I got a tingle from the shower once. Is it still urgent?

Yes. A single mild shock or tingle under the shower is enough reason to stop using it and call an electrician. Conditions change with wet skin, and the next contact can be far worse.

Is an electric shower shock the same as a shock from a tap?

They are related. Both often involve live current on water or metalwork. A shower shock may be local to the unit, while a tap shock often points at immersion, bonding or pipework elsewhere. Either way, stop using wet-area electrics and book an electrician.

Should the RCD have tripped?

A working RCD should disconnect quickly on a genuine earth fault. If you received a shock and the RCD did not trip, the device may be faulty, the circuit may lack RCD protection, or the earth path may be incomplete. That is another reason for a same-day visit.

Can I keep using a mixer shower fed from a boiler?

Only after an electrician has confirmed the installation is safe. A mixer shower can still feel live if pipework is energised. Do not assume "it is not an electric shower" means it is safe.

Emergency

Updated 16 September 2026

Electric Shock From The Shower

You felt a shock, jolt or sustained tingle from an electric shower, the shower controls, or while standing in the water. Stop using the shower immediately, keep others out, and treat this as an electrical emergency: wet skin and bare feet make even small faults dangerous.

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What's happening?

An electric shock from a shower means live current is reaching the shower unit, its metalwork, or the water itself. In UK homes the usual sources are a failing electric shower (element or earth fault), damaged flex or terminals behind the unit, missing or broken supplementary bonding, or a wider pipework fault that also shows at taps. Bathroom zones and wet conditions make this one of the highest-risk domestic electrical symptoms.

What usually causes it?

Failing heating element or insulation breakdown inside an electric shower
Loose or disconnected earth at the shower unit or consumer unit
Damaged cable or flex behind the shower, often from wall fixings or age
Missing or ineffective supplementary bonding on bathroom metalwork
Water ingress into the shower unit or a poorly sealed cable entry
A fault elsewhere on bonded pipework that becomes noticeable under the shower

Is it dangerous?

Yes. This is an emergency. Being wet and barefoot dramatically increases shock severity. Do not keep using the shower to "see if it happens again". If anyone has collapsed, lost consciousness, or been badly burned, call 999 first.

Can I fix it myself?

Do not open the shower or bathroom electrics. If safe, turn off the shower circuit MCB (or the main switch if you cannot identify it). Leave the shower unused and keep the bathroom dry underfoot. Do not stand in water while operating consumer-unit switches if the floor is wet.

When should you call an electrician?

Call an emergency electrician the same day. Do not use the shower until they have tested and made the installation safe. Ask for written confirmation of the fault found and the tests completed.