We have a Triton shower mixer bar that doesn't always start when turned on. Turning the temperature control quickly to cold and back with the flow knob on maximum usually starts it.
Both hot and cold feeds are from a recently replaced Salamander pump so I'm reasonably happy (but open to suggestions otherwise) that that's not the issue.
Does it sound as though the mixer bar is on its way out? It's around 16 years old...
shower pumps come as positive head or as negative head versions. Are you sure you have replaced the pump with the same type of pump?
Are the pressures similar? Brian
I assume there is a flow switch somewhere which detects the initial flow - due to gravity feed- and switches on the pump.
It could be sticking, the steps you describe would probably give it a nudge.
Yes. As turning it to cold and back to hot gets it going, it's possible that the hot flow switch is sticking or not working at all and the increased cold flow is getting it started on the cold switch. Once the pump is running, one or both switches are then seeing enough flow to keep it running.
Yes, it's the correct pump and it's been running fine for the past two months.
Yes, they're both from the hot water cylinder and its cold water feed.
Thanks, that was a suspicion I had. Though I wonder if something is failing inside the mixer bar and creating a blockage.
Thanks, I'll check the pump.
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required