Noisy Shower Pump - driving me nuts!

CPAMG

I have a 3 Bar Stuart Turner double-ended shower pump in my apartment airing cupboard. It provides a fantastic shower but the noise it makes is driving me nuts.
There doesn't seem to have been much care put into the original installation (before I moved in), with the flexible hoses kinked and set at different lengths on the pipes. The pump is hanging from the pipework and it's not fully set on the floor. Also when the pump is on it seems to using the airing cupboard as a sounding board.

I've done the usual Googling and have a fair idea of what I need to do.

The plan at the moment is as follows;

Turn off power supply to pump
Turn off HOT/COLD water supply & drain system
Remove flexible hoses from pipework and remove pump
Layer thick piece of carpet on hotpress floor.
Put cork tile on this
Then paving slab
Another cork tile
Place Pump on top of this with feet set on rubber washers
Cut the copper pipes to the correct length and re-attach the flexible hoses.
Support all pipework with pipe clips and wrap all pipes in the hotpress with foam rubber insulation
Layer the bottom half of the hotpress walls with double layer of cork tiles to reduce sound board effect
Seal door with draft strip all-round with rubber weather strip on the bottom.
Cup of Tea!!

My main area of concern is the removal and re-fitting of the pump. I have basic plumbing skills but for some reason working around the pump is making me nervous. Is the inital removal as simple as I make it out in steps 1-3 or is there something else I need to look out for.

Any help or tips greatly appreciated!

Canucklehead

Hi

Nice to see someone do a bit of research before asking questions.!

A few details that might help.
The flexi hoses are probably push fit and might be tight to pull out.When refitting cut the pipe with a pipe cutter to give a smooth end or file carefully and clean up any filings.Use silicon grease on the pipe and on the 'o' ring in the fitting.
If you clip pipes use as few as you can and put rubber washers behind them.
If you seal up the cupboard too much you might find the pump will cut out (thermal trip) as it gets too hot. The pump should have little rubber feet already fitted.
Hope it goes well for you.

Corgi Guy.

ormus

your plan seems ideal, apart from about 6 missing tea breaks?

ozskin

just check the turner flexis allow you to remove and reattach the pipework, cant remember as now spec a diff manufacturer. apart from that you should have nbo probs, but never ever seen a plumber do what you are proposing

MIKEDE

I Fitted One Of These Pumps Last Year In My Airing Cupboard & Yes Its Realy Noisy. I Am Interested In How Successful You Were With Noise Reduction.

mmm006

Hi, I have a very similar situation to yours, and doing similar research. I'd love to know if you went ahead with the plan, and how it worked out? Cheers.

lawrencesy

If the noise is coming from within the pump then no matter how it is re-installed it will still be there.

I had the same problem. It was because of a small mechanical device which is inside the housing (called a mechanical seal). It was worn out and thus dry running.

I originally called the manufacturer and because it was out of warranty they said buy a new pump! I bought this mechanical seal for £25 from a company called Acumen Seals. There no is (+44) 0161 703 9999, its quite easy to fit but more importantly the noise stopped!
Hope this helps.

Alan_M_2

Stuart Turner pumps are not the quietest. They are very good pumps indeed...but a little on the noisy side.

Vibration is often the biggest problem so damping will help tremendously.