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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:
celticprincess · 18/06/2018 23:19

My electric showers have all been terrible with no water pressure. My electrics arenalso dodgy so when I got a new shower it was done via the boiler system not electric and it’s been the best shower ever. Guess it depends where you are. Also though having more than one shower running off the boiler can cause issues when both used at once so having one of each may work out better.

Original poster
Viviot · 18/06/2018 23:19

ToftyAC very funny, yes.
First world problems
Tbh you have no idea about my problems, if you are annoyed about this thread why to bother with posting replies?

Hint: sometimes thinking about smaller things/new paint/shower can distract you from bigger one, like death of a close relative.

Never judge too quickly...

OP posts:
KneesupGaston · 18/06/2018 23:20

I think there is some plumbing reason why you can only have one power shower and the rest have to be electric. Can't remember why though.

SimonBridges · 18/06/2018 23:22

I think some of the people on here need to get their boilers serviced more often if being able to have a shower when the boiler breaks is a massive plus.

ToftyAC · 18/06/2018 23:46

OP - I am recovering from the loss of my father and my mother. I’ve got several other shit storms on top of it, including an ill partner and another close family member who very sadly won’t be with us for that much longer. Again, if only that were my only problem. AIBU threads request a response from other MNers... I responded. Please don’t post if you don’t want a response that strokes.

Original poster
Viviot · 18/06/2018 23:53

ToftyAC then please go and spend time with your family or whatever you need to do ( not on my thread).

Wish you all the best

OP posts:
AnotherDayAnotherName745 · 19/06/2018 00:05

I bet there's one of those new fangled electric kettles in your kitchen too, when you could perfectly well heat water on the hob!? ;-D

ParentInCharge · 19/06/2018 00:16

I read this thread today and thought how electric showers are great in case the boiler breaks.
I'm standing here on Mumsnet with the emergency plumber who is fixing my boiler which broke a few hours ago. DH wasn't happy having a standing wash at the bathroom sink as he was stinky after work because we don't have an electric shower in this house.

By the way, well done to my housing association for getting a plumber to us in less than 3 hours at this time of night!

Original poster
Viviot · 19/06/2018 00:31

AnotherDayAnotherName745 yes, of course you are right BlushGrin

I prefer gas where possible, just where the convince is very obvious (kettle and tumble dryer) we use that.

It's actually couple of things that bothered me that there are no hot water near the shower and it will be expensive to change it, if we decide to (as FrizzyMcFrizzface confirmed).

The fear that you stand there wet and the electricity is quite close to you.

And that it will be expensive to run.

But I'm just copying my earlier posts here and we will go in circles.

I want to thank you all once again who helped and gave a lot of information, advices and opinions! Thank you for your time and patience Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
Viviot · 19/06/2018 00:34

ParentInCharge oh that's great you will get it fixed fast!

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 19/06/2018 08:26

I've never done a cost comparison, but I think gas showers are expensive to buy, despite them appearing to be nothing more than a few pipes (the thermostat/mixer is probably the expensive bit).

They're probably more more expensive to install too as it would have to be by a proper gas person, whereas an electric shower can be installed by a competent DIYer if its just a straight replacement.

Don't know about the running costs. We pay about £85 pm for all gas and electric, which isn't too bad as we are quite careless with lights etc and we cook and shower with electric, and have a dishwasher, so again washing up is electric. The gas is only really for the combi boiler central heating.

And as others have said, you still have a working shower if your boiler breaks with an electric shower, which can be a big advantage - in one of the big freezes a few years ago where 'everyones' boilers broke, we couldn't get ours fixed for about 2 weeks because as a household of healthy working adults with no children/elderly/disabled, we were quite rightly at the back of the queue for the gas engineers. Thankfully we now know how to deal with the frozen condensate pipe so should be OK in future.

Equimum · 19/06/2018 08:33

We are just fitting one, as although we have a really powerful boiler, when both showers are being used simultaneously, the pressure still drops.

nottinghillgrey · 19/06/2018 08:34

They're probably more more expensive to install too as it would have to be by a proper gas person, whereas an electric shower can be installed by a competent DIYer if its just a straight replacement.

It's a plumber you need to install a thermostatic shower, and an electrician for an electric shower.

Straight replacement for either should not be done as DIY, but if anything the electric one is the one where you should absolutely have the correct tradespeople. You don't want to be messing about with the electric in your bathroom!

frufru27 · 19/06/2018 08:38

Sounds like insane snobbery to me,I’ve got an electric shower in my one bathroom...don’t see the issue it gets hot and wet lol 🤷🏻‍♀️

PolkerrisBeach · 19/06/2018 08:58

f there are any issues with the hot water supply

An electric shower doesn't use a hot water supply. It takes in cold water, which flows over an element to hear it.

PeachyPeachTrees · 19/06/2018 10:16

If it works, leave it!

pacer142 · 19/06/2018 10:38

I think some of the people on here need to get their boilers serviced more often if being able to have a shower when the boiler breaks is a massive plus.

How often do you want? We have ours serviced every year - as recommended. We had a new one installed 12 years ago and it must have broken down 3 or 4 times despite annual services. Each time, it has taken between 2-5 days for the engineers to come out to fix it as they always fail in peak cold winter months. Had it replaced 2 years ago, and it failed the first winter, at just 9 months old. In our experience, it doesn't matter whether you have them serviced or not, they can still fail.

LeighaJ · 19/06/2018 10:46

I love our electric shower, wish they were common in the US too. I only learned about them recently but even I can spot one easily so not sure why you're surprised about it OP.

PigletJohn · 19/06/2018 13:09

There is a view that combi boilers break down more often, and have a shorter life, than convention boilers, because they are more complicated. When a combi breaks down it is a more severe and urgent problem, because you lose HW as well as CH.

When my previous boiler failed, it was of no consequence. I just turned on the immersion heater.

Diamondsandjems · 19/06/2018 22:59

Must be the only person who thought all showers are electric 🙈

nannybeach · 20/06/2018 09:50

not all "showers are electric", assuming op is talking about electrically "heated" shower, unless you whip in and out, the 3 minute shower, they are very expensive, you dont have to have one, just in case your boiler breakds down either, as I said before, I dont have a combi boiler, there is a tank, emersion heater, (I have economy 7, so third price electricity at night) The shower in the bathroom is electric to feed the ho/cold water, and is the best I have ever had, better than with the pu,mp we had with our all electric shower, is a Mira event XS. Also if you elect for a conbi boiler, you have loose not only the facility to store hot water, but loosing the tank means no nice warm airing cupboard to dry/air clothes.

Laine21 · 20/06/2018 19:45

Just imagine, the middle of winter, your boiler breaks down, if you only had showers that run off the boiler, can't have a bath or a shower. An electric shower can be a god send, I know, we had our boiler break down on a Christmas Day! Good job we have wood burning stove and coal (smokeless) fires, or we would have been sitting round for Christmas dinner with coats and boots on, and nobody nice and clean either! LOL

PigletJohn · 21/06/2018 20:13

yes, if you have a combi boiler, an electric shower is a sensible backup.

I will confess that I am not especially keen on combis or electric showers, but sometimes they are appropriate.

furandchandeliers · 21/06/2018 20:20

It's not very nice to look at Confused I didn't know they still made those!

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