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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just being told that the shower in en-suite is electric

224 replies

Viviot · 17/06/2018 19:46

AIBU actually?

Doing redecoration in the recently built house, and had no idea such thing exists so didn't pay attention before.

And now being told that the shower in the ensuite bathroom is electric Confused

Just like why would you install that in 2010 built house with exceptional water pressure, and powerful boiler that provides boiling-hot water.the other bathroom has normal shower with hot water from boiler. Just like why??

Just being told that the shower in en-suite is electric
OP posts:
HyacinthsBucket70 · 17/06/2018 21:30

We've got 2 electric showers. They are independent of the boiler, and have got fantastic pumps in (Mira Sport). Also very easy to replace every 5/6 years or so as we have very hard water. The hot water is instant unlike our hot water supply that comes from the other end of the house. You used to have to run it for a few minutes first to get hot water, and if someone turned a hot tap on somewhere else it was a nightmare!

Lavende · 17/06/2018 21:33

What’s wrong with electric showers? Confused

PigletJohn · 17/06/2018 21:39

Energy from electricty costs about four times as much as energy from gas.

A modern combi boiler can deliver hot water about three times the rate of an instant electric shower.

However, a modern cylinder heated by a modern conventionsl or system boiler can give unsurpassed hot water, including baths or showers one after another, and can be electrically heated on the rare days when the boiler is out of action. Insulation is so good that heat losses are negligible.

It's not realistic comparing to an inefficient old system.

Original poster
Viviot · 17/06/2018 21:39

The thing is that I have spent first 20 years of my life in a country with a bit different system. And only last 8 years here in the UK.

Not a valid excuse really, but yes, I had no idea.. genuinely..

OP posts:
yikesanotherbooboo · 17/06/2018 21:40

We couldn't get enough pressure upstairs for a decent shower. So have electric , but the downstairs shower is not electric.

tabulahrasa · 17/06/2018 21:42

I’d assume if it’s the en-suite then there’s another bathroom... and other bedrooms... and it’s been built to cope with both being in use at the same time...

Not many boilers would manage that, so yeah I’d expect an electric shower.

Original poster
Viviot · 17/06/2018 21:43

Busybarbara, SallyGardens thank you for pointing this out, I have to check it!

OP posts:
Applepudding2018 · 17/06/2018 21:53

Seriously why on earth wouldn't you?? Is the boiler a combi boiler or a tank? I thought it was really old fashioned to have water heating up in a tank and very wasteful. Also, if all water is run off the tank if you are the last person to shower your shower is cold.

How good your shower is does not depend on whether it is electric or works off existing hot water - it depends on the make / price if your shower and your water pressure.

SweetSummerchild · 17/06/2018 21:55

However, a modern cylinder heated by a modern conventionsl or system boiler can give unsurpassed hot water, including baths or showers one after another, and can be electrically heated on the rare days when the boiler is out of action. Insulation is so good that heat losses are negligible.

Yep, that’s what we have. I have had combo boilers and electric showers and nothing beats a hot water cylinder-fed power shower in my opinion.

I would never have a combo boiler if I had a choice.

Mrspotter12 · 17/06/2018 21:56

Loved my electric shower in my old house but in Canada they were horrified at mixing electric & water ......

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 17/06/2018 21:59

Speaking from experience, it's much better if you have a shitty combi boiler that can't manage the shower and heating at the same time. Also, people can flush the loo and you don't get scalded.

PigletJohn · 17/06/2018 22:00

No kettles in Canada?

mirime · 17/06/2018 22:06

@Returnofthesmileybar

Having had a shower running off a combi boiler and now having to use an electric shower again, I really, really miss my old shower.

A combi is just so much more efficient. The electric shower costs a bomb to run and the water dribbles out in comparison.

The only upside is that the heating doesn't go off when the hot water is on, but considering the current house is properly insulated and in a milder part of the country, that would be less of an issue.

Original poster
Viviot · 17/06/2018 22:12

I don't know the exact type of boiler we have, we do not have a tank, it is quite powerful and I can adjust the hot water temperature there, up to 80 degrees I think. The water pressure upstairs is amazingly good. Iike you can take boiling powerful shower in the bathroom. I'm not sure what will happen if someone will use hot water tap downstairs (simultaneously), but I will find out, and also the exact type of boiler we have.Blush

OP posts:
mirime · 17/06/2018 22:18

Of you don't have a tank I'd assume it's a combi.

Electric showers are expensive to run. As I said we moved, we now have a larger house with a 30plus year old gas boiler and cook with gas and have had the heating on more as we have DS now but have an electric shower (use the immersion very, very rarely) and it's the electric usage that has gone through the roof, and taken the cost with it.

nottinghillgrey · 17/06/2018 22:18

Are you saying you didn't know the shower in your house is electric?

Original poster
Viviot · 17/06/2018 22:36

I had no idea this kind of electric showers exist till today's evening, yes.

We will explore our system carefully now..

Thanks God I posted here.. what an embarrassment...

OP posts:
Original poster
Viviot · 17/06/2018 22:38

We are not living there yet, just redecoration phase. Moving in soon, so we used bathroom and kitchen to wash paint brushes, etc.

OP posts:
lou1221 · 17/06/2018 22:45

I have two showers, both power showers, one is run off of the boiler, it's ok. The other is an electric shower, quite newly installed, it's fab!

Mrspotter12 · 17/06/2018 22:53

No, very few kettles - just coffee pots!

halcyondays · 17/06/2018 22:59

We have one and its perfectly fine. We have OFCH so have to have heat on for a good while to get enough hot water for abath, but electric shower is instant.

lardymclardy · 17/06/2018 22:59

I just love it that you included a picture in case we weren't completely sure...

I appreciate you grew up in a different country with a different system, but British new builds aren't great. You've made me chuckle though - thank you :)

Happy showering!

VanillaSugar · 17/06/2018 23:04

Our string pull doesn’t work anymore. I think DS jammed it. Can I unscrew the box myself to sort it out or do I need an electrician? —blatentthreadhijacking—

SimonBridges · 17/06/2018 23:05

Having spent the most of your life in a different country makes so much more sense. I take back my incredulity.

lardymclardy · 17/06/2018 23:07

I'm confused now (I was off to bed before this!) I have an electric shower, yet it still goes from freezing to boiing if - the toilet it flushed/the washing machine is filling/the taps downstairs are used.

Oh it's all beyond me now.