Getting the Right Shower

Leodogger

We have been using a Triton Madrid 8.5kw electric shower which has never performed very well (we were advised not to go above 8.5kw as we would have to change the wiring). We used to have a Gainsborough 8.5k which was great but when it went we just bought a cheap one and this one seemed OK at first though the shower spray was very poor in comparison. During this very cold winter we lost most of the pressure coming through and when we turn to hot it dribbles out and only luke warm.

I should mention that we have a condensing boiler, hence no tanks in the loft and also we have always felt we have a low water pressure problem, although the water board said it was not too bad, and within their limit.

Would we get away with just buying a straight swap for another better quality electric shower, if so which one.

I can't live without my shower

Ms_Magnetite

Look at Mira. They have ones that are designed to just slot into the original space. I like my two (one above the bath without a pump and one in the wetroom with)

BoxerfanUK

JWhite wrote: »

I should mention that we have a condensing boiler, hence no tanks in the loft and also we have always felt we have a low water pressure problem, although the water board said it was not too bad, and within their limit.

Are you sure you don't mean that you have a 'Combi' boiler. Condensing boilers can still have tanks in the loft on vented systems

MX5huggy

I would look at using the boiler for the shower, remember electric shower is using mains pressure as well so there is not advantage pressure wise with the electric and the boiler will be able to heat more water faster (its probably a 24kW boiler).

Leodogger

BoxerfanUK wrote: »

Are you sure you don't mean that you have a 'Combi' boiler. Condensing boilers can still have tanks in the loft on vented systems

No we do have a condensing boiler now, but we did have a combi previously but when we came to change it they said it was EU law that people had to change to a condensing boiler. We had already had the tanks removed from having the combi boiler.

Leodogger

JWhite wrote: »

No we do have a condensing boiler now, but we did have a combi previously but when we came to change it they said it was EU law that people had to change to a condensing boiler. We had already had the tanks removed from having the combi boiler.

Forgot to mention we have a Worcester-Bosch Greenstar 28i junior boiler.

BoxerfanUK

Ok so you have a condensing 'combi' boiler, which means your water is at mains pressure to all outlets and rules out a seperate pump to boost the shower. If your mains water pressure is a bit low then your combi boiler should certainly be able to provide enough continuous hot water for the shower and therefore a normal 'non electric' mixer shower should be quite sufficient.

In order to have a decent shower you need to have sufficient water flow from your mains, and a boiler that can produce enough hot water to meet the water flow that you mains provides.

The condensing part of a boiler won't have anything to do with it. It is true that all boilers now have to be 'condensing' but boilers have different flow rate capabilities.

Leodogger

BoxerfanUK wrote: »

Ok so you have a condensing 'combi' boiler, which means your water is at mains pressure to all outlets and rules out a seperate pump to boost the shower. If your mains water pressure is a bit low then your combi boiler should certainly be able to provide enough continuous hot water for the shower and therefore a normal 'non electric' mixer shower should be quite sufficient.

In order to have a decent shower you need to have sufficient water flow from your mains, and a boiler that can produce enough hot water to meet the water flow that you mains provides.

The condensing part of a boiler won't have anything to do with it. It is true that all boilers now have to be 'condensing' but boilers have different flow rate capabilities.

I have been led to believe that "condensing" and "combi" are two different things ?

keystone

No - all gas boilers today are condensing by law whether "system" or "combi" - unless you can make a case for a non-condensing boiler in certain limited circumstances. If you have no tanks you must have a combi.

Cheers

Leodogger

keystone wrote: »

No - all gas boilers today are condensing by law whether "system" or "combi" - unless you can make a case for a non-condensing boiler in certain limited circumstances. If you have no tanks you must have a combi.

Cheers

I must have got confused because before we changed our boiler which was a combi - I was told we would only be able to have a condensing boiler due to new EU rules but on reading the brochure it says condensing combination boiler. Now I am totally confused ????? Our old boiler which was a combi boiler had no pipe from the back which was routed outside as an overflow, like our new one has.

keystone

Early combi boilers were not condensing. My existing boiler is neither condensing nor a combi. If I wanted to change it now I would have to fit a condensing boiler of whatever type under Building Regs. Its of no great consequence at the end of the day.

Cheers