Best Electric Showers

Introduction to the Best Electric Showers

Are you trying to find the best electric shower products on the market?

Our guide to the best electric showers in the UK will look at some of the top products available, explain how an electric shower works and look at additional topics such as the cost of having a new electric shower installed.

This article will prove very useful if you’re planning to buy a new electric shower.

What is an Electric Shower?

In this section, we will explain what an electric shower is, why they are so popular and when they were invented.

Among the benefits of electric showers is that you can access hot water immediately, and they are both low pressure and energy efficient.

The low pressure offered by electric showers can be particularly helpful to those in a household with low water pressure.

Regarding energy efficiency, the water used by an electric shower is only heated when required, thus saving on your energy bills.

The earliest electric showers were invented in the 1930s before becoming more mainstream in the 1960s.

How does an Electric Shower Work?

We will now go into more detail regarding the workings of an electric shower. This shower type quickly heats water which has been taken from a cold water supply.

It achieves this with the use of an internal heating element. The heated water is then provided via a shower head.

This type of shower may be connected directly into the mains water supply of your home.

An electric shower will generally use anywhere from three to 10 litres of water per minute.

Ultimately, the amount used will depend on the temperature the shower user has selected, the ambient temperature of the pre-heated water supply and the kW electric shower power rating.

Best Electric Shower

Generally speaking, electric showers can be used regardless of what boiler type you have since they take water directly from the mains.

To help you choose the right electric shower, here are some of the best options available.

Triton Collection 2 9.5kW Electric Shower

This product offers a minimalist aesthetic which is ideal for a modern bathroom although, with a kilowatt rating of 9.5, it is not especially powerful.

However, it is very easy to install. Thanks to the inclusion of 180-degree swivel technology, the water inlet may be installed on the right or the left, allowing you more options in terms of where you fit the shower.

This electric shower is available in various different colours such as rivera sand and black & white.

This product comes with a two year warranty. It weighs about 3.5kg, and the hose which has an anti-twist function is 1.25 metres in length. It requires a minimum running water pressure of 1 bar at 8 I/min.

Triton Collection 2 is a durable product, particularly due to its phased shutdown mechanism. Such an approach helps to clean the shower unit of any limescale, which increases the efficiency and life expectancy of the shower.

It has a start/stop button, push-button power control and a stabilised temperature control. Each button is an illuminated soft-touch button.

As a relatively small shower design, it may be preferable for a smaller house although it may be used in medium to large houses too. Just as it’s easy to fit, this shower can be taken apart to be cleaned internally if necessary.

It also comes with rub clean nozzles. The manual that it comes with will help you understand how to clean it thoroughly. It also features a large 3 spray pattern shower head.

The hose is made of double interlocked stainless steel while the back plate, controls, cover and shower head are made of a thermostatic polymer named acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

You can purchase this shower for £130.

Pros:

• Five spray options.
• Comes with a phased shut down.
• Anti-twist hose.
• Easily installed.
• Features illuminated soft touch buttons.

Cons:

• Not the most powerful shower.

Mira Sport Max 10.8kW Electric Shower

This powerful electric shower comes with sensi-flow technology to avoid scalding and clearscale technology which can decrease limescale accumulation by up to 50%.

With a 10.8kW power rating, it is an especially powerful shower, with the highest power rating of any featured in this guide.

The minimum maintained water pressure for this shower is 1 bar per 10 metre head while the maximum maintained water pressure is 5 bars per 50 metre head.

The maximum static water pressure stands at 10 bars per 100 metre head.

With the clearscale and dual element reducing limescale build-up by as much as half, this allows this Mira sport electric shower to have an increased lifespan, making it quite durable.

It has an advanced pressure stabilised temperature control type.

The energy efficiency of this shower is considered to be Class A. It is a standalone shower and is suited to any house type, although it is most appropriate for a large house with numerous occupants.

This is due to the power offered by the shower and its phased shutdown, which ensures that the tank will be flushed of hot water prior to the next user taking a shower. Its rub-clean nozzles make for easy cleaning.

It is made of ABS plastic. You can buy this product in its original form or with incorporated airboost technology.

For installation, a 45amp rating is needed as well as a 15mm inlet connector. This shower also has an eco-setting alongside low and high modes.

This shower is around £380.

You can also purchase the Mira Sports Max 9 kW electric shower which is available for slightly cheaper.

Pros:

• Very powerful shower.
• Has an advanced pressure stabilised control type.
• Class A energy efficiency.
• Sensi-flow technology clears up to half of all limescale build-up.

Cons:

• Quite expensive.
• Not fully digital, if that is the option you’re looking for.

Aqualisa Quartz 10.5kW Electric Shower

This is another powerful, electric shower product that is rated Class A for its energy efficiency.

