A word of warning about these pumps that I think needs to be spread to prevent serious consequences:
I had a leaky fitting on the shower mixer so I isolated the water supply to the pump by closing the gate valves. One gate valve evidently didn't perfectly seal off the supply and let a small flow though. This flow was sufficient to activate the pump but insufficient to keep the pump cool with the result that clouds of smoke started to issue from the pump.
Fortunately I was still in the airing cupboard, where the pump is located, when this started happening so I was able to isolate the electrical supply but I dread to think what might have happened if I had already gone back to the shower to check the leak.
I spoke to a chap named Rob at Gummers and asked him if this was a known fault. His response was that I should have ensured that the water was totally isolated (with which I obviously agreed but assured him that I thought it was) and that perhaps I might want to turn it back on and try again (with which I did not quite agree).
Apparently the manufacturer who produced these pumps for them has gone bust (not surprisingly) and Gummers hold no stock, no spares and have no interest in investigating further "because it must have passed the BSI tests".
I have no problem with buying a new shower pump (although I won't buy through Screwfix again unless they include more details of the original manufacturer) so the motive for my post is not financial. I have genuine concerns that there exists a risk to life caused by installations of this sub-standard product. I would strongly suggest that if you have one of these units you consider installing a smoke detector above it.
I had a leaky fitting on the shower mixer so I isolated the water supply to the pump by closing the gate valves. One gate valve evidently didn't perfectly seal off the supply and let a small flow though. This flow was sufficient to activate the pump but insufficient to keep the pump cool with the result that clouds of smoke started to issue from the pump.
Fortunately I was still in the airing cupboard, where the pump is located, when this started happening so I was able to isolate the electrical supply but I dread to think what might have happened if I had already gone back to the shower to check the leak.
I spoke to a chap named Rob at Gummers and asked him if this was a known fault. His response was that I should have ensured that the water was totally isolated (with which I obviously agreed but assured him that I thought it was) and that perhaps I might want to turn it back on and try again (with which I did not quite agree).
Apparently the manufacturer who produced these pumps for them has gone bust (not surprisingly) and Gummers hold no stock, no spares and have no interest in investigating further "because it must have passed the BSI tests".
I have no problem with buying a new shower pump (although I won't buy through Screwfix again unless they include more details of the original manufacturer) so the motive for my post is not financial. I have genuine concerns that there exists a risk to life caused by installations of this sub-standard product. I would strongly suggest that if you have one of these units you consider installing a smoke detector above it.
