Replacing an ancient electric shower

[marlinspike]

Eldest has bought a flat that needs a bit of work. This is the shower. It does work. Google suggests this model is at least 17 years old. Is it pretty straightforward for an electrician to replace this with a modern equivalent? Any ideas on cost? Thanks guys.

 

[addjunkie]

Depends on the KW rating, some newer ones need a heavier cable to supply them.

 

[Martinb]

Probably fed with a 6mm t&e should be ok to swap with any shower upto 8.5kw

 

[Wedg1e]

Depends on the KW rating, some newer ones need a heavier cable to supply them.

Yeah, I made that mistake a few years back... girlfriend at the time in Leicester had bought her flat from the council and decided to update things.
Found this funky shower unit on clearance in Bodgit & Quick, snapped it up... drove 150 miles to install it at Leicester only to find if someone was in the shower and someone else decided to make a cuppa, the combined current would have blown the main fuse for the flat.
Had to take it back and buy a smaller one (that cost more)

Anyway... electrician?

 

[Dapph2]

Found when I've relaced old shower units that often the insulation was baked brittle where it went into the shower unit , and as has been said undersized conductors , so I spent money in buying a Magictool 240 volt oscillating tool and some quality blades so I could take out tiles without busting them , then did the rewire and reinstatement .

 

[Robotstar5]

Probably fed with a 6mm t&e should be ok to swap with any shower upto 8.5kw

The MEB (Midlands Electricity Board) were doing an offer in the 60's to fit electric showers, they were 6kW and fed with 4mm T&E

 

[Erie Fred]

In South America, I've seen a unit that is built into the showerhead.

 

[Migmac]

I replace them with Triton easi fit showers. Pipe work can enter from either side as can the electrics.

 

[Kayos]

I used to fit Mira multifit showers as replacements

 

[Agroshield]

As above, a replacement that has the most options for incoming services (water and power) will serve you best.

Alternatively, remove the cover and photograph or draw up where the two items enter.

Similarly with the rail, buy one where the bracket centres can be varied (rather than a fixed spacing).

 

[skotl]

It’s a plumber job not a spark (unless the connection needs to be increased as mentioned).
£400 plus vat is a likely ballpark.

 

[rtcosic]

... This is the shower. It does work. ...

If it works, why change it?

As everyone says, you can't install a more powerful one without major expense and disruption, so what will you gain by replacing like for like?

If 'eldest' just wants a prettier one, buy a replacement chrome hose, nozzle and rail and et voila a new shower.

 

[Smallfry]

I have found that coupling up the water on a new unit to be more problematic than the wiring on "tiled in" units.

As rtcosic said, new hose and head, and a good clean wouldn't go amiss, and give the casing a going over with some UPVC cleaner.

 

[Dozzer]

changed some in my few on my houses, living in north Essex most have been limescaled to death.
have always tried to replace with same model as the unit i was replacing, but most have changed the cold inlet location and/or the electrical input position.
so its very rarely a straight swap.
and as other have said, the cabling going too it may not be up to snuff for a higher power unit.
If it aint broke, dont fix it.

 

[marlinspike]

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas guys. He won't be moving in til January so has time to look at a few options. Whole bathroom needs doing really.

 

[bricol]

Replace the shower when the bathroom as a whole is redone?

When I did that, I found an open hole into the cavity of the external wall behind the shower unit - no sealant or gasket. I have no idea if there should be, but it seemed silly not to, reduce water entering the cavity.

Removed the shower, pulled it away from the way, and some decent sized cable came out with it - all of about a foot . . . as did a choccy-block screw connector linking it to normal twin and earth. Well, nearly. Earth was floating free.

 

[gaz1]

unless you buy the same model there a git to refit new

pipework never matches up and the same can be said for the wiring

 

[Nomad]

Beware of differences even buying the same model.
I made a point of like-for-like (not the cheapest option) when mine died, pipework on new was on opposite side.

 

[dobbslc]

It’s a plumber job not a spark (unless the connection needs to be increased as mentioned).
£400 plus vat is a likely ballpark.

I'd suggest a sparky should do it as we are far more competent than the average plumber.

 

[jsf55]

Replace the shower head and flex as interim fix. they never get cleaned