How long does an electric shower last?
Typical
8 years
Range
6–10 years
Electric showers typically last 6–10 years — noticeably less in hard-water areas, where scale coats the heating can. They fail gently (temperature instability, low flow) before they fail completely.
What decides it
- Water hardness — the dominant factor by far
- Descaling the shower head keeps back-pressure off the unit
- Running the shower briefly cold after use flushes the can (some models do it automatically)
When to replace rather than repair
Heating-can failure is the end — by then a same-brand swap is often a like-for-like fitting job.
Typical ranges from manufacturer guidance and industry surveys — individual machines vary with use and care. General information, not advice on a specific appliance.