water dripping from under shower- intermittent

Euphoria1z

Hi

I have a triton t80si electric shower that has an intermittent problem. Theres a lot of water coming out from underneath the plastic casing, this is more than a few drips, more like a leaking pipe, and when this happens, if i touch the screw at the bottom i can feel a current (like a mini electric shock but very minor).

This is intermittent, some times theres no leaking water and no feeling of an electric current which i find weird, so im assuming its not a leak otherwise it would leak all the time?

what i have noticed is that when the shower is running and not leaking, i can feel the temp (of the water either rising or falling, cant remember which way round it is but enough for me to have to adjust the temp control) and at this point the water starts leaking from the bottom of the shower, so this must have something to do with it ...the water pressure is pretty good but every couple of days something happens for it to start gushing water out.. and then the next couple of days is fine?

whats causing this issue??? (im aware i shouldnt be using the shower in this condition) but when it works, it works fine. is it water pressure adjusting itself or something?

Thanks

Avoriaz

Euphoria1z wrote: »

(im aware i shouldnt be using the shower in this condition) but when it works, it works fine. is it water pressure adjusting itself or something?

I do hope you are aware enough NOT to use the shower until this problem is investigated and properly fixed.

It sound as if you are using the shower aware of the risk. I apologise if that is not the case.

Water, electricity and naked skin are not a safe combination no matter how desperate you are to have a shower.

Euphoria1z

does anyone know what the problem might be? i dont want a plumber / electrician turning up and then the fault not being aparant as its intermittent, i was hoping this is a common issue that can be easily identified...

do i need an electrician or a plumber?

macman

You need an electrician or an electric shower engineer-and to isolate the shower circuit now and not use it until this is resolved.
A shock from an electric shower will kill you with plenty of power to spare, so why are you using it with this problem apparent, intermittent or not?
It is not 'water pressure adusting', it is a serious fault in the shower.
Do you not have any RCD protection on the shower circuit?

Euphoria1z

macman wrote: »

Do you not have any RCD protection on the shower circuit?

had to google this to find out what it is, but yes there is a switch which says shower on the circuit board thing, so ive switched it off.

the shower is in the bathtub, so is it still ok to use the bathtub then?

ive informed the landlord by letter yesterday and am waiting for them to contact me. just wanted to know if theres an easier way of explaining this to the electrician so he knows exactly whats wrong especially as the fault is intermittent and might not occur when the electrician/plumber is here.

macman

Yes, it's safe to use the bath if you've isolated the shower circuit, however there should also be a pull cord isolator or illuminated switch in or near the bathroom.
Just tell the sparky what you've told us, it's perfectly clear.
A 'switch' does not mean the same as RCD protection, which every shower should have for safety. An RCD will have a test button on it, an MCB won't.

BertieUK

A problem like this should have only one answer. Call in an electrican as soon as you can, life is far too short.

Regards
Bob

southcoastrgi

a leaking electric shower is a plumbers job not a sparkie

Euphoria1z

southcoastrgi wrote: »

a leaking electric shower is a plumbers job not a sparkie

reason i mention an electrician is because of the current passing through parts of the shower ( mainly the bottom of the shower and the screw at the bottom of the shower).

The leaking water will be a plumbers area but im assuming they may not know the reason why theres an electrical current being felt? what if the plumber fixes the leak but not the electrical issue? thats my concern hence wanting to know the best person to fix this issue in one go ( rather than a plumber for the leak and then an electrician for the electric shock issue).

just been reading up on the Pressure relief device but my problem isnt this as the waters coming from inside of the unit ( intermittently) rather than from the little pressure relief pipe.

southcoastrgi

the inside of the shower is full of electrical connections & if water is getting onto these connections then the electric is going to follow the water, which is why you have been told not to use it until it's fixed as you could quite easily kill yourself

Euphoria1z

ok, one last question just to put my mind at rest...(and dont worry, im not using it, its switched off at the RCD switch board)

as its intermittent, will the plumber know why/where water is leaking if hes there and the fault isnt present and no water is leaking at that time? is there certain tests he can do ?

somethings happening thats triggering this leak, as i used to sense a change in the way the shower was performing when the leak starts, like a change in water pressure and tempreture.