Many of us dive straight into the shower first thing in the morning because it’s a great way to wake up and an even better cure for those early morning chills. But if you’re the last one in there, sometimes you get nothing but a tepid dribble as the hot water is running out. That’s where electric showers come in – they’re essentially big kettles that heat straight from a cold water supply, so you can say goodbye to icy water shocks!
Although electric showers tend to work better in a household that already has a high pressure supply, they’ve also been known to kickstart a low water pressure or low mains pressure one as well, even in hard water areas. As well as tips on showerheads and power showers, we’re going to be reviewing some of the strongest soakers on the market (including 8.5, 9.5, and 10.5 kW models). We’ll have you satisfyingly squeaky clean in no time!
Quick List - Top Electric Showers
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The power of an electric shower is measured in kilowatts (kW), and usually available in either 7.5 kW, 8.5 kW, 9.5 kW, or 10.5 kW, with some bigger brands offering more than one option. And, you guessed it, the higher the kW, the hotter and faster that shower is going to be.
But, unfortunately, not everyone will have adequate water pressure for the top kilowatt models – if the pressure in your home is on the lower side, you may be better off with a 7.5 or 8.5 kW shower. This way the water will pass more slowly through the heating element, reaching a much more satisfactory temperature overall.
On the other hand, if you have strong water pressure, you can opt for a 10.5 kW as this should be able to heat up the faster-flowing water sufficiently. It’s worth remembering that you tend to get higher water pressure from your cold tap, which is what the electric shower will be attached to.
Overall, electric showers are a more eco-friendly option, and around 99.6% more efficient. They achieve this by only warming the water that passes through the shower, so there’s no need to heat the whole boiler before a scrub down. But some can also come with a specialist eco-setting, which you may want to look out for when browsing models.
The eco-setting works by only heating one element of the heating system, and therefore saves on electricity usage in your household, which is a great option for those that are environmentally conscious. It also has the added benefit of keeping your bills down somewhat, as with half the heating elements comes half the heating cost. Win-win!
There are a few extra features worth looking for when it comes to electric showers:
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mira Sport Max Electric Shower |1.1746.008 | ![]() | Increase Any Water Flow With This Winning Shower | |
2 | Triton Seville Universal Electric Shower|MOSV01SG | ![]() | The Most Power for the Least Money | |
3 | Mira Azora Thermostatic Electric Shower | ![]() | A Modern Shower With Limescale Reducing Technology | |
4 | Aqualisa Quartz Electric Shower|QZE8521 | ![]() | An Excellent All-Rounder That Will Keep Your Family Safe | |
5 | Bristan Bliss Electric Shower|BL3105 | ![]() | Super Sleek and Stylish Showering | |
6 | Bristan Cheer Electric Shower|CHE85W | ![]() | A Straight-Up Basic Budget Buy | |
7 | Triton Martinique Luxury Electric Shower|MOMT094G | ![]() | Stylish Without Being Digital | |
8 | Triton Ivory 4 |HMIVO409WC | ![]() | 3 Different Temperatures With A Rub Clean Spray Plate Shower Head | |
9 | Triton Kito|TESKIT01CH | ![]() | Efficient and Compact, Perfect for Small Homes | |
10 | Triton Fast-Fit Shower|T80Z | ![]() | An Easy, Fast-Fitting Shower |
This shower is a step up in price, but also a step up in quality. It comes with some really excellent features, our favourite of which is the Airboost, which will increase water flow up to 30% more without using any extra water – a fantastic touch that can lead to a far more fulfilling shower experience.
It also features a large 110 mm spray shower head, with 4 different settings as well as rub-clean nozzles, which are very easy to clean. Plus, there's phased shutdown, so this baby should stay in the family for a while once purchased. We think this is the overall best performer out there, and for that reason, it takes our top spot!
The first thing anyone notices about this Triton Seville is the sheer amount of reviews it has online – literally thousands of them – the majority of which are very positive. The consensus is, this shower will definitely give you the best bang for your buck.
Available in the widest choice of kilowatts, it also has a respectable shower head with 5 different options to adjust as you prefer and 3 separate heating modes. Whilst most may stick to the 'hot', it also has an eco setting to save energy in the summer months, and a cold setting which can be good for rinsing the shower out. Very handy!
