Replacing an electric shower? Can you DIY it?

kasqueak

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Kasqueak, that's a breeze-block wall, covered in plasterboard? That lower section has p'board nails seemingly holding it in place - can you confirm what's behind that board, please? If B-Block, then nails ain't going to hold it.

It has grab adhesive as well as nails straight onto breeze block. That’s what was there when I took the old plasterboard off. Other side of that wall is my garage. 

I would be in favour of a thermostatic mixer but the OH seems to think electric shower would be better. I don’t agree as I think they’re ugly things personally and not as good. But in terms of keeping the OH happy it seems we’re going for the electric shower. 

Appreciate all of the tips people have replied with. Thanks!

neilmcl

kasqueak said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Kasqueak, that's a breeze-block wall, covered in plasterboard? That lower section has p'board nails seemingly holding it in place - can you confirm what's behind that board, please? If B-Block, then nails ain't going to hold it.

It has grab adhesive as well as nails straight onto breeze block. That’s what was there when I took the old plasterboard off. Other side of that wall is my garage. 

I would be in favour of a thermostatic mixer but the OH seems to think electric shower would be better. I don’t agree as I think they’re ugly things personally and not as good. But in terms of keeping the OH happy it seems we’re going for the electric shower. 

Appreciate all of the tips people have replied with. Thanks!

The only downside of running a mixer shower via a combi boiler is if you're trying to use it in a big family home where others are drawing hot water at the same time but apart from that it's so much better as a shower than an electric and you and your husband will regret it when you're standing under a dribble of water on a cold winter's morning.

NSG666

kasqueak said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Kasqueak, that's a breeze-block wall, covered in plasterboard? That lower section has p'board nails seemingly holding it in place - can you confirm what's behind that board, please? If B-Block, then nails ain't going to hold it.

It has grab adhesive as well as nails straight onto breeze block. That’s what was there when I took the old plasterboard off. Other side of that wall is my garage. 

I would be in favour of a thermostatic mixer but the OH seems to think electric shower would be better. I don’t agree as I think they’re ugly things personally and not as good. But in terms of keeping the OH happy it seems we’re going for the electric shower. 

Appreciate all of the tips people have replied with. Thanks!

Have you told them about the replies on here? Obviously it's between you two but it's the type of thing my missis would say just to get the damn job finished and not create further work chopping in new pipes.

Final attempt on your behalf could be 'we can get rid of the pipes in the loft so they will never freeze and burst and flood the bedrooms' OK I'll leave you with it.

Jeepers_Creepers

Oh the pressure!

It's true, tho', Kasqueak - combi showers are enjoyable; leccy ones perfunctory.

Someone's already mentioned that you could run the two pipes in 10mm, either copper or plastic - there would easily be enough flow in this to supply the shower. That would make it super-easy to install. Certainly it should be no more complex than the leccy one, and a lot less potentially deadly.

Pros and cons:

Pros for thermo mixer - much better shower. Much more attractive - an asset to your bathroom, instead of an 'urgh' when potential buyers come to view. No 'cuting yourself, or anyone else. Gets rid of that pipe from the loft. Cons - if the boiler stops working, so does your shower. (In reality, this should be rare - and leccy showers also fail - as you know). Flow is affected by other folk in the house using taps, but a thermo shower will maintain the temp.

Pros for leccy - less affected by other folk in the house. Still works when boiler goes kaput. Everything else is a negative.

coffeehound

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Pros and cons:

Pros for thermo mixer - much better shower. Much more attractive - an asset to your bathroom, instead of an 'urgh' when potential buyers come to view. No 'cuting yourself, or anyone else. Gets rid of that pipe from the loft. 

Also *alot* cheaper to run