New shower problem, the mixer? Can 'a part' be replaced?

[fofum]

Hi,

I am a complete novice,I had a bathroom refit in my flat (1st florrof a 2 flat conversion),which included this shower http://www.firstbathrooms.co.uk/aqu...h_diverter_and_rigid_riser_rail-p-20051.html. I had to have a water pump fitted to increase the flow, and all was well (although to get the hot water to run to the shower I firt=st had to turn on the hot water to the bath to get the pump to kick in).

5 months later the shower no longer pulls out any hot water, the pump kind of kicks in and out but only cool water comes out (so there is a tiny bit of hot) this is despite the tempereature valve being set as high as possible.

The first plumber thought my pump had failed, but it was fine when sending hot water to the tap in the kitchen and bathroom. The plumber that fitted the bathroom thinks it is the 'temperature control mixer valve thingy' in the shower that's at fault, sometihing about a spring??

Is ther =e a part I can replace and if so what is it?or is it a new shower fitting altogether?

Many thanks indeed

 

[HERTS P&D]

Positive or negative head pump?
Does the pump, pump all the hot water outlets?
Did your plumber check the filters to the pump?
Is the pump fitted correctly.

Can you post pictures of your pump.

Also welcome to the site.

Andy

 

[JohnD]

It sounds like the flow through the shower is insufficient to turn on the switch. Set it to hot and squirt it into a bucket, without turning on the bath tap, so it is running without the pump.

Time it to full.

Calculate how many litres per minute flow and tell us.

Have you descaled the shower head recently?

Does the cold supply come from the tank?

 

[Charnwood]

5 months old, still under warranty?
You should have redress against the installer who should have redress against the merchant/shed he bought it from etc.

Get him to fix it.

 

[hazetimesfive]

probably crud in the inlet filters on the shower

 

[fofum]

Thanks for all the replies - I can post a picture - but what of? The shower? the water pump?

If its crud in the shower - how do I clean that, and does crud build up after only 5 months?

I bought the parts - so the builder won't get involved.

Shower head is descaled (again recently new so not much there anyway)

Yes the pump pumps all hot water outlets and works fine for them. Cold supply from a tank in the loft, hot supply from a tank on the same floor as the shower.

Finally - I have no idea whether it is a positive or negative head pump - whats one of those?

 

[JohnD]

It sounds like the flow through the shower is insufficient to turn on the switch. Set it to hot and squirt it into a bucket, without turning on the bath tap, so it is running without the pump.

Time it to full.

Calculate how many litres per minute flow and tell us.

Have you descaled the shower head recently?

Does the cold supply come from the tank?

 

[fofum]

Hi John,

the flow was always insufficient which is why I had to turn the bath tap on first - then the shower, then turn the bath tap off and it would keep running at the correct flow.

Not sure how the trick you mention will help me solve anything? The flow is insufficient at the moment, one plumber says its the pump, another says its the 'thingmajig' in the shower that controls the temperature - no longer asking for enough hot so that;s they there;s no flow - how do I know who's telling the truth? If I came back here with figures for filling the bucket - how would that tell you what the problem is and where/how to fix it?

If the shower initially worked fine THEN stopped working how can it suddenly be the flow from the pump? especially when its fine pumping water to other taps. Surely its something in the shower itself? Hence asking if I need a whole new shower unit - or whether a part can be replaced and if so which part?

Cold tank in the loft

Shower is less than a year old, head was cleaned weekly (no scale build up on shower head)

 

[JohnD]

If I came back here with figures for filling the bucket - how would that tell you what the problem is and where/how to fix it?

it would give an indication -

is the flow up to the amount that should trip the flow switch?

yes = the flow switch is not working properly

no = the flow is obstructed, perhaps limescale, perhaps sediment, perhaps filters, perhaps something else. You might then take the head or the mixer off and try flow from the open pipe.

Does the cold supply come from the tank?

it should do but might not