Bristan LP fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
Two 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.
Take care
What LP means
LP is the display most likely to send somebody looking in the wrong place, because it reads as plain English and on one of the two models it is not. On a Glee, Bristan keep it honest: two causes, both about water — low pressure water supply to the shower unit, and low water flow through the shower handset — with the remedy to turn the unit off and wait until pressure increases, or to increase the flow rate by turning the temperature control to a cooler setting.
On a Joy Care the same two letters carry six causes. Low pressure is one. The others are a water isolating valve partially closed, low water flow through the showerhead, a faulty outlet water temperature thermistor, an activated thermal cut-out and "other fault".
Two of those are not pressure problems in any sense. A failed thermistor is a component fault, and Bristan answer it by asking whether the four-wire thermistor cable is fully inserted into the connector on the power supply board before calling them. An activated thermal cut-out is a safety device having operated, and Bristan’s remedy for it is specific and easy to act on: turn the unit off and wait five minutes for it to cool. That last one is worth knowing about on its own, because five minutes of waiting is the whole repair and nobody would guess it from two letters that appear to be about water pressure.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Low pressure or low flow at the shower | The literal reading, and on a Glee the only one. Bristan answer it by waiting for pressure to return or increasing the flow rate. | Common |
| Thermal cut-out has activated | A Joy Care cause with a distinctive remedy: off for five minutes to cool, then try again. Bristan give the five minutes specifically. | Common |
| Water isolating valve partially closed | Listed separately from low pressure by Bristan, because the fix is different — open the valve fully rather than wait. | Occasional |
| Outlet water temperature thermistor faulty | A component fault filed under the same two letters. Bristan ask for the four-wire connector to be checked before calling them. | Occasional |
What to try yourself
Do not assume it is pressure. On a Joy Care, Bristan list six causes under LP and only three of them are about the water supply.
Turn the unit off and wait five minutes. That is Bristan’s own remedy for an activated cut-out, and it is the cheapest of the six to rule out.
Check the water isolating valve on the shower feed is fully open. Bristan list a partially closed valve as its own cause with its own remedy.
Clean the showerhead, then isolate and clean the inlet filter. Low flow through the handset is one of the causes on both models, and on a Bristan the filter unscrews from outside the unit with a large flat-blade screwdriver.
Pull the cord before touching the plumbing, and close the servicing valve rather than the whole-house stopcock. Bristan’s own instruction is to isolate the electrical and water supply to the unit before the filter comes out.If none of that clears it, the remaining causes are the thermistor and "other fault", and Bristan answer both by asking you to call them.
Get a qualified electrician to look at your Bristan LP
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 it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£190
Time on site
20 minutes
Nothing for four of the six causes — waiting, opening a valve, cleaning a head or a filter. A failed thermistor is a visit and a part.
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
- 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: water-supply
- 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: same brand
- E2Get it checkedA Joy Care code covering two component faults: an inlet or outlet thermistor, or the temperature control dial. Neither is an owner repair.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 LP
Does LP definitely mean low pressure?
On a Glee, effectively yes. On a Joy Care, no — Bristan list six causes under it including a failed thermistor and an activated thermal cut-out, neither of which is a pressure problem.
How do I tell a cut-out from a pressure problem?
By trying the five-minute wait first. If the shower comes back after being off for five minutes and works normally with good flow, that was the cut-out. If it returns immediately, look at the water.
I switched the shower off at the cord last time and now it shows a code. Is that LP?
On a Joy Care that is E1, not LP. Bristan list heated water remaining in the unit after a stop without the shutdown cycle as the first cause of E1, and the owner’s remedy is to wait for it to cool. It has its own page here.
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.