FAQ
Why do I get an electric shock from the shower tap (faucet)?
You get a shock from the shower tap because leaking current is reaching the pipes and the installation is not sending it to earth: the earthing fails, the bathroom equipotential bonding fails or the RCD does not trip. It is dangerous: do not shower until it has been checked and ask for an urgent inspection.
Electric shock from the shower tap: what is happening
In a correct installation, when an appliance leaks, the current goes to earth through the protective conductor and the RCD (diferencial) cuts the power instantly. If you feel a shock from the shower tap, several things are failing at once: there is a leak, the current is finding a path through the metal pipes and the protection is not acting. Your body, wet and barefoot, completes the circuit.
The most common causes
- Electric water heater (termo) with a leaking element. It is connected to both water and electricity, and is suspect number one.
- Washing machine or another appliance leaking near the pipes.
- A home with no earthing (grounding) or with deteriorated earth rods, common in old installations with sockets lacking earth pins.
- Missing equipotential bonding, the connection of pipes, bath and metal parts in the bathroom so there is no voltage difference between them.
- A faulty RCD that does not trip even when there is a leak.
What to do right now
- Do not touch taps or pipes with bare or wet feet.
- Press the RCD’s test button (T). If it does not trip, it is faulty.
- Switch off the water heater’s breaker and carefully check whether the shock disappears.
- Call an electrician and do not shower until it has been checked.
What the electrician checks
They measure the earth resistance, the continuity of the protective conductors and the insulation of the appliances, especially the water heater. They check the equipotential bonding and that the bathroom fittings respect the safety zones around the shower or bath. The rules that apply are ITC-BT-18 (earthing), ITC-BT-24 (indirect contact) and ITC-BT-27 (rooms with a bath or shower).
| Job | Guide price excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| Inspection with tests | 70 to 100 € plus the repair |
| Replacing the RCD | 50 to 250 € |
| Installing or improving the earthing | 250 to 600 € (estimate depending on access to the ground) |
If your installation has no earthing
This is the underlying problem in many old homes. Without an earth, the RCD cannot act in time when the casing of an appliance becomes live.
When to call an electrician
Now. A shock in the bathroom is a warning you should not ignore. In Seville, Spain we deal with it through our emergency electrician service and fix the underlying cause through electrical safety. More answers in our FAQ.
Related services
Electric shocks from taps
If you get electric shocks from taps (faucets), the shower, the washing machine or the fridge, a metal part is live and the current is not being carried to earth. That is a real risk of electrocution. In Seville, Spain we check the earthing (grounding), the protective conductors and the insulation of your appliances to find the fault and remove it.
Earthing
Earthing (grounding in the US, toma de tierra in Spain) is what allows your RCD to protect you from an electric shock. In Seville, Spain we carry out earthing installation and testing in flats and houses: earth rods or buried conductor, main earth line, connection of every circuit and a resistance measurement to confirm it works.
Related questions
Why does my RCD (diferencial) trip in Spain?
What should I do if my RCD has tripped and will not reset?
What is the difference between an RCD (diferencial) and an MCB (magnetotérmico)?
Why does the power go off when I use the oven and hob at the same time?
What should I do if the power goes off at home in Spain?
How do I know if a power cut is my fault or the electricity company's in Spain?
Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.