I have this fishey smell when I take a shower, its an electric shower upstairs and the smell is at bottom of stairs.

Ursula Lewsley, September 2004

If the smell is comming from the shower unit itself you could take the cover off and look for signs off over heating

RS, September 2004

Electric showers above 7.5 kw require increased fuse rating and more imprtantly increased cable cross section i.e. you need
a) 40 Amp supply fuse (8.7kW)
b) 45 Amp supply fuse (9.8kW)

often people upgrade the shower without realising that they need to rewire the supply. You need a competent electrician to check the draw of current and that the cable is OK.

Graham (amateur shower fitter!), September 2004

the fishy smell comes from the plastic in plugs,wire and fuses that are over heating it is dangerous and should be checked immediatley

RS, September 2004

Try running the shower on its coldest setting for about the same time as you would normally have a shower for. This will then be drawing the minimum ammount of electric current if you dont get the smell then it must be to do with the electrics if you do get the smell it must be to do with the drains.If it only has a 30 amp fuse it should only be a shower up to 7.5 kw

Steve, September 2004

Yes fuse box is fairly new and is at bottom of stairs on the opposite wall from where I get the smell from. Fuse is a 30amp and looks ok. Waste pipe is at back of house and smell is at front. Shower is a Mira Sport dont know the KW. Do you think this is an electricial fault?

Ursula, September 2004

Is the shower directly above the stairs , Can you see where the waste pipe comes out from the shower, What rating is the shower in KW and is your fusebox etc a fairly new one and is that at the bottom of the stairs?????

Steve, September 2004