Electric Shower dead, need replacing - but what with? (Recommendation needed)

wywywywy

Hi all,

I have a Gainsborough 10.5BC 10.5kW electric shower (and yes I have 10mm2 cable), and recently it has started leaking from the main engine, so it will need replacing. It is unfortunately just out of warranty

I could just replace the main engine, which is about £60+VAT, or I could replace the whole thing from a different manufacturer. I am more keen to do the latter, because the quality of Gainsborough is quite disappointing! Also, the performance of it disappoints me too, so I am looking for a better alternative. In winter it is really really cold when taking a shower... the water flow is so slow, and it is supposed to have 10.5kW! I really wonder how can anyone take a shower in the winter with the lesser 8kW models.

From what friends/plumbers/t'internet have told me, the Mira Sport Max 10.8kW seems to be the cream of the crop in terms of performance, support and reliability. The reliability I don't doubt (anything is better than my Gainsbo?), but what is the performance like? Is it REALLY better than my Gainsbo 10.5kW?

And another thing, with my Gainsbo, the inlet is on the right hand side, the outlet is on the left hand side, but the Mira Sport Max seems to be the other way round. Is it going to be a problem?

Or can anyone recommend a model that has noticeable improvement on performance upon mine please?

Many thanks!

debbie42

We have a Mira Sport and I'd certainly buy one again if it ever died (it's more than 5 years old now, with no problems).

fiddiwebb

I found our Gainsborough 10.5sdl reliable enough, so far it has lasted over two years without any major problems although the pressure relief valve does operate sometimes if there is a buildup of limescale in the shower head.

As you say it does struggle a bit heating the water especially at this time of year, more heat less pressure.

As a basic shower the Gainsborough does it's job for the price whilst you will be paying over at least twice the price for the Mira.

We did have a Mira sports previously but it did not last as long as the Gainsborough!

fiddiwebb

Meant to ask are you sure the Gainsborough is leaking from the main engine and it is not just the pressure relief valve?

wywywywy

Hi. Yes it is leaking for the temperature control safety device, which is a part of the main engine. The pressure relief valve is fine.

Yea Mira Sport Max is twice the price, but I am quite desperate for a shower with "reasonable performance" at the moment, so I am willing to pay the price...

fiddiwebb

I think you have answered your own question then wywywywy.

There would be no point in replacing the part at £60+ when you can buy a new Gainsborough shower for around £80-£100, just go for the Mira.

I would like to point out when I said our Gainsborough shower struggles to heat the water so you end up with a lower pressure due to the outside water temperature this is an extreme due to our location , I live in the Highlands of Scotland (North of Inverness) and am on a private borehole supply so our water temperature I presume will be colder than yours.

wywywywy

But I am still not sure if the Mira has any noticeable improvement over the Gainsbo