Want to replace/move power shower - options?

[cable_guy]

Hi all,

I'm not an electrician but one of your customers doing some research so please go easy on me

I have a traditional (not a combi) boiler, with a hot water tank in my airing cupboard, and a cold water tank in the attic.

I have a power shower which makes a hell of a noise so I'm guessing has a pump inside the unit, but I want to move it to another part of the room cheaply.

Could I have your ideas on what options I have please? I am not bothered about having super pressure like I have now. Would a simple electric shower like this be possible with my boiler system?

I have had some quotes for a bathroom refit in the last few days but to be honest I didn't understand the technologies they were talking about and felt uncomfortable to ask. E.g. one recommended a separate 10mm cable run from my consumer unit for something (can't remember what exactly) and one recommended a pump in the airing cupboard for something.

Hope I am making some sense. I posted this in the plumbers forums but didn't get much of a response, then figured out this is actually a sparky question rather than a plumber thing.

 

[telectrix]

if the shower has it's pump in the actual shower unit, you could get the shower replaced with a power shower with it's pump remote from the shower. that would require a sparks and a plumber. alternatively, you could get an instantaneous shower fitted by a sparks, this would require a new circuit from CU in a 6mm or 10mm cable, depending on the power of the shower and the installation method of the cable.

 

[cable_guy]

thanks for the reply. The CU is miles away from the shower, so do you reckon your first scenario is less work ? It sounds like I could re-use the electric feed to the current shower to feed a new pump and shower, is that right?

 

[Hiddo]

Maybe if you post a location, one of the chaps on here could take a look for you.

 

[cable_guy]

Maybe if you post a location, one of the chaps on here could take a look for you.

Stoke on Trent

 

[Hiddo]

I'm not a million miles away but I'm sure Telectrix is on your doorstep!!

 

[Clink]

Hi all,I'm not an electrician but one of your customers doing some research so please go easy on me

I have a traditional (not a combi) boiler, with a hot water tank in my airing cupboard, and a cold water tank in the attic.I have a power shower which makes a hell of a noise so I'm guessing has a pump inside the unit, but I want to move it to another part of the room cheaply.Electrics in a bathroom will need a qualified Electrician as a minimum, not worth taking a chance on this! Could I have your ideas on what options I have please? I am not bothered about having super pressure like I have now. Would a simple electric shower like this be possible with my boiler system?Yes, an electric shower is suitable, but depending on the heat output may require a bigger cross sectional area cable (6 or 10mm)I have had some quotes for a bathroom refit in the last few days but to be honest I didn't understand the technologies they were talking about and felt uncomfortable to ask. E.g. one recommended a separate 10mm cable run from my consumer unit for something (can't remember what exactly) and one recommended a pump in the airing cupboard for something.If you choose a powerfull electric shower then your existing cable may not be man enough for the job as it has to supply the heater in the shower as well, not just drive the pump, which is probably why you were quoted for a new 10mm cable.The other suggestion would move the noise and the electrics out of the bathroom into the airing cupboard but would probably involve more plumbing cost and at least a new fused spur for the pump.Hope I am making some sense. I posted this in the plumbers forums but didn't get much of a response, then figured out this is actually a sparky question rather than a plumber thing.

Plumbers !

 

[Clink]

Sorry my answer has got mixed in with your question in the last post. I'll try again.Hi all,I'm not an electrician but one of your customers doing some research so please go easy on me I have a traditional (not a combi) boiler, with a hot water tank in my airing cupboard, and a cold water tank in the attic.I have a power shower which makes a hell of a noise so I'm guessing has a pump inside the unit, but I want to move it to another part of the room cheaply.Electrics in a bathroom will need a qualified Electrician as a minimum, not worth taking a chance on this! Could I have your ideas on what options I have please? I am not bothered about having super pressure like I have now. Would a simple electric shower like this be possible with my boiler system?Yes, an electric shower is suitable, but depending on the heat output may require a bigger cross sectional area cable (6 or 10mm)I have had some quotes for a bathroom refit in the last few days but to be honest I didn't understand the technologies they were talking about and felt uncomfortable to ask. E.g. one recommended a separate 10mm cable run from my consumer unit for something (can't remember what exactly) and one recommended a pump in the airing cupboard for something.If you choose a powerfull electric shower then your existing cable may not be man enough for the job as it has to supply the heater in the shower as well, not just drive the pump, which is probably why you were quoted for a new 10mm cable.The other suggestion would move the noise and the electrics out of the bathroom into the airing cupboard but would probably involve more plumbing cost and at least a new fused spur for the pump.Hope I am making some sense. I posted this in the plumbers forums but didn't get much of a response, then figured out this is actually a sparky question rather than a plumber thing.Plumbers!

