Hello. I installed a shower pump sometime ago into a shower room, which had previously been fitted with a non-pumped gravity shower, in which the hot water was supplied via an Essex flange. The Essex flange had been installed by the housebuilder 13 years ago.
Before I fitted the pump, I would frequently be plagued by airlocks in the hot supply. I cleared this by forcing mains cold water through a hot-tap. The shower would work for a couple of weeks then airlock again. The pipework from the airing cupboard to the shower is around 12M in 15mm copper.
Since I fitted the pump, it more often than not suffers from airlocks, and I would rarely get anything but a stone cold shower. I must add at this point that I am pulling the water, as opposed to pushing it, with the pump adjacent to the shower room. Whilst I realise this is not ideal, please bear in mind the following: Recently, on suspecting the Essex flange to be the problem, I capped off the Essex flange, and tee'd off the 15mm shower feed from the 22mm hot water feed adjacent to the cylinder, 45mm below the vent tee. This has resulted in lots of hot showers with good pressure. However, every 10days or so, I get an airlock, which needs to be cleared as mentioned earlier. I suspect that this occurs when a tap is opened elsewhere in the house.
I know that most of you will advise fitting a flange as this will provide an independent supply to the shower, however, my previous experience with the Essex flange was that it produced continuous airlocks.
My only issue now is how to prevent the shower from sucking air into it's supply pipe when other taps are opened. I would try a Surrey flange, but from what I've read elsewhere on this site, the flow is impeded less with an Essex flange (which puzzles me).
Moving the pump to the airing cupboard isn't an option, as this would involve damaging hardwood floors etc.
The shower functions well without the influence of other forces (ie taps opening ) elsewhere in the house.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Before I fitted the pump, I would frequently be plagued by airlocks in the hot supply. I cleared this by forcing mains cold water through a hot-tap. The shower would work for a couple of weeks then airlock again. The pipework from the airing cupboard to the shower is around 12M in 15mm copper.
Since I fitted the pump, it more often than not suffers from airlocks, and I would rarely get anything but a stone cold shower. I must add at this point that I am pulling the water, as opposed to pushing it, with the pump adjacent to the shower room. Whilst I realise this is not ideal, please bear in mind the following: Recently, on suspecting the Essex flange to be the problem, I capped off the Essex flange, and tee'd off the 15mm shower feed from the 22mm hot water feed adjacent to the cylinder, 45mm below the vent tee. This has resulted in lots of hot showers with good pressure. However, every 10days or so, I get an airlock, which needs to be cleared as mentioned earlier. I suspect that this occurs when a tap is opened elsewhere in the house.
I know that most of you will advise fitting a flange as this will provide an independent supply to the shower, however, my previous experience with the Essex flange was that it produced continuous airlocks.
My only issue now is how to prevent the shower from sucking air into it's supply pipe when other taps are opened. I would try a Surrey flange, but from what I've read elsewhere on this site, the flow is impeded less with an Essex flange (which puzzles me).
Moving the pump to the airing cupboard isn't an option, as this would involve damaging hardwood floors etc.
The shower functions well without the influence of other forces (ie taps opening ) elsewhere in the house.
Thanks for your help in advance.
