We’ve all had to put up with the odd useless shower; the ones that can’t hold a stable temperature; the ones that never quite get warm; the ones that can only dish out a pathetic drizzle that leaves you shivering with half the shampoo still in. A shower shouldn’t be like that. With a good, robust spray and some heat behind it, you can kick your day off with a refreshing scrub down and get properly clean after you’ve been out doing something sweaty.
To be honest, the electric shower isn’t everyone’s first choice. Mixer showers can have more oomph and be more consistent, while a pump-equipped power shower gives a stronger blast. However, electric showers need only the electric cable and a cold water supply, and work in situations where you haven’t got the gravity-fed pressure for a mixer model or a power shower. They heat up in a jiffy, caring not what the boiler’s up to, and they’re usually more energy efficient, heating only the water you actually use.
How to buy the right electric shower for you
Electric showers work in much the same way from brand to brand and model to model, and you’ll even find models from the same brand sharing the same basic engine, not to mention the same hose and head, with the differences coming down to the style and controls.
How much power do I need?
Electric showers are rated in terms of kW, generally coming in between 7kW and 10.5kW. Power is important because the more a shower has at its disposal, the more water can be heated and passed through at a time, resulting in a stronger, more consistent flow. However, a greater wattage also means a more expensive shower, and as higher wattages require larger cable sizes and different fuses you can’t simply swap out a 7.5kW shower for a 9.5kW shower without calling in an electrician to do the necessary work. If you’re fitting an electric shower into a property without one, you’ll need a qualified electrician in any case. Switching like-for-like is easiest, but if you’re adding a shower or dissatisfied with your current water flow, opting for a more powerful shower makes sense.
Are there any other crucial features?
You’ll struggle to find an electric shower without some form of thermostatic control, designed to ensure a steady temperature, but the better models will be equipped with more effective controls, keeping the temperature to within 1.5 to 2 degrees centigrade of the same point even when somebody turns a tap on elsewhere in the house. Similarly, nearly all showers have some form of safety cut-out, cutting the flow immediately if the water gets too hot.
What about other features?
Most electric shower manufacturers make a big thing of their simple controls, but as these mostly come down to setting the power, setting the temperature and turning the thing on and off, these mostly come down to whether you prefer pushbuttons or dials. Limescale protection, usually through running through phases of increasingly cool water at the end of the shower, is a good idea, as it protects the inner workings and the shower head from limescale built-up, which could eventually bring your shower to its knees. Having different spray patterns gives you the option of a smaller but more potent spray, a wider, finer mist and options in-between, but on less powerful models you’ll often find anything beyond a direct spray completely useless.
You’ll find some models using air intakes or boosted engines to give you a sensation of a higher flow even when the actual amount of water coming through remains the same. Opinions differ on how effective or not these are. Finally, some showers are more flexible than others about their power and water entry points, not to mention the brackets for the riser rail the head attaches to. That can make a big difference if you’re fitting the shower yourself.
READ NEXT: Wake up with the best coffee machine 2017: Pick the right coffee machine for you
The best electric showers to buy from £58
1. Triton Seville 7.5kW to 10.5kW: The best budget electric shower
Price:£58 to £81
Let’s face it: this is a very basic, budget shower. It’s compact but not particularly attractive and it lacks any advanced features whatsoever. There’s one dial to switch between Cold, High and Eco settings and another to adjust the temperature, while even the shower head only has the one spray pattern. However, bar a few naysayers here and there users say that it delivers a steady flow of water at a nice, warm temperature and that it’s flexible and easy to fit. Want a shower? Want to spend the minimum? Look no further. Screwfix sells a seemingly identical model, the Triton Enrich.
Key specs – Wattages available: 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5; Controls: rotary temperature, rotary power; Spray Patterns: 1; Advanced features: none; Dimensions: 305 x 210 x 110mm
2. Grohe Tempesta 100 8.5kW to 9.5kW: The best electric shower for under £100
Price:£90 to £98
Grohe’s electric shower promises a lot of features, ranging from its DreamSpray shower engine, which claims to optimise the flow for every nozzle to a choice of three sprays which take you all the way from the soft Rain Spray through to a focused, powerful jet. Despite this it’s a very straightforward model, with simple rotary controls for power and temperature and a big on/off switch you can still hit with your eyes closed. With a choice of two-tone finishes there’s a little bit of style and users are generally impressed with the steady water flow and reliable temperature. A solid step-up option.
GROHE 26179000 New Tempesta 100 Pressure stabilized Electric Shower 9.5 KW, White/Night-Time Grey
Key specs – Wattages available: 8.5, 9.5; Controls: rotary temperature, rotary power, on/off button; Spray patterns: 3; Advanced features: EcoJoy water-saving, StarLight easy-clean surface; Dimensions: 620 x 224 x 103mm
3. Aqualisa Quartz 8.5kW to 10.5kW: The best stylish shower for under £200
Price:£160 to £215
This compact model is simple, stylish and good value, coming in a choice of chrome, white and graphite grey finishes with minimalist controls and a subtle glow around the pushbutton on/off switch. The shower head gives you five different spray patterns and with no power settings you’re left with a smooth, effective temperature control that won’t let you go too high. The anti-limescale protection runs cold water through after you shower to prevent it building up. The Quartz’s real strength isn’t just it’s looks, though, but its consistently good flow and excellent temperature management, with even the less powerful 8.5kW model delivering a decent shower. Popular with users and plumbers, it’s a class act.
Key specs – Wattages available: 8.5kW, 9.5kW, 10.5kW; Controls: rotary temperature, on/off button; Spray patterns: 5; Advanced features: OTP temperature limit, anti-limescale; Dimensions: 305 x 240 x 65mm
4. Mira Sport Max with Airboost 9kW to 10.8kW: The shower with extra power for under £250
Price:£206 to £245
Fans of mixer showers and power showers may point and laugh at your electric’s puny flow, but not if you’re rocking the Mira Sport Max with Airboost. It combines Mira’s Opti-flo technology with Airboost technology, designed to increase the flow by up to 30% using air pressure. You’re not actually getting any more water, but the water you get hits with extra speed and force. The result is a more powerful-feeling shower, even when the mains water pressure’s low. Meanwhile, Mira’s Clearscale and Sensi-flo features prevent scalding and the build-up of limescale. It’s a loud shower with Airboost on and some users have experienced problems with reliability, but most agree that this is an outstanding shower.
Key specs – Wattages available: 9kW, 10.8kW; Controls: rotary temperature, pushbutton on/off and power; Spray patterns: 4; Advanced features: Airboost, Clearscale anti-scale, Sensi-flo scalding protection; Dimensions: 358 x 215 x 89mm
5. Mira Azora 9.8kW: The best stylish shower for over £250
Price:£280
Fancy a shower with more designer looks? With its frosted glass fascia, the Mira Azora is about as compact and stylish as such things get. It’s a simple unit with a pushbutton on/off switch, three power settings and a smooth temperature control, while the showerhead has a choice of four spray settings ranging from a punchy spray to a wider mist. The Azora isn’t just a good-looking shower, though, but a strong performer, with impressively consistent water flow and a steady temperature that sticks to within 1.5 degrees centigrade of the current setting. It also has Sensi-flo technology to prevent scalding and Clearscale technology to cut down on limescale, even if the fascia itself is prone to limescale marking. Solid and reliable, this is one of the very best electrics you can buy.
Key specs – Wattages available: 9.8kW; Controls: rotary temperature, rotary power, on/off button; Spray patterns: 4; Advanced features: Clearscale anti-scale, Sensi-flo scalding protection; Dimensions: 233 x 367 x 77mm