Shower in loft conversion: Do we go electric or what?

[allyfe]

We have just started our loft conversion (horray). We will have a shower room, to complement our downstairs bathroom. It is possible (likely) people will want to shower at the same time.

We need to replace our combi boiler anyway, but on working out the size, I've found out that two showers will not work well with one combi boiler.

So, my question is what do we do? And what will our options cost? We could get an electric shower in the loft - I'm thinking this is perhaps the best most cost effective solution? I think another option is getting another boiler - so one in the loft, and one in the rest of the house. But I'm worried that that is going to be an insanely expensive option. Are those my choices? Are there any other cost effective options that are better? I don't have a clue so all advice is appreciated! Thanks.

I'd go for an electric one. No worries about both showers being in use at the same time and running out of hot water, or the temperature suddenly changing.

Elec. good for back up if your CH breaks down too.

Yes we have an electric shower in our loft conversion and it was indeed brilliant when our boiler broke down last winter. Never had problems with it, just make sure it's powerful enough for you.

We have an electric shower in the loft ensuite. Never had a problem with it.

My sister's partner has a plumbing / heating business and in any of his houses (that he buys, renovates and sells on) he always puts an electric shower in a second bathroom.

He says that if your boiler ever breaks down, you can at least have a shower whilst you wait to get it fixed! Good selling point and good idea in my mind!

Wouldn't you need electric to deal with the fact that the water pressure would be very low in a loft?

we have a mego flo boiler which means the water is heated direct from the mains and is high pressure. ours is enough to feed all our bathrooms including our loft shower.

expensive but no compromise for the users. if you want to stick with a combi then electric would be better than standard.

I reckon PigletJohn will say go for standard boiler with megaflo (though I could be wrong)!

Thanks all! I don't think we have space for aq standard boiler and megaflo (we will have very little space for storage after our loft conversion as it is). Anyone got any particular electric shower recommendations? From what I've read, I was assuming the biggest power Aqualisa I can find. And for a normal shower - any recommendations?

Have a very similar decision to make. Leaning towards second shower being electric having had boiler issues/no hot showers more than once in the past.

You need first to find out how many litres per minute the watermain delivers to your house. Fill a bucket at the kitchen sink cold tap and time it.

No more water can come out of the taps at any one time than the supply pipe delivers, regardless of how it is heated.