Electric Showers

Installing an electric shower will give you a practical and reliable place to refresh before making your way to the office; and offer an ideal place to escape to at the end of a long day. They are also often very affordable, making them a fantastic option when planning your bathroom.

But there are a lot of options - and terminology - when it comes to choosing a new shower. From smart, digital showers to electric and power showers, you may be wondering what the differences are. Take a look at our frequently asked questions about what electric showers are, how they work, how much energy they use and more.

What is a power shower?

As with any kind of mixer shower, a power shower combines water from your hot and cold water supplies into a single stream. A pump - usually located within the power shower unit - is used to increase the pressure, which means that power showers are a great choice if you have low water pressure.

How does an electric power shower work?

There is actually a difference between electric and power showers. Power showers use water from a hot water tank which causes the water pressure to drop and, therefore, utilise a pump. Electric showers use water from your cold water supply. With an electric shower, a pump is not usually needed, as the water is heated by the shower rather than taken from a hot water tank.

The great thing about electric showers is they heat the water as you're using it. This means you don't need to pre-heat the water first, as they will run on a cold water supply making them perfect if you're often in a rush. A built in thermostat regulates the water temperature, removing the risk of scalding, which makes them a safe choice for family bathrooms.

How much power does an electric shower use?

The amount of power used by an electric shower depends on the power rating of the shower, as measured in kilowatts (kW). Electric showers can range from 7.5 kW up to 10.8 kW. However, electric showers feature a highly economical design as they take water directly from the cold water supply. As a result they use less water which will help to keep your energy bills down.

Depending on power rating and based on average use, an electric shower will use between 455 and 655 kWh of energy per year.

Can you have a power shower with a combi boiler?

You can?t use a power shower with a combi boiler. This is because power showers use an in-built pump that needs to be connected to your hot water tank via a hot water cylinder. If you have a combi-boiler as part of your heating system, then an electric shower would be the ideal choice.

Can I fit an electric shower myself?

It can be easier to fit an electric shower as a replacement, as this is often as simple as replacing the shower unit and riser rail. However, you should be suitably trained and qualified when installing an electric shower, so it is best to check with a qualified electrician or plumber. This would also be the case when fitting a power shower.