An invigorating shower in the morning can set you up for the day. A hot shower in the evening will reduce the stresses of the day and leave you relaxed and comfortable for the evening ahead.
Taking a shower will help to reduce your water and electricity bills as they use less water than a bath.
In this guide, we’ll tell you about the costs involved in installing a power shower, why it’s not a DIY project, what to look for when you want to buy a power shower, what affects the costs when buying, how you can find and hire an electrician or plumber and what questions you should ask them.
Finally, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions.
Topics
How Much Do Power Showers Cost?
As you can see from the table below, we’re giving you average costs for buying and installing three types of power shower. Labour costs are for an electrician or a plumber to do the installation work.
| PowerShower Type | Cost to Buy | Cost Per Hour Plumber | Cost Per Hour Electrician | Time Required | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual | £100 to £250 | £40 to £80 | £30 to £55 | 4 to 6 hours | £220 to £730 |
| Thermostatic | £150 to £300 | £40 to £80 | £30 to £55 | 6 to 8 hours | £310 to £940 |
| Digital | £500 to £700 | £40 to £80 | £30 to £55 | 8 to 12 hours | £740 to £1,660 |
| Replace existing power shower | Any of the above | £40 to £80 | £30 to £55 | 2 to 3 hours | £60 to £240 plus the cost of a new shower |
Electricians charge between £30 and £55 an hour and plumber charges between £40 to £80 an hour. We have used the electrician’s lower figure and the plumbers higher figure to get an average cost for installation.
What Should I Look For in a Power Shower?
Firstly, check that your water system is suitable for a power shower:
High-pressure water system – if you have a combi-boiler, this is the system you’ll have. Unfortunately, it isn’t suitable for a power shower
Low-pressure water system – this is when you have a cold-water tank and a separate hot water tank; you have a low-pressure gravity system. This system is suitable for a power shower.
Look at the flow rates of each shower. A high flow rate will give you more power but, it will also use more water per litre so if you are in a house with a family one shower might use up all your hot water.
The next thing to look for is temperature control.
Power showers have three types:
Manual – this is a manual control that you can use to turn the temperature up and down as you wish. Temperature and water pressure might be affected by someone turning on a tap in another room. A power shower with manual control is the cheapest kind you can buy.
Thermostatic – a thermostatic control allows you to set the temperature. There are no fluctuations in power or temperature.
Digital Power – you set the temperature and flow and a digital display will tell you when this has been reached. Some showers have a digital app you can use to turn your shower on while you’re still in bed. By the time you get to the bathroom the water is at the desired temperature. Most have ECO settings to save water.
Finally, look at flow rates. Some showers offer a choice of flow rates.
They usually vary between 10 and 18 litres of water per minute.
Let HouseholdQuotes help you find the electrician or the plumber for your power shower installation. All you need to do is fill in the online form.
Tell us briefly about the project. We’ll find electricians and plumbers to give you no-obligation quotes.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Affects the Cost of Installing a Power Shower?
Your location will affect the costs of labour. A plumber charges on average, between £40 and £80 per hour.
An electrician will charge £30 to £55. If you live in the North of England, you will likely pay from the lower end of the scale.
If you live in London, and the South East of England you can expect to pay at the higher end of the scale.
Can I Save Money on a Power Shower?
You can save money by buying a shower with manual controls. Prices in specialist bathroom shops show a price difference of £200 between a manual and a thermostatically controlled shower.
Buy a shower with a lower flow rate. This means you use less hot water which will save on water and energy bills.
Can I Install a Power Shower Myself?
Only if you are registered as a competent person with a Part P certification. This regulation has been in place since 2013.
Building control regulations state that making additions or alterations to existing circuits in a bathroom or wetroom is notifiable work under Part P.
This means if you want to install a power shower yourself, you must be a competent person registered with the Part-P self-verification scheme.
These regulations are for England and Wales. For Scotland and Northern Ireland, different requirements may apply.
For example, Part P Electrical self-certification schemes do not apply to work carried out in Scotland.
It will take between two to eight hours to install a power shower or replace an existing one. If you are not a competent person and you haven’t registered with the government’s self-certification scheme you shouldn’t undertake this type of work.
Instead, hire an electrician or plumber with Part P qualifications to install the power shower for you.
Use HouseholdQuotes to help you find the electrician or plumber you want. Fill in the online form (it takes less than a minute). Tell us what you need.
We’ll then find plumbers and electricians to give you no-obligation quotes fast.
To find a plumber or an electrician with Part P certification have a look at the NICEIC website where you can search for registered members.
Click To Get QuotesMore About Part P
Part P is a set of electrical safety rules designed to protect the householder from damage or injury caused by electrical work.
To have what is termed ‘notifiable’ work carried out on your property you must be a registered competent person.
