Electric Showers Explained

How It Works

• An electric shower contains its own heating unit and a temperature control module. You set the temperature you want on the temperature control module and the shower's heating unit heats cold water to the desired temperature as it enters the electric shower unit, giving you an endless supply of hot water. The electric shower unit is not connected to your hot water heater. Thus, taking a hot shower using your electric shower unit does not deplete the hot water in your hot water heater.

Water Flow

• In a standard shower, the water pressure determines the rate of water flow. In an electric shower, however, the water flow is a result of both the desired water temperature and your home's electrical supply voltage. When you increase the desired temperature, incoming cold water must remain in the unit longer to heat up. This decreases your shower's water flow. The higher your home's electrical voltage, the faster your electric shower can heat the incoming water. Thus, homes with a higher electrical voltage will experience better water flow from electric showers.

Seasonal Changes

• You will notice a difference in the water pressure as the seasons change. In winter, water enters the electric shower unit at extremely cold temperatures. The colder the water is, the longer it takes your electric shower unit to properly heat the water, resulting in weaker water pressure. In warmer months, the cold water entering the electric shower unit is much warmer than it is in the winter. Your electric shower unit heats lukewarm water more quickly than cold water increasing the water flow and, subsequently, the water pressure.

Considerations

• Water flow elsewhere in your house can impact your shower experience. If a family member flushes a toilet or turns on a cold water tap, this temporarily reduces the cold water flow that reaches the electric shower unit. The result is that the electric shower receives less cold water from the pipes, but continues to heat water at the same rate. Thus, your water flow decreases at the same time that the water temperature increases. To avoid surprise spikes in water temperature, ask your family members not to use the cold water tap or flush the toilets while you shower.