Shower Repairs – What You Need to Know Before You Call the Repairman

- by Becky Hall
How To Save Money On Fixing Home Appliances – Chapter Eleven

What could be worse than waking up and having no hot water for your morning shower? Learn how to do simple shower repairs with Cashfloat to get your shower back up and running.

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All you need to know about shower repairs - Cashfloat All you need to know about shower repairs - Cashfloat

We all hate it when we jump into the shower and it is cold. Brrrr. Or, you might get an unreliable temperature and have to keep jumping in when it’s hot and out when it’s cold. Maybe there is no water at all. All of these common shower problems are very frustrating.

This article will point out a few of the most common shower faults that you can sometimes diagnose and repair yourself, rather than resorting to ringing up a repair man. Always be careful. Don’t risk your life for the sake of saving money. Before trying to sort out a problem with your electric shower, remember that electricity alone is very dangerous and when combined with water, it’s lethal. When in doubt always call in an experienced electrician.

Watch this video on shower repairs – What you need to know before calling the repairman.

Electric Showers – How Do They Work?

Mixer Showers

The simplest form of shower is a standard mixer shower. These work by combining both hot and cold water to form warm water. In a detachable mixer shower, a rubber pipe shaped like a Y is attached to both taps of the bath or sink. Plumbed in showers which have both a hot and cold tap are sometimes also standard mixer showers. Both mix hot and cold water to give you a stream of warm water for your shower.

However, these very simple showers make it difficult to control the actual temperature of the water. If someone else is in the kitchen and turns on a tap, you might experience a sudden rush of either very hot or freezing water.


A more reliable type of mixer shower is a thermostatic mixer shower. This is a plumbed in mixer shower with a thermostat. The built in thermostat keeps the temperature constant. These showers are much safer and more comfortable. Most of these appliances also have a built in safety cut out so that they do not get too hot. This stops scalding water from burning children, or even adults. Mixer showers are not as efficient as electric showers. They rely on a supply of hot water from the tank. When this is gone, all you will be left with is cold water.

Electric Showers

Put simply, an electric shower works by heating up cold water with electricity. An electric current runs through a heating element. As the cold water runs past the element, it gets heated up.

Electric Shower Repairs



There are some small problems with electric showers that you can identify yourself. Knowing what is causing the problem will help you to decide whether or not you need the assistance of a repairman.



More Serious Problems With Electric Showers



Like all appliances, an electric shower may exhibit problems that are potentially dangerous. You should always keep to electrical safety guidelines. If there is any potential danger, you should stop using the shower and immediately call in an expert.



Other Problems with Showers



Other problems with electric showers are not dangerous but can be annoying. These problems are more likely to be safe for you to fix yourself. However, you need to make sure that you disconnect the electricity if you are dealing with anything that can potentially be dangerous. It is also a good idea to switch off the water supply as there is a potential to cause a leak.



FAQs about Cleaning Showers

Cleaning your shower regularly will make your shower last longer and help keep bacteria out. Here you can get answers to your most frequently asked questions about cleaning your shower.

What is the best way to clean a shower head?

Start by wiping off any dry debris from around the inlet hole with a scrubber. To descale the shower head, mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a plastic bag. Place the shower head in the plastic bag so that all the holes are immersed in the liquid. Close the bag over the head with a rubber band. Allow the head to soak for a minimum of 20 minutes and then remove it. Rinse the shower head and remove any extra debris. Enjoy your clean shower.

How should I clean the shower glass?

The first step is to spray some vinegar on the glass and let it sit for a few minutes. Then create a paste with equal amounts of baking soda and salt and use a damp sponge to rub the paste all over the glass. Leave it for a few minutes more and then rinse thoroughly. To finish, use good quality glass cleaner with a microfibre cloth.

What is the best way to clean grout in a shower?

This is the best tried and tested way of cleaning the grout in your shower. First you should remove the surface dirt and grime. You can do this with the scorer side of a sponge and fairy liquid. After this step, you should only be left with the mould that’s in the grout itself. To remove the mould, use some bleach and an old toothbrush. Pour 2 parts bleach into 1 part water and begin scrubbing with the toothbrush. Once you have covered all areas, leave it to sit for 30 minutes. To remove those really black stains, brush with the toothbrush without adding any bleach and rinse thoroughly using plenty of water.

How should I clean the shower drain?

Begin by removing anything which may be blocking the water from going down. Use a wire hanger to remove hair and other small blockages. Once these blockages are clear, pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain and immediately after, pour half a cup of white wine vinegar. Plug the drain with a rag and leave it to rest for a few hours. After this, remove the rag and boil a kettle of water. Pour the boiling water down the drain quickly to flush away any blockages.



Getting Help For Problems With Electric Showers

Having an electric shower is a boon, even if you do have to do occasional shower repairs. A shower uses less water than a full bathtub and saves on utility bills because it efficiently heats up the water as it passes through the element.

Modern showers have an isolation valve. If you experience any problems, you can use this to turn off the water supply. After that, turn off the switch in the fuse box that provides power to the shower. Then call out an emergency plumber or an electrician.


Unless you are an experienced plumber and electrician, it is better not to mess about with electric showers when they go wrong. Shower repairs can sometimes be expensive, and you may need to take a £500 loan to finance the repairs. Your life is worth more than a payday loan, so don’t risk doing dangerous repairs.

Keeping your shower clean and regularly checking for problems mentioned in this article will ensure that you get the best out of this home appliance and minimise the need for shower repairs.

Why you should use Cashfloat?

Looking to borrow a fast payday loan to cover unexpected shower repairs? Apply with Cashfloat today and get funded within 1 hour of approval. Although our loans are expensive, we allow early repayment on all our loans with no penalty so you can borrow today and only pay interest on the days you had the loan until your salary comes in.




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About The Author
Becky Hall
Becky transitioned from accounting to financial blogging unexpectedly after earning a first-class degree in Business and Accounting. Initially a freelance bookkeeper, Becky’s exposure to frequent cash flow issues among clients sparked her interest in financial education.
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