Hi,
I have an unusual issue with my shower pump:-
Last year I had a thermostatic shower with a twin pump fitted.
Since it was installed the shower has worked intermittently. Sometimes it's fine, other times the water pulses and loses power over a few minutes. Turning the shower off and on again (with the tap) restores the full flow for a few more minutes before it needs doing again.
The water is heated with an oil boiler. I believe it is a gravity boiler (for the simple reason that there is no cylinder thermostat).
Then in the spring I switched the boiler off and started using the tank's immersion heater. And the problems went away overnight.
Now I've tried the boiler again and immediately the issues have returned, only worse than before! Now the pump works and gives a strong flow of water, but it's all cold, even though there is hot water in the tank.
Temporarily I've switched back to the immersion heater, but I'd like to get this sorted before I need the central heating...
Thoughts
Could the hot water be too hot when heated by the boiler? I believe this can cause cavitation in the pump. Might it stop the hot water coming through at all? The only adjustment I can see on the boiler is a simple "hi/low" dial. I've set this to low, but it's not helping.
A local heating engineer has said he can fit a valve that limits the flow of water to the hot water tank when it reaches a pre-set temperature. Seems a bit steep though - £600 (including new room thermostat and timer).
Could the boiler thermostat need calibrating?
Am I barking up the wrong tree? Any other ideas what the problem might be?
I'm getting desperate (and the weather's getting colder)!
Thanks in advance for your ideas..
I have an unusual issue with my shower pump:-
Last year I had a thermostatic shower with a twin pump fitted.
Since it was installed the shower has worked intermittently. Sometimes it's fine, other times the water pulses and loses power over a few minutes. Turning the shower off and on again (with the tap) restores the full flow for a few more minutes before it needs doing again.
The water is heated with an oil boiler. I believe it is a gravity boiler (for the simple reason that there is no cylinder thermostat).
Then in the spring I switched the boiler off and started using the tank's immersion heater. And the problems went away overnight.
Now I've tried the boiler again and immediately the issues have returned, only worse than before! Now the pump works and gives a strong flow of water, but it's all cold, even though there is hot water in the tank.
Temporarily I've switched back to the immersion heater, but I'd like to get this sorted before I need the central heating...
Thoughts
Could the hot water be too hot when heated by the boiler? I believe this can cause cavitation in the pump. Might it stop the hot water coming through at all? The only adjustment I can see on the boiler is a simple "hi/low" dial. I've set this to low, but it's not helping.
A local heating engineer has said he can fit a valve that limits the flow of water to the hot water tank when it reaches a pre-set temperature. Seems a bit steep though - £600 (including new room thermostat and timer).
Could the boiler thermostat need calibrating?
Am I barking up the wrong tree? Any other ideas what the problem might be?
I'm getting desperate (and the weather's getting colder)!
Thanks in advance for your ideas..