Power shower problem

[LSainsbury]

Morning all,

I have a small problem with our power shower...so one for all the DIYer's!

The problem is - it works ok but occasionally when it's in use it goes cold, but then it comes back to hot again.

I think it's a cold feed only shower and it heats the water as required...

So - possibly the heating element or something else? I also thought it might be something to do with the water - i.e. if it's hard water perhaps the filter may got furred up or something?

Any advice?


Cheers

Lee

[Xaccers]

Thermostat.
It's possibly reading high temperature and cutting out, or just going loopy and cutting out for the sake of it.

[Taf]

Air trapped in the boiler cylinder can do this.... read the shower instructions on how to clear the air out...

[bopdude]

Originally Posted by lsainsbury

I think it's a cold feed only shower and it heats the water as required...

So - possibly the heating element or something else? I also thought it might be something to do with the water - i.e. if it's hard water perhaps the filter may got furred up or something?

Any advice?


Cheers

Lee

Knowing the type of set up would help a bit more, you say ' you think it's cold water only' can you see the piping to the shower, we are talking about electric here and not off the c/h system, aren't we ???

[LSainsbury]

Hi,

Sorry for the delay - busy day yesterday...

I've found a manual for it...

There is a troubleshoot section...will have a look through those...

As already pointed out - possibly the thermostat...

Cheers

Lee

[Lord Nikon]

Water pressure perhaps?

If changes in shower
temperature are experienced during normal use,
it will most likely be caused by the water
pressure falling near to or below the minimum
level.

Also try clesning the water inlet filter (turn the water off first)

failing which I would suspect the thermal trip (marked as 6 in the manual)

[rockin_plumber]

Hello there

Right...

Firstly... It’s not a power shower
It’s an Instantaneous Electric Shower

Do you live in a hard water area???
How old is the shower???

It could be a case of poor water flow???
Is someone running a tap while ur in the shower???
There aren’t normally any filters on these things.



If you live in a hard water area....
And the shower is older than say 5 or 6 years....
Depending on how often the shower gets used....

You will have a build-up of lime scale in it more than likely
This could cause this??

Or maybe you do have the shower quite hot??
And the thermal cut-out is cutting in again due to lime scale build up giving it false temperature readings....

Either way if you take the front off the shower box....
TURN OFF ELECTRIC FIRST!!!!!!
You will see a small copper cylinder... or a plastic one if it’s a newer shower...
This is the blighter that is full of scale
Normally it’s not worth bothering with trying to descale the things as it ends up causing leaks and stuff on em

So it may be just a case of getting a new shower....

But if in doubt get someone in to check it

[LSainsbury]

Sorry for the last reply - been a bit busy!

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

Hello there

Yay! A plumber on CF

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

Firstly... It’s not a power shower
It’s an Instantaneous Electric Shower

OK - my mistake! To me it's just a shower!

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

Do you live in a hard water area???
How old is the shower???

Don't think so...it's never come out of the tap and tried to punch me...

Seriously - not sure - how can I check this?

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

It could be a case of poor water flow???
Is someone running a tap while ur in the shower???
There aren’t normally any filters on these things.

Nope - nobody running taps - the missus is either a) in bed or b) at work.
No filters - ok - thanks

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

If you live in a hard water area....
And the shower is older than say 5 or 6 years....
Depending on how often the shower gets used....

It's a new build house in a new development - been in since June 06

Shower is used most days...

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

You will have a build-up of lime scale in it more than likely
This could cause this??

Since June 06?

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

Or maybe you do have the shower quite hot??
And the thermal cut-out is cutting in again due to lime scale build up giving it false temperature readings....

Yeah - I like the shower quite hot and the missus likes it a bit colder but it's done it to both of us...

I have turned up the boiler, but if it's a cold fill I suppose it'll make 0 deference!

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

Either way if you take the front off the shower box....

Yeah...

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

TURN OFF ELECTRIC FIRST!!!!!!

No ****!!!

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

You will see a small copper cylinder... or a plastic one if it’s a newer shower...

Looks at pdf diagram...yeah...

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

This is the blighter that is full of scale
Normally it’s not worth bothering with trying to descale the things as it ends up causing leaks and stuff on em

Rock on...oh....

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

So it may be just a case of getting a new shower....

...or getting the people that supplied it to fix / replace it - which is what we have done.

Originally Posted by rockin_plumber

But if in doubt get someone in to check it

See above! Thanks rockin_plumber! Rep on the way!


Do I get the award for the most fragmented post?

[Lord Nikon]

Actually rockin_plumber - there is an input filter clearly labeled on the pdf diagram of the shower

[LSainsbury]

Originally Posted by Lord Nikon

Actually rockin_plumber - there is an input filter clearly labeled on the pdf diagram of the shower

If I was to attempt to clean that, would I need to turn of the water mains first?

[Lord Nikon]

yes, and the power as it's just inside the cover of the shower.

[LSainsbury]

Electric: Yep - goes without saying...

Why does the water need to be off? As long as it's not pumping water it should be ok - shouldn't it??

[Lord Nikon]

Well, think of it this way, that shower doesn't "pump" water, it uses mains water pressure as it's supply, when you open the filter it's the equivalent of taking the top off a tap. You wouldn't want to be in front of it unless the water is off.

otherwise your bathroom is about to gain a very interesting and potentially expensive and definitely messy water feature lol

[LSainsbury]

Originally Posted by Lord Nikon

Well, think of it this way, that shower doesn't "pump" water, it uses mains water pressure as it's supply, when you open the filter it's the equivalent of taking the top off a tap. You wouldn't want to be in front of it unless the water is off.

otherwise your bathroom is about to gain a very interesting and potentially expensive and definitely messy water feature lol

LOL...ok - so I turn off the water under the kitchen sink - what about the existing water in the system - or do I need to run a few taps to get it out the system??

[Lord Nikon]

Shouldn't be much residual in the system once the water is off, certainly not enough to get interesting in a shower cubicle lol