Do You Need a Plumber to Install a Shower in London? Here’s What You Should Know

Planning a bathroom refurb or replacing an old shower? If you have your heart set on a lovely walk-in shower with a rainfall head, buying it is just the first step.

You’ll also need to work out how best to fit it.

The big question is – do you need a plumber in London to install a shower, or can you do it yourself? If you’ve spent quite a bit on your shower, shower tray and tiles, you might be tempted to save some cash by fitting it yourself.

With London’s unique housing quirks – whether you live in a Victorian terrace in Islington, a converted flat in Hackney, or a new build in Battersea – it’s important to consider your plumbing setup before diving into a shower installation.

Read on to find out all the essentials you need to know.

Can You Install a Shower Yourself?

Unless you’re an experienced plumber or have advanced DIY skills, it’s recommended to leave this kind of job to the professionals.

Installing a new shower can actually be quite a complicated job. It may involve pipework and connections between wastes and drains, and even electrical work if you’ve gone with an electric shower.

You’ll also need to consider:

• Water pressure: Many London homes, especially in older buildings, suffer from low water pressure. This can affect the performance of certain types of showers, particularly high-end models with rainfall heads.
• Hard water: London’s hard water can cause limescale buildup, which may reduce the lifespan of your shower if not properly managed. A plumber can install a limescale inhibitor to protect your new shower from damage.

What’s Involved With Fitting a Shower?

Here are just some of the many jobs involved with fitting a shower:

• Preparing the floor underneath the shower
• Fitting a new shower tray and making sure it’s perfectly level
• Fitting a shower screen or enclosure
• Testing all connections for leaks
• Applying sealant to all joins within the enclosure for a watertight finish
• Tiling and grouting work to walls and floors
• Attaching brackets for the shower to tilework
• Fitting taps
• Fitting and connecting hot and cold water supply pipes
• Connecting the shower waste
• Installing extractor fans and lighting.

This is a lot of skills for one DIY-er to be able to master. You’ll also need an in-depth understanding of how your home’s hot water system works, along with how good your water pressure is and where existing pipework is located.

And it will also require a long list of tools, materials and equipment. You might need far more specialist kit than just a drill and a wrench.

There’s also another important thing to consider – what happens if things go wrong. Plumbing in the hands of an amateur can potentially result in leaks or even major floods, which can damage your whole house as well as your bathroom. Unless you’re very confident at this kind of work, you could be taking a very big risk.

Ultimately, you’ll find that the job can be done more quickly and to a better standard if you call in a professional bathroom fitter or plumber in London.

Do I Need an Electrician or a Plumber to Install a Shower?

If you’ve chosen a new electric shower for your bathroom, you might be wondering – do I need an electrician or a plumber to fit it?

The answer is that you might need both types of tradesperson. A plumber can carry out most parts of the installation, including the pipework. But an electrician will be required to install, connect and check the wiring and any other electrical parts of the shower.

It’s a legal requirement that this work is done by a qualified professional. An electrical item is being installed in a wet area, so specific safety precautions and measures need to be taken so that the shower can be used safely. The wiring for the bathroom may need to be on its own newly installed circuit, sockets and switches located outside the room, along with other key measures.

It’s also possible to find plumbers in London who are Part P certified. This means that they are registered with a competent persons scheme such as NICEIC to carry out electrical work and are able to self-certify the installation.

When it’s Best to Call a Plumber in London

For most Londoners, bringing in a professional plumber is the safest and easiest option, particularly if you’re dealing with:

• Old or complicated pipework: Older London homes often have outdated or poorly maintained plumbing systems, which can make installing a new shower tricky. A plumber will be able to assess the state of your pipework and make necessary upgrades to ensure a safe and leak-free installation.
• Building regulations: If your bathroom renovation involves moving plumbing, a plumber will ensure that the work complies with local building regulations. This is especially important in flats and shared properties where plumbing changes could affect neighbours.