Electric shower not working? Common causes
By Azzeddine Kebbi, NAPIT-registered electrician and director of Kebbi Electrical Services · Updated 10 November 2026
If your electric shower will not turn on, check the pull-cord switch and the consumer unit first. If it runs but stays cold, low water flow, a thermal cut-out or a failed heating element are the usual causes.
First, stay safe
- If you see scorch marks, smell burning or the pull-cord switch is hot, switch off at the consumer unit and call an electrician.
- Never open the shower unit with the power on. It runs at high power.
Quick checks
- Is the ceiling pull-cord (or wall isolator) switched on?
- Has a breaker or RCD tripped at the consumer unit?
- Is the cold water supply on with good pressure? Many electric showers will not heat if the flow is too low.
- Is the shower head scaled up? Descale it and try again.
Common causes
Tripped breaker or RCD
Reset once. If it trips again, see our guide to a shower that keeps tripping.
Low water flow
The shower’s safety switch stops it heating if flow is too low.
Thermal cut-out
Trips if the unit overheats, often due to scale or low flow.
Burnt connections
Loose terminals overheat and burn. A common fault at the isolator or the shower terminal block.
Common questions
Why is my electric shower not turning on?
Check the pull-cord switch and consumer unit first. If both are on and it is still dead, there may be a failed component or a burnt connection, which needs an electrician.
Why is my electric shower running cold?
Usually low water flow, a thermal cut-out that has tripped, or a failed heating element.
Why does my shower pull cord switch smell of burning?
A loose connection or an undersized switch can overheat. Switch off at the consumer unit and have it checked straight away.
Can I replace an electric shower myself?
An electric shower needs its own circuit sized for its power and work in a bathroom is often notifiable. Use a registered electrician.
Shower still not working?
We fault-find shower circuits, replace burnt switches and connections and test everything is safe. See our electrical installations and repairs.