House with 2 showers issue

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Interest%

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hi i have 2 showers in my house.
One in ensuite its an electric pumps shower.
The one in the main bathroom is a standard shower- Issue is- the on in the main bathroom is only hot when I have the heating or immersion on. This would tell me that it is fed from the hot water cylinder. The house is fairly new only 4 or 5 years old.
Why would the builder not take it off the tank in the attic and install a second electric pumped shower?
 
I guess because electric showers are um not great. I take a normal shower, fed from hot water cylinder, using a a central pump, over those triton etc. thingies any day. Also, means you can’t use Solar heated water for the shower, which would impact BER rating.
 
Also, means you can’t use Solar heated water for the shower, which would impact BER rating. Would that not be be more efficient to use the hot water?
I guess because electric showers are um not great? I dont want to know if they are great or not, i want to know why Why would the builder not take it off the tank in the attic and install a second electric pumped shower?
 
Also while i have you here.
There is a rad in the attic that gets hot when i have only the hot water valve on at the boiler.
 
Interest% said:
I dont want to know if they are great or not, i want to know why Why would the builder not take it off the tank in the attic and install a second electric pumped shower?
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Because most people have a preference for non-electric showers, so the builder likely installed what they felt was best or what the original owner asked for. It’s not uncommon to have the main shower fed from the hot water tank and pumped so you can have a nice shower most days, but then have an electric shower as a backup. Personally I’d rip out an electric shower as quickly as possible in a house!
 
**Personally I’d rip out an electric shower as quickly as possible in a house!
What would you put in instead- Be mindful that it is plumbed from the hot water cylinder.
 
I have one of each as well and it's ideal, the electric for when there is no tank of hot water but much prefer the power of the tank one as it's pumped. I have friends who installed one shower cubicle with electric shower on one wall and tank shower on opposite wall, works well if you haven't room for another actual shower and makes best use of the existing heated water.
 
They have two shower cubicles in one bathroom?
 
Whoever has two electric showers operating from the same phase (suitable pair of wires) and without an automatic isolator switch is dicing with death (not an understatement).

There are thousands of such shower installations in Ireland. How many have an electric shower in the main bathroom and later installed another electric shower in their en-suite? Answer:- Thousands.

If you have two electric showers operating from one phase check the fuse box immediately. Is there softening* or warping* of the plastic frame anywhere? If there is, you need a new fuse-box plus at least an "isolator" switch for the showers. If you are confused or unsure you need advice from a competent electrician and fast.

If you have two electric showers with isolator facilities, just put up with interruptions if somebody turns on the other shower and be thankful it works.

If you are in the situation I described, it might be beneficial to have a 2nd phase installed for exclusive use in one of the electric showers which means the two showers can work without cutting off simultaneously. If you are getting the electrical work done it won't cost too much more to have the 2nd phase provided. There may be lifting of some floorboards.

*If there is no softening or warping it doesn't mean you don't have a problem. Sorry about the double negative.
 
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I've often wondered about this, particularly having a couple of car chargers (though thankfully no electric showers). There's surely more to it though? You'd need to get the ESB to run in the extra phase from the pole, and would you not need a second meter or a meter that covers all three phases? New cables from the meter box to the fuse box. Then guessing the fuseboxes in most peoples' homes would be too tight to fit in the extra equipment required for the new phases?

You'd wonder if it will become the norm at some point with us all needing much more electricity (heat pumps, car chargers, electric showers etc)?
 
bstop said:
So if a person is having a shower in the non priority shower and another person decides to use the priority shower the non priority person is cut off mid shower.
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Not necessarily, the most popular "Priority Unit" works on a first come first served basis. Initially there was a unit for sale that would do as you have described, I haven't seen them lately.
 
bstop said:
So if a person is having a shower in the non priority shower and another person decides to use the priority shower the non priority person is cut off mid shower.
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Which ever one is on first gets priority
 

I have an electric shower and a car charger. When getting car charger installed they asked if I had an electric shower and installed what I assume is an isolator referred to above. I just know he said it was needed because you can't charge and run an electric shower at the same time.
 
Zenith63 said:
You'd wonder if it will become the norm at some point with us all needing much more electricity (heat pumps, car chargers, electric showers etc)?
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Domestic supplies here come in 12 or 16KVA (more than one shower would overwhelm that cabling) but you can request up to a 29KVA single phase supply, the form looks for details on the heavy usage appliances such as you have listed there.
 
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