This Aqualisa electric shower is compact, stylish and allows for exceptional levels of temperature control.

This product has a wattage of 10.5kW although Aqualisa also offers the proportionately cheaper 8.5kW and 9.5kW options.

The nozzles can easily be cleaned to reduce the build-up of limescale. This, in turn, improves the durability of the shower. It comes with a rotational temperature control that smoothly glides. This control also has an accompanying LED indicator.

Its design can be described as stylish and compact. The 10.5kW option is best suited to a large house with many occupants.

This product features a 5 spray pattern harmony shower head. It also comes with an over temperature protection system to prevent scalding as well as an anti-twist hose connection.

For a small house, it’s preferable to get a shower with a lower power rating. The 10kW option costs £245. Each of the Aqualisa Quartz electric showers can be purchased in white, chrome or grey.

Pros:

• Very powerful shower.
• Compact and stylish.
• Has a smoothly gliding rotary temperature control.
• Features an over temperature protection system.
• Nozzles can easily be cleaned.

Cons:

• Still quite expensive as far as electric showers go.

Triton Seville 10.5kW Electric Shower

The next Triton electrical shower to feature in our guide is extremely popular and is ranked number 1 on many online review lists.

It is a budget shower and lacks some of the advanced features and slick look offered by other products featured in our guide. Nonetheless, many consumers are pleased with this product for its flexibility, reliability, and ability to easily be fixed.

While our focus in this subsection is on the 10.5kW version of this shower, it is also available in 7.5kW, 8.5kW and 9.5kW options.

The minimum running water pressure of the Triton Seville 10.5kW shower is 1 Bar @8 I/min. It has a bit of an old-fashioned shower design with a simple, uninspiring aesthetic.

On the other hand, since the shower head can easily be cleaned, it is quite a durable product although it comes with a 2 year guarantee, should anything go awry.

This shower features a stabilised temperature control. While it can be used with any sized house, it is most suited to a larger house.

It is primarily made of ABS while the spray plate is made of Acetal.

The 10.5kW option is available for just £110 It comes with a twist & lock, single spray pattern shower head.

Pros:

• Very powerful shower.
• Not too expensive.
• A very popular choice.
• Easy to clean.
• It has several cable and water entry points so that it can be replaced with ease.

Cons:

• Only one spray pattern option.

Bristan BL3105 B Bliss 3 10.5kW Electric Shower

The Bristan Bliss 3 10.5kW is a powerful, digital electric shower. As with Triton, Bristan is a well-known and popular brand.

This product is available with a rating of 10.5kW, but you can also avail of one of the slightly less expensive 8.5kW and 9.5kW options.

It has a water pressure range of 0.7 to 10 bars. This shower too features a phased shut down to help reduce limescale build-up and in turn has a prolonged life expectancy. This feature also improves its efficiency. It also comes with touch controls.

It has a sleek, modern design and is best suited to a large house although it can be fitted for smaller homes too. This shower also has three power settings, namely cold, eco and hot.

The rub-clean handset makes it easy to clean. It is made of ABS plastic.

You can purchase this shower for £130.

You can purchase this shower in black or white. It features a large colour coordinated shower head.

Pros:

• Not too expensive, particularly when on sale.
• Powerful shower.
• Provides a sleek, modern look.
• Comes with a phased shutdown feature.
• Easy to clean.

Cons:

• Temperature may fluctuate at times.

Mira Showers Azora 9.8kW Thermostatic Electric Shower

The next product from Mira is stylish and compact, featuring a glass fascia covering.

It comes with thermostatic temperature stability and a clearscale which can reduce limescale build-up by as much as 50%, thus making it a particularly durable shower product.

With a rating of 9.8kW, it is not the most powerful product featured in this article.

It has a minimum maintained water pressure of 0.7 bars, a maximum maintained pressure of 5 bars and a maximum static pressure of 10 bars.

Its control type is thermostatic SMA. It has a standalone design with a frosted fascia glass covering, providing a designer aesthetic. It is ideal for a medium to large house although it could also be used in a smaller house.

It is easy to clean as it comes with rub-clean nozzles. The product is available for £450.

It also features a phased shutdown, a four spray shower head and three distinct flow settings.

Pros:

• Designer aesthetic.
• The Mira Azora has a phased-shutdown feature.
• Comes with thermostatic temperature stability.
• Currently available through a monthly payment option on Mira’s website.
• Has a clearscale feature.

Cons:

• Particularly expensive, especially for the full price and when not on sale.
• Temperature may fluctuate.
• It’s possible that the shower head will drip after use.

Triton Martinique 10.5kW Electric Shower

This powerful electric shower product will not set you back as much as showers like the Mira Sport Max, but it lacks the digital features of the likes of the Bristan Bliss. It has plenty of positive online reviews.

