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We all have to endure useless showers: showers that cannot maintain a stable temperature; those who will never get warm; those who can only give out a sad drizzle and make you shiver with half of the shampoo left. The shower shouldn't be like this. With a good, strong spray and some heat behind it, you can start your day with a refreshing scrub and get a proper cleansing.
To be honest, electric showers are not everyone's first choice. Hybrid showers can have more charm and consistency, while powerful showers equipped with pumps can provide stronger impact. However, the electric shower only requires a cable and cold water supply, and works without the gravity supply pressure of a mixer model or a power shower. They heat up instantly, don't care what the boiler is doing, and they are usually more energy efficient, only heating the water you actually use.
As part of the early Black Friday sales, Amazon has reduced the price of Bristan Bliss 3 to £102. We already think this electric shower is great value for money, so this discount just makes it cheaper. Amazon is priced at 144 pounds, now at 102 pounds. Buy now
Different brands and models of electric showers work in roughly the same way. You may even find models from the same brand share the same basic engine, not to mention the same hoses and heads. The differences boil down to styles and controls.
The rated power of an electric shower is kW, usually between 7kW and 10.5kW. Power is important because the more water you can use in the shower, the more water you can heat and pass through at one time, resulting in a stronger, more consistent flow of water.
However, larger wattage also means more expensive showers, and since higher wattages require larger cable sizes and different fuses, you cannot simply replace 7.5kW showers with 9.5kW showers. There is no need to hire an electrician to do the necessary work. If you install an electric shower in a house without an electric shower, you will need a qualified electrician anyway.
Check the specifications of any shower, they should list the minimum continuous pressure level (in bars) and flow rate (in liters/minute). You can actually measure the latter by putting the tap for the tap water supply into a container such as a 2 liter bottle or measuring jug. Then you can calculate how many liters can be filled in one minute.
If you are really struggling with power pressure and it affects your existing showers, look for showers that can handle lower minimum pressure levels and flow rates.
Thermostatic control: Most (if not all) electric showers have some form of thermostatic control to ensure a stable temperature. Of course, the more you pay, the more accurate these temperature corrections will be.
Safety cut-off: Similarly, almost all showers have some form of safety cut-off, if the water is too hot, stop the flow immediately.
Control: Here, we just refer to the choice you face between buttons, dials, and (occasionally) touch-sensitive controls in the shower. Some models will have a visible temperature display, while those designed for the visually impaired will use a beep to indicate that the correct temperature has been reached.
Lime protection: This is usually dealt with by passing through a stage of gradually cooling water at the end of the shower. This is a good idea because it protects the inner workings of the head from the buildup of scale, which may eventually paralyze your shower.
Spray mode: With different spray modes, you can choose a smaller but more effective spray, a finer and wider spray, and options in between-although weaker models offer fewer options here.
Others: You will find that some models use air intake or supercharged engines, even if the actual amount of water flowing through remains the same, it will give you the feeling of higher flow. Opinions are divided on the effectiveness of these measures.
Finally, some showers have more flexible power and water inlet options, not to mention the riser rail bracket that connects to the head. If you install the shower yourself, this can make a big difference, because some manufacturers now sell easy-to-install models that even the unfortunate DIY enthusiast can manage by themselves.
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Price: From £78 | Buy now from Amazon
Let's face it: this is a very basic budget shower. It is compact but not particularly attractive, and it lacks any advanced features. There is a dial to switch between cold, high and environmental settings, another dial is used to adjust the temperature, and even the shower head has only one spray mode.
However, in addition to some opponents here and there, users say that it provides a steady flow of water at a good, warm temperature, and is flexible and easy to install. Want to spend the least amount of money? Look no further.
Main specifications-power: 7.5kW, 8.5kW, 9.5kW, 10.5kW; control: rotating temperature, rotating power; spray pattern: 1; advanced function: none; minimum pressure/flow: 8l/min at 1 bar; size: 305 x 210 x 110mm
Price: £110 | Buy now from Amazon
It may not seem like much, but the T80Z is a classic in the bathroom-it is reliable, easy to install and can spray decent spray.
It provides a variety of power options from 7.5kW to 10.5kW. Compared with most budget competitors, the latter gives you more power at the high end, and the well-designed nozzle has five spray settings, from light mist to jet. Users are generally impressed by Triton's performance and flexible accessories.
It provides an easier-to-use Pro-Fit version and includes Triton's Dura-Flow technology to combat scale. If you live in a hard water area, Dura-Flow is worth the extra charge. As many plumbers tell you, you can’t find a better shower room.
