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What height for mounting shower unit ?

(20 Posts)
Alexa Mon 06-Jan-20 17:01:31

Is it safe to place the electric shower unit as waist height where
water will spray directly on to it?

I always shower using the spray head as hand held, never fixed to the sliding rail, while I sit on my shower stool. I need to be able to reach the controls in case the water is too hot or too cold.

I had a visit from an electrician today but he did not seem to know the answer to these questions.Should I have got a shower specialist to do the work?

Alexa Mon 06-Jan-20 17:04:31

PS my old shower needs replacing. It is too high. I don't like to stand on my my toes to reach the controls. I am just under 5 ft tall.

Hetty58 Mon 06-Jan-20 17:21:29

Showers are designed to be waterproof. The casing should prevent any water from entering the unit. Mine is fairly low so the children can reach it. I hose everything down when I clean the cubicle anyway. I have two shower rails for the head, low and high. I also had an extra long Triton hose put on.

Of course, it goes without saying that a damaged or cracked unit should never be used!

MiniMoon Mon 06-Jan-20 17:22:12

My shower was installed using the existing pipes. I have the same problem I have to stand on my toes to switch it on. The one we replaced had a pull cord! I would imagine that as long as the corntrol box is not getting too wet it would be okay. After all they are supposed to be shower proof.

ninathenana Mon 06-Jan-20 17:31:22

My unit is chest height for me (5' 4") the rail for the shower head is above it so it must get water on it.
We've never had a problem.

Hetty58 Mon 06-Jan-20 17:35:53

A specialist might be best as electrics and pipes would have to be replaced and the original gaps made good/re-tiled.

I had to have a non-return valve to avoid the possibility of dirty water entering the mains (due to the extra long hose).

There is no regulation about the height of the unit - as long as it's above bath or shower tray level, of course.

Alexa Mon 06-Jan-20 19:14:57

I've a wet room so no problem about pipes and tray.

If the shower unit is cracked do you get electrocuted or does the fuse go?

NotAGran55 Mon 06-Jan-20 20:03:54

Alexa .
We have a ‘walk in ‘ shower that you can set the temperature in advance to suit you and ‘ save’ it .
Our’s has a button outside the shower cubicle mounted on the wall to switch it on , in addition to one inside - it flashes until the correct temperature is reached .It saves having to go into the cubicle and mess around with the temperature
getting cold in the meantime .

It us a Mira shower which are very popular and easily available.
It was an overhead shower and hand-held hose/head too.

My advice is to go to bathroom specialist and take their advice .

Hetty58 Mon 06-Jan-20 20:11:34

Alexa, showers have to be on their own RCD, so, in theory, if it's all fitted properly, there is no risk of electrocution!

Callistemon Mon 06-Jan-20 20:48:23

Our old shower unit was lower than the shower head. It should be waterproof. We never had a problem, although if it had ever cracked, I would have called a plumber immediately.

Do you have to have a unit? Ours runs off the hot water and is just an on/off bar with a temperature adjustment.

Alexa Tue 07-Jan-20 12:47:33

Thanks all for your advice which is better than I could find from a google search!

Hetty, what is an RGD? It sounds encouraging.

Alexa Tue 07-Jan-20 12:48:13

RCD

Callistemon Tue 07-Jan-20 14:09:35

It's a Residual Current Device ie has its own circuit breaker.

Alexa Wed 08-Jan-20 13:09:22

Callistemon, thanks for coming back with that. I feel better about that and will ask the electrician if there is one.

Callistemon Wed 08-Jan-20 18:19:10

Please check with your electrician, though!!

Are you able to have a bar shower? I think that is dependent on your water pressure.

Alexa Thu 09-Jan-20 11:37:35

Callistemon, I looked up 'bar shower' and from the images it looks like my old shower the shower head of which slides up and down a vertical rail mounted on the wall.

Actually I never use this as I invariably hold the shower head in my hand or looped around my shoulder.

My main concern is having the on off and temp control switches so I can turn them whilc sitting down and without being electrocuted. I will certainly check RCD with the electrician. Thanks.

Callistemon Thu 09-Jan-20 18:03:14

Our bar shower has a detachable shower head; the plumber asked us if we wanted that style or a fixed one. I unhook it to rinse my hair. It does slide up and down as well, if I'm showering and not washing my hair I can lower it.

The bar has end bits which turn for on/off and temperature control, not a very good plumber's description! but I could try to find a link (can't do that on this device).

Callistemon Thu 09-Jan-20 20:25:58

Ours is similar to this Alexa, then has a vertical rail and the detachable shower head slides up and down. You can choose the type of shower head.

www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/round-minimalist-top-outlet-bar-shower-valve
I don't know what make ours is, the plumber supplied it.

Alexa Sun 12-Jan-20 11:16:32

Hetty and Notagran, I do wish I'd gone to a bathroom specialist, as I suspect the electrician has little experience with plumbing or tiling and doesn't like to admit it. It can be a problem to decide which trade one needs for a job.

Anyway my shower is not an important event and if it's not right I can get someone else to sort it. I do feel reassured about not being electrocuted.

Callistemon Sun 12-Jan-20 11:19:13

A reputable plumber should employ a qualified electrician and other specialists even if on a 'freelance' basis.