Electric Shower - possible pressure issue

counting · 23 Jan 2007

I currently have an electric shower in my 1st floor flat. It is a gainsborough 8.5kw shower . The shower is run from the mains water. The pressure in my bath is quite good, but not quite as powerful as the kitchen next door which is very strong.

During the summer the shower is always far to hot and is mostly un-useable. In the winter the temperature is better (but still never flows out to even close to cold).

The output is usually no more than a trickle and any time of year.

I am looking for some advice as to what I can do about this. Would a more powerful shower be the answer and if so do I need to look for any special features?

Maxxy · 23 Jan 2007

I had a similar problem in my parents house. Even on the coldest setting it was too hot at full power, so i used to turn it to half power. Not sure if its any help - but maybe a temporary solution until you get a new one.

The case is probably that the heating element is too big for the water flow -so al;l the heat goes into a small ammount of water. A smaller kW shower would probably be the solution - no doubt someone here will be able to clarify.

davy_owen_88 · 23 Jan 2007

A higher rated shower will actually make things worse. As Maxxy said, the energy passing from the element into the water is fixed. It is the flow that dictates the temperature of the water.

During the summer the incoming water temperature is higher but since the heat transfer from the element is fixed the result is hotter water. If you want a cooler shower in the summer get a lower rated shower or increase the water pressure some how.

Davy

jj4091 · 23 Jan 2007

Think you may have a plumbing problem rather than an electrical one.

luminaire · 23 Jan 2007

jj4091 said:
Think you may have a plumbing problem rather than an electrical one.

I was thinking the same - are you sure you've taken the supply from the rising main?

sm1thson · 23 Jan 2007

sounds like somethings blocked to me, maybe just the head needs cleaning. im not sure tho i dont have an electric shower

Steve · 23 Jan 2007

counting, do you have a cold water storage tank within the flat? Is there a chance the shower could be fed off this?

The inlet to the shower may be scaled up. The pipework in the shower might be scaled up. The shower head might be gunked up inside. Is the flow ok?

When the variable temperature dial is turned round to cold, the flow should be huge, very powerful, and the water should be very cold, even with the power setting on full.

counting · 26 Jan 2007

Thanks for all your advice.

I am pretty sure the shower is connected to the mains as there is not a cold water tank in the flat, but I will check if there is possibly one in the loft feeding the flats, just in case there has been some dodgy plumbing.

The shower head is new as I replaced it just in case.

From what I believe I can't fit a pump to a mains water supply.

Does anyone know of any other solutions to this problem???

ELZ4742 · 26 Jan 2007

re-pipe off the bath cold supply?

do electric showers have an internal pump? if so could it be the prob?

Chri5 · 26 Jan 2007

Might sound sully, but could the shower hose between the unit and the head be f3cked?

The hose is always a weak spot and can become over twisted, kinked etc.

To test the shower re: water feed, turn on the sink tap (which is mains fed) then turn on the shower, if you see a drop in pressure at the sink you know the shower is mains fed.

Another thing would be to check any water isolation units on the shower feed and make sure they are fully open, rather than half which would again give lower pressure.

Chivers7 · 26 Jan 2007

some showers have a small internal filter than can get clogged up with tiny debris such as solder from plumbing, limescale or some other little piece of crap. See if its got one and check to make sure its clean. It sounds more like a pressure plumbing problem to me. Especially if there's barely more than a trickle.

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Electric Shower - possible pressure issue

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