A burning or strong electrical smell means stop using the shower, isolate the power, and call a qualified electrician before you use it again, this is not a fault to investigate yourself. A faint, plasticky smell for the first few uses on a brand new unit is normal and settles down as the internal components bed in, but anything sharp, acrid or smoky is a different matter entirely.
Applies to: steam showers
If your steam shower smells like burning, the first thing to establish is whether the unit is new or has been in use for some time.
A slight “new” smell during the first few uses can be completely normal as internal components heat up for the first time. However, a strong or persistent burning smell on an existing unit should never be ignored, as it can indicate an electrical fault or component failure.
Compatible with many shower cabin brands including
Quick diagnosis
If your steam shower is showing these symptoms:
- A sharp, acrid or electrical smell, rather than a mild new-unit odour
- The smell appears suddenly on a unit that's been fine until now
- The RCD trips when steam is activated
- The smell is accompanied by a loss of power or function
- A mild plastic smell only on a brand new installation
Likely causes, most likely first
- A genuine electrical fault. Overheating connections, damaged wiring or a failing component inside the generator or control box produce a sharp, acrid smell, this is the one that needs an electrician, not a DIY check.
- A cracked heating element casing. Where the element’s casing has let water reach a live part, this often trips the RCD the instant the unit is switched on, alongside the smell.
- New-unit bedding in. A mild smell from protective coatings or seals curing under heat is normal on a brand new installation and fades within the first few sessions.
Likely cause
A new unit giving off a faint, plasticky smell for its first few uses is normal and nothing to worry about. A strong, acrid or electrical smell is not, it can mean a wiring connection has overheated, or in more serious cases that the heating element's casing has cracked and let water reach a live part inside the generator. Either of those is a wiring fault inside a mains-powered unit, which is why it needs a qualified electrician rather than a DIY check.
Check this first
- Note whether the unit is brand new, a mild smell in the first few uses is expected and will fade on its own.
- Note whether the RCD had already tripped when you noticed the smell, that points to an electrical fault rather than a smell alone. Don’t switch the unit on to test it.
- A musty or stale smell, rather than burning or electrical, is a different problem, see “Why Does My Steam Shower Steam Smell Bad?”
- Do not open the generator casing or touch any wiring yourself to investigate further.
How to fix it
- If the smell is strong, acrid or electrical, isolate the power at the wall spur or RCD immediately and do not use the shower again
- Do not open the generator or investigate the wiring yourself
- Call a qualified electrician or your installer to check the connections, heating element and control box
- If the smell is faint and the unit is a new installation still settling in, it’s fine to keep using it and the smell should fade within the first few sessions
- Only use the shower again once an electrician has confirmed it’s safe, if the smell was ever strong or electrical
Also described as
- Steam shower burning smell
- Steam shower smells like burning plastic
- Steam shower electrical smell
- Steam cabin burning smell
When to call a professional
Call a qualified electrician straight away for any smell that isn't a faint, fading new-unit odour, especially if it comes with an RCD trip or any loss of power.
