Modern electric showers?
Discussion
I’m getting my bathroom renovated in the next few months.
I have a combi boiler supplying 2 x bathrooms to mixer showers. The water pressure is very poor to say the least.
I’m looking for a modern electric shower that’s compact and with back box hidden behind the tiles but looks like a normal designer mixer. I’ve looked at mira and Triton but they’re very digital, any ideas?
Or if that’s not available has anybody installed the salamander pumps on a combi system?
I have a combi boiler supplying 2 x bathrooms to mixer showers. The water pressure is very poor to say the least.
I’m looking for a modern electric shower that’s compact and with back box hidden behind the tiles but looks like a normal designer mixer. I’ve looked at mira and Triton but they’re very digital, any ideas?
Or if that’s not available has anybody installed the salamander pumps on a combi system?
I know nothing about plumbing - let's set that out from the start. 
However, having recently renovated a bathroom (or rather, paid someone for a renovation) we went the route of an electric pump in the loft. A more belt and braces approach maybe - rather than having an all in one unit. Might this work for you? It seems simpler somehow and more choice too - at least when I was looking at how it might be done.
However, having recently renovated a bathroom (or rather, paid someone for a renovation) we went the route of an electric pump in the loft. A more belt and braces approach maybe - rather than having an all in one unit. Might this work for you? It seems simpler somehow and more choice too - at least when I was looking at how it might be done.
Electric showers don’t really give great water pressure once you turn them up to a decent temperature.
I fitted one at my last house, I already had a shower running off a combi boiler so I didn’t want to end up in the same situation as you are in.
I had got really good mains water pressure but a 9.5kw electric shower couldn’t heat the water quick enough to get anything like a powerful shower.
What is your mains water pressure like and what KW combi boiler do you have?
There are ways to have multiple showers running but if it’s a low powered combi, it’s not going to be cheap to do.
I fitted one at my last house, I already had a shower running off a combi boiler so I didn’t want to end up in the same situation as you are in.
I had got really good mains water pressure but a 9.5kw electric shower couldn’t heat the water quick enough to get anything like a powerful shower.
What is your mains water pressure like and what KW combi boiler do you have?
There are ways to have multiple showers running but if it’s a low powered combi, it’s not going to be cheap to do.
Is it specifically electric you’re after, or higher pressure than you get with the combi?
Electric showers are generally limited in flow by the instantaneous nature of the water heating (same as a combi, just different source of energy). To maintain temperature, especially when the inout temp is low, they will reduce flow. A pump won’t change this.
Unless your flow rates are being caused by undersized pipe work, you’re going to need:
1) a very meaty electric shower (generally higher kW = higher output);
2) an upgrade to the combi to one with higher output:
3) adding/switching back to a tank of hot water.
It might be theoretically possible to supply an electric shower with lukewarm water but I doubt it’s recommended.
Electric showers are generally limited in flow by the instantaneous nature of the water heating (same as a combi, just different source of energy). To maintain temperature, especially when the inout temp is low, they will reduce flow. A pump won’t change this.
Unless your flow rates are being caused by undersized pipe work, you’re going to need:
1) a very meaty electric shower (generally higher kW = higher output);
2) an upgrade to the combi to one with higher output:
3) adding/switching back to a tank of hot water.
It might be theoretically possible to supply an electric shower with lukewarm water but I doubt it’s recommended.
Badda said:
I'm not sure the added pumps can be used with mains fed systems, only gravity. Worth double checking.
Correct, you can’t pump a combi system. The only way to get decent pressure is going to be either a pumped vented system (ie hot tank and cold header tank) or an unvented system. Electric showers are utter w
k. Have a look at Aqualisa ceiling pumped showers. They come with their own pump that fits easily into the ceiling above (two push fit connectors and a mains lead) and the water comes down a tube from the ceiling. I have an old model and it's still brilliant after 20 years.
ETA I have a hot water tank not a combi so maybe that won't work.
ETA I have a hot water tank not a combi so maybe that won't work.
Simpo Two said:
Have a look at Aqualisa ceiling pumped showers. They come with their own pump that fits easily into the ceiling above (two push fit connectors and a mains lead) and the water comes down a tube from the ceiling. I have an old model and it's still brilliant after 20 years..
Good bit of kit but they don't work with a combi boiler.ETA I replied before your edit !!
Gtom said:
Electric showers don t really give great water pressure once you turn them up to a decent temperature.
I fitted one at my last house, I already had a shower running off a combi boiler so I didn t want to end up in the same situation as you are in.
I had got really good mains water pressure but a 9.5kw electric shower couldn t heat the water quick enough to get anything like a powerful shower.
What is your mains water pressure like and what KW combi boiler do you have?
There are ways to have multiple showers running but if it s a low powered combi, it s not going to be cheap to do.
My Triton needed a new showerhead and I bought one with 5 settings from rain mist to clearing drains. Only £7.99.I fitted one at my last house, I already had a shower running off a combi boiler so I didn t want to end up in the same situation as you are in.
I had got really good mains water pressure but a 9.5kw electric shower couldn t heat the water quick enough to get anything like a powerful shower.
What is your mains water pressure like and what KW combi boiler do you have?
