Installing an electric shower isn’t too difficult a job. It takes a few tools, and it is rather straightforward, but it is recommended that since it involves electricity and water, a very dangerous mix, a qualified electrician should carry it out. In this guide, we will take you to step by step on how such an installation is carried out.
But before we begin, let’s go over some details that you should know about electric shower installation.
What do you need to install an electric shower?
You will need a 15mm water supply pipe to provide water to the shower. You won’t need a hot water supply pipe since electric showers heat up the water they use.
The electricity supply is where things get more complex. An electrical circuit with a separate fuse is required to power up the electric shower, according to regulations. there also needs to be a double pole switch mounted to the shower ceiling. This switch will let you turn off the power supply to the shower as soon as possible if you detect an emergency in the shower.
The cable and fuse sizes are determined by the power requirements of the shower model. 10sq mm cables are usually the recommended size for most common electric shower installations.
Are Walk-in Showers difficult to Install?
This is relevant especially based on the shower and bathroom setup that you already have. Some models are quite simple to install in certain bathroom settings.
After some research and purchase of a few required tools, you can carry out electric shower installation all by yourself. Let’s go over the steps now:
Warning: Disconnect the power supply
As we mentioned, electricity and water make a deadly combination. So anytime you want to start working in your bathroom, turn off the power supply first. You should use a tester to make sure there is no residual current in the wires.
After this, you should turn off the water supply to the bathroom as well.
Now it’s time to remove the shower unit. gently remove the old shower unit. Depending on the shower unit you might find this a bit troubling by yourself. But common shower unit models are screwed in 4 spots, making their removal quite simple.
After removing the screws hold the shower by your hand, since it might fall off. Then proceed to remove the water and power supply connections. You should remove the shower façade to find where these connections are.
Plumbing part of electric shower installation:
The location you choose must take into account safety measures and possible accidents. Now check the power supply to make sure it is off and does not hold any current.
Use a marker and draw the mounting points on the wall behind the unit. Drill in the spots to make way for screw plugs.
You should also drill a passing for the copper pipe that connects the showerhead to the water supply.
Insert the branch pipe into the passing.
Attach a stopcock to the branch pipe’s end. Make sure that the stopcock’s arrow indicator is pointing towards the shower head and away from the rising main pipe.
Attach a T-joint to the main riser tube. Squeeze the Tjoint until it is snug.
Cut another piece of connecting pipe to connect the T-joint to the faucet. Connect the bypass pipe to the main valve.
Attach the showerhead to the copper branch pipe.
Fit the shower enclosure to the holes made in step 3.
Connect the showerhead to the shower enclosure using the spray hose supplied.
Electric parts:
Drill a hole in the ceiling.
Insert a mounting plate into the hole; then the rear wall of the switch is mounted on this plate.
Route a circuit cable through the installed mounting plate.
Strip the insulation from the cable on the switch; You will see a red wire, a black wire, and several bare wires.
Tie the bare wires together. Do the same with the ground wires. Cover the tangled cables with green and yellow grommets.
Connect the sheathed cable to terminal “E” of the pull switch. Connect the black wire to the “N” and the red wire to the “L” terminal.
Strip the end of the cable that will be connected to the shower unit. You will again see black and red wires (one each) along with a group of bare wires. Cover the bare wires with green and yellow sleeves.
Connect the wires to the “red” terminal of the pull switch – the bare wires to the “E” terminal of the pull switch, the black wire to the “N” terminal, and the red wire to the “L” terminal.
Can I replace an electric shower by myself?
If you are not adequately qualified, you will need to contact a certified Part P plumber or a qualified electrician. When choosing an installer, you need to ensure that they are registered with a competent trade authority such as NICEIC.
In addition to the damage to property or health, you can also be brought to court for unauthorized electrical work. You may be able to avoid them, but that is unlikely. Don’t skimp on an electrician, turn to a professional for your shower performance. An electric shower installation seems quite easy on paper, but if you don’t have any experience, or have limited experience in electric works, contact us for a professional electric shower installation.
