Shower

The shower ( Germanized spelling of French douche, this is from the Latin ductio = " line " ), synonymous shower, allowed the artificial irrigation of the body with cold or warm water for body care. Originally mainly found in people of bathrooms, it is today part of a typical modern bathroom. Many homes do not have a bathtub, but only a shower stall. Showers are also to be found among others in swimming pools and affiliated with many changing rooms.

Showering is practiced in the western world especially from the standpoint of cleaning, but also serves the well-being and relaxation. Showers replaced today to a certain extent bathing. Usual accessories for showers are soap, shampoo, shower gel, shower cap and brush back.

History

From the earliest time you cleaned himself by letting water run over the body. Real showers with water tanks or supply lines, there was the first time in ancient Greece. This interior was the reproduction of natural waterfalls. In the Naturalis Historia of Pliny Roman author, the invention of the shower ( pensiles balineae "hanging baths" ) a Sergius Orata is attributed, is said to have so refined country homes to make them profitable to sell. But until the general circulation of the shower, it took some time. In France, the practice of showering by Jean Pidoux (ca. 1550-1610 ), personal physician to the French royal court became widespread. He was (now Pougues -les -Eaux ) met with the healing power of mineral springs in the small town of Pougues. In a paper of 1597, he describes to be observed when using the healing waters and various forms of rules, Shower '. But despite various therapeutic successes came his treatment recommendations with resistance from the medical profession of the time when water was generally regarded as vectors of disease. It was not until the late 18th century it was recognized that the hygiene of water is essential. The first showers introduced in 1860 French forces. It was an economic measure of hygiene, which was designed to obtain a large number of people in the shortest possible time clean. From 1880 showers were used as single cabins in prisons, barracks and boarding and a little later they found their way into the public baths. A further step to disseminate the shower was the Prussian military in 1879 with the installation of Greater showering in his barracks.

Designs

There are free-standing shower cubicles with a small tub ( shower tray, formerly 15, now mostly 6 cm depth), but also showers which are integrated in bathtubs. Are showers by waterproof curtains ( shower curtain), sliding doors or hinged doors separated from the environment in order to protect it from splashing and ensure privacy. Shower enclosures are typically open at the top. The walls are mostly tiled and grouted.

Consuming and expensive in execution are showers without level difference to the surrounding space. This wall and floor of the shower area are tiled or covered with waterproof in another way; the floor is tilted slightly towards the end. This design also allows for use with wheelchairs or walking aids. Further extensions may be disabled seating and grab bars. Open Great room showers on the same floor level are to be found in bathhouses etc..

In order not to have to hold the shower head during the shower procedure permanently, shower head holder or shower rods are fitted with cone - gliders, where the shower head can be attached. Some special versions the water nozzles are installed directly into the ceiling of the shower stall and no need for a movable shower head. It can also find versions (especially in luxury models) with water jets in the walls of the cabin, some with colored light.

Today's showers often have massage showers that are fed in the private room with hot and cold water thermostatic mixing valves, in the public space of a one-handed and single-lever mixer tap.

The collecting vessel in a shower is either a tub or - to avoid misunderstandings - called the cup or shower tray because the expression tub is also used abbreviation of Bath.

Different forms of design of the shower apparatus can be found at outdoor showers such as in swimming pools or on beaches. Turning on the water flow usually happens this by pressing a push button, after which water runs for a certain preset time.

Physical Aspects

Water and energy consumption

The energy consumption in the shower is in most households in second place after heating. In a shower with a conventional shower head about 15 liters of water per minute are consumed. During a five- -minute shower process in such a shower thus 75 liters of water are consumed. Since consumption while bathing around twice as high as in the shower, " showers instead of baths " is considered one of the most efficient energy savings and climate protection measures. This is of course only if you shower a few minutes on average.

Water-saving shower heads can reduce fuel consumption by another 50 %, which is the CO2 emissions of a household by around 90 kg CO2 (8-12 %) and energy costs can be reduced by 100 to 200 euros per year. In addition to the energy costs allows these water-saving shower while saving costs at the wastewater and water. Good flushing action, such as for flushing shampoo foam from the hair, provide those water saving (hand) shower heads, which effectively implement the water pressure in high velocity of water drops. As a modern and conducive to overall well-being so-called rain showers have recently been touted to be the " rain " from a larger area of larger openings large drops. With only moderate scavenging effect but this brings high water and energy needs with them.

Fluid dynamics

David Schmidt of the University of Massachusetts explored the fact that shower curtains undulate inside the shower, and received the 2001 Ig Nobel Prize for this. With the help of software for fluid dynamics he simulated 30 seconds shower with curtain. For the space around a bathtub with shower curtain in 50,000 segments was divided. The calculation showed that in the shower, a stable vortex of air and moisture is produced. Inside this there is a vortex is less air, like a tornado, so that the curtain is sucked toward the shower jet. When hot showers, the effect is amplified by the thermal motion.

For some time an attempt is made to counteract this phenomenon. Besides complained at the bottom of curtains ( lead weights ) of different systems have been patented.

Electrostatics

When spraying water droplets, the air loads to negative. This process is commonly referred to as waterfall electricity, professionally and Balloelektrizität or as Lenard effect. To balance the charge to the fresh water pipes with the metal shower tray, be connected with acrylic cups with the procedure set by a grounding cable.

Moisture can form

As in closed spaces especially while showering with warm water much moisture is released into the air, good ventilation of the room after a shower is recommended. The extent of forming moisture also depends on the ambient temperature; the cooler surrounding air, the faster moisture fittings also form at moderate water temperature.

Tenancy

Renters may under German law in principle at any time of day, so even at night, take a shower. The District Court of Cologne introduced in 1997 states: " A clause in the House Rules, which prohibits bathing and showering at night, is ineffective. Personal Care also provides night a socially adequate behavior and is part of the normal rental use. "