MIRA SHOWERS
At cannock bathrooms we love Mira Showers, we are proud of our there roots. Over 35 years ago, they launched there first ever electric shower. However, with so many different electric showers now in the marketplace it’s difficult to know which one to go for.
To answer your questions, we spoke to Tom Rastall, our Product Marketing Manager for Electrics, Power, Trays & Fittings.
How many varieties of electric showers do Mira Showers have?
Mira has a wide range of electric showers to suit all budgets and tastes, from the entry level Mira Vie to our premium design, the Mira Galena.
Is an electric shower the most economical?
Electric showers are very economical and Mira’s are around 98% efficient. This is because they only use power and water when in use, and there are no long pipe runs or stored hot water where efficiencies can be lost. These showers also use inherently less water – most use less that 6 litres of water per minute.
How do I choose what kilowatt power rating my electric shower should have?
The power rating of your electric shower is determined by the thickness of the cabling and the fuse capacity. If you are replacing an existing shower you’ll be governed by the wiring already in place. If you are planning a new shower installation or full refurbishment, you can plan to have a 10mm cable installed which will allow a maximum of 10.8 kW. Remember you have to have a Part P qualification to work with electrical installations – so best to consult an expert before considering any replacements.
What are the benefits of an electric shower?
1. Instant hot water – no waiting for stored hot water to heat up, plus no dead leg of cold water to wait for as the shower warms up
2. 98% efficiency – no stored hot water or long pipe runs
3. Separate water heating to main hot water system – great for multi-bathroom properties
4. Economical water usage – most electric shower use less than 6 litres of water per minute
How does an electric shower work?
They work a bit like a kettle, electric elements heat up water as it flows through the internal element. The temperature of the water is controlled by varying the speed of water flow through the heater tank. The faster the flow, the less time it has to heat up and vice versa. Safety switches prevent water temperatures from reaching dangerous levels in the case of a blockage or malfunction.
If I moved to a newer model, are they easy to replace?
Yes, they are relatively simple to replace. If you choose a new model with the same connections (wire and pipe locations) this allows for a really simple replacement. There are other products on the market (e.g. Mira Jump Multi-Fit, and Mira Sport Multi-Fit which can cater for many different wire and pipe locations and are great for replacing an existing electric shower. Note that the power rating will have to be the same or very similar to your existing shower unless you are planning on upgrading the wiring/fuses.
How often do you need to replace an electric shower?
Mira’s electric showers are designed and tested to ensure they last many years. However, limescale in hard water can dramatically decrease the usable life of an electric shower as this builds up on the heating element to the point where it cannot work properly any longer. Mira’s Clearscale™ heating element helps reduce the build-up of limescale by up to 50%, meaning that Mira’s electric showers will last up to twice as long as other brands of electric showers. This has been proven by accelerated life testing, and independent testing at Cranfield University.