Non-motoring > A shower problem	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Pat	Replies: 27

Fri 2 Apr 10 04:46   A shower problem - Pat

It's having trouble starting (car link)! When I turn the shower on it starts and stops very fast much like an engine turning over. Water comes out and stops and starts as well but more worryingly, the lights in the whole of the house dim and brighten every time it does this. Eventually it starts to flow but yesterday I gave up on it and had a bath instead. When it's doing this the water feed pipe to the shower unit is 'jumping'. Is it an air lock in the system or is it electrical? Or is it terminal as it's only just over 2 years old? Any help much appreciated:) Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 07:19   A shower problem - Iffy

Pat, A long shot, but you're a very early riser, so it wasn't part-frozen was it? Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 07:47   A shower problem - Pat

No:) I'm ashamed to say it's been a worsening problem all winter and one we've ignored, as you do, until the weather gets warmer. I don't know if it's relevent, but we have one of those wierd boliers that I read about on here. The type that you need a mortgage to pay your water rates bill before any hot water comes out of the tap, and no hot water tank. Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 12:12   A shower problem - Zero

Pat, what sort of shower is it? An electric heater power shower? It sounds like it is, and it sounds like it has insuffient flow. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 13:45   A shower problem - Pat

Yes it is, but it has worked fine for 18 months until recently. Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 13:52   A shower problem - Zero

They work by regulating the flow through them, and cutting the power to the heating element. Yours does not have suffient flow into the shower. The heater is cutting in and out (the flickering lights) and cutting the water output in and out. Its either insufficient flow of water into the shower unit, or it is scaled up or the shower unit has had it. Last edited by: VxFan on Mon 5 Apr 10 at 00:27 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 13:55   A shower problem - L'escargot

>> Yes it is but it has worked fine for 18 months until recently. Internal boiling caused by restricted flow? Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 14:10   A shower problem - Pat

Thanks for that. How do I check which one of these is causing the problem? Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 14:21   A shower problem - Zero

you need to be adept at disconecting a few pipes and taking things to bits to check. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 14:38   A shower problem - Iffy

Pat, I know very little about plumbing, so can't resist replying to this thread.... You mentioned your boiler earlier. I think I'm right in saying an electric power shower will draw only mains cold water. A small point, but it means you can ignore your boiler for the purposes of fixing the shower. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 15:50   A shower problem - Pat

Well that's a relief IIH. As for disconnecting pipes, Mr pda doesn't 'do' DIY so it looks like I need a plumber then :) He calls it knowing his limitations and from past experience I have to agree with him. Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 16:02   A shower problem - bathtub tom

It should be simple enough to unscrew the shower head, then run it to see if that stops the problems. I don't know how hard the water is in the fens, but I would've thought with all that peat it would be quite soft, ruling out scaling. You could always dunk the head in a pot of vinegar to make sure. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 16:05   A shower problem - Zero

Hers comes from Rutland water. No peat there. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 16:03   A shower problem - Iffy

A pal of mine used to be a plumber. He tells me his mates still in the trade are struggling for work, and I read somewhere that a lot of the Poles have gone home for the same reason. Hopefully this means you might be able to get a plumber reasonably quickly and at a reasonable price. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 16:20   A shower problem - rtj70

What happens when the shower is run on its cold setting? Do you get a decent flow or not? Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 16:31   A shower problem - Pat

Thanks BT Ted, we've just had the shower head off and ran the shower. It flows feely, the head is clear and the shower unit still switches on and off. Sounds like it needs a bit of choke to get it to start! Seriously, it clicks each time as though there is a solenoid of some sort? Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 16:35   A shower problem - Pat

rtj, we've just tried that after we read your post and it's fine on cold, but as soon as the setting is altered to med or hot it starts doing it again. Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 2 Apr 10 17:16   A shower problem - rtj70

The fact it flows okay on cold must mean water pressure/supply is okay. Hopefully someone can suggest what to check around the heating mechanism. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 3 Apr 10 02:10   A shower problem - Pat

I can report that with a very early start needed this morning the shower refused to start at all and just continued to give us an impression of strobe lighting throughout the house! A bath takes so long.............let's hope the in-laws shower is working in Kent for tomorrow morning:) Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 3 Apr 10 09:35   A shower problem - bathtub tom

What's the inside of your kettle look like? I'm being serious. Could the internal gubbins of the shower be scaled up? Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 3 Apr 10 09:37   A shower problem - Zero

you need a plumber. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 3 Apr 10 11:05   A shower problem - Fenlander

I think I might want an electrician too... our lights never dim when the elec shower is on full belt.... sounds dodgy. Suppose the lack of heating is a problem with current supply on the shower feed... is the shower feed a proper separate one or a bodge off the ring main? Elec showers need respect as they are the nearest you'll get your body to water and mains voltage by choice. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 3 Apr 10 11:13   A shower problem - Old Navy

I'm with Zero and Fenlander, There is something definately not right, (or gone wrong), don't mess with it or use it, it could be fatal. Too few female lorry drivers already! Rent an expert. Last edited by: Old Navy on Sat 3 Apr 10 at 11:17 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 3 Apr 10 16:44   A shower problem - MD

It should have it's own feed back to the Consumer unit. I'm with the others here. PLEASE DON'T USE IT Pat. Martin Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 4 Apr 10 05:28   A shower problem - Pat

Thanks a lot for all the advice. We're in Kent this morning where thankfully, there is a fully working shower, but I promise not to use it when we get back and will get straight on to having it sorted out. Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 9 Apr 10 04:52   A shower problem - Pat

Well, the electrician came out yesterday and tested everything on the shower. It's not the water pressure, he says, and his machine kept bleeping all the time. He reseated two spade connectors that were not connected securely and the shower worked fine:) That is until this morning when it did exactly the same thing and refused to start again. To be fair to him he did say this may not cure the problem when I explained that once it gets going you can turn it off and on for a while and it performs ok. So, the next step is a new shower unit I think! Pat Last edited by: pda on Fri 9 Apr 10 at 04:53 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 9 Apr 10 07:00   A shower problem - MD

Morning Pat. Mira is the way to go. Let me know what you choose and I'll tell you what you should pay, as some folk do try it on. Regards....Martin Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 9 Apr 10 07:05   A shower problem - Pat

Thanks Martin Reply to this message | Report message