Shower installation and repair - how much?

Typical shower installation and repair works include:

• an electric shower
• a shower mixer valve
• a shower pump or pumped shower
• an integrated shower/bath mixer tap
• leaking showers.
  

Electric showers are fed with cold water and use electricity to heat the water as it passes through the shower. To heat an adequate supply of water quickly requires a substantial amount of electrical power. Because of this electric showers have their own supply from the consumer unit. Most models are fully integrated in a single unit but some have a heater and pump unit in the loft space. It is uncommon for problems to arise with the electrical supply, the most frequent problems arise with the shower units themselves. The cost of electric showers has fallen in the last few years to the extent that in many cases the cost of the shower itself is only around 20% of the overall installation cost. This also means that it is frequently more cost effective to replace a faulty electric shower than try and repair it, particularly in hard water areas where scale builds up over time.

A new electric shower installation requires a new supply being run in 10mm cable from the consumer unit via a switch near the shower (usually a ceiling pull cord) and water from a suitable point. The consumer unit must have an RCD fitted, if not a 'shower consumer unit' can be fitted to supply just the shower. The installation has to be certified and notified to Building Control under Part P of the Building Regulations. Adequate earthing and equipotential bonding is essential for safety. Unless the buildings electrical installation is to post 2007 standards supplementary bonding is also required in or near the bathroom.

Typical recommend time

• from 8 hours for a new installation
• 2 hours to replace a shower unit (like for like), once parts have been obtained.
• Click here to find out the cost of labour.
  

Shower mixer valves come in both thermostatic, non-thermostatic, concealed and exposed models. Most thermostatic models have a 'cartridge' which is replaced as a single unit and can cost into three figures for the part. The first step is to identify the make and model of mixer valve, not always an easy task as many are unmarked. A photograph is often useful as there are pictures or diagrams of most models, both current and past, on spares web sites. Once spares are on hand the hot and cold water supplies need to be isolated for the parts to be fitted. To install a new shower mixer requires running hot and cold supplies. The time to do this and the type of mixer required is very variable from installation to installation and is dependent in part of the type of water heating system in the property.

Typical recommend time

• from 8 hours for a new installation
• 1-2 hours to replace a mixer valve, once parts have been obtained
• Click here to find out the cost of labour.
  

Shower pump or pumped shower. A shower pump is a separate pump, located near to the shower, which takes the hot and cold water in and pumps each to the shower mixer valve. A pumped shower has the pump integrated into the the shower unit in the shower cubicle or over the bath. Both need a low current electrical supply (usually 3 to 5 Amps) so don't need a separate radial circuit from the consumer unit as an electric shower does. This makes the installation cheaper but it is dependent on suitable water supplies. Normally shower pumps or pumped showers cannot be used with combi boilers. Note that there must be adequately sized water storage tanks where pumped showers are to be installed.

Typical recommend time

• from 8 hours for a new installation
• 1-2 hours to replace a shower pump or pumped shower (like for like), once parts have been obtained
• Click here to find out the cost of labour.

Integrated shower/bath mixer tap. These are usually manual devices although thermostatic units are available. Repair and replacement is similar to bath taps. Click here for further information.

Leaking showers. Showers can leak from a number of places. The most common is through a damaged mastic seal, usually caused through movement of a bath or shower tray. This can generally be put right through thoroughly removing the existing mastic and replacing it. Shower trays, particularly the older lightweight versions flex and damage the mastic seal or sometimes crack, particularly around the drain point. Stone cast or firmer resin trays are better. Showers can also sustain pipe leaks and water can get behind tiles if grout becomes loose.

Typical recommend time

• from 2 hours for a mastic replacement
• for new installations refer to the bathroom refurbishment article.
• Click here to find out the cost of labour.

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See also an earlier article on drips and taps

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