Electric Shower Installation & Repair Manchester

Electric shower installation and electric shower replacement look simple from the bathroom: take one unit off the wall, put another one on. The real work sits behind the tiles and back at the consumer unit. A shower is one of the largest loads in a home, so the cable, the circuit protection and the supply all have to match its rating. TRACEFORM handles the electrical side, and the water connection is made by a plumber, either yours or one you arrange alongside our visit.

Electric shower installation cost: swap or new circuit

A like-for-like electric shower replacement on a sound existing circuit is typically £305–£495. Moving to a more powerful shower, or fitting one where none existed, usually means a new circuit, typically £555–£1,020. Both prices cover the electrical work; your plumber makes the water connection, and any consumer unit work is quoted separately.

Most enquiries start with a shower that has failed or looks tired. If the new unit has the same kilowatt rating as the old one and the existing circuit was correctly installed, replacement can be straightforward: isolate, disconnect, fit the new unit, reconnect and test. We still check the cable, terminals and protection, because a failed shower sometimes points to a problem in the circuit rather than the appliance.

Moving to a higher rating is a different job. A shower rated at a few more kilowatts draws noticeably more current, and the cable that suited an older unit may now be too small. The protective device in the consumer unit has to match, and the property's incoming supply must have enough capacity for the shower alongside cooking, heating and an EV charger if you have one. In many homes a bigger shower means a new circuit from the consumer unit, which our new circuits service covers.

What we check before quoting an upgrade

We look at the size and route of the existing cable, how it is installed, the rating and type of the protective device, the condition of the consumer unit and the earthing arrangements. We also consider the total demand on the supply. If the board has no spare way or no suitable RCD protection, we explain the options, which may include consumer unit replacement, and price them separately so you can see why each item is needed.

A dedicated circuit with RCD protection

An electric shower must have its own circuit, never a spur from a ring or a shared feed. That circuit needs RCD protection, which disconnects the supply quickly if current leaks to earth through a fault or a person. Older bathrooms sometimes have a shower circuit without an RCD. When we replace the shower we tell you if the protection falls short and what it would take to bring it up to the current standard.

Isolation: the pull cord or wall switch

Every electric shower needs a means of switching it off completely for maintenance. In most homes this is a ceiling pull-cord switch, usually with a neon indicator, fitted in a position that is safe to reach. Alternatively the isolator can be a wall switch outside the bathroom door. The switch has to be rated for the shower's load. A pull switch that buzzes, feels warm, sticks or shows scorching around the cord entry is a warning sign and should be checked.

Bathroom zones in plain terms

The wiring regulations divide a bathroom into zones based on how likely each area is to get wet. The space directly inside the bath or shower tray is the wettest; the area immediately above it is next; a band around the bath or shower follows; and the rest of the room is outside the zones. The closer equipment sits to the water, the stricter the rules about water resistance and what may be installed there. An electric shower is designed for use in the wet area, but switches, sockets and many light fittings are not. We check the position of every accessory affected by the new shower.

Building Regulations and notification

In England, a new circuit is notifiable, and so are additions or alterations to circuits in a room containing a bath or shower. Our NICEIC-registered electricians notify that work through the competent person scheme, so you receive a building-regulations compliance certificate as well as the electrical installation certificate. A straight swap on a suitable existing circuit may not be notifiable, but it is still tested and recorded. Our Part P guide explains notification in more detail.

Who does what: electrician and plumber

We take care of the electrical side: assessment, cable, protection, isolation, connection of the shower's electrical terminals, testing and certification. The water connection is made by a plumber. If you already have a plumber or bathroom fitter, we work alongside them and agree the order of work so tiles are not lifted twice. If you are refitting the whole bathroom, involve us early, because the cable route and switch position are easiest to settle before tiling.

Signs an existing shower needs attention

Stop using the shower and switch it off at the isolator if you notice scorch marks on the unit or switch, a burning smell, crackling, or a pull switch that buzzes or feels hot. Other signs worth a call are lights dimming or flickering when the shower runs, the RCD or breaker tripping as the shower starts, water that runs cold despite the setting, or a unit that cuts out partway through. Our guides on a shower or cooker that trips the electrics and on burning smells explain the safe first steps.