Shower hot water problem - Plumbing Forum | Plumbers Forums

deaddraw · 03-11-2008

Hi all,

We had a shower installed about a year ago and had no problems at all until recently. Two or three months ago the hot water pressure through the shower suddenly became very low, plus we can only get any hot water through the shower at all if the hot tap in the bathroom sink is running at the same time, as it only seems to be this tap that initiates the boiler to ignite. Our boiler is a Worcester junior 24i combi-boiler which is about 5 years old, the pressure gauge is reading 1.25 bar and the central heating seems to be working fine. The shower doesn't have a motor and the piping for the shower just branches off the plumbing for the bath taps below. The pressure in the shower is getting less and less, we are now showering in just a trickle of water!

Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be? I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to plumbing so I've given as many details as I could think of; any suggestions will be gratefully received.

sonray ltd · 03-11-2008

filters are blocked in the shower valve, or the non return valve is stuck.

Mike Jackson · 03-11-2008

I'd plump for blocked filters or shower head. Are you in a hard water area? The shower could be scaled up.

Mike

deaddraw · 10-11-2008

Thanks for the suggestions. Is unblocking/replacing the valve something I should be able to do myself (as someone without much plumbing knowledge) or something I should leave to a professional plumber? If it's something I could do then do you know of any websites that would give some information on how to do this?

We live in Berkshire which I believe is quite a hard water area.

Mike Jackson · 10-11-2008

If you are unsure how to do it get a professional in. It will save a lot of problems in the long run. While there at it look at getting some form of scale reducer fitted to the incoming main. We've had good results with the Liff limebeater and sesi electrolytic scale reducer.,

Mike

grahamep · 10-11-2008

Take the shower head off the flexible pipe and then run the shower and see if the boiler kicks in (don't lose the rubber!). If it does then the problem is the head. You will be lucky to get 18 months out of a shower head in Berkshire without it blocking solid with lime scale. See if you can buy one with the rings of rubber nozzles that looks like smal nipples. Then rubbing the head over the palm of your hand once or twice a week will help to keep the thing serviceable.