Strange Salamander Problem

[ukrobj]

Got me thinking now; can you elaborate on the diagram a bit more with some approximate vertical dimensions realative to the cws tank; include the shower head & taps. Are there up & over loops feeding the shower head & do they have vents?

Hi Richard, ok...

CWST is on the same floor level as the shower and basin. Its floor mounted to lower than the outlet on the shower and basin taps.

The CWST is approx 2.6m above the cylinder, (loft converted to bedroom with en-suit)

The shower outlets are approx 4ft above floor level. Basin are approx 3ft aboe floor level.

I don't believe there are any up and over loops or vents. As I understand it, the pipework is behind the tiles and goes straight up from the pump (.5m in copper then in plastic) tee's off to shower and basin.

 

[seco services]

i thought the cws was in a loft above the shower.

 

[ukrobj]

i thought the cws was in a loft above the shower.

Sorry, on the floor (which would have been then loft before conversion) the weird thing everything was working fine for 8 months up to a month ago, then this problem started to occur.

 

[picasso]

check the vent on the coffin tank isint jammed closed, as the pump runs it will create a vaccum , maybe, probably

 

[ukrobj]

check the vent on the coffin tank isint jammed closed, as the pump runs it will create a vaccum , maybe, probably

Ahh possible, great suggestion, will check that out on next visit.

 

[seco services]

won't be a vaccum as the cold is ok.
and the hot will vent through the vent pipe

 

[picasso]

other than the vent for the cylinder being under the water level in the tank, I am stumped

 

[seco services]

other than the vent for the cylinder being under the water level in the tank,

possible.

I am stumped

me to

 

[Richard C]

Challenging but still thinking

 

[ukrobj]

Well i appriciate all the input, gonna keep plugging away at it, strange thing is the we have proved the pump is fine via the shower outlet with lever valves instead of a mixer. I was wondering if there is more pressure on the pumps cold outlet than the hot and on the mixer it was forcing hot back and creating an air lock.

But now im thinking that won't happen as there is a non-return valve on it....... hmmmm

 

[jono_h]

You have to be very careful which salamander pump you use when connecting up to taps.
With a shower valve there is always some hot and cold water flowing through the valve wherever you set the temperature.
However with a tap you can just run it hot or cold. This means that one side of the pump won't have any water flowing through it which can damage the impellor, seals or bearings. To overcome this salamander have a whole house pump with a bypass between the hot and cold.

Is it possible that the pump has been damaged by being connected to the mixer tap?

 

[ukrobj]

Is it possible that the pump has been damaged by being connected to the mixer tap?

Jono, its a high possibility! However that said, when testing the pump, seemed to pump both hot and cold into buckets with good flow and pressure for about 10 mins with no issues.

 

[picasso]

if the pump is running on positive head mode, the shower will run into buckets ok because the shower head is lower or at least equal with cwst, when you raise the shower head its then negative head,

have a look at the led,s on the pump, if its in positive head the instructions show how to change it to negative,