Spares no longer available? Need to replace a shower?
Replacing your shower for a new one can feel like a daunting task due to the large choice available, not to mention jargon and seemingly endless technical considerations.
Where possible, we show the recommended replacement(s) for the shower. This can be found on the spares page for the current shower, similar to the below:
Spares page for a Mira Excel (1990-1996)
No direct replacement? Is your shower not listed on our website? We have created the below guide to make things a little easier.
Please be aware that we would recommend to consult a qualified tradesperson before commencing any plumbing or electrical work.
Want to know a little more about showers first? Read our article: Video: What are the different types of showers?
Buying guides:
Mixer Showers (concealed and exposed)
Electric Showers
These types of showers use cold mains water only for the water supply, and are also safely connected to the mains electric for power. The water enters the shower and, as the water is passed through the internal heater tank (or heating element), it heats the water up extremely quickly, providing instant hot water (very similar in concept to a conventional kitchen kettle).
What to consider when looking to buy an electric shower:
- The kW rating of your current electric shower.
'The Kilowatt (kW) rating of the shower denotes the power of it's heater tank. (This can usually be found written on a label on the shower casing or on the heater tank itself). For the water to reach a higher temperature in an electric shower, the flow rate is reduced through the tank to allow enough time for the water to heat up to the desired temperature. Choosing a higher kW rating will mean the water will be heated more quickly as it passes the elements, resulting a smaller reduction in flow, and therefore, a more powerful shower when the shower is set to a higher temperature. If you want to change your shower for one with a higher kW rating you will need to take into account the rating of the RDC and the wiring at the consumer unit and consult an electrician.'
- The positioning of the water and electricity supplies to the shower unit. To avoid any adjustments, you may want to match this up. Many electric showers now have 'multi-fit' or 'fast-fit' models to cater for almost every possibility.
- A familiar brand - we stock many. Manufacturers such as Mira and Triton are always popular.
- Thermostatic or manual control, most electric showers operate with manual temperature adjustment and may not allow for dips in water flow and pressure during use, manual adjustment of the temperature may sometimes be needed. A thermostatic electric shower will adjust during use to keep the showering temperature stable.
- Most electric showers offer fully manual control but some are controlled by push button selection.
- Accessibility showers showers such as the Mira Advance Flex variant are designed to assist users with mobility needs, making operation easier and allowing for multiple height adjustments.
- Rail fixing screw positions vary from one model to the other - If fixing to existing tiles, you will either need to drill new holes in the tiles, continue using the original rail kit, or match the existing holes with a universal rail kit.
Click here to browse Electric Showers
Power Showers
Power showers use water from gravity fed systems, which supply hot and cold water from tanks. The valve mixes the hot and cold water to achieve the desired water temperature, like standard mixer showers, but the inclusive pump boosts the flow of water to become a powerful and invigorating shower.
What to consider when looking to buy a Power shower:
- Manual or thermostatic versions are available
- The positioning of the water and electricity supplies to the shower unit. To avoid any adjustments you may want to match this up. Many electric showers now have 'multi-fit' or 'fast-fit' models to cater for almost every possibility.
- Rail fixing screw positions vary from one model to the other - If fixing to existing tiles, you will either need to drill new holes in the tiles, continue using the original rail kit, or match the existing holes with a universal rail kit.
- When considering a shower it is important to know if there is sufficient hot water provision from your hot water tank. Most common installations will be fine for standard use although in some instances the hot water storage tank will not be large enough to supply a constant hot water supply.
- Design/style in line with bathroom décor
Click here to browse Power ShowersMixer Showers (concealed and exposed) (continue reading for bar mixers)
One of the major types of showers, mixers use separate hot and cold water supplies, and blend both to provide the water at the temperature you demand from it. A cartridge inside the shower regulates the temperature as desired, and come in either manual or thermostatic varieties.
Mixer showers also come in certain variants: exposed (where they are fixed onto the surface of the wall) or recessed (also known as built-in or concealed, where the main valve body is hidden behind the wall, leaving only a small portion of the shower showing).
What to consider when looking to buy a Mixer shower:
- If concealed (also known as built in), the build in depth is important to consider - how much space do you have in your wall cavity? More dimensions can be found in the PDF installation guide on our website.
- Manual or thermostatic? See more information on this here
- To avoid pipework adjustment, look to match the showers pipe centres to your existing pipework centres. This information can be found in PDF installation guides on our website for both new showers and, where possible, older showers. Although you may need to physically measure this.
- If replacing an existing shower, do you need to match the concealing plate size and shape to cover any tile damage?
- When considering a Shower it is important to know if there is sufficient hot water provision from your hot water tank. Most common installations will be fine for standard use although in some instances the hot water storage tank will not be large enough to supply a constant hot water supply.
Click here to browse Mixer ShowersBar Mixer Showers
Bar mixer showers are a type of exposed valve, but are shaped in a specific slim horizontal (sometimes vertical) "bar", hence the name.
What to consider when looking to buy a Bar mixer shower:
- Accessibility needs. Some showers have control knobs which are designed to be easier to adjust. For example, the Mira Assist.
- Do you need just the bar itself i.e you have a rail kit with shower head and hose already, or do you need the whole shower kit? - You can sometimes buy just a replacement bar on it's own.
- To avoid pipework adjustment, look to match the shower's pipe centres to your existing pipework centres.
- Rail kit fixing centre measurements - If fixing to existing tiles, will you need to drill new holes in the tile? See HERE for details how to measure this.
- If you would like two shower heads, some showers have a 'rigid riser rail' with a 'drench head' as well as a handheld head. These are often referred to as ERD models and have a diverter function to switch between the two heads - It's important to consider the height between where the mixer fits onto the pipework and the top of the shower head. To ensure it's both high enough for the tallest person in the house, and not too tall for the ceiling!
- When considering a shower, it is important to know if there is sufficient hot water provision from your hot water tank. Most common installations will be fine for standard use although in some instances the hot water storage tank will not be large enough to supply a constant hot water supply.
Click here to browse Bar Mixer ShowersDigital Showers
A variation of the standard mixer shower. These operate on the same mixer concept, but the main body of the shower is generally located away from the actual showering area, for instance in a loft space or under the bath/shower tray. A waterproof digital controller is then used to operate the shower body remotely - including temperature and flow rate - from within the showering enclosure (or even outside the area, if desired and supported).
These are fast becoming the popular choice for many new installations and can offer many benefits:
- Relatively easy to install.
- Easy to operate.
- Feature the latest showering technology.
- Compatibility with most water systems.
- More locations for fitting. The processor box can be hidden away in a cupboard, under the bath or in a loft space if desired.
What to consider when looking to buy a Digital mixer shower:
- How many outlets do you need? Just a shower head on a rail, or an additional outlet such as an overhead drench head or bath filler?
- Direction of feed - rear fed or ceiling fed? i.e do you need the pipework to come from a wall outlet, or through the ceiling? This is likely to be dependant on where you are planning on locating the processor box and where pipework is already fitted.
- Whether you would like a wired or wireless control panel
- Other functions such as a timer function
- Smart features such as app control
- Do you have a high pressure or low pressure water system?
If you have a low pressure system, e.g gravity fed or mains pressure, you will need the pumped version. These processor boxes are a little bigger as they have a pump within to boost the flow rate.
If supplied by a combi boiler, shower pump or other high pressure system, you will usually need the high pressure variant, this will have a processor box without a pump inside.
Please be sure to check the installation manual for any deviation to the above though which may be specific to the model.
Click here to browse Digital Showers