In the mornings, before you jump in the shower, do you brace because you know it’s going to be a chilly dribble? Or do you bound into the bathroom, stripping as you go, eager to jump into the flow of hot water?
If it’s the former, then you know what time it is. That’s right: there’s no better moment to upgrade your electric shower.
Of course, it might be that you’re creating a new shower room from scratch and are considering an electric shower as your cleaning station of choice. Read on for all you need to know before you buy one.
Why an electric shower?
If you live in an older building or are replacing an existing electric shower, it’s infinitely easier and cheaper to install one than to rip out the plaster, re-route the pipes and put in what’s called a mixer shower (i.e. one that relies on your boiler providing hot water, which it mixes with cold to your desired temperature).
An electric shower works like your electric kettle, with an element inside that heats the water before it comes out. This means it’s ready whenever you are, without your having to heat a tank of hot water beforehand, thus saving you money.
What do I need to know before purchasing an electric shower?
Electric showers come in varying kilowatts of power, which will determine how much water is heated up at a time and doesn’t necessarily equate to a more powerful flow. Generally, the range of kilowatts is from 7kW to 10.5kW. While you may be tempted to go for the highest wattage, you need to be guided by what your system can handle.
For the full monty of 10.5kW, you need to have 1.5 bar of water pressure, a 45A fuse or circuit breaker, plus a 10mm electric cable to the shower. Not sure if you have all that? Best to get a registered trader in to check and make a considered recommendation based on your system.
The other aspect of electric showers to be aware of is that some are thermostatic, which in theory means they keep the temperature at an even keel, even if someone turns on a tap elsewhere in your home. However, a Which? test found that this isn’t always the case, so you could be as well off with an ordinary one.
Any cons to be aware of?
Mostly aesthetic ones, as they aren’t the most elegant pieces of equipment you’ll install in your home, with their clunky boxes. They’re also prone to fuzzing up with limescale inside – again, just like your kettle – if you live in a hard-water area and there’s not a lot you can do about it.
How do I choose one?
Once you’ve tackled the kilowatt question, which will narrow down your choice, how else do you decide which electric shower is for you?
Something to look out for is the number of pipe and electrical points on the unit. The more there are, the more likely it is it will be able to fit into your existing setup.
What is a power shower with a built-in pump?
Many people think of installing an electric shower with a built-in pump if they have water flow issues or want to avoid completely redecorating the bathroom - but they can be a good choice if you are renovating, thanks to features like a consistent flow rate, a stabilised temperature and a good, strong shower.
They are ideal if you are building a new en suite bathroom or additional shower room where you don’t previously have mains water fitted, as you can run a simple cold water plastic pipe through to the site. They are also fine for homes or rooms with a lower flow rate – for example, if you want to put a shower into a loft conversion - though most experts recommend a minimum flow of 1 bar for a power shower. Thanks to an internal pump, power showers deliver a strong and consistent flow of water. They are good if lots of people need a shower in a short space of time, say rush hour in family households.
Things to look for when buying an electric shower with a built-in pump
- Flow rate: measured in litres per minute. The higher the number, the more water can be pumped through, giving a more generous and powerful shower.
- Power: most range from 7.5 to 10.5kW. The higher the power, the more hot water you be forced through the head (and the more expensive your bills).
- Noise levels: some have extra quiet motors but most will make the classic whining noise.
- Temperature control: these tend to be on round dials so you can select your perfect temperature. Some have an eco setting that uses less power and water.
- Spray patterns: from a single jet to a rainforest-style shower, look for a range of spray patterns.
- Easy to clean spray nozzles: many are made from an easily wiped clean material.
- Ease of fitting: try to find one that can have power and water supplies coming in from several directions, so you can fit it with minimal fuss.
Best electric showers 2024 at a glance
- Best for attractive design and lots of great features: Mira Azora 9.8kW Dual - £356, Amazon
- Best for a sensibly priced two-head option: Triton Danzi DuElec Electric Shower 9.5kW - £283.24, Amazon
- Best for buying on a budget: Triton Sevelle Universal Electric Shower, 7.5kW - £79.99, Amazon
- Best for a powerful flow: Mira Advance Thermostatic, 8.7kW - £290, Amazon
- Best for digital controls: Bristan Bliss 3 Electric Shower, 10.5 kW - £391.94, Amazon
- Best for lots of features at a not top-of-the-range price: Triton Collection II Contemporary Electric Shower, Black Gloss, 9.5 KW - £204.99, Amazon
- Best for contemporary good looks at a sensible price: Triton Aspirante Collection II, White Gloss, 8.5 KW - £194.99, Amazon
- Best for the most options in the budget bracket: Triton T80 Easi-Fit+ White/chrome 8.5kw - £155, Wickes
- Best for blast factor: Mira Sport Max Electric Shower 10.8kW - £260, Wickes
- Best for a powerful and consistent flow: Aqualisa Aquastream Thermostatic Power Shower with Pump - £580.61, Plumbworld
- Best for a very quiet shower: Triton Silent Running Thermostatic Power Shower - £210.22, Plumbworld
- Best for an instantly invigorating shower: Mira Go Power Thermostatic Power Shower - £130, B&Q
- Best for stylish good looks: AQUAS AquaMax Flex Manual Smart - £529.95, Victorian Plumbing
- Best for budget yet powerful option: Mira Vigour Thermostatic Power Shower - £198, Plumbworld
- Best for retaining your favourite temperature setting: Bristan Hydro Power 1000 XT Thermostatic Power Shower - £214.98, Plumbworld
To help you make your final decision, we’ve gathered together the best – in our opinion – of what’s out there. Here’s our selection…
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Mira Azora 9.8kW Dual
Best for: Attractive design and lots of great features
Not the cheapest electric shower by any means, but certainly the best looking, in our humble opinion. Of course, you can’t judge by how handsome a thing is, so happily this one has other appealing features to pick up points.
