How Much Does It Cost To Install A Shower

How Much Does It Cost To Install A Shower?

Whether you want to install an electric, mixer or power shower, upgrading your existing shower can make a huge difference to your showering experience.

Within this article, we discuss the costs of installing each type of shower as well as explaining what affects the cost and the installation process.

Fact: Around 70 to 120 litres of water is used for a 5 minute shower

The cost of installing a shower can vary widely depending on the type of shower you choose and the complexity of the installation.

When planning your budget for a new shower, it‘s important to consider not just the cost of the shower itself but also the installation costs, fixtures and fittings as well as any additional costs such as plumbing or electrical work.

Types of Shower

The type of shower you intend to install is a major factor that’ll determine the cost of the overall installation. The three main types of showers installed in UK homes are an electric, mixer and power shower. If you are unaware of the differences, below are brief descriptions of each type of shower to give you an idea of which one you’ll want to install:

  • Electric shower – provides hot water on demand, which is achieved by heating the water as it passes through the unit.
  • Mixer shower – combines hot and cold water to create the desired temperature via a single control.
  • Power shower – is a mixer shower that has an electric pump to increase the water pressure for a more luxurious showering experience.

The cost of the shower itself is likely to be the largest expense and they range from as little as £100 for a budget electric unit to upwards of £1000 for a highend mixer shower.

How Much Does It Cost To Install A Shower?

For a straightforward installation of an electric shower, you may be able to find a plumber who can install the shower for around £200.

However, the installation of a shower has the potential to be very complex and this substantially adds to the overall cost. Therefore, for more complex installations, such as fitting a digital mixer shower, you may be required to pay an experienced plumber upwards of £500.

It’s also important to consider the cost of any additional fixtures and fittings, such as a pump or shower tray, which can add another £100 – £200 to the overall cost.

On top of this, if any electrical or plumbing work is required, such as re–routing of pipes or wiring, you may need to factor in an additional £100 to £200 for these services.

Below is a breakdown of the costs to install each type of shower (labour only):

Shower Type Low Price High Price
Electric Shower £200 £500
Mixer Shower £300 £800
Power Shower £400 £1,000

In addition to the cost of the shower itself and the installation, there are also other associated costs which can add to the total cost.

For example, if you are replacing an existing shower with the plumbing and electrics in place, it’ll be cheaper because less work is required. Other associated costs include the area around the shower, which may need to be altered such as the tiles. Therefore, if this is the case, you’ll need to include the cost of tiles, grout, sealant and other fittings.

Therefore, in the shower installation cost table above, we’ve included both a low and high price to account for any associated costs.

What Factors Affect The Cost To Install A Shower?

  1. Location: The cost of materials and labour can vary significantly depending on where you are in the UK.
  2. Size: The larger the shower, the more costly the installation because the shower may be too heavy or large to fit in the existing space. Therefore, this can lead to extra costs to make the space ready for the installation
  3. Type of Shower: There are many different types of showers, such as electric. mixer and power showers. Therefore, each type may have a different cost associated with it.
  4. Plumbing: The complexity of the plumbing required for the installation can affect the cost because there may or may not be existing plumbing for the shower.
  5. Labour: The cost of labour will depend on the experience and qualifications of the plumber or electrician doing the job.
  6. Additional Work Required: If you are installing a shower where there wasn’t one before, you’ll have to deal with possible tile, drywall and other finishing work that’ll add extra costs.

How To Install An Electric Shower?

  1. Turn off the electricity supply to the bathroom at the consumer unit.
  2. Shut off the water supply to the bathroom and open the taps to drain the system.
  3. Remove the existing shower unit and fittings and disconnect the pipework.
  4. Fit the electric shower base onto the wall and secure it with the appropriate fixings.
  5. Connect the cold water supply to the shower base using the appropriate connectors.
  6. Connect the electrical supply to the shower base according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  7. Fit the shower head and hose to the shower base and connect the pipework.
  8. Turn on the water supply and check for any leaks.
  9. Turn on the electricity supply to the bathroom and check the operation of the shower.

How To Install A Mixer Shower

  1. Shut off the water supply to the bathroom and open the taps to drain the system.
  2. Disconnect the existing shower head and shower arm from the wall.
  3. Remove the existing shower valve from the wall.
  4. Install the new mixer shower valve in the wall.
  5. Connect the hot and cold water supply lines to the mixer shower valve.
  6. Connect the shower head and shower arm to the shower valve.
  7. Install the trim plate and shower handle.
  8. Turn the water supply back on and test the shower.

How To Install A Power Shower? (Existing Mixer)

  1. Shut off the water supply to the shower area.
  2. Determine where the pump will be located and mark off the area.
  3. Cut the pipe to the length needed to connect the pump to the water supply.
  4. Connect a union to the incoming water supply pipe.
  5. Connect the other end of the union to the pump.
  6. Connect the pump to the shower valve with the required fittings.
  7. Connect the pump to the outlet pipe with the required fittings.
  8. Secure the pump to the wall or floor with the appropriate mounting bracket.
  9. Turn the water supply back on and check for any leaks.
  10. Test the pump to ensure that it is working correctly.

How Do The Installations Differ?

The installation of a mixer, electric and power shower differ primarily in the way that they are powered and the level of water pressure required for their operation.

A mixer shower utilizes a valve to mix hot and cold water to produce the desired water temperature. Therefore, this type of shower requires a connection to both a hot and cold water supply.

An electric shower heats the water on demand using an electric heating element. Therefore, this type of shower doesn’t require a connection to a hot water supply and can be installed in homes that have a low water pressure or no hot water supply. The installation of an electric shower involves connecting the shower to an electrical supply and routing the water to the shower head via a shower hose.

A power shower is designed to increase the water pressure to the shower head. Therefore, this type of shower utilizes a pump to increase the water pressure and can be used in homes that have low water pressure from the mains water supply. The installation of a power shower can be more complex than that of a mixer or electric shower and typically involves connecting the shower pump to the water supply.

In summary, while all three types of showers can provide a similar showering experience, the way they work, the connection and the water pressure requirement are different.

Conclusion

In summary, the cost of installing a shower in the UK can vary widely depending on the type of shower you choose and the complexity of the installation.

The shower itself can range from as little as £100 for a budget electric unit to upwards of £1,000 for a highend mixer shower. The cost of installation can also vary from around £200 for a straightforward installation to up to £1,000 for more complex installations.

Additionally, other associated costs such as disposal of the old shower, additional fixtures and fittings and any electrical or plumbing work can add up to a few hundred pounds.

Hopefully the above guide has walked you through everything you need to know regarding the cost to install a shower. However, if you require further information, feel free to get in touch and we will try to help out where possible.

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