Shower Flow Problems

[r.rain]

Hello All

I have been told by the shower people that I need to remove some non return valves from my thermostatic shower to increase the flow.

Will this help? The pump manual states that there should be no non return valves present in the inlet pipe to the pump but doesn't mention anything about the shower itself either way.

To remove the non return valves I need to get some kind of tool which would be like a massive screw driver, flat head. I cant budge the covers with a normal large screw driver, is there a special tool to or a special technique to remove these covers? they are brass and have a screw type head.

TIA

Cheers

Richard

[r.rain]

Done that, no difference, Gave the valve cover screws a slight tap with the hammer and then used a big screw driver and that did the trickl.

I bet I probably needed the non return valves too!!!!

Any ideas anybody, I'm at a loss now, the only option I see is upgrading the pump. :(

Cheers

Richard

[Andy Hall]

What is the pump sizing, head from the roof tank, and the sizing and length of the pipes before and after the pump, Richard?

[r.rain]

Hi Andy

The Pump is 3 Bar, the head from roof tank, not sure exactly what that is but the cold water tank is about 1 metre above the pump which is located in the loft next to the hot water cylinder. The pipe work to/from the pump is pretty short about 1 metre and in 22mm. I have installed an essex flange in the hot water cylinder. I have just tried re-piping the body jets twice :( trying to equalise the flow which I have managed to do now. However I still dont consider the flow to be high enough. As soon as I turn on the Shower head the top two body jets pack up as opposed to just the last one in line.

I need several beers...............

Cheers

Richard

[r.rain]

Oh BTW the pump is a stuart turner Monsoon twin impellor and I have also checked the filters.

[Andy Hall]

All seems very reasonable, Richard.

I think I'd talk to the shower manufacturer next. Is the valve dud perhaps?

[Lobster]

This won't help your flow problems!, but is there a non-return valve on the outlet of the pump or in line with the shower hose? Isn't it a water bylaw to have one fitted? Or is that just for a shower-over-the-bath scenario rather than a separate shower cubicle- although you haven't mentioned what you have?

David

[r.rain]

No it didn't!!! and I'm sure I've heard something similar regarding a water bylaw, I'm not sure what the pump has TBH but will find out.

I have a seperate shower, its in a wetroom so no cubicle.

Incidently the body jets are attached to a diverter outlet not an outlet from the main shower valve, and the shower valveis a triple vavle so two knobs for flow top and bottom and a middle one for hot/cold. The diverter has 4 outlets with two capped off and one for body jets and other for sliding rail attachment

I'm also experiencing a weird issue when the temperature dial is at a certain setting, in that the pump will cycle on and off, I think this is indicating that there is a leak somewhere in the valve? simply moving off this setting stops this happening.

Any other thoughts?

Cheers

Richard

[Capitol]

This indicates that there is not enough water flowing to operate the flow valve, you obviously have not enough water either entering the pump, or obstructions reducing the flow on the output side. You need to check the flow rate on the output after the shower valve, to see how much water you can actually get to flow. It sounds more and more to me like a shower valve/diverter/pipework obstruction.

Regards Capitol

[r.rain]

Why would the flow valve want to operate if I was just turning the temperature er knob for want of a better word? this problem happens when both flow valves are closed off.

I checked for blockages none found. I do however have the pump guy coming out so hopefully they can sort it.

That aside, how would I check the flow? obviously I can see it visually but if I dont know how much is supposed to be cominig out , how would I measure it?

Cheers

Richard

[r.rain]

I spoke to the shower people and they said that all jets (4) should chuck out 22 litres a minute. I tested it with one of the better flow jets and only got 3.5 litres in a minute. Not good, I also changed the diverter, exactly the same............