Getting rid of a bath and putting a shower in...

thisismoneysaving

Hi MSE'ers.

I'm after some advice please. I llive in a 1 bed flat and would like the remove the bath from my small bathroom and replace it with a shower cubicle. The toilet and sink are plain white, so I'm assuming we could just swap the bath over for a big shower cubicle and maybe use the rest of the space for a tall cupboard. One thing that might affect cost (possibly) is that we have a really low water pressure and I REALLY want a nice strong shower. Also, we only have electricity, no gas.

Could someone give me some clues as to how much this would cost, please? I have not got a clue with this sort of thing & we need to work out if this would be a good move for us, or if we would be better off replacing the shower over the bath which has broken (running boiling hot, then freezing cold).

Thank you so much

keystone

What happens when you come to sell and 90% of your viewers want a bath (no not right there and then lol)?

Best all round solution is to sort out or replace the existing shower I would say. Please provide details of same for diagnosis purposes.

Cheers

thisismoneysaving

Hi Keystone.

I have a small one bed flat which definitely wouldn't accommodate children (16 flats and only one had a child (newborn)) so wouldn't that mean most people looking to buy would be ok with a shower?

We currently have a Triton T80si shower over the bath which is running hot then cold and the power is very weak. I so want to enjoy showing again, at the moment its a complete chore.

ukjoel

Its a one bed flat so buyers are less likely to be families so loss of bath may not be as serious as it would in a 3 bed house.

We bought a 4 bedroom with only a shower (a double walk in beast) as previous owners took bath out. We paid £5 for a trug which we used to wash the kids and once the were big enough to stand up they use the shower too.

Mrs moans she would like a bath - but if she gets one she will moan about loss of shower.

I do ask for a room with a bath though when in hotels now as it seems pure opulence.

Having reread that it doesnt answer OP question in the slightest.

Costwise - shower cubicle anywhere from £100 on ebay up to £1000+ in posh bathroom shop.

Electric showers are pretty good these days - would only go for a big brand ie triton and get the most powerful they sell.

Low water pressure can be upped by pumps but again depends on how poor it is to start with.

keystone

OK so its an electric shower then. Possibilities within the shower:

1) Fried thermal cutout
2) Micro Switch failing on inlet pressure diaphragm.
3) Faulty high limit stat.
4) Heater can.

When you say the power is weak do you mean that flow is poor? If so two more possibilities:

1) Restriction/blockage in spray head.
2) Restriction/blockage in inlet filter.

Check these two first but if its within the unit then my gut feeling is that it will be the thermal cutout.

Cheers

keystone

ukjoel wrote: »

Its a one bed flat so buyers are less likely to be families so loss of bath may not be as serious as it would in a 3 bed house.

The question was a what-if one to sow a seed. No point in speculating an answer to a speculative question tbh.

Low water pressure can be upped by pumps but again depends on how poor it is to start with.

A clever manufacturer has found a way around the mantra of "thou shalt not pump mains" but I thin OP has a flow rate problem not a pressure problem.

Cheers

thisismoneysaving

keystone wrote: »

OK so its an electric shower then. Possibilities within the shower:

1) Fried thermal cutout
2) Micro Switch failing on inlet pressure diaphragm.
3) Faulty high limit stat.
4) Heater can.

When you say the power is weak do you mean that flow is poor? If so two more possibilities:

1) Restriction/blockage in spray head.
2) Restriction/blockage in inlet filter.

Check these two first but if its within the unit then my gut feeling is that it will be the thermal cutout.

Cheers

Yes, the water comes out at a slow rate. I have long thick hair and it takes about 30 seconds for it to get wet. I know that doesn't sound like long, but I really want a nice powerful shower.

I've checked the shower head for blockages and it's fine. The water comes out of my tap slowly too. I had a plumber look at them (when he was round for something else) and he said that it's because I'm in a flat?? Does this sounds right?

Please could you tell me a little bit more about the thermal cut out? Is there an easy way for me to check this?

Thanks again!

keystone

thisismoneysaving wrote: »

Yes, the water comes out at a slow rate.

Does the flow rate change for the better if you remove the shower head?

I've checked the shower head for blockages and it's fine. The water comes out of my tap slowly too.

An electric shower should be fed from mains. Have we found another that is tank fed perhaps.

I had a plumber look at them (when he was round for something else) and he said that it's because I'm in a flat?? Does this sounds right?

No idea because I doin't know what your system is like. Is your heating/DHW electric or do you have a boiler? Do you have hot and cold tanks in a airing cupboard?

Please could you tell me a little bit more about the thermal cut out? Is there an easy way for me to check this?

When it gets too hot the cutout does exactly that - cuts off the volts. Item number 2 in this image:



Part Number 22009860 from showerdoc. Current price £ 20.33 incl VAT plus P&P.. When you take the cover off you'll be able to see if its fried 'cos the wiring will be burnt. If, however there is a restriction to flow and it cuts out then its doing its job properly.

Cheers