As we're always told, water and electrics don’t mix. So, if you’re buying an electric shower, should you hire a plumber, an electrician, or someone who can do both? We asked the experts…
Renovating and refurbishing any part of your home can be a daunting prospect, and your bathroom is no exception. With so many things to consider, like plumbing and bathroom electrical safety, it pays to have all your questions answered before employing a tradesperson. At MyBuilder.com, that’s exactly what you can do, with hundreds of expert bathroom fitters, plumbers and electricians ready and waiting with help and advice. We’ve enlisted our own help from MyBuilder.com to create a series of blog posts answering those most common of bathroom questions.
In today’s blog post, we’ve “asked the experts” the following question: “What is the best type of tradesperson for fitting an electric shower?”.
What is the best type of tradesperson for fitting an electric shower?
Anyone doing work such as fitting an electric shower will need to be qualified to work with electrics safely. The section of building regulations that refers to domestic electricals is called Part P, so you may hear tradespeople talk about being “Part P qualified”. What they mean is that they are registered with a competent persons scheme such as ELECSA or NICEIC to self-certify their work. All electricians should be able to self-certify their work, but some plumbers will also be able to. Dedicated bathroom fitting firms should have people who can deal with the plumbing, electrics, and issues like tiling.
TB Renovations say: “Electrical work carried out in bathrooms, shower rooms, cloakrooms, wet rooms and kitchens are considered under current legislation to be "special cases" and as such the work MUST be carried out by a Part P certified electrician who should issue a Part P certificate for the work done. If your plumber is Part P certified, he or she will be able to fit an electric shower, otherwise, he or she should not fit it and you would have to find an electrician.”
Further advice for buying and fitting an electric shower
Here at Victoria Plum, we work closely with some of the UK’s leading electric shower manufacturers and suppliers, including Mira Showers.
You’ll find plenty of helpful advice for you and your Part P certified tradesperson, including:
- Mira’s guide to replacing an electric shower—what to look out for when swapping your old electric shower for a new one, featuring a step-by-step video showing how to install a Mira Jump Multi-Fit electric shower.
- Electric showers buying guide from Mira Showers—From the experts at Mira Showers, in this blog post you can check out the full range of Mira Showers electric showers and find the right one for you.
- Electric shower buying guide—If you want to explore all your options when it comes to buying your electric shower, this is the guide for you.
Other helpful advice when fitting an electric shower
One other important thing to consider when having an electric shower installed is how a bathroom differs from other rooms in your home.
We would recommend reading our guide to electrical products and bathroom safety, where we’ll show you how your bathroom is divided into different electrical zones and explain IP ratings.
Still don’t feel like your question has been answered?
If you still have further questions around any aspect of your bathroom project, why not ask one of MyBuilder’s expert tradespeople, who will be more than happy to help.
Once you are happy that all your questions have been answered and are ready to begin, you can easily post a job on MyBuilder.com and start getting quotes from recommended tradespeople in your local area.
Discover more "ask the experts" articles here:
- Can I tile over old tiles?
- Should I fit the toilet before or after tiling the floor?
- Can I repair cracks in a plastic shower tray?
- Hiring and assisting your tradesperson
Still searching for your perfect shower?
Discover our full and comprehensive range, including bestselling electric showers from Mira Showers, Gainsborough and Aqualisa.