Main specifications-power: 7.5kW, 8.5kW, 9.5kW, 10.5kW; control: rotating temperature, rotating power; spray pattern: 5; advanced function: none; minimum pressure/flow: 8l/min at 1 bar (11l/min at 1 bar for 10.5kW); Dimensions: 300 x 220 x 100mm
Price: £144 | Buy now from Amazon
Bristan Bliss can easily replace many popular cheap showers and is quite flexible in installation. There are five potential water and cable entry points to choose from.
What it has on these entry-level models is digital control and a little bit of style. The device is available in black or white, in a minimalist style, with only three touch-sensitive buttons and a rotary control for flow and heat, as well as a digital temperature display.
Users like this design, continuous heat and strong flow rate, plus the display flashes until the water reaches the correct temperature or displays "CL" to remind you how to clean the shower head. This is a beautiful-looking mid-range shower that can provide you with more benefits.
Main specifications-power: 8.5kW, 9.5kW, 10.5kW; control: rotating temperature, touch start and heating settings; spray pattern: 3; advanced functions: digital display, maintenance instructions, scale resistance; minimum pressure/flow: 0.7 bar/ Not specified; size: 305 x 195 x 65mm
Price: £225 | Buy now from Amazon
This compact model is simple, stylish and good value for money, available in chrome, white and graphite grey finishes, with minimalist controls and subtle glow around the on/off button.
The shower nozzle provides you with five different spray modes, without setting the power, you can achieve a stable and effective temperature control without letting you spray too high. After showering, the anti-scale protection device will flow through cold water to prevent it from accumulating.
The real advantage of Quartz is not its appearance, but its consistently good flow and excellent temperature management. Even the less powerful 8.5kW model can provide a good shower. It is very popular among users and plumbers. This is a collective behavior.
Main specifications-power: 8.5kW, 9.5kW, 10.5kW; control: rotating temperature, on/off button; spray pattern: 5; advanced function: OTP temperature limit, anti-scale; minimum pressure/flow: 0.9 bar/unspecified; Dimensions: 305 x 240 x 65mm
Price: £220 | Buy now from Amazon
Fans of mixed showers and powerful showers may laugh at the weak traffic of your electric car, but if you are shaking the Mira Sport Max with Airboost, not. It combines Mira's Opti-Flo technology and Airboost technology to increase the flow rate by 30% using air pressure. You don't actually get more water, but the water you get hits with extra speed and power. The result is a shower that feels more powerful, even when the main water pressure is low.
At the same time, Mira's Clearscale and Sensi-Flo functions can prevent burns and scale accumulation. After turning on Airboost, the shower sound is very loud. Some users have encountered reliability problems, but most people think this is an excellent shower.
Main specifications-power: 9kW, 10.8kW; control: rotating temperature, button on/off and power; spray pattern: 4; advanced features: Airboost, Clearscale anti-scaling, Sensi-Flo scald protection; minimum pressure/flow: 0.7 bar ( 10.8kW is 1.0 bar)/not specified; size: 358 x 215 x 89mm
Price: £249 | Buy now from Amazon
Want to have a more designed shower room? Mira Azora is equipped with a frosted glass panel, which is compact and stylish. This is a simple device with a button on/off switch, three power settings and smooth temperature control, while the shower head has four spray settings to choose from, from strong spray to wider spray.
However, Azora is not only a beautiful-looking shower, but also strong performance, consistent water flow, and stable temperature within 1.5˚C of the current setting. It also has Sensi-Flo technology to prevent burns and Clearscale technology to reduce scale-even if the panel itself is prone to scale marks. Robust and reliable, this is one of the best appliances you can buy.
Main specifications-Wattage: 9.8kW; Control: rotating temperature, rotating power, on/off button; spray pattern: 4; advanced features: Clearscale anti-scaling, Sensi-Flo scald protection; minimum pressure/flow: 0.7 bar/unspecified ; Dimensions: 233 x 367 x 77mm
Price: £310 | Buy now from Screwfix
Larger "rain-style" shower heads are great for relaxing showers at the end of a difficult day, but they are usually limited to mixers and pumped power showers. The exception is Mira Decor Dual, you can choose a "heavy rain" overhead shower or a smaller standalone hand shower to spray a more violent shower. You can't run both at the same time, but the clever control valve allows you to switch between them instantly without affecting heat or pressure, so you can still get the best of both worlds.
Although it has a more powerful 10.8KW heater and pump, the pressure requirement of Decor Dual is higher than that of Mira Azora, and you need proper flow to make full use of the overhead shower. If this is not a problem, this is the ultimate luxury electric shower room. Jump in and wash away your worries.
Main specifications-Wattage: 10.8kW; Control: rotating temperature, button power, on/off button; Spray pattern: 1 per head; Advanced function: Clearscale anti-scaling, dual shower with diverter; minimum pressure/flow: 1.0 bar/unspecified; size: 220 x 332 x 97.4mm
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