Why Electric Showers Fail—and How to Avoid It

One thing that really annoys me is when a tradesman comes out to look at a broken electric shower and simply says, “No problem—we’ll have that replaced in no time.” They might as well be saying, “See you next year,” as they walk out the door! Electric showers are especially vulnerable to limescale build-up, and they should always explain to customers why their shower keeps failing—and what they can do about it.

So, why do electric showers stop working so often, especially in hard water areas? The main culprit is the calcium in the water. When hard water is heated, it leaves behind limescale deposits on hot surfaces—and the hotter the surface, the faster this process happens. In an electric shower, the heating element has to get very hot, making it a prime target for limescale build-up.

As limescale builds up on the heating element, the heat has to pass through this insulating layer before it can heat the water. So over time, the shower becomes less and less efficient, taking longer to heat the water—and costing you more on your energy bills. Eventually, the heating element can’t cope with the strain and fails completely, leading to costly repairs or replacements.

Some Aquabion customers have reported that after installing our system, they’ve actually had to turn down the temperature on their showers because the water is now hotter! This can happen because the limescale layer—which previously acted like an insulating blanket—has been removed. Without that barrier, the heating element can do its job properly and heat the water more efficiently. Unfortunately we can’t guarantee this result.

It’s this same insulation effect of limescale that can ultimately destroy your shower, if left unchecked. That’s why it’s essential to protect your appliances from the damage limescale can cause. A good limescale prevention system, like Aquabion, can extend the life of your electric shower, improve its efficiency, and save you money in the long run.

So, next time a tradesman says, “No problem, we’ll just replace it,” ask them why it failed—and what can be done to stop it happening again. After all, prevention is always better (and cheaper!) than cure.