Electric shower installation in Bristol
Need electric shower installation in Bristol? We are a NAPIT approved electrical contractor based in South Bristol, and we fit dedicated, properly certified shower circuits for homes across the city. Here is what is involved, what it costs, and what the regulations actually require.
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Dedicated, certified circuits
What's involved in fitting an electric shower
An electric shower heats water on demand rather than drawing from a hot water tank, which means it pulls a lot of current the moment it switches on, far more than a socket or a lighting circuit is designed to carry. That is why it always needs a circuit of its own, sized correctly from the start rather than tapped off something else. We run that circuit from your consumer unit, size the cable and breaker to the shower's rating, fit a suitable isolator, and connect and test the unit itself.
We do not supply the shower or take on plumbing and tiling, though we are glad to coordinate around a plumber or bathroom fitter if one is already booked, timing our visit around first fix or second fix as needed.
| Included as standard | Priced separately |
|---|---|
| A dedicated circuit sized for your shower's kW rating, run from the consumer unit | The shower unit itself |
| The correct RCBO or RCD protected breaker at the board | Plumbing, pipework and the water connection |
| A suitably rated isolator switch, sited to meet the bathroom zone rules | Tiling, redecoration and making good |
| Safe termination and connection, full testing, certification and notification where the work is notifiable | Upgrading a consumer unit that cannot take the extra circuit |
New circuit, or a like for like swap?
Two different jobs get called "electric shower installation", and they are priced and treated differently. Replacing an existing shower with a similar model, on the same circuit that is already correctly rated, is normally the simpler of the two: the circuit stays as it is and we swap the unit over. Moving to a more powerful shower, adding a shower where there was not one before, or working on an old or undersized circuit, usually means installing a new dedicated circuit sized for the load.
In practice we see this most often when someone is upgrading an old 8.5kW shower to a 9.5 or 10.5kW model for better pressure and flow, or fitting a first shower into a room that previously only had a bath. Both usually mean checking the consumer unit has a free way and enough capacity before any cable goes in, which is exactly what the survey is for.
The distinction matters for more than price. Under Part P of the Building Regulations, installing a new circuit, or altering an existing circuit, in a bathroom is notifiable work. A straightforward like for like swap on an unaltered circuit generally is not. See our Part P guide for the fuller picture, or read on below for how we handle the notifiable cases.
What the regulations require in a bathroom
BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations, sets out specific "zones" for anywhere containing a bath or shower, because water and electricity close together need extra protection. It is Section 701 of the wiring regulations, and it governs every shower circuit we install.
| Zone | Roughly where it is | What is required |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | The space above the bath or shower tray, up to about 2.25m high | Fixed equipment only, minimum protection rating IPX4 |
| Zone 2 | A further 0.6m beyond the zone 1 boundary | Minimum IPX4, rising to IPX5 where a jet is used to clean the area |
| Whole room | Every circuit serving the room | RCD protection not exceeding 30mA |
Source: IET, BS 7671 Section 701, locations containing a bath or shower. As a NAPIT registered contractor we self certify notifiable bathroom circuit work under NAPIT's Competent Person Scheme, confirmed by the IET's own Part P guidance, so you are not left booking a separate Building Control inspection.
What electric shower installation costs in Bristol
That is our starting guide price for the electrical work: the circuit, protection, isolator, connection, testing and certification. Cable route, distance from the consumer unit, and whether your existing board has spare capacity all move the number, which is why we confirm the firm price after a quick look at the property.
National cost guides quote similar figures for the electrics, though most bundle in the shower unit and sometimes plumbing too, so they are not directly comparable to our electrics only price. Checkatrade's guide puts labour at £150 to £300, with £400 as a typical average for supply and installation together, and MyBuilder quotes an overall range of roughly £300 to £800 depending on the job. Ours is the electrical circuit only, priced on what your property actually needs.
Fitting showers into South Bristol's older homes
We are based in South Bristol, and a lot of the shower circuits we fit go into houses that were never built with one in mind. Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Bedminster, Southville, Knowle and Windmill Hill often have older consumer units with little or no spare capacity, so part of the job is usually confirming the board can safely take the extra circuit before we run the cable. See the areas we cover for the rest of South Bristol and beyond.
It is a common pairing with other small electrical jobs on the same visit, from an extractor fan to extra sockets, so it is worth mentioning anything else on your list when you get in touch. Our small jobs and repairs page covers the rest of that ground.
What Bristol customers say
"Great quality work, punctual and very clean. Highly recommend."
"The most reliable and knowledgeable electricians I've come across. Extremely professional."
"Great professionalism and clear communication throughout."
How we price, no surprises
Every job is different, so we look before we quote.
We check what's actually there before quoting anything.
The price we agree is the price you pay.
If we find anything unexpected, such as a board with no spare capacity, we stop, explain it, and agree any change with you before continuing.
Estimates are always free, and there is never any obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new circuit for an electric shower?
It depends on the shower's power and what is already there. A straightforward like for like swap can sometimes reuse the existing circuit if it is correctly rated and in good condition. Moving to a more powerful shower, or a position with no existing supply, usually means running a new dedicated circuit sized for the load.
Is installing an electric shower notifiable under Part P?
Installing a new circuit, or altering an existing circuit, in a bathroom is notifiable work. A simple like for like replacement of the shower unit on the same, unaltered circuit generally is not. As a NAPIT registered contractor we self certify notifiable work under the Competent Person Scheme, so you are not left arranging Building Control yourself.
Do you supply the shower unit itself?
We install and certify the dedicated electrical circuit and connection. The shower unit itself, and any plumbing, pipework or tiling, sit outside our scope. We are happy to work alongside your plumber or bathroom fitter and coordinate the electrics around their programme.
How much does electric shower installation cost in Bristol?
Fitting a dedicated shower circuit typically starts from £480 plus VAT, excluding the shower unit. The exact price depends on the cable route, the distance from the consumer unit, and whether the existing board has capacity, so we confirm the firm price after a look at the property.
How powerful an electric shower can my house take?
It depends on your incoming supply and the capacity of your consumer unit. Most homes comfortably run an 8.5 to 10.5kW shower on its own circuit. Anything larger needs checking against your supply capacity first, which we do as part of the survey.
Get your free electric shower quote
Tell us a little about the property and the shower you have in mind, and we will come back to you with next steps. Prefer to talk? Call 0117 2447 382, or visit our contact page for other ways to reach us.