Electric shower problem

NOWSE

I'm wondering if anyone has any advice regarding an intermittent fault that seems to have developed an the electic shower.

The make of the shower is a Triton. On the control panel is a power light. When the element is heating the water the power light is on. If the water flow drops, because someone is using cold water elsewhere in the house, the power light goes out as the element turns off. The problem is that, even when no water is being used elsewhere in the house, the element does not operate. By fiddling with the temperature control knob it is sometimes possible to get the element to work at the highest temperature but, when the control is turned down, the element turns off. When the element works at the high temperature the unit makes a churning sound.

As I said, the fault is intermittent. I first noticed the fault a few days ago, it was OK yesterday, but returned this morning. I've just checked and everything seems to be OK again.

plumb1_2

Triton:eek: bin it and get a MIRA

NOWSE

plumb1 wrote:

Triton:eek: bin it and get a MIRA

I may well end up doing that but the Triton has worked OK for the last 7 or 8 years.

grumbler

NOWSE wrote:

... the water flow drops, because someone is using cold water elsewhere in the house....

Make sure that your mains stopcock is fully opened and in good order.

alanobrien

NOWSE wrote:

I'm wondering if anyone has any advice regarding an intermittent fault that seems to have developed an the electic shower.

The make of the shower is a Triton. On the control panel is a power light. When the element is heating the water the power light is on. If the water flow drops, because someone is using cold water elsewhere in the house, the power light goes out as the element turns off. The problem is that, even when no water is being used elsewhere in the house, the element does not operate. By fiddling with the temperature control knob it is sometimes possible to get the element to work at the highest temperature but, when the control is turned down, the element turns off. When the element works at the high temperature the unit makes a churning sound.

As I said, the fault is intermittent. I first noticed the fault a few days ago, it was OK yesterday, but returned this morning. I've just checked and everything seems to be OK again.

Sounds like a dodgy thermostat to me.
That said if you have had it that long its probably time it was replaced anyway.

NOWSE

grumbler wrote:

Make sure that your mains stopcock is fully opened and in good order.

I've checked the stopcock and it's fully open. The cold water pressure through the taps seems normal (although it's never very high) although the pressure through the shower, if the thermostat is turned to cold, does seem lower than usual.

roger56

The churning noise is likely to be water boiling (like your kettle).
That should not happen (safety).
It sounds like after 7-8years the unit has developed a fault.
The best solution (as suggested already) is to replace and be safe.

bestyman

The shower MAY have an inlet filter that is blocked, this would create low pressure to the shower that would explain the symptoms.

The filter is simply a mesh strainer that fits inside the inlet where the pipe joins the shower. Basic plumbing skills are needed here but in a nutshell turn off water and electric, remove pipe on compression fitting where it joins shower ( may be a pushfit), look for filter and clean . If the inlet pipe joins to a plastic inlet on the shower don`t break it .

To find out if there is a filter installed look at the triton website, It`s really helpfull, at https://www.tritonshowers.co.uk

Also check that the shower head is not blocked and the hose is not kinked.

Also check that the service valve(if fitted) on the inlet pipe on the shower is fully open

Bestyman

NigeWick

NOWSE wrote:

I may well end up doing that but the Triton has worked OK for the last 7 or 8 years.

After 7/8 years, you've perhaps had the useful life out of it and should replace rather than play with it.

Nigel.

RedOnRed

NOWSE wrote:

I may well end up doing that but the Triton has worked OK for the last 7 or 8 years.

7-8 years!!

My Mira was only about £140 from PTS. You've got your monies worth out of it. They're non-serviceable, so it's time to get a new one if it's playing up.

VH

That's a long time to get out of a shower, especially a Triton!

Be wary of buying one without making sure the positions of entry points for electricity and water are the same on the new one. Otherwise you'll have to possibly move pipework and / or reroute your power cable.