For starters, there are two ways to shower: one is with the static overhead rain shower, and the other is for handholding and spraying where you like. It also features what the manufacturer calls Mira Clearscale technology. It doesn’t stop limescale completely, but slows it down by 50 per cent, so your shower unit will last longer.
It’s a thermostatic shower, which means it will keep the water temperature the same even if someone flushes a toilet elsewhere in your home. Finally, it comes with a reassuring two-year guarantee.
Buy now £356.00, Amazon
Triton Danzi DuElec Electric Shower 9.5kW
Best for: A sensibly priced two-head option
Another two-header, this electric shower also features an overhead rain shower, and a hand-held nozzle that you can adjust in height, which offers a choice of five spray patterns.
You can choose from either a white or black finish as well, which goes some way to appeasing the aesthete in us. The soft-touch buttons are gently lit, and there’s an easy diverter to switch between overhead and handheld. It comes with a comforting two-year guarantee.
All of these things combine to provide a well-priced version of more expensive models and will appeal to those who can live without the higher-spec touches.
Buy now £283.24, Amazon
Triton Sevelle Universal Electric Shower, 7.5kW
Best for: Buying on a budget
You need a new electric shower, but the readies aren’t so ready. What to do? Here’s an easy answer: go for this exceedingly well-priced one from a well-known brand. It’s not the prettiest and it has only the one spray pattern, but it’s a 7.5kW, so your basic electrics should be able to handle it without doing any upgrading.
It has separate flow and temperature controls, offers several electric cable and water connection points – so chances are good it will fit your existing set up. The electric shower also comes with a reassuring two-year parts and labour guarantee so long as it’s fitted within the UK. Basically, it’s a reasonable, good, working shower without the bells and whistles.
Buy now £79.99, Amazon
Mira Advance Thermostatic, 8.7kW
Best for: A powerful flow
If your main criteria when choosing an electric shower is the force of the flow, then this one should be on your shortlist. Pricier than some, but for reliability and long-lasting service, the Mira brand is definitely up there –many Mira shower owners come back for another when it’s time to get a replacement.
This model features the Mira Clearscale technology that cuts limescale build-up by 50 per cent, so the unit lasts longer in hard water areas; an audible beep when the water has reached your requested temperature, thus avoiding getting blasted with cold water; an intuitive temperature dial and that thermostatic control so there’s no fluctuation in heat. It also comes with a two-year guarantee.
Buy now £290.00, Amazon
Bristan Bliss 3 Electric Shower, 10.5 kW
Best for: Digital controls
Although this electric shower has better looks than some, with its shiny chrome head and bracket and ultra-modern-looking unit, the aspect we like best is its anti-limescale feature. It works by flushing any leftover water out of the system when you turn it off, so water can’t lurk around to deposit its scale.
Of course, it’s not 100 per cent effective, but it does help, and if you live in a hard water area you’ll appreciate anything of this nature. On the cool-features scale, this one gets a 9.5 for its digital temperature display, touch controls and warm-up mode: the unit lets you know when the water has reached your desired temperature, so you don’t jump in and get the chillies before it’s ready.
Buy now £197.00, Amazon
Triton Collection II Contemporary Electric Shower, Black Gloss, 9.5 KW
Best for: Lots of features at a not top-of-the-range price
A handsome looker, this electric shower features illuminated soft-touch buttons and separate temperature and flow controls. There’s what the manufacturer calls ‘phased shut down’, which means any remaining water is expelled after you turn the shower off so it can’t hang around to fuzz up the innards with limescale, which is not 100 per cent effective, but does slow down the rate it builds up.
Other handy features include three spray patterns, an anti-twist hose to avoid kinks and a two-year guarantee. It also provides a generous flow of water. All that and from a trusted British-made brand, which saves on the travel miles, meaning it’s better for the planet.
Buy now £204.99, Amazon
Triton Aspirante Collection II, White Gloss, 8.5 KW
Best for: Contemporary good looks at a sensible price
You’ll impress the overnight guests when they find this electric shower in the bathroom. Its uncluttered design gives it Brownie points, along with the illuminated soft-touch buttons for raising or lowering the temperature, a post-shower flush feature to reduce limescale build-up, and a happy-making two-year parts and labour guarantee.
