Now that we’re spending more time at home than ever, some of us have realised that old showers with random spurts of water, and temperature that’s red hot one minute and ice cold the second, are definitely not worth it. Whether you’re looking to replace your old shower with a brand new electric shower model, or perhaps you need to revamp your whole bathroom with a stylish new look, you can keep yourself feeling refreshed and pampered this year with our list of the best budget electric showers on the market in 2021.
What to consider when electric shower shopping under £180
Model: There is so much overlap out there in the market for electric showers, so it’s definitely worth noting that many different brands will use the same base, and simply stick a different colour plastic on it, and most of the time they don’t even do that!
Power: Electric showers are measured in Kilo Watts, and your average household shower will sit somewhere between 7KW-10.5KW. For a constant and soothing flow with no spurts you’ll want a shower on the powerful end of the wattage spectrum – a power shower you might say.
Costs: Remember however, that of course with power comes great responsibility, and you’ll find this in the form of higher electricity bills if you go for one of the big boys.
Installation: Does your house already have a shower that’s not electric? If so, you’ll probably need to search for an electrician to install your new one. But don’t worry, we’ve tried to select showers with few wires, that offer simple installation processes, so if you fancy yourself as a DIY expert you could give it a go.
Shower Head: One of the most important parts of your shower, this can make or break your morning or evening routine. As well as the general shape and look, between mists and spray, an electric shower head with multiple water patterns can offer a whole other experience.
Controls: Most electric showers will come with separate thermostatic and power controls. It’s always best to opt for a new electric shower with minimal controls to avoid confusion and find your perfect mix. Consider the usability of your potential shower, especially if you’ve got a large family and will be changing the temperature between each use.
Wear and Tear: Limescale and mould can end a showers lifespan a lot faster than you think. The best electric showers will come with built in limescale protection, by running cool water through the head and pipes. A robust body and piping, that still fits into the overall look of your bathroom is important to peace of mind when showering.
Triton Cara Electric Shower
Power: 9.5KW
This particular electric shower is deceptively little, pumping out 9.5KW worth of pressure on the best budget that Triton are known for. This power control means it operates an A energy rating, so you won’t have to sacrifice your electric bill to take advantage of this electric shower.
If you’re looking for a sleek shower on a very low budget, this one packs a punch at half the price of some of its competitors. Sporting a separate control system for the power and temperature ranges, there is very little overlap that can be felt, as your shower adjusts to your desired settings.
Convenience is really where this shower shines, and that comes from its resounding simplicity. But hey, it does its job, and the durable stainless steel casing means it’ll last you as long as you need.
Overall, the shower is pretty basic, but what else do you expect at such a fantastic price point, and it certainly gives you bang for your buck with the pressure. The manufacturers also provide a one year parts warranty.
Triton Aspirante Electric Shower
Power: 9.5KW
Triton really have the market cornered on budget showers that look great. This is a steal of a price for such a stylish shower. With a sleek minimalist stainless steel casing and simple, yet comprehensive control dial in the centre, this shower will feel at home in any bathroom. It’s durable and usable, the hose is 1.25m and flexible. The lightweight build and simple ports (one for water, and the other the electrical connection) make installation simple, but there are fewer combinations that you might need.
The control centre is straightforward to use, and looks beautiful too with ergonomic luminescent buttons. Here you can control the flow and temperature separately. The heating speed is relatively efficient, and its also the economic choice if you want to bring your water bill down – this electric shower’s technology will only heat the water you are currently using.
This type of Triton electrical shower will come with two years warranty for parts. The amazon bundle includes the electrical shower, one shower rail kit, three shower heads, one shower hose, one installation manual, and a one warranty registration card. Perhaps the best part of this shower bundle, however, is that you get 3 different shower heads to experiment with an array of spray patterns.
Mira Showers 1.1788.011
Power: 8.5KW, 9.5KW, 10.5KW
This particular electrical shower is the perfect pick for customising your shower experience. Mira have been a leading provider of electric showers for over 90 years, and they certainly know what they’re doing. Using this shower makes the process enjoyable, with three different power features to choose from, and the 90mm shower head has a sweet design and 4 different modes of spray.
If you want an efficient installation from your previous piece of kit, this shower is a good choice with its 16 different cable and water entry point combinations, it can fit into even the most awkward of bathroom spaces, to maximise your look and finish. It also has its own heating system powered by a synoptic main dial, and simple pressure settings.
The Mira electrical showers are fitted with clear-scale technology, so your shower will last a lot longer, and be able to handle multiple uses with minimal limescale build up. The shower head is easily wiped clean, but the Mira electrical showers also come with a 2 year warranty, to offer you peace of mind.
All this combined makes this electrical shower is on the more affordable end of the spectrum of Mira showers, and gives you a great opportunity to get the best for less.
Bristan BL3105 B Bliss 3
Power: 8.5KW, 9.5KW, 10.5KW
One of the most stylish black showers, this modern and unique electric shower comes with a temperature display, so you can work on precision, and really create your perfect shower experience. Armed with 3 different power levels built into one model, the sleek buttons provide a world of options for pressure, spray, and temperature. This is also one of the best electrical showers to prevent scalding, as the temperature remains at a consistent level no matter who’s washing up downstairs or flushing a toilet in another bathroom.
One notable useful addition is the warm-up mode, that when activated, works to tell you when your shower water has reached your perfect temperature. When it comes to electric showers on the market today, this one certainly wins the categories of intuition and user orientation.
With a very large choice for combinations of water and power fittings, switching out your old shower for this state-of the-art technology is surprisingly easy. The system is cleaned after each use internally with cooled water, to make sure your shower stays newer for longer, and is resistant to the build up of limescale and mould. However, of course, this shower will give you a reminder when you need to replace certain parts.
Bristan SOL85 W Solis Electric Shower
Power: 8.5KW
This shower may fall flat considering it has the largest price tag on this list, but you really do pay for what you get. The Solis has inspired the design of some of its younger competitors, and this was one of the first showers to employ the warm-up mode to help you get the perfect temperature.
While it does not have the digital display, its controls are resoundingly less complicated because of this. Just three pressure settings and a full manual temperature control dial, so showering can still be customised, and fast adaptation makes this the perfect shower for a family home. It’s compatible with just about any connection points, and the head is wide enough to give you some varied spray patterns – even if they don’t come built in. The cable and height of the fittings make showering a comfortable experience, but don’t forget to get the dimensions to make sure this one will look good in your bathroom.
The standard Bristan anti-lime scale feature reduces potential build-up by flushing cold water through the shower after use, prolonging the life of the unit as a whole. But, its little brother has a much more modern design and a cheaper price tag. However, if you want the basics and want them to be reliable then this is your best bet.