Notifiable work is:
- Any addition or alteration to an existing circuit in a special location (this includes power showers because the bathroom is deemed to be a special location)
- Replacing a consumer unit or fuse box
- Full electrical installation on a new build
- Wiring of a new circuit
- Completely rewiring a house
A person who is a registered competent person can carry out the power shower installation and issue a completion certificate to the householder that complies with building regulations.
Here is a useful information leaflet from NICEIC about electrical work in bathrooms.
I Am Competent and Registered. How Do I Install a Power Shower?
Materials
- Adjustable wrench
- Drill and drill bits
- Electronic pipe and cable detector
- Pipe cutter
- Screwdrivers
- Compressed tee fitting
- Marker pen or a pencil
Turn the electricity off at the consumer unit. Test the wires coming out of the wall to make sure they are not live.
Using the front cover of the shower control box as a template, mark where you need to drill and put in pipes and cables.
Run the pipe and cable detector across the wall to make sure there are no pipes or cables present.
Drill the necessary holes for the pipes and cables and insert raw plugs into the holes. Mark out where the shower rail will be placed.
Now, turn off the main stopcock. Turn on the cold water tap and run the water away until it is dry.
Cut a hole in the wall at the mains pipe and connect copper piping to the rising main.
Turn off the stop valve and then reconnect the water supply. Fix a flexible hose over the end of the copper pipe.
Run water through the pipe to check if there are any leaks.
Open the stop valve and run water through the entire system to check for leaks. Check all the electrics are in place.
Fix the shower cover securely to the wall.
How Do I Find an Electrician or Plumber to Install a Power Shower for Me?
Ask around at work. You never know work colleagues could have plumbers or electricians in the family.
Also, talk to family and friends. If someone you know has had work done recently they may be happy to recommend whoever did the work.
You can also use HouseholdQuotes to find plumbers and electricians. Simply fill in the online form and tell us what you need.
We’ll then find local electricians and ‘plumbers to give you no-obligation quotes for your power shower installation.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Use the questions below to make sure the professional is up to the job of installing your new power shower:
- Are you registered with the Part P Competent Persons Register and can you issue me with a completion certificate when you have done the job?
- How long have been doing this type of work? This question will tell you whether you are dealing with an experienced tradesperson or with someone that has just finished college or an apprenticeship
- Do you have a website? A website isn’t necessary, but it is handy. It means you can look online at jobs the plumber or electrician has carried out previously. It’s also the place where you might see customer testimonials and feedback.
- Are you a member of a trade association? Trade associations often monitor their members to make sure they are carrying out work to a high standard. You might also be able to look at member profiles and find the contact details for their businesses.
- An electrician or a plumber who carries out shower installations could be a member of NICEIC. NICEIC is the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting and it regulates training for tradespeople involved in electrical installations or they may be members of the Chartered Institute of Plumbers and Heating Engineers.
- Do you have public liability Insurance? All tradesman should have public liability insurance. If there is an accident in your home caused by the plumber or electrician, you and the tradesperson could be sued. Public liability insurance covers the cost of any negligence claims.
- Do you have a minimum call-out charge? As installing a power shower takes approximately eight hours it is unlikely an electrician or plumber will add on a minimum call-out. This is usually added on to quotes for small jobs that take less than half a day. The costs can be between £18 and £50, depending on where you live.
Don’t forget HouseholdQuotes can help you find plumbers and electricians. Simply fill in the online form.
Tell us briefly what you need. We’ll then find electricians and plumbers in your area to give you no-obligation quotes.
Click To Get QuotesFinal Checklist
The checklist below outlines the best steps to take when it comes to installing a power shower:
- Check your water system to make sure you can install a power shower
- Do some research and choose the power shower you want to buy
- Look around for sales
- Get quotes from Part P registered plumbers or electricians
- Compare your quotes
- Choose a plumber or an electrician who suits you best
- Make arrangements for the work to be carried out
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Difference Between a Power Shower and an Electric Shower?
The more kilowatts you have, the better.
A power shower is connected to the hot and cold water supply. The water will depend on your heating system as to whether or not you get instant hot water.
A power shower uses a pump to give you increased water pressure. They are ideal if your home doesn’t have strong pressure.
Can You Replace an Electric Shower With a Power Shower?
You will need an electrician or plumber to do this for you.
Do Power Showers Use Lots of Water?
A power shower will use, on average, between 10 and 16 litres of water per minute.
Can I Have a Power Shower Installed if I Have a Combi-Boiler?
They don’t have a water cylinder which you need for a power shower. If you are having problems with low water pressure and you have a combi-boiler you could consider installing a mains pressure booster.
On Shower Descriptions, I’ve Seen Operating Pressure 1bar. What Does This Mean?
The shower rating is demonstrating that the shower will work perfectly with 1bar water pressure. People who have less than 1bar have low water pressure and won’t be able to use a power shower.