Anyone replace a shower themselves?

[LeMarchand]

Our shower has, I think, passed on. Had it around 10 years(?), and replaced the solenoid valve 3 years or so back. Earlier this week it briefly cut out whilst I was showering, then needed a bit of encouragement to start the next morning and since - won't turn on. Took the cover off last night and it looks like the motor has burnt out, though some sources suggest that the thermostatic valve may have gone. Both are £100+ while a new shower is around £200 so I'm thinking we'd be better off betting a whole new shower.

 

In my little brain a like-for-like swap shouldn't be too difficult but Mme LeMarchand is worried about electricity + water (she seems to have forgotten I replaced the valve). What do the collective think? Do it, or get a professional in?

 

[36Degrees]

Going by the pictures I assume that gets both hot and cold water from internal plumbing? I've done ours twice but it is an electric shower so I only needed to worry about isolating the cold water when I swapped it which made the task that much easier.

 

Main issues will be location of inputs on the new shower - I bought one with multiple options and the second time bought the equivalent new model so the backplate was also the same. Only other things I can think is make sure the electrical connections are as tight as possible (if it was an electric shower you need to ensure what KW rating your cabling is)

[mbedford]

Fitted myself, just isolate the power and hopefully you can isolate water, or turn off your mains.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/triton-t80-easi-fit-white-chrome-8-5kw-electric-shower/3570t

 

Benefit of it being a shower, if a bit of water does escape because you havent properly drained it, you are already in the shower so its not a problem :-)

[LeMarchand]

Thanks folks. Hot and cold go in much like they do to separate taps and the electricity just pumps it out. I must have been able to turn off the water to swap out the solenoid so it seems a feasible job. Might get a quote as if it's not ridiculously expensive it might be better to get someone in - if someone can be found!

[HC_Netman]

 

Benefit of it being a shower, if a bit of water does escape because you havent properly drained it, you are already in the shower so its not a problem :-)

 

Not so good if its a bit of electricity that escapes

 

 

But yes I replaced my own shower. Fairly straightforward once everything is isolated.

[3s-gtech]

Should be very straightforward. The variables are the location of the hot and cold feeds, and how much of a tail is on the power cable. The wire rating will need to be checked, though as it's a power shower it won't need anything like as much current as an electric shower. It's fitted with something akin to Speedfit so it'll pop off the copper tails. When fitting new, just make sure the copper ends are clean and corrosion free and they should seal.

[jmak]

I wouldn't have any qualms about (you or me) being able to do the job. But I would check the Part P regulations on what you're permitted to do with electricity in the bathroom. Insurance companies can be fussy about that.

[Ditto]

Where is the shower located? Could you have the pump part located elsewhere? The last shower I installed (a while ago!) was a simple pump in the loft, with just the mixer components in the shower. The big advantage was any future pump issues could be easily be dealt with outside the shower area. The mixers are much simpler and less likely to have problems. Having all electrics well away from the shower unit was for me a plus! Part P call out is a good point, but are the regs still using the wording 'competent person', but not specifying how that is judged?

[LeMarchand]

It's definitely all on the wall over the bath, though I like your thinking.

[Andrew_C]

From memory (and I've not looked recently) Part (taking the) P allows repairs by commoners.

[Ditto]

It's definitely all on the wall over the bath, though I like your thinking.

My current bathroom was rebuilt completely recently. The pump for the shower before the upgrade was in the bath void behind the panel. If you have a bath panel that provides access, it can be another configuration that works.