Shower Problems

[mugz79]

Just starting to replace everything in my bathroom.

I am replacing the power shower as the internal pump has broken. As I'm on a budget I want to try & replace the shower as cheaply as poss I am considering a seperate pump (On ebay around £30 - £40) combined with a mixer shower unit.

How easy is this to do? Am I just as well replacing with a new power shower?
Does the external shower pump have to be positioned anywhere impaticular? Please any advie would be appreciated, the wife is bending my ear

 

[Elitepm]

Is the shower in the bath or a separate cubicle?
If it is above the bath, you can usually site the pump under the bath. You can tee off the existing supplys to the bath and either have the bath and/or the shower pumped. Simple shower booster pumps such as Salamander or Stuart Turner pumps are twin impellor types and literally have a hot and cold supply going in and hot and cold outlets to your draw off. If you want to locate the pump elsewhere (usually the airing cupboard) you will need a separate outlet from your tank in the loft and a new draw-off from the cylinder (preferably via a Surrey or Essex flange). However, you can also tee off from the vent pipe just above the cylinder. These two feeds will supply the pump and the two outlets will supply the valve.
It can be a bit daunting the first time, but once you've done it once- you'll wonder what all the fuss was about!
I will say at this point, that at least a good level of DIY skill is essential.

Good lick

Brian

 

[Gasguru]

I suggest the cheapest option is for you to replace the pumped shower with something similar. AFAIK the only pumps suitable for underbath installations are low voltage pumps (eg Watermill)...mains voltage may not comply.

Putting a pump onto the hot and cold pipework under the bath may not work. Pumps are not as simple as you may think. I suggest you thoroughly read the technical documents from the major manufacturers if you want to avoid cavitation and the many other problems that get regularly posted on here.

Most of these cheap deals on ebay are rubbish quality - read previous postings, the neverending disapointment with junk imported products from China/India.