Salon backwash unit

Risteard · Jun 28, 2020

I got a call late on Friday from a salon owner who is due to reopen in about a week's time. She had someone in doing work but then got rid of him as she didn't trust him. I suspect he was a handyman or something like that.

Anyhow, they have two chairs where they will have backwash units. She has two Triton 8.5kW electric showers to fit to these for washing fair. Personally I don't believe that an electric shower intended for domestic use is likely to be the best solution for this, but that's another issue.

Basically these shower units cannot be fixed to the wall behind the chairs as the hose is likely to create a tripping hazard. She wants them bolted to the chairs, however these have slightly curved surfaces as opposed to being flat. I was thinking perhaps a sheet of paxolin bolted to these to give a flat surface for the shower unit to sit on, however someone may have a better idea. (Or may have a better solution than these electric shower units!)

She seems to have in her head that this can be ready by Tuesday which is frankly ridiculous as deliveries don't tend to be quite so speedy at present. (Not sure why she thinks it needs to be ready for Tuesday when she doesn't open until the following Monday either.)

westward10 · Jun 28, 2020

Sounds like a ridiculous idea those sinks are normally plumbed from the hot water system.

Risteard · Jun 28, 2020

westward10 said:
Sounds like a ridiculous idea those sinks are normally plumbed from the hot water system.

Completely agree. She's adamant that this is the way that she's always done it. Not sure why the hot water's not an option but I'm guessing there is a reason, perceived or otherwise.

Andy78 · Jun 28, 2020

That's crazy. I'd refuse to do that I think. Backwash chairs are designed for plumbed hot water. Sometimes that means an abundance of boilers in large salons or even unvented cylinders with immersions, but an electric shower mounted on the chair is just daft.

mattg4321 · Jun 28, 2020

Better off with a small unvented cylinder under the sinks somewhere. Never heard of electric showers in salons before!!!

Risteard · Jun 28, 2020

mattg4321 said:
Never heard of electric showers in salons before!!!

Sadly it's not the first time that I've come across it, although that was on an inspection.

It's certainly an idea I'm not particularly keen on. There must be purpose-made solutions for this. An electric shower intended for domestic use certainly isn't being used for the intended purpose.

littlespark · Jun 28, 2020

I wouldnt like to be sitting on that chair if the shower develops a fault...

Bzzzzzzzzzt!

James · Jun 28, 2020

There are some 8 or 9kw under sink instant water heaters that might be more appropriate

bigspark17 · Jun 28, 2020

I have fitted two 8.5kw shower in a salon for hair washing, these were mounted on the wall behind as there was no problem with trip hazard. 7 years on both shower working fine and are fit for purpose. Dont see why most replies find it so bizzare to wash your hair with an electric shower as many millions of homeowners do. I would agree if it was a large salon but if its just got 2/3 optatives then no problem.

littlespark · Jun 28, 2020

Did the last guy leave because he wouldn't do what she wanted? He maybe had a point if she's asking to do it this way.

Yes. I dont see a problem with a shower, IF its fixed to the wall and not the chair.
How are you going to run the cable to the shower? underfloor? I take it the chairs are fixed down...

Risteard · Jun 28, 2020

littlespark said:
Did the last guy leave because he wouldn't do what she wanted? He maybe had a point if she's asking to do it this way.

Yes. I dont see a problem with a shower, IF its fixed to the wall and not the chair.
How are you going to run the cable to the shower? underfloor? I take it the chairs are fixed down...

This is the issue. He has cables run under the floor and the floor has been laid. If an electric shower was to be used (which I'm not overly keen on) then personally I think the wall is the only real place for it rather than the chair. I'm sceptical as to how an electric shower would hold up to commercial use also.

According to her she got rid of whoever was there before. From what I gather this person wasn't an Electrician but probably a handyman. I told her from the outset that I wouldn't get involved with any plumbing, and that I would have to see what she was talking about as the picture given over the phone wasn't particularly clear. So upon arriving I found this like this.

But obviously I don't want her urgency to get this done to pressurise me into doing something I'm not happy with, and saving her money is not particularly a concern of mine. If there is a sensible way forward with this job (which I'm not sure that there is in the timeframe available) then I would want to be making good money from prioritising this at no notice. (It always amazes me how many expect you to jump for them but don't expect to pay good money for the job. I have no interest in cheap work. I'm more interested in "reassuringly expensive".)