Under Floor shower waste pump problems

Hi,

We have a shower waste pump installed beneath our wet room floor which has been leaking. The wet room is part of a loft conversion done by the previous owners and the pump is used to send the water up and over the roof to the waste pipe at the back of the property.

Under normal use there is no leak, but if you stay in the shower too long (15 mins?) which my daughters do, then the pump will cut out, and the water will cease to drain away. The pump will fill up with water (I guess) and at this point the leak occurs. After a while the pump will click back into action and the water drains away.

In addition, when in use, the pump is quite noisy in the room below (which is a bedroom) and also our adjoining neighbours complain about it. The fact it sits between joists seems to create an echo chamber effect, and the sound travels through the walls.

We have finally decided to do something about this, and so have had the ceiling in the room below removed in order that we can access the pump without lifting the wetroom floor. A plumber has taken a look and said we need to replace the pump (it's approx 10 years old), but they can't do it for 2 weeks.

I'm wondering if the pump actually needs replaced. The leaks only happens when the pump overheats and cuts out. The overheating issue must be partly due to lack of airflow as the pump is between joists, and is hard up against the chipboard above. Will link to a couple of photos of it below. The first is the waster water side entering the pump and the second is the outlet side.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JQzKewQV9hkGeSfN2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gVjlmJHANvB43Csu2

I'm wondering if we can mount the pump differently whether it might improve airflow, and also if we can somehow 'suspend' it instead of sitting on plywood attached directly to the joists it may help reduce the noise. I'm also thinking that I should be able to do this myself, rather than wait 2 weeks for the plumber.

In addition I'm thinking that even when it cuts out, the pump should not leak (I think the water overflows at the top somewhere) so maybe there is just a missing/worn seal that could be replaced, which may be obvious if I can get the thing out.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could approach this?

Thanks,

That is a Sanishower (or a copy), Firstly you have done well to get 10yrs out of what is a small pump/motor without having it serviced every year and secondly it shouldn`t have been installed like that in the first place. Without having eyes on can you route the outlet from the shower somewhere else even if it means to the room below. There is an anti-flood valve which normally wouldn`t leak however without a service it is not doing it`s job.

I don't know if re-routing is an option. The wetroom is in the loft at the front of the house. Below is my daughters bedroom. If we went that way, it would need to go to the rear of the house, through a stairwell then the kitchen. The stairs were installed as part of the loft conversion, and are between the shower room and the rear of the house. I guess this is why all the waster water is pumped up over the top. (There is a separate saniflo for the toilet and sink - no issue with that one so far!).

Assuming we are stuck with the basic layout, do you have any advice on how the pump could be suspended rather than fixed to the joists, and whether this is even worth looking into - would it make any difference to the noise or overheating?

Thanks,

just pumps said:

That is a Sanishower

Click to expand...

They were actually ok but need periodic servicing/inspection.

just pumps said:

(or a copy),

Click to expand...

just pumps said:

Firstly you have done well to get 10yrs out of what is a small pump/motor without having it serviced every year and secondly it shouldn`t have been installed like that in the first place.

Click to expand...

Installation looks incorrect,time to reroute the waste and fit an alternative pump.There are newer products available but it needs onsite investigation to suit your odd property

pca said:

I don't know if re-routing is an option. The wetroom is in the loft at the front of the house. Below is my daughters bedroom.

Assuming we are stuck with the basic layout, do you have any advice on how the pump could be suspended rather than fixed to the joists, and whether this is even worth looking into - would it make any difference to the noise or overheating?

Thanks,

Click to expand...

I would place the pump in the bedroom below sitting on a piece of carpet and not touching a wall. It can be covered over with a wooden boxing around 3 times the size of the pump with air holes in the wood but do not cover the pump with anything else.

Note, maximum lift of the Sanishower is 4m but aim for 3m max, if that isn`t possible then look at the Sanivite with the 5m lift and aim for 4m. Both pumps will be quieter than the old one.

If you really are stuck then place the new one on carpet as mentioned above and do not use the screws to screw it to wood as this cause`s the sound to travel through the house but the other option is better.