Shower Type - and models??

paulmapp8306

Buying my own home, and want to replace the bathroom. I NEED a good shower (almost never have a bath), but really not sure what to go for.

My last 2 rentals have electric showers - so always good supply of water and decent if not fantastic flow rates.

I have had a power shower before and loved the flow - but didnt like running out of hot water

The current bathroom has both a mixer shower at the tap end and an electric, so Im guessing fitting either wont be hard (certainly eht electric should be easier than if no existing shower?).

Soooo - Electric, Power or mixer?

Which make model?

If an electric what wattage - thinking 10.5KW (I know it will eat power, but wont it give me a better flow rate?).

Canucklehead

paulmapp8306 wrote: »

Buying my own home, and want to replace the bathroom. I NEED a good shower (almost never have a bath), but really not sure what to go for.

My last 2 rentals have electric showers - so always good supply of water and decent if not fantastic flow rates.

I have had a power shower before and loved the flow - but didnt like running out of hot water

The current bathroom has both a mixer shower at the tap end and an electric, so Im guessing fitting either wont be hard (certainly eht electric should be easier than if no existing shower?).

Soooo - Electric, Power or mixer?

Which make model?

If an electric what wattage - thinking 10.5KW (I know it will eat power, but wont it give me a better flow rate?).

Hi: how is the hot water provided?

paulmapp8306

Currently I dont know if its a combi, or a boiler&tank. Guess thats something I have to find out.

TBH every house I have lived in has had a tank - so I kind of took that for granted.

Its an old 1960s ex council house - but I dont suppose that gives any clues as to how the heating is produced currently.

paulmapp8306

From the estate agents details:

A wall mounted ideal classic gas central heating boiler

Does that help?

grizzly1911

Any idea what power rating the electric shower is?

If it is only 7.5/8.5 it may well not have heavy enough cabling for anything bigger. Also what is the rating of the fuse or circuit breaker for the shower. Will the consumer unit be big enough to allow any upgrade?

Electric are good to give a separate hot water source should any central heating issues be experienced.

Power showers are nice but will eat up hot water.

Normal mixer showers, from gas fired boiler should be the cheapest to operate.Any idea how high the header tank is, the higher the better for a gravity fed system.

paulmapp8306

Tank is in the roof space apparently (having asked the estate agent).

no idea on the existing shower rating or the fuse rating. Doesnt help the new house is in Nottingham and im in Belfast. Still were not having it done until after we move it - just trying to do research/costings at present.havent seen any 7.5KW showers - thought 8.5 was the smallest. rates.

And a consumer unit is??

i have so much to learn - and Im doing 17th edition wiring regs later this year lol. im no electrician - im in Electroinics, but apparently Ill need 17th ed to be a field service tech - even if its only working on photocopiers or coffee machines.

grizzly1911

paulmapp8306 wrote: »

Tank is in the roof space apparently (having asked the estate agent).


And a consumer unit is??

i have so much to learn - and Im doing 17th edition wiring regs later this year lol. im no electrician - im in Electroinics, but apparently Ill need 17th ed to be a field service tech - even if its only working on photocopiers or coffee machines.

Consumer unit is the where the mains comes in and is then distributed to the various circuits. The box with the circuit breakers in. (Or it may be a fuse box if older)

http://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/consumer-units-rcbos/cat830112?cm_mmc=Google-_-Electrical%20-%20Consumer%20Units%20and%20Fuse%20Boxes%20-%20Generic-_-Consumer%20Units%20-%20Bulk%20Exact-_-MCBs&gclid=CJmvu8i527ACFSghtAod3lPFvA

Where/how are you doing your 17th edition?

paulmapp8306

Im forces, and training is conducted by the Career transition partnership, and the Regional training center Aldershot. Its a 5 day residential course for us.

Really didnt want to go into electrics (though with Part P certification it may be worth it), but plently of jobs(for field service technicians) I have looked at in the area im settling (Nottingham) state 17th edition as a requirement. Everything else they want I have in abundance - but my experience is in electronics (communication, weapon and ECM systems).

The choice is whether to JUST do 17th edition (leaving me funds for other quals - thinking NEBOSH General, Fire and Risk & construction certs), or do residential installation, along with test & certification (and possible PAT).

I have a year left to do.

Thanks - i know know what the consumer unit is

ListysDad

Paul

Back to your question.

Judging by what you've said and the listing by the estate agent it looks like a low pressure HW system.

Even a 10.5kw electric shower will not give you as good a shower as a pumped one. Secondly, as you're staying in the house for a while, the cost of running an electric shower will be quite high compared to using water heated by gas but unless you have quite a head on the system (the distance from the underside of the cold water storage tank in the loft and the hight of the actual shower head) then you'll need a pump and a twin ended pump gives you best showering as it provides a balanced flow to the mixer. Also, by having a pump you can economise slightly on the mixer valve as it won't be critical that the valve design is a good as can be to cope with low pressures - phew!

So, pumped shower. Choices are:

Digital electronic, like Aqualisa or Mira. Installation time is pretty quick and results are good to superb but cost is quite high. Guarantees for 5yrs generally tho.

Install a separate twin ended pump such as a Salamander. More complex to install, need separate mixer and probably more disruption to install.
Cost a bit lower overall but not a lot in it.

Personally I'd plump for the Mira as current Aqualisa flow rates are down by 25% from original designs. The Mira is also now simpler to install than the aqualisa.

HTH

Canucklehead

paulmapp8306 wrote: »

From the estate agents details:

A wall mounted ideal classic gas central heating boiler

Does that help?

Yes.....make sure you have the boiler serviced when you move in. The size of the hot water cylinder, cold water storage cistern and associated pipework will have implications. For great advice on all things bathroom related take at look at this guide.

Try to use a plumber recommended to you by a source you trust e.g. friends, colleagues or you could try here.

Best wishes for your new career on civvy street.;)

HTH

Canucklehead