Water pressure?

sgriffiths

We have two electric showers in our true bungalow. Over the last twelve months or so we have noticed that there is less water coming out of them, in fact it would be an offence to call them showers.

We have a 'sure stop' valve fitted in the kitchen and we had a condensing boiler fitted approx 5 years ago. The water coming out of the cold tap doesnt seem to be coming out any slower. Can anyone please suggest any cheap remedies.

CliffWalker_2

Hello,
The problem with an electric shower is that it relies on a heating element to heat the cold incoming water as it whizzes past the element.
It's a bit like a kettle element, but more powerful (kettle usually 3kw, shower can be between 8 and 11kw).
In the same way that a kettle gets 'fur' on the element so does the element in your shower. Over a period of time it loses efficiency, which is even more noticeable at this time of year when the incoming water is even colder (especially this year!) and so the element can't heat the water as well (especially as its whizzing past).
Consequently, you find that you are turning the shower down lower to maintain a decent heat but the speed of the water gets less and less to the point you have to run around in the shower to get wet!
There's no easy way to descale a shower element, so you're stuck with a piddling shower till summer arrives (but next year, with another year's layer of limescale the shower will be worse still)
The only remedy is a new shower (Band Q have some cheap ones) and all the related costs of having it installed)
If your existing shower is a mere 8kw, changing it to an 11kw will improve things (but then you've also got to upgrade the wiring from the fusebaord to the shower, more costs, eek!)
Sorry.

gas4you

Check the inlet filters on both showers first of all.

Other than that, it could be the heating cans scaled up.

Do you have any problems with temperature of the water?

Mrs_Imp

We had a similar problem in a rented flat a few years ago. We unscrewed the head of the shower, emptied out the limescale, soaked in vinegar overnight and reattached. Worked a treat. Might be worth trying that to see if it works before you start thinking about new showers etc.

Wookey

Sounds very like the elements are not as efficient as they could be, coupled with cooler water at this time of year entering thru the mains feed to them it will make the problem really noticeable. How old are the two showers? Modern electric showers typically have a service life of around 10 years and if you live in a hard water area scaling of the element will occur very quickly and be likely to lessen the ability of the shower to heat water quickly enough. Replacing the heater element may well cure the problem, downside is that your probably looking at as much cash to do that as it would cost to get a new shower with a full guarantee on it.