Power Shower vs Electric Shower - What's the difference?

By Benjamin Clarke | Published on 1st December 2021

It's very common for people to question whether it's better to have a power or electric shower installed in their bathrooms. With the seemingly unending increases of energy bills, we naturally want to make sure we are being as efficient as possible without sacrificing the quality of our showering experience. In this article we'll look at the difference between the two types of shower to help you make a decision as to what's best for your bathroom.

The way showers work

In order to understand the differences between power and electric showers, it's important to have a basic understanding of how showers in general actually operate.

When you turn your shower on, water is drawn from the hot and cold water pipes. The hot and cold water are mixed together at the shower valve and then delivered to the shower head at the temperature the user has chosen.

The type of boiler installed in a home will determine where the water actually comes from and how it is heated. For typical pump-assisted showers, the hot water that comes out of the shower head will have been heated up by a conventional gas-powered boiler and then stored in a hot water tank/cylinder ready to be used as necessary. The pump makes sure the water flows smoothly, rather than in fits and spurts.

It's important to note that combi boilers are not compatible with boiler pumps, which means that power showers cannot be installed in homes with combi boilers.

Electric showers do not use a boiler to heat water, instead they heat cold water at the time a shower is switched on.

Power showers

Generally installed in homes that have a low mains water pressure, water is supplied to a power shower from a hot water storage tank/cylinder. A pump will also be installed which will provide a big boost to the water flow from the storage tank, compensating for the low pressure from the mains water supply. Power showers normally have an accompanying thermostatic shower valve that assists with delivering the water from the shower head and the desired temperature, normally giving a high quality and powerful showering experience.

As previously stated, power showers are not compatible with combi boilers as combi boilers use water directly from the mains. There is no hot water storage tank involved. This means that the water pressure delivered to the shower is dependent on whatever the mains water pressure is. Showers used with combi boilers tend to be very efficient and will provide enough hot water as needed, without having to be heated up in a storage cylinder first. Provided there is good mains water pressure, a combi boiler will provide a very satisfying shower.

Electric showers

Many people get frustrated with hot water running out when it's stored in a hot water cylinder before being sent to the shower. Just to reiterate, hot water cylinders are used for homes with standard boilers, not combi boilers.

In order to overcome this frustration, installation of an electric shower is often a fantastic solution. An electric shower is separate from the rest of the heating system and therefore does not have to rely on water being heated before reaching the shower head or on a gas-powered boiler. Every electric shower contains a heating element that heats up cold water exactly as it is needed (i.e. for the duration of your shower). This can be a very energy-efficient way of showering as water is not heated up unnecessarily when the shower is not being in use.

If you have a combi boiler, it's unlikely you'll need an electric shower (assuming you have normal mains water pressure) as combi boilers are also very efficient and can deliver hot water whenever needed. However, if you have a second bathroom or ensuite, you may wish to install an electric shower that can be used independently of the main central heating system. This will allow both showers to run at the same time with no loss of water pressure as the electric shower wold be heating up the cold water supply.

Cost differences

Showering with electric showers is likely to be the cheaper option as they tend to be more energy efficient than power showers powered by standard boilers (which in themselves are less efficient than combi boilers). Electric showers also typically use less water than a power shower so you'll be wasting less water each time you have a shower.

However, some homes with electric showers may also use storage heaters which are often on electricity tariffs that are cheaper at night than during the day (Economy 7 tariffs). If lots of showers are being taken at the most expensive time of day, then electricity bills could be quite high. It's always worth checking if you are on an Economy 7 tariff to see if it's worth it.

Which is best?

Ultimately there's no definitive answer and it really depends on what's most important to you when taking a shower.

If you are on a standard electricity tariff then you might find an electric shower is the most cost-efficient option.

If you have a standard boiler then you might enjoy to luxury feeling of your pump-boosted power shower.

If you have a combi boiler and good mains pressure, you're likely to find a standard shower is both powerful and energy efficient. An electric shower can be considered for a second shower room or en-suite.

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