Introduction

An electric shower supplies hot water on demand by directly heating cold water using an electric element like a kettle. You could think of this like an instant hot water tap. This is different to a standard shower which uses both cold and hot water straight from your hot water supply e.g., water heated by your boiler. All systems >99% efficient and only heat the water you need whereas traditional showers lose energy due to pipe losses or inefficiencies in the heating/storage system.

Using low carbon electricity like this can be a lower carbon alternative to gas – try and avoid showering at peak electricity times (4-7pm) to reduce carbon impact. Apps are available online to indicate when carbon intensity of the electricity grid is low. If you have solar panels, having a shower when the sun is shining can further reduce the carbon impact of your shower.

Installing an electric shower only requires a cold water pipe unlike traditional showers which require both hot and cold. However, you will also require a high rated electrical connection to the shower from your fuse box.

We recommend using a qualified electrician to install your electric shower. The electrician should be Part P certified (or a Part P certified plumber).

If you rent your home, you should consult with the property owner before carrying these works out.

What affects energy usage for electric showers?

The amount of energy an electric shower requires is dependent on the energy rating of the shower, which in turn determines the flow rate.

Electric showers with the same energy rating typically will all use the same amount of energy. Since all these showers are effectively the same efficiency in converting electricity to heat, the achievable flow rates of comparable energy ratings are the same. A 7.5 kW system has a flow rate of around 4 litres per minute which is considered suitable for winter showers.

These products represent the most energy efficient models in their category. Our Selection Criteria details the minimum standards electric shower products must meet in order to display on our site, including further information about the performance indicators used.

We have chosen 7.5 kW as a cut off in order to encourage less energy use during showering. Higher rated versions of these showers are usually available and may be more suitable for your individual situation.