Shower Pump Problems

nicenswift

Hi

I have a Techflow TP60 Dual Shower Pump (Positive) fitting in the loft above the shower.

It has worked faultlessly for 5 years until this weekend.

We had a plumber out on last Friday to fit a sink and to do this had to turn off the cold water and also drain the hot water tank.

I dont know if this is a coincidence but since then the following fault is occuring with the Shower Pump.

Under normal circumstances when we turn on the shower you can hear the pump start up in the loft and it starts pump water through the shower head, until we turn off the shower and then the pump automaticaly stops.

I got a shower Sat AM but noticed that when I turned off the shower the pump carried on running. (so the only option was to go into the loft and power it off from the wall socket).

I left it 10 mins hoping it would now be resolved but when turning the power back on to the pump it starts pumping again.

I would really appreciate any advice before I rush out and buy a new pump.

Many Thanks

keystone

Air in the pipework.

Cheers

nicenswift

keystone wrote: »

Air in the pipework.

Cheers

Many thanks and sorry for sounding thick but what do I need to do to resolve this.

Cheers

keystone

Call the plumber back and tell him that in doing the work he did he left air in the pipes when refilling the suystem and now the shower doesn't work properly. If he had to drain down then its his responsibility to ensure he left everything working properly afterwards.

Don't let him charge you for fixing it.

Cheers

nicenswift

keystone wrote: »

Call the plumber back and tell him that in doing the work he did he left air in the pipes when refilling the suystem and now the shower doesn't work properly. If he had to drain down then its his responsibility to ensure he left everything working properly afterwards.

Don't let him charge you for fixing it.

Cheers

Many thanks, I take it that it is not something I could do myself

gas4you

Some of the problem will be that you have a positive head pump up in the loft.

These should be fitted, ideally, below the shower head, usually at the bottom of the HW cylinder in the airing cupboard.

DTDfanBoy

The installer should have installed bleed valves at the highest point of the pipework in the loft to bleed the system, especially as the loft isn't the ideal place to fit the pump.

If he has open these slightly untill the trapped air exits then close them, same process as bleeding a radiator if you're familiar with that.

nicenswift

DTDfanBoy wrote: »

The installer should have installed bleed valves at the highest point of the pipework in the loft to bleed the system, especially as the loft isn't the ideal place to fit the pump.

If he has open these slightly untill the trapped air exits then close them, same process as bleeding a radiator if you're familiar with that.

Could I have got it woring and maybe its a negative pump, i presumed it was positive as it is above the shower.

Please bear with me as I an truly a plumbing novice.

What would these bleeding taps look like. ?

I appreciate all your time guys.

nicenswift

Sorry guys just remmembered, we have a leak frmo the stop c*** downstairs under the kitchen sink.

Its not leaking where the tap joins the pipe but it is leaking from the tap shaft (i have been told to pack and tighten the gland nut and this will sort it, and will not have to turn the water off, which is good as the only way to turn the water off before the stop c*** is in the road)

I dont think this will be causing the shower issue but I thought I would mention anyways.

Cheers

keystone

nicenswift wrote: »

Many thanks, I take it that it is not something I could do myself

Actually you can but I don't see why you should to be honest. He left it like that he should fix it IMO but thats no reason not to give you some help.

Now, a +ve head Techflow in the roofspace will work fine provided it is a) piped correctly, b) is sited below the lowest level of the CWST and c) has bleed valves fitted as has been observed.

What is happening is that the flow sensors are detecting movement which is causing the pump to start. It would be helpful to know if it is the cold which is triggering it or the hot. Its most likely the latter in my experience.

If there are bleed valves then open them and let the air out. If there aren't then can you describe how the hot feed for the pump is taken from your hot water cylinder please in some detail? That will be helpful in narrowing the source of the air down and this how to deal with it.

Cheers

keystone

nicenswift wrote: »

Could I have got it woring and maybe its a negative pump, i presumed it was positive as it is above the shower.

If it has a bell shaped device like the one on the LHS of the pic below then its neg head. If it hasn't like the one on the right then its +ve head.



Damn!! Cropped the image to make it smaller and just realised I've cropped out the TP example!!

Can you post up a pic of the pipework around the pump. That might just make it a bit easier to identify if you do have any form of bleeding arrangement fitted.

Cheers