Eek, leaking shower

fatpiggy

A couple of days ago I noticed my shower was dripping steadily even though it was fully turned off - its an ordinary electric shower (not power shower), separate cubicle and I don't know how old the unit is, although I've been in the house since 2004. Peculiarly, taking the hose and rosette out of the holder and letting them dangle in the shower tray stopped it. This morning when I got up the shower was spraying water cheerfully and turning it right off didn't make a jot of difference so I opted to turn the water off. Easy you'd think, but no of course not! I screwed the mains tap as far as I could and it was still letting enough through to keep the shower spraying and/or a tap trickling steadily. My hands aren't the strongest due to problems and the mains tap is horrendously stiff so I'm conscious of potential problems turning it back the other way! As I'm on a water meter, and I didn't know how long the shower had been wasting water yesterday, I opted to put the bath plug in and have the waste trickle in there - I can use it to flush the toilet etc but as I'm out of the house for a minimum of 12 hours a day, the bath will probably be overflowing by the time I get home tonight!! Tea and toast for everyone who has got this far and here is the question! I take it that its an electrician I need (as I suspect that the shower unit will have to be replaced) or should I call a plumber?

ormus

sounds like the solenoid valve isnt closing off properly. a common fault.
can be done as a diy job.

http://www.shower-spares.co.uk/redring/super_extra_7-2kW.htm
(example).

however, due to high labour costs for repairs, its probably just as well to fit a new shower complete.

fatpiggy

Thanks Ormus. Times like this I wish my Dad was still around. Electrician or plumber to do it would you say?

Joyful

I had the same problem a couple of weeks ago and needed to get a new shower so it will be an electricition you need. B&Q have some good prices. Even better if you know anyone in the Trade.

CLAPTON

and get that main stopcock sorted out ; it will get worse

googler

Most plumbers will tell you the whole shower has to be replaced, but you can get a new solenoid here and replace it yourself.

Isolate shower from mains electricity, both at switch at bathroom, and at household consumer unit, isolate water (first see below), remove shower from wall, disassemble, replace solenoid, re-assemble, replace on wall, reconnect water and elec.

You don't necessarily need a whole new shower.

However, you DO need a plumber to either free up or replace your mains stopcock - if you have a real leak, and need to shut it off, you'll be stuck. You also won't be able to do maintenance on the shower without doing this. While you're at it, get the plumber to install a separate gate valve for the shower on its own, so that you don't need to isolate the whole of the house to do maintenance on the shower.

fatpiggy

Thanks googler. I was in the pub with a mate last night and he said I need to isolate the upstairs pipes too. I got the stopcock closed last night by using a ring spanner so at least I'm not leaking £££s down the drain anymore (greased it too), but I might ask my plumber to replace it anyway - just left a message on his answerphone. I think it is just because I haven't turned it for a bit as I had to shut off the water when a pipe burst a couple of years ago and although it was a bit stiff I did get the flow entirely cut. I suspect I will probably go with a new shower unit, not least because I just don't know how old the unit is. I'm not wild about tackling electrical jobs to be honest although I might whip the cover off and just take a look at the lay of the land. My plumber is a star and is not one for making huge profits at my expense. I'll see what he says anyway.