Electric Showers Performance in Winter

[Yous]

Hi folks,
I am doing a study for one of my graduate classes. The study is pertaining to electric showers in the UK. I would greatly appreciate all of your feedback.

Mainly, I came across a dilemma - the effect of seasonal changes on electric showers in the UK. Just how much does the performance of electric showers suffer in winter? As I understand, when the mains supply is colder, water needs to be heated for longer and thus passes over the heating element in the shower much slower and the net result is a dribble!

1. Just how true is my understanding, or how common is this problem?
2. Does this issue impact all electric showers or just lower kW electric showers?
3. Roughly, what is the percentage of high kW electric showers sold in the UK market?

Many thanks in advance :coolgleamA:

Yous

 

[Dannypipe]

1/ Yes - the dial on a shower doesn't control the voltage, it controls the flow of water. The slower the flow, the more time it gets in the shower, the hotter it will be at the business end.

2/ It impacts all electric showers, and combination boilers too. The water comes from the mains, has to pass through a heat exchanger and come out hot at a tap. It will achieve a set temp' rise at a given flow rate. So if you start with a lower temp, you will end with a lower temp' if that makes sense. The more powerful your appliance (in this case a shower) the less obvious the results of a cooler starting point in the winter.

3/ I have no idea. Does any jobbing plumber know the answer to that question!!?

 

[SimonG]

3/ Contact Mira or one of the larger plumbers merchants, they may give you the data.

 

[woodsy]

1) yes
2) yes
3) Don't know the percentage but would suggest showers of 10kw and above would possibly be in the single percentage because of the wiring issues that these present.

 

[AWheating]

i would think as many high kw showers are returned back to the shop than get fitted. Once they get a quote to upgrade the cable size and protection device.

 

[Howsie]

The temperature of water supply from the mains doesn't vary much in reality. It's your impression of it due to the surrounding ambient temp that makes you think it does.