There are ways to have multiple showers running but if it s a low powered combi, it s not going to be cheap to do.
It's transformed the pressure so much that on the massage and heavier settings I have to turn the heat down.
Been a game changer after 4 years of low pressure limp wristed flow
The flat I m in as an old Glasgow sand stone Victorian style but had an upgrade before I moved in from developers, I m sure it s all plastic piping throughout, which standard size I’m not sure or what piping has been upgraded to the building.
I measured the water mains before and it’s been just at the minimum pressure so Scottish water won’t be interested.
It seems a new combi is the best way to go? Thought there would be a cheaper option.
What’s the best in business right now?
I measured the water mains before and it’s been just at the minimum pressure so Scottish water won’t be interested.
It seems a new combi is the best way to go? Thought there would be a cheaper option.
What’s the best in business right now?
Edited by Bushman1 on Sunday 15th February 10:53
Electric showers do the job.
It's a wash not some 'enjoyable' experience.
It helps if you have the right handset so what little water comes out goes somewhere useful.
Also works better in a small shower enclosure so you don't need tons of hot water to keep you warm.
If you've ever spent a long time on a yacht with limited water to last you a week, you'll appreciate the humble electric shower a bit more!
With a combi, if the flow is poor, I would be looking at the low available to the house to see if there is a lot of restriction in the house somewhere.
If you can measure the incoming pressure and see how much it drops when the shower is running, you can see whether there is scope for improvement.
Many house with combi boilers have a pressure regulating valve so the boiler only sees 3 bar or so. That's worth checking out.
You can get bigger bore shower hoses and handsets for low pressure.
Some mixers are more restrictive than others.
There are lots of ways the flow can be reduced, filter gauzes at the inlets of boilers and shower mixers, bad installations using rubbish adaptors, don't forget to check the basics like are all the stopcocks fully open!
Sometimes restrictors are intentionally fitted to limit the waste of water! Power showers can get through a lot of water and energy.
Some electric showers are more powerful than others, it also makes a difference whether you're getting high or low mains voltage. Common variations in the nominal 230V can change the power by 20%!
It's a wash not some 'enjoyable' experience.
It helps if you have the right handset so what little water comes out goes somewhere useful.
Also works better in a small shower enclosure so you don't need tons of hot water to keep you warm.
If you've ever spent a long time on a yacht with limited water to last you a week, you'll appreciate the humble electric shower a bit more!
With a combi, if the flow is poor, I would be looking at the low available to the house to see if there is a lot of restriction in the house somewhere.
If you can measure the incoming pressure and see how much it drops when the shower is running, you can see whether there is scope for improvement.
Many house with combi boilers have a pressure regulating valve so the boiler only sees 3 bar or so. That's worth checking out.
You can get bigger bore shower hoses and handsets for low pressure.
Some mixers are more restrictive than others.
There are lots of ways the flow can be reduced, filter gauzes at the inlets of boilers and shower mixers, bad installations using rubbish adaptors, don't forget to check the basics like are all the stopcocks fully open!
Sometimes restrictors are intentionally fitted to limit the waste of water! Power showers can get through a lot of water and energy.
Some electric showers are more powerful than others, it also makes a difference whether you're getting high or low mains voltage. Common variations in the nominal 230V can change the power by 20%!
Bushman1 said:
The flat I m in as an old Glasgow sand stone Victorian style but had an upgrade before I moved in from developers, I m sure it s all plastic piping throughout, which standard size I m not sure or what piping has been upgraded to the building.
I measured the water mains before and it s been just at the minimum pressure so Scottish water won t be interested.
It seems a new combi is the best way to go? Thought there would be a cheaper option.
What s the best in business right now?
If your mains pressure is piss poor, you can get a pump to boost it, this would be the first option. I measured the water mains before and it s been just at the minimum pressure so Scottish water won t be interested.
It seems a new combi is the best way to go? Thought there would be a cheaper option.
What s the best in business right now?
Edited by Bushman1 on Sunday 15th February 10:53
After that it s a bigger combi boiler or if you have got the room, an unvented cylinder run off the heating loop of the combi boiler. It s not a particularly common thing to do it s it s perfectly possible.
Edit. What kw is your current boiler? Are you trying to run 2no showers at the same time or is it just that the water pressure at the shower head is poor even if 1no shower is running? The current pipework might have isolating valves everywhere, if they aren’t full bore valves then this cuts the pipe size to 10mm which will give really bad flow.
Edited by Gtom on Sunday 15th February 12:10
GasEngineer said:
Simpo Two said:
Have a look at Aqualisa ceiling pumped showers. They come with their own pump that fits easily into the ceiling above (two push fit connectors and a mains lead) and the water comes down a tube from the ceiling. I have an old model and it's still brilliant after 20 years..
Good bit of kit but they don't work with a combi boiler.ETA I replied before your edit !!
Ardennes92 said:
GasEngineer said:
Simpo Two said:
Have a look at Aqualisa ceiling pumped showers. They come with their own pump that fits easily into the ceiling above (two push fit connectors and a mains lead) and the water comes down a tube from the ceiling. I have an old model and it's still brilliant after 20 years..
Good bit of kit but they don't work with a combi boiler.ETA I replied before your edit !!
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