Fitting Electric Shower to Exposed Chrome Setup

[mplar]

Hi everyone,

I have an exposed chrome mains-fed shower in which the pipe leads off from the mixer tap just above the bath tub (see pic). My boiler packed in recently, and I want to install an electric shower as it's more economical than heating a tank just for a shower.

I would be grateful for advice on electric showers that I can integrate into my current arrangement without damaging the tiles and causing as little cllateral damage as possible. I want to run the electric cable from the ceiling via an isolation switch.



Many thanks,

m

 

[Dan Robinson]

Get a combination boiler.

 

[OwainDIYer]

Hi everyone,

I have an exposed chrome mains-fed shower in which the pipe leads off from the mixer tap just above the bath tub (see pic).

Is the cold feed to that mains pressure or from a loft tank?

This

http://www.screwfix.com/p/galaxy-gap95-powerstream-unvented-instant-water-heater-9-5kw/93177

fitted below the bath might be an alternative. My crystal ball tells me it's reduced to £90 next Monday 20th Oct.

 

[mplar]

Thanks very much, OwainDIYer. I didn't even know these existed.

I think the supply is mains, but there is a hot water tank in the airing cupboard next to the bathroom. I live in a flat. I assume the supply is from the tank as when the boiler worked hot water flowed.

The reason why I am looking into this is because the boiler has packed up and I am just fed-up of having to rely on expensive repairs to just have a warm shower.

I want to get a combination boiler in time, but not at the moment.

 

[Richardthe3rd]

Hi everyone,

I have an exposed chrome mains-fed shower in which the pipe leads off from the mixer tap just above the bath tub (see pic).

Is the cold feed to that mains pressure or from a loft tank?

This

http://www.screwfix.com/p/galaxy-gap95-powerstream-unvented-instant-water-heater-9-5kw/93177

fitted below the bath might be an alternative. My crystal ball tells me it's reduced to £90 next Monday 20th Oct.

Awful things, very poor flow rate & temperature rise. Just install a proper electric shower or better still a thermostatic mixer shower of your new combi.

 

[OwainDIYer]

I think the supply is mains, but there is a hot water tank in the airing cupboard next to the bathroom.

Don't you have an immersion heater?

 

[mplar]

Hi, yes I have an immersion heater. But I have avoided using it as I have the impression that the running costs are high.

 

[OwainDIYer]

Hi, yes I have an immersion heater. But I have avoided using it as I have the impression that the running costs are high.

Only if you leave it on all the time.

3 kW immersion for an hour to heat the cylinder will cost the same as 20 minutes shower under a 9 kW instant, or about 36p assuming 12p/kWh.

The cheapest running cost will be to repair your gas boiler. However that involves a higher initial cost.