Electric shower vs mixer shower — which one do you need?

The main star of any shower room idea, there's an endless variety of products, colours and designs to choose from when it comes to picking the actual shower itself.

But, before you start thinking about how it looks, there's one important decision to make, and that's which one to choose if you're weighing up an electric shower vs mixer shower.

Pick the wrong one and you could find yourself dancing around under a tiny dribble of water, get it right and you'll be rewarded with a warm and powerful start to your day.

Electric shower vs mixer shower – the main difference

Not to be confused with understanding what is a power shower vs what is a thermostatic shower, the main difference between an electric shower vs a mixer shower is where each type gets the heat from to produce hot water. It's essential to understand this basic difference in order to know how to choose a shower.

Jeevan Seth, CEO of JTP, explains: “A mixer shower is a type of system that blends hot and cold water from a home’s plumbing system to produce the desired temperature, whereas an electric shower connects directly to the cold water supply, with the water being heated as it flows through the unit."

But, while it can be easy to assume both types work in every home, that's not always the case. Find out just how each one works to ensure you pick the right shower when renovating a bathroom or taking the plunge with your wet room ideas.

Jeevan Seth

Jeevan Seth is the CEO of JTP, a well established bathroom hardware brand. He is an experienced sales director and is heavily involved with the product development side of the business so that the company can continue to design innovative new ranges for customers.

Electric showers

Electric showers rely on electricity. And while it may seem unusual that a product linked to water does, when safely installed by a registered electrician they are of course fine to use.

It can also make them beneficial if your home struggles with low water pressure as some of the more expensive models contain in-built pumps that will increase the flow of water.

"Essentially, an electric shower doesn’t rely on a tank or heating system to provide hot water. When water passes through the unit, it instantly heats it," says Jorge Hernandez, head of product design at Britton.

"Therefore, electric showers only require a cold-water supply, as they can heat the water with an in-built heating system. Households that are asking how to increase water pressure in a shower could have lower water pressure meaning they be more suited to an electric shower, as it has a lower flow rate," he adds.

They are also "suited to homes with limited or no hot water supply and are the better option for outbuildings and annexes, where connecting to a hot water system isn’t feasible," says Jeevan Seth.

Shop electric showers for your new bathroom

Jorge Hernandez

Jorge is passionate about the way design shapes our interaction with the world. He believes designing for the bathroom, a seemingly utilitarian space, is an important necessity that offers the designer plenty of tools to play with including material, colour, and experience.

Mixer showers

A mixer shower uses existing hot water from a boiler or tank to service the shower. Not sure which you have? Check out our guide to a combi boiler vs system boiler as each works best depending on your needs and the set up in your home.

However, either way, a mixer shower relies on a supply of hot water and cold water, hence the reason why it is called a mixer shower.

"A mixer shower controls the temperature by mixing hot and cold water from the mains supply, helping to achieve the desired temperature," explains Jorge Hernandez. It's as simple as that.

“This means a mixer shower is best for homes where there is a reliable supply of both hot and cold water, often from a boiler or water heater," confirms Jeevan Seth. "An internal mechanism of the mixer shower combines two water streams to achieve the temperature set by the user, often via a control dial.

“A mixer shower also offers a more powerful flow when compared to electric showers, as it uses the home’s plumbing pressure," adds Jeevan. "They are more complex to install than electric showers, so a professional plumber should always be hired.”

However, they aren't always suitable for every home say the experts.

“You can’t use a mixer shower in certain situations where the water supply or plumbing system is incompatible," warns Jeevan. "Mixer showers aren’t advised In homes where there is only cold water or low water pressure.

"A shower mixer has a more consistent and higher water flow and better reliability when it comes to temperature," he adds. "This can be more suitable for those who prefer having more control over their water temperature and those wanting a more powerful shower."

Shop these mixer showers for your bathroom

FAQs

Electric shower vs mixer shower – which one costs more?

If you're working on your budget trying to calculate your bathroom costs, and are in a position where either type of shower would work, understanding the cost differences between an electric shower vs mixer shower may be important to you.

If budget is your driving force, then you may find electric showers more affordable to purchase, however, if performance is your priority it may be worth spending a little more.

“A mixer shower tends to cost slightly more than an electric one, particularly those with a thermostatic function," says Jeevan Seth. "And although it's more expensive to run, a mixer shower will also provide better performance and flow."

Now you've figured out which shower you need it's time for the next steps. Find out how much you can expect to pay for shower installation costs if you're just looking to replace a shower. Or, if you're considering a full bathroom makeover, seek inspiration in these small shower room ideas and make sure you know just what bathroom trends to follow in the months ahead.