How much does it cost to buy and install a new electric shower?
Electric showers cost as little as £60 - up to £500 (see tables below for Mira Electric Showers Cost and Aqualisa Electric Showers Cost
The cost of installing an electric shower is often more than the cost of the unit itself. it can range between £150 - £600. In some circumstances it can only take 2 or 3 hours to install an eclectic shower - or it can take a whole day. See what affects the cost of installing an electric shower.
Why are electric showers popular?
Electric showers are economical to run because they only heat the water you’re going to use. Nowadays, there are so many choices on which electric shower is best for your families needs. You can use them anytime, there is no need to plan ahead and have to switch on the hot water some time before you want to have a shower.
The big advantage of electric showers is that they use cold mains water, which can makeY them easier (and cheaper) to install because there’s no need to move around hot water pipes. This also makes them very suitable for outbuildings.
Electric showers are also great for homes with high demand for boiler-generated hot water - and they will still work even if your boiler is not working.
How does an electric shower work?
An electric shower works on the same principle as a kettle: cold water from the mains is heated by an element in the shower unit to a required temperature.
The power of electric showers is measured in kilowatts (kW) - the higher the number, the more powerful your shower will be. The power rating for different types of electric shower units can vary between 7kW and 10.5kW.
Which electric wattage should I choose?
The higher the wattage, the more water can be heated and delivered through the showerhead in one go.
The good news is that you don’t have to go for the most powerful and expensive electric shower models - a consumer test conducted by Which found very little difference in water spray pressure between different models, do talk to your electrician first to get their opinion on which model is suited for your home.
What are the disadvantages of having an electric shower?
Water flow rate. If you are looking for a very high water flow rate, a mixed shower will probably give you better results.
Limescale. If you live in a hard water area, the heating element in your electric shower could be affected by limescale (exactly in the same way that limescale affects other household appliances such as washing machines or kettles).
If you don’t know how hard the water in your area is, you can search online, you’ll just have to provide your postcode. For example: https://www.aquacure.co.uk/knowledge-base/uk-hard-water-map/
Looks. Finally, because electric showers have a heating element built into the shower unit the units are bigger than mixed showers they can be less stylish. Having said that, there’s a huge selection of electric shower designs to suit different tastes.
Is it worth paying more for thermostatic electric showers?
Thermostatic electric showers are designed to stop the water going from hot to cold when somebody e.g. runs a tap or flushes the loo while the shower is in use.
There are mixed opinions if thermostatic showers are worth the money; consumer tests have shown that some thermostatic shower models still change the water temperature when a tap is turned on elsewhere.
Before investing in a thermostatic shower, do read the reviews for a specific model you have in mind to be sure it’s worth the extra cost.
Replacing an electric shower: what do I need to think about?
Water pressure in your home is an important consideration. More powerful models require higher water pressure, for example, a 7kW shower requires a minimum water pressure of 1 bar, but a 10.5kW mode may require 1.5 bar.
You also need to consider electrics in your home: for a 7kW shower it’s sufficient to have a 32A fuse or circuit breaker, however, a more powerful 10.5kW model may require 45A.
See The Cost of Fitting an Electric Shower (hyperlink to the section below?)
Another consideration is the size of the electric cable running to the shower. And if you are replacing an existing electric shower, check that the wiring on the new model is suitable.
Cost of new electric showers
Electric showers can cost as little as £60 - and can go up to £600.
You can research prices and different models online; to help you, here’s a cost guide and an overview of the latest electric showers from Aqualisa and Mira brands.
