Electric shower how does it work
Although the Greek and Roman Empires used early forms of showers , they were rarely seen in homes until the 20th Century. In the UK, they rapidly grew in popularity during the s, around the time the electric shower was hitting the market and were seen a very useful time-saving way of getting clean, compared to having a bath.
Over time, showers became more sophisticated, with additional features and selling points, and it was around the s that the power shower became an increasingly common choice for many homes. Most conventional electric showers work by running an electrical current through an element, which heats the water that passes through, resulting in hot water coming through the shower head.
However, water pressure can sometimes be an issue, particularly at high temperatures. It can also be affected by taps running in other parts of the house, resulting in an unsatisfactory amount of water, which makes it harder to get clean and make it sometimes feel like you are standing under a watering can, rather than a shower. Power showers overcome this problem by having their own pump. This increases the pressure of the water, meaning it flows through the shower head with much greater force and allows a constant flow at all times.
This gives you a very different shower experience compared to a conventional electric shower. The powerful flow of water gets rid of dirt much quicker and provides a relaxing, massage effect, which can help soothe aching muscles. Whilst a power shower does use more water than a conventional electric shower, it also shortens the average time taken, evening out the costs involved.
The other main difference is that power showers also use an electric pump to increase water pressure. Pumps should only be used with low-pressure water systems.
If you suffer low water pressure, pumped electric showers are also available which can be used with a cold water tank supply - however, they too must not be plumbed straight into your mains water supply.
When shopping for an electric shower, a common concern is finding one that is powerful enough. The key here is the kW rating of your shower. Generally, the higher the kW rating, the more powerful your shower will be - both in terms of pressure and temperature. What is the kW rating of an electric shower all about? What does it mean, why does it matter and how do you know which one to choose?
The cold water is passed over a heating element. The temperature control dial on your shower actually controls how long cold water is passed over the heating device for - the longer, the hotter. So, when you increase the temperature setting, you might sometimes notice a slight dip in pressure as the water flow slows down to increase heat. This is where the kW rating comes in. The higher the kW rating, the faster your shower can heat water to a hotter temperature.
This means that the water can maintain a more consistent pressure - resulting in a better shower experience! Electric showers vary in power. The lowest power is usually 7. Higher wattage electric showers are often considered to be better, though the wattage you choose depends on how much you want to spend; higher-powered options usually cost more.
It also depends on what electric cable you have to wire up to it, which we will explain more about below…. The next thing you need to consider when buying an electric shower is what size cables and pipes you have to connect to your shower.
This is where we get into the technical stuff, so if you are not sure, speak to a plumber. Your shower must be connected to the mains water supply via a 15mm water pipe. It is also a good idea to install an isolation valve in this run. This allows you to turn the water supply to the shower off if there are any problems or maintenance issues.
The size of the wiring you will be connecting to your shower has a big impact on which shower you can buy. You need to know what size cable you have - remember, the measurement refers to the cross-section, not the length! Many cables have this printed on the outer insulation. This means that a minute 7. In addition to the extra water costs, your fuel type will also incur extra energy costs to heat the water in the first place.
Overall, an electric shower seems to be slightly more affordable, and you'd be able to have more showers using less water. However, you may be sacrificing showers with decent water pressure, so a more luxury showering experience. In general, both power and electric showers have their advantages, and there's no clear winner between the two. Power showers offer a more pleasant shower experience with a powerful flow rate. The electric shower is generally more efficient and cheaper to run with less water being wasted; however, you risk spending extra on your electricity bills if you're on a high tariff.
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