A question that often arises in our shop is whether to install an electric shower or a power shower whenever you’re considering renovating a bathroom or installing a brand new one. To make an informed decision you have to be familiar with the merits and drawbacks of each, and which one best fits your purpose.
Firstly if we could consider the case of power showers. A power shower by definition is a shower which mixes hot and cold water from your water system and pumps it to the shower head. There are two main types of powershowers, one with an integrated pump and one with a separate pump usually housed in the hotpress or some other concealed place. Both are equally efficient with the separate pump version more aesthetically pleasing, but of course they are usually more expensive. The main benefits with power showers are they usually have a generous flow of water to the shower head, and they cost virtually nothing to run. They usually have a long working life and are manufactured by all the leading brands. The downside is the pump can sometimes be noisy particularly when fitted to a stud wall and, of course, you need to have warm water in your system before you start, to ensure a cosy shower.
Electric showers have their merits too, the main one being you can have a shower at the drop of a hat, no need for warm water in the tank- you’re good to go at any time. Electric showers are fed from the mains water supply, and need to have a heavy cable directly to the metre board. There is of course a huge range on the market, all of which are working on the same principle. Because electric showers have to heat water instantly they tend to have quite a restricted flow but one manufacturer has come up with a remedy: adding hot air to create the illusion of a better flow, meaning you might think you have more water without any more actually being there. Electric showers tend to be relatively cheap to buy and might sound the obvious choice, but bear in mind every shower you take costs to heat the water (about the same as 3 electric kettles going at once).
To sum up, electric showers do have a place in a modern home, but the merits of power showers far outweigh its electric counterpart. Of course no argument is so easily won and this argument can stand a lot of debate in most homes and can only really be answered by the individual homeowner and family. The best solution is to have one of each, then you can enjoy the benefits of both!
Is it a fair statement to make that a power shower would be most suitable in an en suite and electric for the lesser used family bathroom?
Every home is different, if the family bathroom is used daily then a good electric shower still has the quality to perform this role. It all comes down to what sort of plumbing you have and how much mess you would be willing to make to change it!