Bristan E2 fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
A Joy Care code covering two component faults: an inlet or outlet thermistor, or the temperature control dial. Neither is an owner repair.
Take care
Get a qualified electrician to look at your Bristan E2
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. When you book a qualified electrician, tell them the make, the model and the exact code or message on the display, and ask whether they carry parts for this make — that is what turns one visit into a repair rather than a quote.
What E2 means
E2 is Bristan grouping two component failures under one display, and what they have in common is that each breaks the shower’s ability to control temperature deliberately rather than accidentally. The first is the sensors: Bristan list an inlet thermistor or outlet thermistor fault, and their published check is worth noting because it distinguishes a broken sensor from a disconnected one — they ask whether the thermistor cable assembly, four black wires, is fully inserted into the connector on the power supply board.
A sensor that has come adrift reads exactly like a sensor that has failed, and one of those is a great deal cheaper to put right. The second is the temperature control dial itself, which Bristan answer with a straight instruction to call customer services. The solenoid valve, which an earlier reading of Bristan’s table had placed here, belongs to E3: the table’s own rules put it in the group below.
What is left under E2 is the shower’s temperature information and the input that sets it, and the one published check is a connector. Connectors inside a warm, damp enclosure work loose and corrode, and an intermittent E2 that comes and goes is more consistent with a marginal connection than with a failed sensor. None of this is owner-accessible: the check Bristan describe is on the power supply board behind the cover of an appliance fed by a 40 amp circuit, which is why this page carries no steps.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Inlet or outlet thermistor faulty | Bristan’s first cause. Either sensor failing takes away the temperature information the shower controls itself with. | Common |
| Thermistor cable not fully inserted | The check Bristan publish before replacement. Four black wires into the connector on the power supply board — adrift reads the same as failed. | Common |
| Fault with the temperature control dial | The input rather than the sensor. Bristan give no check for this one, only an instruction to call customer services. | Occasional |
Can you fix it yourself?
Stop — this needs an engineer
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£80–£220
Time on site
1 hour
A reseated connector is a visit and nothing more. A thermistor or a control dial is the part on top, and all of it is covered inside the guarantee.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 2026. Your quote may differ.
Own this appliance and had this code? . Nothing is published until a person has read it.
Related Bristan fault codes
- E1Get it checkedThe code where Bristan contradict themselves. On a Glee it is a failed thermistor and a phone call; on a Joy Care, hot water left in the unit or a blockage you clear yourself.Related: sensors
- LPGet it checkedTwo letters that look like an abbreviation for low pressure. On a Joy Care, Bristan file six different causes under them, including a tripped cut-out.Related: same brand
- E3Get it checkedA Joy Care code about water arriving. Two of Bristan’s four causes are things you can check yourself in a few minutes and cost nothing.Related: same brand
- CLUsually simple to fixNot a fault. A scheduled cleaning reminder that runs for five shower cycles and then stops on its own, whether or not you do anything.Related: same brand
- Two dashes on the displayUsually simple to fixStandby, and nothing more. Bristan document two dashes as meaning the shower is powered and ready to start, which is the opposite of a fault.Related: same brand
Own a Bristan electric shower? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Common questions about Bristan E2
Is there anything I can check myself?
Not on this one. Every check Bristan publish for E2 is a connector on the power supply board behind the cover, and getting there means opening an appliance on a 40 amp circuit in a bathroom.
It comes and goes rather than staying on. Does that help?
Yes, and it is worth mentioning when you book. Bristan’s thermistor cause comes with a connector check before the call, and an intermittent fault fits a marginal connection better than a failed component.
Which shower models show E2?
The Joy Care guide documents it. The Glee guide does not list E2 at all, so on that model this code is not part of the published set — check the guide for your own shower.
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer technical and service documentation
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.