This is by far our favourite design-wise out of all the picks. With its contemporary edge that wouldn't look out of place in a retro-chic bathroom, it's truly delightful. Aside from this, though, it also has user-friendly controls that are easily adjustable to create the perfect showering experience. And, what's more, these settings are remembered for next time.
Furthermore, this beauty comes with thermostatic and clearscale technology (techy names for phased shutdown and temperature protection) which will keep the family safe and the shower clean respectively.
This Aqualisa Quartz has an honest, simple design, which we love. It comes with patented 'Over Temperature Protection' that is intelligent enough to realise if the heat has been put up dangerously high – which makes it a perfect feature for if you have young children or just don't fancy the risk.
It also comes with 5 different shower head adjustments, phaser shutdown, and an anti-twist hose, so you can rest safe in the knowledge it won't kink and disrupt your water flow mid-shower.
This is a very stylish looking piece of kit in our opinion, but not only does it look good, but it also works very well, too. What we love most is its 'warm-up mode': simply set the temperature as you wish, wait for the LED light to flash when it's up to the desired heat, and in you get!
Plus, it also features an eco setting, and a temperature regulating device that compensates for changes in water pressure, so you should never get a cold blast, or a scalding one, again. And did we mention it looks great?
This option from Bristan is as simple as they come, which for us, is part of its charm. It is literally the shower-embodiment of 'it does exactly what it says on the tin' – just a complete no-frills soak station. It is available in two wattages, though, unlike some of the other budget-friendly models.
Buying this shower is essentially a question of priorities – are you renting your first flat and just want the cheapest shower you can find? It's ideal! Or do you want something with the best features for a family of 5? Unfortunately for this price, you won't get both.
If you're looking for a shower from a trusted brand that's modern without being too 'futuristic', we think Triton's Martinique Luxury absolutely nails it. It has plenty of extra features and also comes with a 2-year warranty, so if you do have any issues, Triton will be straight over to solve them for you.
It's also available in both 9.5 and 10 kW models, with only a slight price difference in each. The only issue we could find is that some reviewers have mentioned how intermittent this shower can be, which is why it finds itself lower down on our ranking.
This offering from Triton is well-built, has decent functionality and a simple design – there's simply 2 dials, one for power and one for temperature, no more and no less. It also offers a rub-clean spray plate on the shower head, so you can truly combat the build-up of limescale.
However, we think that the simplicity could hold this shower back somewhat, as it only offers 3 different temperatures, however, all in all, it offers a good ratio of performance to price.
This compact shower from Triton is perfect for small homes. It also has several controls, but you may only use them once as there's a 'push-start' that remembers your previous settings! The shower head also has a feature called 'drench' mode, which we can imagine spending a lot of time under.
The chrome finish is a nice touch, but it's also easy to scratch – something to be aware of, perhaps. Reviewers have also mentioned that the temperature can fluctuate a lot with this model, so if you're looking for something consistent this might not be the one for you.
The USP of this product is its easiness to install (we'll talk more about that after the ranking) – if you're experienced in DIY, or even better, a plumber, there's a step-by-step YouTube video which you can follow with as you work. Coming in at a reasonable price, we think it's decent value for money, too.
One point of concern is that this shower doesn't come with phased shutdown technology, which could encourage the build-up of limescale and shorten its lifespan. It's certainly an economical option that gets the job done, just be sure to set your expectations accordingly.
It's worth bringing up that although many electric showers advertise that they are easy to install (which is true), we believe it should still be done by a professional.
Yes, it could bring up the cost overall of your new shower, but the potentially dangerous combination of electricity and water means that only the best qualified and most skilled plumbers should take on this job!
As long as the shower unit is within 18 meters of the fuseboard, showers up to 9kw may carry a 6mm cable, whilst showers up to 12.5kw should carry a 10mm cable to units within 35 metres of the fuseboard.
Shower pull cords are installed to safely isolate the electrical supply if the appliance was to ever require maintenance. It should be adequately rated to the relevant amps required.
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
No. 1: Mira|Sport Max Electric Shower |1.1746.008
No. 2: Triton|Seville Universal Electric Shower|MOSV01SG
No. 3: Mira|Azora Thermostatic Electric Shower
No. 4: Aqualisa|Quartz Electric Shower|QZE8521
No. 5: Bristan|Bliss Electric Shower|BL3105
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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