Shower Instalation is it costly?

uptomyeyes1984

Afternoon Money savers.

Just a quickie does any one know on average how much it cost's to have an electric shower (over your bath) put in? i know you obviously need an electrician and a plumber were just looking into the idea.

Thanks in advance for any ideas

fluffpot

More than you think, probably.

A decent electric shower will require 10mm cable (big stuff) which is expensive to buy and install. It also depends on where the fuse board is in relation to your bathroom and how old the fuse board is. I recently did an electrics quote which came in at over £500 (excluding the cost of the shower, plumber, plasterer, tiler and decorator!) as the old fuse board couldn't take a new shower circuit and the earthing (bonding) to gas and water pipes was missing and had to be installed.

Depending on your water pressure and boiler type, it may be better to go for one off the hot and cold water, possibly with a pump.

I'd start by getting a plumber round to see what your options are

Treadway1

I agree with fluffpot. i recently did my bathroom up and was going to go for a 10kw Mira electric shower but, after doing my sums, realised the cable wasn't man enough to cope with the load. That and the fact that my bathroom and fuse box were at opposite ends of the house and a floor apart so any new cable run would have been troublesome, say the least!!!

I ended up going for a wall mounted mixer valve system with sunflower head and handheld shower (Like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BATHROOM-THERMOSTATIC-ROUND-MIXER-SHOWER-VALVE-SS157-/330530546595?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Bathroom_Shower_Units_PP&hash=item4cf527e3a3 ) with a Salamander pump fitted. The pump was moderately expensive but it works really well and is probably a helluva lot cheaper (and less stressful) than ripping up floorboards/chasing out walls, etc. to run a new 10mm cable as the pump runs off a standard 13a fused spur.

HTH

P.S. I've just looked again at the ebay link I posted in and should stress that my system was only LIKE this, as it was actually a load cheaper than £179.99 because I sourced all the bits seperately and took my time to do it. There's bargains to be had if you have the time.

cubegame

If you've got decent cold pressure and gravity fed hot water you could also try a venturi shower such as a Trevi Boost. Supposed to be equal to pump performance with less hassle and no noise.

uptomyeyes1984

Treadway1 wrote: »

I agree with fluffpot. i recently did my bathroom up and was going to go for a 10kw Mira electric shower but, after doing my sums, realised the cable wasn't man enough to cope with the load. That and the fact that my bathroom and fuse box were at opposite ends of the house and a floor apart so any new cable run would have been troublesome, say the least!!!

I ended up going for a wall mounted mixer valve system with sunflower head and handheld shower (Like this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BATHROOM-THERMOSTATIC-ROUND-MIXER-SHOWER-VALVE-SS157-/330530546595?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Bathroom_Shower_Units_PP&hash=item4cf527e3a3 ) with a Salamander pump fitted. The pump was moderately expensive but it works really well and is probably a helluva lot cheaper (and less stressful) than ripping up floorboards/chasing out walls, etc. to run a new 10mm cable as the pump runs off a standard 13a fused spur.

HTH

P.S. I've just looked again at the ebay link I posted in and should stress that my system was only LIKE this, as it was actually a load cheaper than £179.99 because I sourced all the bits seperately and took my time to do it. There's bargains to be had if you have the time.

Thanks for this, is this option cheaper to fit? i'm assuming it would be as no electrician needed? thanks

uptomyeyes1984

fluffpot wrote: »

More than you think, probably.

A decent electric shower will require 10mm cable (big stuff) which is expensive to buy and install. It also depends on where the fuse board is in relation to your bathroom and how old the fuse board is. I recently did an electrics quote which came in at over £500 (excluding the cost of the shower, plumber, plasterer, tiler and decorator!) as the old fuse board couldn't take a new shower circuit and the earthing (bonding) to gas and water pipes was missing and had to be installed.

Depending on your water pressure and boiler type, it may be better to go for one off the hot and cold water, possibly with a pump.

I'd start by getting a plumber round to see what your options are

Thank you for your help, our fuse box is at the opposite end of the house to the upstairs bathroom. we are lucky as platering and tiling is family done just the cost of electrician and plumber which i know arnt cheap. we have an old Baxi boiler which i have been told last forever loyal companion it has been refered to (much prefer to get combi soon as it conks) so dont know it it will stand to a shower (didnt even think of that) thanks for your imput