Electric Water Heating The electric shower revolution


Once widely regarded as a ‘poor relation to the mixer shower’, electric showers have recently seen a surge in popularity due to a breadth of innovations, putting them well ahead of the competition. Bristan explains what’s changed to put electric showers back in consumers’ minds.


W


hen the shower was invented all the way back in 1767, it simply featured a hand pump that forced


water into a vessel above the user’s head before being released. A few years later, the world’s first ‘designer’ shower was created consisting of a metal frame painted to look like bamboo, and in the years following, the evolution of the shower continued. Flash forward a couple hundred years and the concept of the shower has increased tenfold. Now, showers that tick every box in terms of functionality and design dominate the market. Whilst the full spectrum of showers has gone


through this change, nowhere is it more noticeable than with electrics. Whilst the positives of electric showers may once have been outweighed by their disadvantages, a new generation of electric showers has changed the game. In light of this, we’ve pulled together four key


ways that electric showers have changed and why it’s essential for wholesalers to stay up-to- date with the latest ranges.


Bathroom beauty


The first, and easily most obvious way that electric showers have changed is in their design. What was once a plain white, drab box, commonly referred to as the ‘kettle on the wall’, has now turned into a sleek, slimline fashion statement that combines ultra-clean lines with minimalistic styling. Furthermore, homeowners don’t just have a choice of white or white anymore, with recent offerings introducing eye- catching polished chrome, black and rose gold finishes.


This new streamlined generation of electric


showers presents wholesalers with a golden sales opportunity. With consumers always on the lookout for the latest design trends, stocking these new electric showers will ensure that wholesalers can provide their customers with the right tools for any project. What’s more, with a simplified installation


process, these new electric showers can be easily updated, perfect for consumers looking to keep their bathroom up-to-date with the latest trends.


Phasing out limescale Formerly, limescale was an inherent issue with electric units. The build-up of limescale could affect the heating element, meaning it would take more time and more energy to heat water. Over time, limescale will even shorten the lifespan of an electric product.


www.ewnews.co.uk


Available on Bristan’s Joy, Joy Care, Glee and Bliss (pictured) electric showers, the phased shutdown feature helps to reduce limescale build-up, prolonging the life of units.


In answer to this, manufacturers have


developed models with anti-limescale mechanisms. One such feature is phased shutdown technology. This ensures that once the shower is turned off, cold water is drawn in to cool the heater elements and prevents limescale adhesion. Available on Bristan’s Joy, Joy Care, Glee and Bliss electric showers, the phased shutdown feature helps to reduce limescale build-up, significantly prolonging the life of units. Water still sits within it, but it’s cold rather than hot. So not only does phased shutdown prevent limescale build-up, it also prevents the next shower user from getting a blast of extremely hot water when the shower is next used. In addition, on the above models, a filter


situated on the outside of the unit filters out limescale particles from the water as it travels from the unit to the shower hose. This filter can be easily removed and rinsed – much like a dishwasher filter. In recent years, electric shower manufacturers have also introduced rub-clean handsets to make cleaning easier for the consumer (rub-clean nozzles are flexible, so when they are rubbed the limescale breaks up) – so that’s worth looking out for when a product is being selected. For the ultimate in product preservation,


certain upcoming models will offer a performance indicator as well as an anti- limescale safeguard, which will flag when a


Bristan’s Smile electric shower has a universal footprint which means that it will cover the space left by the old shower. Multiple water and electric inlet points make it easy to install.


shower needs cleaning in order to keep it in the best condition possible.


The digital revolution Electrics have improved in terms of functionality too, incorporating clever technology to make life easier for the user. For example, all of Bristan’s electric showers, excluding Smile, include a digital display so users can choose their ideal temperature or setting, coupled with a warm-up mode to make sure it’s reached before getting in the shower.


Some also include a thermostatic control to


avoid temperature changes when water is used elsewhere in home – helping to ensure hot water safety; a big priority for households with vulnerable users. What’s more, with a host of clever features such


as touch controls and multimode handsets, by stocking these electric showers, wholesalers will have an option to suit most customer demands. In the years since the electric shower first came


onto the bathroom scene, it has undergone a drastic transformation. Aesthetical changes through to in-depth technical innovations have led to it solidifying its position as the leader of the shower scene. Whilst in years to come the shower will continue to evolve, for now electric showers are the ones to watch, which is why wholesalers shouldn’t take them for granted.


www.bristan.com November 2018 electrical wholesaler | 37


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