It has a rating of 10.5kW although you can also purchase a 9.5kW version of this shower. The minimum water pressure needed is 1.5 bars.

The shutdown feature, which can help reduce limescale build-up helps to make this shower another durable option. There are separate electronic flow and temperature controls with the latter being a rotary dial.

This dial features cold, eco and high settings. The Triton Martinique 10.5kW shower has a sleek and modern design, offering a more stylish look than that the Triton Seville.

It’s best suited to a medium to large house although it is not suitable for households with low water pressure. This product comes with a two year warranty.

While this shower lacks some of the features needed to make manual cleaning a bit easier, it still self-cleans thanks to the shutdown feature, and it has a scale resistant shower head.

As with the other Triton products featured in this article, most of its main components are made of ABS plastic.

It is currently £175 and comes with a sizeable five spray pattern shower head.

Pros:

• Powerful and affordable.
• Has a sleek, modern aesthetic.
• Comes with a phased shutdown feature.
• Features a scale resistant shower head.
• The Triton Martinique 10.5kW shower has a two year warranty.

Cons:

• Unsuited to households with low water pressure.

Bristan Glee 10.5kW Electric Shower

This Bristan electric shower is the ideal choice if you’re looking for a slightly cheaper version of the Bristan Bliss.

The Glee is powerful and arguably a bit easier to use than the Bliss. It has a strong power rating of 10.5kW although you can also purchase an 8.5kW or 9.5kW version of this shower.

The mains water pressure for this shower must be somewhere in the range of 0.7 to 10 bars.

This shower also has a phased shutdown feature designed to reduce limescale accumulation which in turn improves its durability and efficiency.

It comes with an illuminated on/off button and a separate temperature and flow dial. It has a minimalist, modern design and is perfect for a medium to large house. It may also be used in a small house.

It also has a sizeable colour coordinated shower head. Its various electric inlet and water points make for a simple installation.

It is easy to clean due to its neat styling and has many self-sustaining features such as an anti-limescale feature and a rub-clean handset.

Like the Bliss, it is also made of ABS. This shower product is currently available for £111 .

Pros:

• Powerful shower with a low price-tag.
• Has a phased shutdown feature.
• Comes with an anti-limescale feature.
• Easy to install.

Cons:

• Some reviewers have reported issues arising with the temperature control unit.

Cost to Install an Electric Shower

We will now discuss how much it costs for an electric shower installation. To have a new electric shower installed will cost you somewhere in the range of £250 to £500.

The exact price will really depend on the supply cost of the shower itself.

For more information, check out our price guide for a power shower installation.

Benefits of an Electric Shower

In this section, we will lay out the various benefits of an electric shower in more detail.

Hot Water Availability

Arguably, the top benefit of electric showers is that you don’t need to wait for the water to heat up.

The internal heating element will quickly, if not immediately provide you with hot water when you turn on an electric shower. As a result, you also don’t have to worry about using up all the hot water as you would with a traditional shower.

Saves on Your Bills

The internal heating element uses up an appropriate level of power only when needed to produce hot water for the duration of the shower.

This is in contrast to a traditional shower whereby you heat the boiler up as a whole and will; as a result, heat excess water that will not be used in the shower and will simply cool down, thus wasting energy.

Due to this distinction, an electric shower means less energy will be used, which means you’ll save money on your energy bills.

Easily Replaced or Upgraded

An electric shower can also be easily replaced or upgraded. Since they’re situated on the surface of a wall and are not concealed, a replacement or upgrade job shouldn’t take too long.

If the hired contractor needs access to your loft, you should make it easy for them to reach it beforehand as this could reduce your expenses.

FAQs

Q. How long does an electric shower last?

A: An electric shower will probably last between four and four and a half years before issues start to arise.

Q: How powerful should an electric shower be?

A: If you want a powerful shower, look for something with a power rating in the range of 9.0kW to 10.8kW although ideally a shower with a power rating of about 10kW.

Q: What is the best electric shower to buy?

A: Arguably, the Triton Seville is the best electric shower on the market or at least the most popular.

However there are many other great electric showers out there, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Q: How much does an electric shower cost?

A: An electric shower may cost as little £50 while many higher end products cost over £200.

Q: How long does it take to fit an electric shower?

A: About 8 hours for a new fit but just 2 hours for a replacement.

Sources

1. https://www.heatandplumb.com/blog/the-history-of-showers/
2. https://heatingforce.co.uk/blog/best-electric-showers/
3. https://www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-abs-plastic

Author: Dean M

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Digital Media, I'm a freelance writer and I've worked for clients such as the British Blockchain Association and I have experience in writing articles, YouTube video scripts, online guides and newsletters. I have written and produced many short films as well as a web series and feature film. I am also currently working on a novel.