Troubleshooting an Electric Shower

electric shower
  • 1 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 200-1,000
What You'll Need
Bowl
Limescale remover
Electric shower stabilizer valve
Electric shower owner's manual
What You'll Need
Bowl
Limescale remover
Electric shower stabilizer valve
Electric shower owner's manual

People love an electric shower. The water is instantly hot, and the flow remains constant, as does the temperature. It sounds ideal, and it is, at least until you run into a problem. More complex problems with an electric shower will require a plumber or electrician, unless you’re well versed in both. However, it’s quite possible to do some basic troubleshooting yourself.

Shower Doesn’t Work

If the shower won’t turn on when you press the button, then the problem might well be in the circuit breaker. Turn the shower off again and check the breaker box. An electric shower should have its own circuit. Check to see that the breaker is on. If not, flip it on and try running the shower to see if it flips off again.

Shower Cuts Off

If the electric shower cuts off after about a minute of running normally, the problem might not be in the electrical system. Try removing the showerhead and tip it upside down over a bowl. You should find some limescale tipping out of the showerhead.

Buy some limescale remover and place the shower head in it, holes down. Doing so will remove the limescale that’s clogging the showerhead. Remove the showerhead and wash through with cold water to take out all the debris. Screw the showerhead back on and try the shower again. With no more clogging the shower should run normally. What has happened is that, as the water stays too long in the heater, the cut off kicks in and stops the shower.

Low Pressure

If you suddenly encounter low pressure in the electric shower, the problem can be in the filter. To access it, you need to access the unit where it comes off the water line. Look at your owner’s manual to locate the part. With the water turned off at the main, remove the filter and clean it. Chances are that it’s become clogged, causing the low water pressure.

Cold Water Leak

If you find that your unit is leaking cold water, open it. You will need to find the stabilizer valve. After a while, these will need to be replaced. Make sure the circuit breaker for the electric shower is off and that the water is also off.

Purchase a new stabilizer valve for your unit, making sure you have the correct one. Remove the old valve and fit the new valve. Switch the water and electricity back on to avoid cold water leaks from the electric shower.

Flow Rate

In winter, you want a hot shower so you turn up the temperature of the shower. As the water coming into the shower is cold and is heated in the shower, the flow rate will be low. That leads to a low flow rate in the winter. Don’t be worried by this, as it’s perfectly normal. In this instance, you should simply increase the flow rate.