For instructions on how to build a shower cubicle please click here- Building a shower cubicle

Electric showers are a very economical way of washing, the amount of water used is about a third of that used by having a bath and the shower only heats the correct amount of water so there is no heating of water that you will not use.

If you have a combination boiler you are much better off with a thermostatic mixer rather than a electric shower but if you have a back boiler or similar a electric shower is your only choice!

A electric shower will normally be fitted above a existing bath, you must ensure that the bath is sealed correctly or you will soon have water in the rooms below. Fitting the shower is relatively easy although it is recommended that you get a  qualified electrician to wire it up to the electricity supply, you can wire up the shower yourself but you must first check the new electrical rules. Wiring a shower would require that the local authorities building control department are notified before you start the work.

It is recommended but not mandatory that electric showers are connected to a RCD, if you have a split way consumer unit this is easy but if you have a normal consumer unit or fuse board fitting a RCD will be expensive as you will need an electrician to fit the RCD! It is also recommended that you have an electrician check the circuit and connect the shower at the consumer unit. Luckily I fitted this shower in 2004 before the new part p regulations came into force.

After finding a suitable location for the shower you need plan a route for the  water pipe, in the example below the shower is being located on the side of an old airing cupboard which has plenty of space and access for the pipe and the cable.

Below I have removed the old plasterboard to enable the pipe to be fed to the required point where the shower will eventually be positioned. Note how I have made two holes for the pipe, this is so that an isolating valve could be situated inside of the cupboard, then servicing the shower is easier, sometimes the shower manufacturers insist on this or the guarantee is invalidated.

Then I have inserted some extra noggins to strengthen  the frame and  fixed 1/2 inch exterior plywood to the frame to make fastening the shower unit and riser rail. This will be tiled completely so will not be seen.

On the inside of this cupboard you can see that I have installed an isolator valve which has been specified by the shower manufacturers.

After tiling simply fasten the shower unit and the riser rail to the wall with the appropriate fixing-

If you are not 100% sure what you are doing then you should not attempt to install the shower yourself and a electrician should be employed to do the installation for you.

A shower is a high consumer of electricity and so requires it's own circuit and own MCB or fuse, please click here for details of the electrical connections involved with installing a electric shower.