Electric showers are appliances commonly found in many homes or small apartments these days. They use electricity to heat up the cold water in the pipes before it reaches you as it’s needed, instead of storing a large tank of pre-heated water. But every now and then, an electric shower can lose power.
An electric shower losing power can be due to a clogged shower head, low water pressure, a tripped circuit breaker, faulty wiring, or a bad fuse. Do some troubleshooting, but plan to hire a qualified electrician if the issue isn’t a water flow or fuse problem.
Let’s take a closer look at how electric showers work, as well as what can cause them to lose power and what you should do if and when it happens.
Understanding Electric Showers
An electric shower heater heats water using an electric heating element that’s located within the shower unit itself.
Cold water runs to the shower unit through a pipe, and it then passes over the heating element. As the water is heated, it continues to the shower head via a separate pipe, allowing the user to adjust the temperature as desired.
Some electric showers also include a mixing valve that combines hot and cold water to reach the desired temperature. Various electric showers work a little differently in this regard, so if you’re unsure how yours works, it’s best to consult the manufacturer.
The Top 6 Reasons For Electrical Shower Failure
There are a few different issues that can cause an electric shower to lose power. It’s important that you don’t try to fix the issue yourself unless you’re experienced with plumbing and electricity. Instead, call a professional to help you out.
Let’s go through the potential causes in more detail:
1. Tripped Circuit Breaker
A tripped circuit breaker in the electrical panel can cause the power to the shower to be cut off. If your electric shower keeps tripping, check out another article I wrote on what the causes might be.
If there is an electrical fault, you might also notice a fish smell which is caused by burning electrical components.
2. Clogged Shower Head
If the shower head is blocked or clogged, it can restrict the flow of water, which can cause the shower to lose power.
Here’s a useful video on how to unclog a showerhead:
3. Faulty Wiring
If the wiring in the shower is damaged or corroded, it can cause the power to the shower to be cut off. This often happens if water has somehow managed to get to the wiring.
4. Faulty Shower Unit
If the shower unit itself is faulty, it can cause the power to the shower to be cut off. This could be due to damage or just age and components wearing down. It’s particularly common in older shower units for that reason.
5. Low Water Pressure
If the water pressure in the shower is too low, it can cause the shower to lose power. The reason for low water pressure could be a plumbing issue, or it could be something outside of the homeowner’s control.
6. Overheating
If the shower is overheating, it may shut off to prevent damage. Modern electric showers often come equipped with this safety mechanism so that things can’t get dangerously hot.
Step By Step: How To Change A Fuse In Your Electric Shower
You can follow these steps to change the fuse in an electric shower, but it’s critical to note that this is best done by a professional. The combination of water and electricity can make this somewhat of a hazardous job.
Changing a fuse is something considered simple enough that a consumer can (and should) consider doing it themselves, but at the first indication that this either isn’t a fuse issue, or if you feel at all uncomfortable, you should stop and call an electrician.
The wrong fuse can be dangerous, so make sure you have the right one for the job if doing it yourself.
- Turn off the power supply to the shower by switching off the circuit breaker to the room with the shower, or, if you’re not sure which breaker is which, turn them all off (better safe than sorry).
- Find the fuse holder, which is usually located on the back of the shower unit. It may also be behind a panel that you’ll have to screw off.
- Remove the fuse from the holder by gently pulling it out. You should take note of the rating of the fuse, as you will need to make sure the new one is the same type. Otherwise, it could cause problems and potentially be a danger to you.
- Insert the new fuse into the holder, making sure it is securely in place. Turn the power supply back on and test the shower to ensure it is working properly.
Plumber vs. Electrician: Who Should You Call?
Although plumbers and electricians are both qualified to deal with an electric shower, it’s probably best to get an electrician to change the fuse.
Electricians typically have more experience with this specific type of job and will make sure everything is set up safely. A plumber is not qualified to sign off on it being safe, whereas an electrician is.
The Final Word
So, as you can see, it’s possible to change the fuse yourself in an electric shower, but that doesn’t mean that you necessarily should. It can be a dangerous undertaking if you aren’t familiar with the system.
It’s therefore best to hand everything over to a professional. After all, you don’t want to deal with the hazards of having done it wrong!
