ‘ households. 20% of the population is over 60 and this proportion will rise.

Trust me, I’m a plumber.

Why do these trends present an opportunity for you? Because in around three out of four homes where you are working, there is already a shower. Chances are that the customer is thinking about either changing it or adding another one. And the first question they need to answer is “What type of water system do you have?” And who is best placed to help them and to show them how to improve the system? So having the shower options at your fingertips gives you a head start.

Here is where the Mira range can help.

Power to the people

A more powerful shower is pretty much at the top of most peoples’ wish list. If the heating system or water cylinder is being changed, this means that either a combi or a pressurised hot water cylinder is the likely option. Mira have a wide choice of showers designed just for these applications. The Excel, the UK’s best selling mixer, and the Fino both offer thermostatic control along with flow control; features high on customers’ wish lists. These models come in built-in or surface mounted versions and with a choice of shower handsets or built-in heads. The Mira 415 is pressure balanced to maintain a constant showering temperature with a sequential temperature selector. Moving up market brings in the Form, Mode and Fino models.

A more powerful shower can also be obtained by installing a remote hot and cold universal pump, such as the Mira PPT3. Alternatively, the Mira Event and Extreme power showers with integral pumps provide the ultimate in power showering.

Electrify your sales

Electric showers make a sensible alternative for remote shower rooms, perhaps in a downstairs cloakroom. With outputs of up to 10·8kW the Sport range gives a really good shower performance from a cold water mains connection. The Advance ATL Thermostatic range gives a wider option of controls including five push-button memories for flow rate and temperature.

I mentioned the growing ‘ grey’ market. Showers are an ideal and safe way of helping the elderly and infirm to continue to use their home bathing facilities. Mira’s Advance ATL Thermostatic electric shower range has just been given the BEAB Caremark which certifies that it gives a safe and controllable flow, ideal for users in a care setting. All models have an adjustable maximum temperature limiter. This ranges from 37° to 48°C and the fitter selects the required setting, typically 41°C, during installation. The Flex model also has a longer shower hose and slide bar to give flexibility in use, perhaps for a wheelchair user.

Helping your customer to improve their showering experience is good news for you. With skilled labour as scarce as it is, it makes business sense to install high value and profitable equipment at every opportunity and the Mira range certainly offers that. You also have the confidence of offering the best known and market leading shower brand backed with the pedigree and resource of Mira.

Mira have three detailed booklets covering mixer showers pumped systems and electric showers. These cover system design, regulations, tips and troubleshooting.

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For details call 0845 600 6472 or visit www.mirashowers.com