Electric shower running cold water only
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Find a Gas Safe engineer near you →⚠️ Any electrical work on shower units must comply with Part P Building Regulations. Internal repairs to electric showers should be carried out by a qualified electrician or approved plumber. Always isolate the electricity supply before opening a shower unit.
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Most likely cause & what to check
Check the isolator switch — there should be a dedicated double-pole isolator switch outside the bathroom or in the consumer unit. Confirm it is in the ON position.
Check your consumer unit (fuse box) for a tripped RCD or MCB on the shower circuit. Reset if tripped.
If power is confirmed: most electric showers have a thermal cut-out that trips when the unit overheats. Locate the small reset button on the shower unit (refer to your model's manual) — some require removing the cover to access it.
Check the cold water supply — electric showers are fed from the mains cold supply. If there is no cold water to the shower, the unit will not operate. Check the isolation valve on the supply pipe.
If the unit powers on but produces no heat, the heating element has likely failed. A replacement element costs £15–£50 but electrical installation work must be done by a Part P-registered electrician.
If the unit is over 8–10 years old, a complete replacement shower unit (£80–£200) may be more economical than a repair.
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