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AIBU?

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To have 2 pump showers instead of a pump and an electric- because of aesthetics?

35 replies

Gibgertea · 02/09/2026 17:08

Dh says we should have 1 of each for back up if boiler breaks and so hot water isn’t used up however we’re a family of 3 adults in a 4 bed house that shower at different times.Sometimes have another sibling staying. I see his point though.

For context I love the tongue and groove older style of bathroom and can’t find an electric shower that I don’t hate( ugly plastic or metallic boxes with heads I wouldn’t choose).

But will I regret 2 pump showers?Currently living with just 1 pump between the 3 of us and it’s fine.

OP posts:
Another76543 · 02/09/2026 18:43

TooOrangey · 02/09/2026 18:33

I’m all about the aesthetics and there’s no way I’d choose an ugly electric shower.

Some people don’t have a hot water tank though, so probably don’t have a choice. I agree with you though - I’d always choose a pump shower.

TooOrangey · 02/09/2026 18:33

I’m all about the aesthetics and there’s no way I’d choose an ugly electric shower.

Another76543 · 02/09/2026 18:31

PurplebudsWhitebuds · 02/09/2026 17:56

I'm sorry but what exactly is a pump shower?
I've never heard of these.
My current home has 2 showers and neither of them are electric. They run off the boiler. They are absolutely brilliant and so much more economical than the electric showers I've had in my previous homes.

A pump shower runs off stored hot water (heated by the boiler), and pumps the water through. An electric shower only needs cold mains water, and heats the water as it runs through.

PurplebudsWhitebuds · 02/09/2026 17:56

I'm sorry but what exactly is a pump shower?
I've never heard of these.
My current home has 2 showers and neither of them are electric. They run off the boiler. They are absolutely brilliant and so much more economical than the electric showers I've had in my previous homes.

Traitorsclaudia · 02/09/2026 17:43

We've got one of each. Our boiler tends to give up if we have very cold weather (the condensation pipe freezes due to an annoying position) so at least the electric shower means we've got a way of warming up until the ice melts or DH can get up on a ladder to defrost it. The electric shower does my preferred temp of boiling hot better than the pump one too.

PaterPower · 02/09/2026 17:24

We went with one of each. It makes sense to have a backup if your boiler goes, particularly as it may take you days to get hold of a heating engineer and have them make repairs / replace it.

The electric one is not as powerful, and I agree they’re not as nice to look at, but it does the job.

Musicaltheatremum · 02/09/2026 17:19

I've got 2 pump showers. I've got an immersion in case boiler fails.

BeaTwix · 02/09/2026 17:19

I'd get the back up electric shower. I find organising home repairs a pain in the arse and it's really difficult to get tradesmen out where I live.

Redundancy in the system is useful.

Electric showers depend on the water pressure in the house and a high enough electrical rating to heat the water fast enough. I've found that Mira Sport showers are generally pretty reliable and have been using them for over 25 years (that statement makes me feel incredibly old) from my student flat to a current family property.

Another76543 · 02/09/2026 17:15

I would have 2 pump showers, largely because I’ve never seen a decent electric shower. I know a lot of people say that electric showers are great these days and that the water flow/pressure is just as good but it’s certainly not my experience! Also, if you have an immersion heater fitted to the hot water tank, would that not avoid the problem of no hot water if the boiler breaks? Just bear in mind though that if you only have 1 hot water tank but 2 showers, it may use the water up quite quickly.

Catza · 02/09/2026 17:15

You can always change shower head so I wouldn't worry about that bit. Triton has some "passable" electric showers which will look ok in a traditional bathroom.
Personally, when my boiler broke it took two days to replace it. And the only reason it broke is because previous owners didn't have it serviced and it was 19 years old. So it literally broke three days after I got the keys to my house. If your boiler is on its last legs, you'd usually know about it. And if I had a choice between an ugly power shower to stare at for the foreseeable and a small chance of not showering for a couple of days, I'd chose the latter.

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