 

[Clink]

Well, it looked OK on my screen before I hit send (sigh)!

 

[KevinS]

I would go for another power shower, if u replace it, it will certainly be quieter,
If you can keep it in the same location, it will bring the cost down considerably and a spark will do the full job probably.
normal electric shower will cost you to have a decent supply put in

 

[jeremy]

If your cold water tank is in the loft and you not so bothered about the pressure, why not just have an ordinary shower fitted with a hot and cold feed? It's the pressure of the water in the header tank which forces the hot water out of the cylinder, or if that's not enough a small pump fitted next to the cylinder to give the outgoing water a bit of a push

 

[cable_guy]

If your cold water tank is in the loft and you not so bothered about the pressure, why not just have an ordinary shower fitted with a hot and cold feed? It's the pressure of the water in the header tank which forces the hot water out of the cylinder, or if that's not enough a small pump fitted next to the cylinder to give the outgoing water a bit of a push

Right I think I've got you here, but

1) when you say possibly putting a small pump next to the cylinder, wouldn't that create a lot of work for a sparky to provide a new feed from my consumer unit?

2) So what would a "normal" shower look like ? something like this?



@ Clink - I read your response thanks for the multiple efforts for replying

@ KevinS - OK that's certainly an option for me. Aspirante Thermostatic Power Shower - Chrome somethign like that? If I wanted to relocate it 2-3 metres in the same room though, how much work as a sparky do you think that would take?

 

[jeremy]

The supply for the pump doesn't have to be a new circuit, it can be spurred off an existing circuit. The plumbing side of it isn't necessarily that difficult either with connections generally being with push fit connectors.

 

[Billythekid]

Hi all,

I'm not an electrician but one of your customers doing some research so please go easy on me

I have a traditional (not a combi) boiler, with a hot water tank in my airing cupboard, and a cold water tank in the attic.

I have a power shower which makes a hell of a noise so I'm guessing has a pump inside the unit, but I want to move it to another part of the room cheaply.

Could I have your ideas on what options I have please? I am not bothered about having super pressure like I have now. Would a simple electric shower like this be possible with my boiler system?

I have had some quotes for a bathroom refit in the last few days but to be honest I didn't understand the technologies they were talking about and felt uncomfortable to ask. E.g. one recommended a separate 10mm cable run from my consumer unit for something (can't remember what exactly) and one recommended a pump in the airing cupboard for something.

Hope I am making some sense. I posted this in the plumbers forums but didn't get much of a response, then figured out this is actually a sparky question rather than a plumber thing.

If your existing unit is REALLY noisy, it is most likely a damaged/worn pump, and/or cavitation. How long has the unit been installed?

Regards

Billy

 

[cable_guy]

The supply for the pump doesn't have to be a new circuit, it can be spurred off an existing circuit. The plumbing side of it isn't necessarily that difficult either with connections generally being with push fit connectors.

Right so the sparky work required to provision a pump is less than it is for an electric shower due to the electric shower needing a new 10mm cable ran from the fusebox. Got you.

Is the one I linked the right type I should be going for? Mixer Showers, Shower Enclosures, Bathroom Supplies

 

[valleybilly]

Warning ,,,, You may need to increase the size of your header tank due to the new pump emptying it faster than it fills mate ,

 

[cable_guy]

Warning ,,,, You may need to increase the size of your header tank due to the new pump emptying it faster than it fills mate ,

how come? I have a powershower with a pump in it at the moment, so a mixer shower even if I get a pump for it should only be the same water output shouldn't it?

 

[Billythekid]

how come? I have a powershower with a pump in it at the moment, so a mixer shower even if I get a pump for it should only be the same water output shouldn't it?

Unfortunately flow rates do vary, it'd be wise to check this. Also ensure that the feed to your water cylinder is taken from a higher position than your cold draw offs. If a manual mixer with no thermostat is used without this, there's a possibility of scalding. Even if thermostatic unit is used, this is still (in my opinion) a worthwhile back up.

Regards

Billy

 

[cable_guy]

If your existing unit is REALLY noisy, it is most likely a damaged/worn pump, and/or cavitation. How long has the unit been installed?

Regards

Billy

It's not really noisy, it's just more noisy than any other shower I've heard. Doesn't sound broken just loud.

This idea of a pump being remote from the shower does interest me. Am I right in thinking then that I simply buy a mixer shower, and the water comes out faster?

the idea of the Kevin S is probably the most simple, to replace the powershower with another one, my question on that topic is, what makes the difference between a cheap and expensive one? They range from £120 to upwards of £500.