There are also three spray patterns from the large shower head and, as with all showers that run off mains water, it only heats the water that’s being used, so it’s the most economical way to wash yourself. Finally, it’s British-made, which means it’s a local product that didn’t have to travel halfway around the world to get to you, meaning it’s kinder to the environment. Win-win.
Buy now £194.99, Amazon
Triton T80 Easi-Fit+ White/chrome 8.5kw
Best for: The most options in the budget bracket
Considering the price, you get a lot for the money with this electric shower. It’s available in versions from 7.5kW right up to 10.5kW, has two simple dials – one for temperature and one for flow – and there’s a choice of five spray patterns. We found the force of the flow pretty impressive, even with the 7.5kW version.
Also in its favour are the number of electric cable and water-pipe connection possibilities, so it’s likely to fit into your existing configuration. It’s your basic shower, but with a bit of oomph and a great choice if you haven’t a big budget but want a reasonable shower experience.
Buy now £185.00, Wickes
Mira Sport Max Electric Shower 10.8kW
Best for: blast factor
Soak up the pure power of the Mira Sport Max Shower. The sleek bathroom addition features patented Airboost technology, which can help increase the water flow and promises a highly invigorating shower.
With this easy-use shower added to your bathroom, you can fine-tune your ablutions, featuring a 120mm handset with four spray modes, in addition to separate power and temperature controls.
Buy now £260.00, Wickes
Best electric showers with a built-in pump
Aqualisa Aquastream Thermostatic Power Shower with Pump
Best for: a powerful and consistent flow
With a steady thermostatic control, your shower will stay at the right temperature no matter what taps are on elsewhere in the house. Aqualisa offers one of the best showers around; expect a powerful blast first thing in the morning.
It can be used with gravity systems (not on a high-pressure water system) and needs a maximum pressure of 1 bar. The unit can be easily fitted in any position, with inlets for water and power on the top, bottom or rear of the unit. The shower head has four flow patterns including an eco setting (saving 25 per cent of water) and is easy to clean, with a nifty way of adjusting the shower head’s position on the bar; simply pinch the grip and it slides up and down, to get it in the optimal position.
The wall unit is not terribly pretty but it is made from high-quality materials, in a white and chrome finish.
Buy now £635.92, Plumbworld
Triton Silent Running Thermostatic Power Shower AS2000SR
Best for: a very quiet shower
If you get up at a different time to the rest of your household, Triton’s shower is a godsend for early morning showers.
The shower is Quiet Mark-approved, which should tell you all you need to know about how noisy it is - or isn’t, in this case.
Offered in white and chrome, the simple round head has three spray patterns to use. Controls are simple, with one for temperature and one for power and there’s a vertical bar to allow you to raise or lower the shower head, plus a small shelf for things like soap.
The shower will remain at a steady temperature and there’s has a safety feature to prevent scalding. Thanks to its internal pump, it can be fitted in a home with a low pressure water system that has a cold water cistern and hot water cylinder. The hose has an anti-twist feature that prevents kinks, too.
Buy now £208.99, Plumbworld
Mira Go Power Thermostatic Power Shower
Best for: an instantly invigorating shower
Ideal for homes with low water pressure, this easy-to-use shower offers a torrent from the simple twist of a tap (14L a minute to be precise), so if you like to get straight into the shower this model is an excellent choice.
It has a thermostatic control that maintains the temperature for the duration of your wash, and there is a mechanism to prevent it from getting too hot and scalding. It’s possible to control the temperature and strength of the flow independently with the controls. The nozzles on the spray have a wipe-clean surface and the riser bar helps you position the shower head in the best position for you.
While the shower head offers five spray options, the hose is fairly short, limiting the positions for installation.
Buy now £130.00, B&Q
AQUAS AquaMax Flex Manual Smart
Best for: stylish good looks
This sleek, top-of-the-range shower has dual shower heads, one fixed above that has three different spray patterns and a handheld that can be adjusted up and down on a slide bar; the overhead shower arm has an extra long reach of 400mm if you want to install it further out from the wall.
It features a flow limiter, which means that if anyone turns on the tap in another room, the flow to the shower remains the same - no loss of power or sudden fluctuations in temperature. The shower comes with an eco setting that reduces the energy output to 5kw to use in summer, which should have a positive effect on your bills.
Also, if you have found the best setting for your perfect shower, the unit will remember it so that you don’t have to fiddle with strength and temperature each time you pop in for a wash.
Buy now £440.00, Amazon
Mira Vigour Thermostatic Power Shower
Best for: budget yet powerful option
This is a budget-priced power shower that delivers a pleasingly strong water flow, making it a great choice for family homes.
It can be used with gravity-fed hot and cold water systems and will deliver a thermostatically controlled and consistent shower for both temperature and strength. The shower head has five different spray patterns and it has a generous hose, meaning you can play around with the positioning of the riser bar to hide any previous screw holes or marks.
The wall box is plain, with a round control with two options (knob and circular selector switch) to offer your chosen flow from a water-conserving shower to a full blast of water and there is a soap tray on the white and chrome unit, too.
Buy now £219.17, Amazon
