What shall I do with this?

[penguinventures]

Here's the proffesionally installed shower pump in my loft.

What shall I do with it?

I realised this weekend that the flow is restricted by the 2 flexi-hoses the plumbers put linking the 22mm pipes. The ID of the flexi hose has got to be less than 10mm?

Thing is - where do I start? The pipe routing is stupidly overcomplicated with excessive bends - the only person who gained here was the plumbers merchant.

Any advice/comments welcome - the picture should really go on the forum as "proffesional disasters" but there's no category?

 

[ChrisR]

It isn't perfect but I doubt it'll make the slightest difference if you change it. The pipes should be supported, and I'd remove the flexies you mention because they aren't strong enough.
He's used all the elbows because you shouldn't bend the flexies which are on the pump very much, so he got that right.
The loft isn't the best place for a pump anyway.

 

[penguinventures]

Hi Chris,

The MI states 22mm all way through. I am a bit disappointed with the flow - its not a particularly powerful jet of water - certainly not making the most of the settings on the shower head. I'd have thought the reduction to 10mm would make a difference?

I'm thinking of doing away with the small flexi's using 22mm copper to join the U's to the pipes to the shower on the floor. I can then support these on the paving slab. I'll make up a timber support to support the pipe from the cold tank. The feed from the hot is now supported.

The pump had to go in the loft as there was no room on the floor below. Would mounting a pump like this in the loft affect the flow rate?

I'm making a box to conceal the whole thing so its protected from the elements and heavy footed visitors to the loft.

 

[seco services]

does the pump kick in ok when shower turned on ?

 

[Onetap]

What shall I do with it?

Start again.

You've been done by a cowboy.

Start by getting proper continuous supports for the cold water storage tank(WBP ply on joist supports).

Did you remove the insulation from the tank and pipework, or was any fitted?

Is the galvanized tank redundant, or is it the heating feed & expansion tank?

Maybe later we'll progress to the pump; for starters, I suspect the available static head is inadequate (check the manufacturer's installation instructions). The hot water side will be prone to air-locking, IMHO.

 

[WDIK]

Im not a pluber but the expression dogs break spring to mind

 

[fitz1]

try selling it as a piece of modern art, and call it" expensive mass of mess"

 

[Baxmax]

Did you get charged by the elbow If so it must have been expensive as they are all Yorkshire,even managed to get an obtuse one in there

 

[crockett]

penguin, you do seem to have hit the motherlode of problems from that sh*t of a plumber I hope he didn't sting you for too much money. I would still chase him up, especially if he gave you a written quote. I would see about some form of legal recourse. Seriously.

 

[clf-gas]

Is the galvanized tank redundant, or is it the heating feed & expansion tank?

Can't be can it. its supporting the new F&E

Would'nt be the same plumber who as cleand off the tile grout down your shower trap would it

 

[penguinventures]

does the pump kick in ok when shower turned on ?

The pump kicks in fine and there are no air lock problems. Its just in my opinion a bit weak on flow. But then the shower waste doesn't drain as well as it should - this has issues too - currently a subject of another post!

 

[penguinventures]

Start by getting proper continuous supports for the cold water storage tank(WBP ply on joist supports).

I shall have a closer look at this - the tank wasn't part of his installation.

Did you remove the insulation from the tank and pipework, or was any fitted?

The insulation was removed for the job but left off.

Is the galvanized tank redundant, or is it the heating feed & expansion tank?

Its redundant

Maybe later we'll progress to the pump; for starters, I suspect the available static head is inadequate (check the manufacturer's installation instructions). The hot water side will be prone to air-locking, IMHO

I made sure he followed the MI as initially he wanted to do something else. The static head is compliant with MI and the feed from the Hot Tank is compliant - but not preffered. The pump functions fine - kicks in every time and no air passing through shower. Why do you thing the hot water side will be prone to air-locking?

 

[penguinventures]

Did you get charged by the elbow If so it must have been expensive as they are all Yorkshire,even managed to get an obtuse one in there

He told me how expensive it was as if I would be impressed! That was the day before he screwed up the toilet and got barred from the house.

 

[WDIK]

Did you get charged by the elbow If so it must have been expensive as they are all Yorkshire,even managed to get an obtuse one in there

He told me how expensive it was as if I would be impressed! That was the day before he screwed up the toilet and got barred from the house.

is this the same guy who did your shower waste?

 

[penguinventures]

penguin, you do seem to have hit the motherlode of problems from that sh*t of a plumber I hope he didn't sting you for too much money. I would still chase him up, especially if he gave you a written quote. I would see about some form of legal recourse. Seriously.

Hi Crockett,
He came back to fix a leak on the toilet soil pipe and made such a mess of it - I don't want to risk getting him back to fix anything else. So far I've spent two weekends sorting out rotating taps on the bath, removing the toilet and refitting it with correct components, remaking the bodged Pendock Ducting, remaking the MDF bath panel so it doesn't absorb water, now the shower pump and the shower waste. I agree there ought to some recourse maybe even legal - but he's not a member of a proffesional institution and to be honest whilst it completely grates my nerves and I need counselling for the personal stress caused I just want to go forward and get the thing put right myself.