Mira electric showers cost
| Mira Electric Showers | Trade cost, excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| Mira Vie 8.5kW | £105.99 |
| Mira Vie 9.5kW | £115.99 |
| Mira Jump 8.5 kW | £119.99 |
| Mira Jump 9.5 kW | £125.99 |
| Mira Sport 9kW | £225.99 |
| Mira Sport Multi Fit 9kW | £239.99 |
| Mira Sport Thermostatic 9kW | £279.99 |
| Mira Sport Max with Airboost 10.8kW | £269.99 |
| Mira Advance 9kW | £275.99 |
| Mira Advance Flex 9.8kW | £349.99 |
Mira Vie (8.5kW and 9.5kW) electric showers: Vie provides a choice of 3 flow settings, it is very easy to use and easy to clean. Also, it has built in limescale-reducing technology, which extends the showers’ longevity.
Mira Jump Multi Fit (8.5.kW and 9.5kW): This model is an ideal replacement shower because it has multiple cable and water entry points.
Mira Sport 9kW: popular choice, one of UK's best-selling electric showers. It is easy to clean and comes with a 4 spray showerhead.
Mira Sport 9kW Multi Fit: As the other multi-fit models, it is perfect for installing in place of your existing shower because of its multiple cable and water entry points, making it cheaper to install.
Mira Sport Thermostatic: this shower comes with temperature control, which makes it safer to use because it reduces the risk of scalding. Ideal if you don’t want to worry about the changes in water temperature.
Mira Sport Max with Airboost 10.8kW: offers powerful performance. The Airboost™ technology can increase the water flow up to 30% - and it can achieve this without using any more water.
Mira Advance (9.8kW): this model is particularly suitable for anybody who is visually impaired because of its high contrast design on the controls.
Mira Advance Flex (9.8kW): the beeps on this model tell you when it’s turning on or off. You’ll also be able to hear when the water has reached the temperature you want. This model is very user-friendly, safe and easy to use, making it particularly suitable for vulnerable users.
Aqualisa electric showers cost
| Aqualisa Electric Showers | Trade cost, excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| Quartz Electric Shower 9.5kW - White/Chrome | £189.99 |
| Quartz Electric Shower 8.5kW - Chrome | £159.99 |
Aqualisa Quartz Electric Showers: Aqualisa showers have great reviews and come in many designs, making them suitable for a variety of bathrooms. They are efficient and very easy to use.
Cost to install an electric shower
Electric showers require both electrical and plumbing skills so it is recommended that you get a professional, particularly if you are installing a new electric shower. Electric showers combine water and electricity so it’s crucial that the wiring is done correctly - an electrician or a Part P-certified plumber will be able to install or upgrade your shower safely.
If you already have an electric shower and want to replace it with a new unit, you may be able to install it yourself because the power and water cables will already be in place. Even so, this is not recommended because the new model may have a different (higher) wattage requiring a change of an electric cable.
It is much safer to engage a qualified trade professional.
Installation costs can range between £160 - £600, with the average cost around £300 (not including VAT or the cost of the unit itself).
The costs are dependent on a number of factors below; for example it can take as little as 2 or 3 hours to install a shower - or it can take a full day. You will only be able to get an accurate quote if you get a professional to visit your property.
Do you already have an electric Shower?
Replacing an existing electric shower is likely to be cheaper than fitting an electric shower for the first time; expect to pay £80 – £160 (without the cost of the shower unit).
The distance between a consumer unit and a shower
Sometimes it can be difficult to get a cable from the consumer unit to the shower so you have to factor in the cost of the cable and additional costs such as chasing cables through the walls or removing flooring or carpets.
The wattage (kW output) of your shower unit
Showers are powered by kilowatts (kW) - which can vary from 7kW to 10.5kW. More powerful showers require a bigger cable: a 6mm cable will be sufficient for a 7kW model but you may have to upgrade to a 10mm cable for a 10.5kW shower unit.
You may want to opt for a 10mm cable even if for a less powerful shower - this means that if you decide to upgrade in the future you will not have the extra cost of having to replace the cable.
The amount of required plumbing work
An electrician will be able to carry out all electrical work related to installing an electric shower, however, you may also need a plumber for any work related to water, e.g. putting in new pipes in the wall. (Not many plumbers are part-P certified).