How each type works
An electric shower takes cold water straight from the mains and heats it instantly as it passes through an element inside the unit. It doesn't use your boiler or hot water cylinder at all, so it always has hot water as long as there's cold water and electricity.
A mixer shower blends hot and cold water that's already available in your home – from a combi boiler, a hot water cylinder or an unvented cylinder. Thermostatic mixers automatically hold the temperature steady if someone uses a tap elsewhere.
Side by side
| Electric shower | Mixer shower | |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water source | Heats cold mains water itself | Uses your boiler or cylinder |
| Flow | Limited by the unit's power | Often stronger, depending on the system |
| Hot water availability | Always, independent of the boiler | Depends on the boiler or stored hot water |
| Installation | Needs a suitable electrical circuit | Needs hot and cold supplies to the valve |
| Hard water | Element can scale up | Cartridge and head can scale up |
General comparison – individual models and systems vary.
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Which suits your home?
If you have a combi boiler or an unvented cylinder, a thermostatic mixer usually gives the better shower. If you have a tank-fed system with weak pressure, a mixer may need a pump – or an electric shower may be the simpler answer. Electric showers are also popular as a second shower in an en suite, so the main bathroom and en suite don't compete for hot water.
Electric showers come in different power ratings. A higher-rated unit gives a better flow but needs a suitably sized cable and protection from the consumer unit, which is why upgrading isn't always a simple swap.
Installation and safety
A new electric shower circuit is electrical work in a bathroom and must comply with Building Regulations – it should be installed and certified by someone qualified. Mixer showers may involve running new pipework and, for concealed valves, chasing walls before tiling. Either way, a plumber can advise on the best option before you buy.
