Shower problem

Do the pipes that emerge from their respective storage tanks (H & C) make their way to the shower unit downhill all the way, or is there any part of the pipework which rises before it then falls again? If the latter, then you're sure to have air trapped in the rise, hindering the flow of water.

Rob Graham

It could also be because the temperature in the hot water tank is too hot which causes more air.

If you get a power shower the above problem because exaggerated and you have to keep the temperature lower than you are used to because the suction side of the pump effectively flashes the hot water off to steam, even at 60C water temperature. Mine has to be set about 55C otherwise this problem causes cavitation in the pump and loss of hot water pumping capacity.

If you fit a power shower it is best to take the outlets separately if you can from the respective tanks...... also for the hot water side from as near the hot water tank as you can otherwise again the pump inlet suction will suck the overflow down and suck in air again causeing cavitation. My power shower delivers 4 gallons a minute and can empty the hot water tank. You may find that this tank will need increasing in size to cope otherwise it will be a very swift shower. Mine lasts 5 minutes before it starts to go cold!

Thanks for your reply. The hot rises into the loft from the airing cupboard tank, lays on the floor of the loft and down into the shower. The cold tank in the loft is elevated by a foot and the shower cold comes out the bottom of that along the loft floor and down into the shower cubicle.

Regards

Then it's pretty certain you are getting air accumulating in the high parts of the pipe run. Cut the pipe at this point and insert a T-piece to accept a piece of vertical pipe (with a 180 degree bend at the top) that reaches above the water level in the feeder tank. This will let any air out. The 180 degree bend keeps trash out.

Rob