Electrifying: How to choose a power shower
Today’s electric showers offer huge versatility, potential economy and all the style of a gravity-fed shower.
Electric showers linked to a cold-water supply have an undeserved reputation as a second-tier choice. Many of us may have experienced our first kW-powered shower decades ago as students or young workers sharing a flat or house. Here the landlord’s choice of a fully electric shower put the cost of the hot water squarely back on the utility bill. They were often the cheapest models on offer at that time. If you have a small tank, low pressure, or plans for an ensuite in the far reaches of the house distant from existing plumbing, an electric shower could give you everything you need at a smaller spend. With prices from €80 to several hundred euros, examine your past prejudices before rejecting the inclusion of the latest muscled-up power pals.
Today’s electric showers offer huge versatility, potential economy and all the style of a gravity-fed shower (with or without a pump – more of that later). When you hear the words “digital shower” assume it is quite likely an electric shower as the exquisite detailing of LED digital control, remote operation, personal programs and other smart features are ideal for the engineering of an electric shower. Electric showers can boldly go where complex plumbing for a standard shower would cost thousands, and their performance is 100% efficient at point-of-use.
Where most of us balk, is running costs. Power and electric showers are pasted right at the top of the price to run standard, domestic electrical appliances. I would argue that with reasonable habits they don’t have to drown the power bill. Five minutes of 10kWh usage is .83 of a kWh. Let’s call that 30 cents – 40 cents depending on your time-of-use tariff. That is enough time for anyone (bar a teenage Rapunzel) to have a satisfying, steamy, dreamy wash.
The criticism levelled at electric showers regarding their low-flow rate has now been realised as their strength. Most mixer showers are fitted with water regulators to keep their performance under 5l, something you don’t have to worry about with an electric shower, many of which also include an economy mode to save you on power and water. You’re only ever heat the water you use. Dual-head showers with rain-heads are becoming commonplace inclusions in the top range of electric pumped and non-pumped electric showers.
There are two kinds of electric showers fed by a cold-water supply, so here’s an explainer. First of all, there’s an electric shower where your pressure is already sufficient - fed by the mains. Here we are choosing a shower to take cold water up to hot instantly, passing it over a heating element. Often the reason for doing this is simply to avoid taking a hot supply to a potentially awkward spot in the house. Secondly, we’re in a situation where there is low pressure, say 0.5 bar with insufficient headage due to a short distance between the bottom of your cold-water attic tank and the shower head.
This is a gravity-fed electric shower linked to a cold tank. Now, we want both improved pressure and instant hot water, so we choose a pumped electric shower. These showers are not plumbed directly into a mains water supply which should supply your house with sufficient pressure already. If not, have your plumber investigate to find out if the issue is inside or outside your boundary.
It’s easy to be confused by what is termed power showers (operating like standard mixers from a hot and cold supply) and electric pumped showers. Pumped showers look similar and have similar features. They are generally, gravity-fed showers which already have a hot supply (they are not suited to combi-boilers). The electrical addition is pushing the water, not heating the water. With a pumped shower you will get more litres per minute than you would in an electric shower – twice to three times as much if you can afford the hot water. Many showrooms have shower hoses and heads plumbed in to allow you to do at least a test on sensation with your hand. Aeration can fatten the feed for a surprisingly good feel in an electric model with modest kWs.
With a cold-water supply, we are looking for an electric shower or a pumped electric shower to bring the water to temperature and if needs be to push the water up a bar, immersing us a in comfortable deluge of water at a constant temperature. If you want to connect your electric (non-pumped) shower to an additional pump or existing whole-house pump, take the advice of your plumber who will also see what cabling (6mm or 10mm) and pipe size will suit you. Like any electrical device of this complexity, we want a fully professional installation the first time around by a RECI-registered sparky to check all fuses and switches are completely safe. Running two electric showers at once creates a large draw on the mains electricity, so your electrician will install a priority board to allow one to run at a time.
When choosing your shower, the kW rating is vital. This tells you just how fast the shower can take the supply to your set thermostatically controlled temperature. In a feebler shower of say 7kW – 7.5kW, turn the heat way up, and the pressure in the shower will drop to hold the temperature. In a more powerful electric shower of say 10kW, this is unlikely to be a problem. In terms of price, you’ll pay more for an increased kWs and more for a pumped shower model.
So, this season, what’s out there in electrifying deals? Triton is the most powerful name for electric showers here in Ireland. The new Amore DuElec dual-head electric showers are stunners. They include touch-activated controls paired with an OLED display, which clearly and accurately highlights selected power and temperature settings. Switch seamlessly between the large diameter fixed head or five spray-pattern shower head.
For pumped electric showers the diverter style is included in the Triton Showers DuElec Premium Black Electric Diverter Kit which can be married to their flagship silent-running T90SR electric shower (awarded the Quiet Mark for its whisper-quiet performance). RRP €470 for the electric (non-pumped) variety of Amore DuElec, and €650 for a combination of the diverter kit and the pumped T90SR. If you already have a T90SR or Novel SR shower from Triton, it’s possible to purchase the diverter kit separately. For the top shower in their range, look into the smart, Envi line which offers up to 6 x individual time and temperature profiles, full-colour digital control, shower handset and pre-set programme if required. Prices from €634 for a glorious copper model, Suppliers nationwide.
I’m also impressed by Mira for their highly affordable shower range, which includes their signature Clearscale technology which can increase the life of your shower by 50% if you live in a hard-water area. Their glass panels are very flash, and we fancy the new 9.8kW Azora electric (non-pumped). It’s very nicely engineered with phased shutdown to flush the tank at the end of use, a 200mm and 99mm choice of shower head for a hotel-style experience, and Sensi-flow tech to avoid any chance of scalding if a pipe should become blocked. Prices from €443. Their iconic one-head shower the Mira Sport Max retains its place as a popular favourite in Ireland and the UK with a blistering 10.9kW of power, and new Airboost technology to increase the feel of the feed. From €318, various suppliers.
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