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Electric shower not working? What to check.
No power, running cold or cutting out mid-shower: the safe checks, the likely causes, and when it needs an electrician.
An electric shower heats water as it flows, using a lot of power: typically 8.5 to 10.5 kilowatts, more than anything else in most homes. That’s why it has its own circuit, its own pull-cord switch, and why faults need taking seriously.
Safe checks you can do
- Pull-cord switch. Check the ceiling pull-cord (or wall isolator) is on. Many have a small indicator light.
- Fuse board. Look for a tripped circuit breaker or RCD for the shower. Reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Water. Check the water supply is on and the pressure is normal at other taps. Many showers cut out to protect themselves if the flow is too low.
- Shower head. A scaled-up head or hose restricts the flow and can make the shower overheat and cut out. Descale or replace it.
Common causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| No power at all, light off | Tripped breaker or RCD, pull-cord off, or a failed connection |
| Power on, but water runs cold | Failed heating element or a tripped thermal cut-out |
| Works, then cuts out after a few minutes | Low water flow, scale, or an overheating connection |
| Trips the RCD | Water inside the unit, a failed element, or damaged cable |
| Burning smell, scorched pull-cord or isolator | Overheating connection. Switch off and call us |
Burnt connections are common. Because showers draw so much current, a slightly loose terminal in the pull-cord switch or the shower itself overheats over time. If you see discolouration or smell burning, stop using it. Don’t take the cover off the shower; it’s mains wiring in a wet room.
Fitting a more powerful shower?
A bigger shower needs a circuit sized for it: the right cable, breaker and RCD protection. Swapping a 7.5kW shower for a 10.5kW on the old cable is a fire risk. We check the circuit and upgrade it if needed. New circuits are notifiable under Part P, so we certify and notify the work.
Questions we’re asked
Why has my electric shower stopped working?
Usually a tripped breaker or RCD, the pull-cord switch being off, low water pressure, or a failed heating element. A burnt connection in the pull-cord or shower is also common.
Why does my electric shower keep cutting out?
Most often low water flow or a scaled-up shower head making it overheat, so its safety cut-out operates. If the flow is fine, it may be an overheating connection, which needs an electrician.
Why is my electric shower running cold?
The heating element may have failed, or a thermal cut-out has operated. If the power light is on but the water stays cold, it needs a repair or replacement.
Can I replace an electric shower myself?
Replacing a shower like for like on the existing circuit is not notifiable, but it is mains work in a bathroom. If the new shower is more powerful, the circuit almost always needs upgrading, which is notifiable.
Is it dangerous if my shower trips the RCD?
The RCD is doing its job. Water inside the unit or a failed element is the usual cause. Leave it off and have it checked.
Written by SEGplc. Last updated 19 October 2026.
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