Boiler/shower advice needed please!

ahrimaniac

Hello,

I have a 'Creda Thermostatic Digital Mixer Shower' (non-pumped, it's one of these remote-controlled malarkys) and a Worcester 24Cdi boiler.

The boiler has always been a bit temperamental but did the job...just. However, recently, when trying to use the shower the boiler isn't recognising or receiving a call for heat. No lights come on or attempts to ignite. The radiators work fine as do other hot water taps in the house - it's just the shower that's playing up.

At first I thought it might have been a problem with the boiler (though my knowledge on this sort of thing is pretty weak) but now I'm starting to think the shower could be to blame. Can anyone give any advice on how I can diagnose the problem with out calling someone out?

Thanks!

ahrimaniac

Obviously we will call someone out when we need to, but I'd like an idea of what the problem may be before we do!

keystone

Boiler will only fire for hot water when it detects flow. No flow, no heat. So something is restricting the flow to the shower. First port of call is to check the filters on the shower.

Cheers

martinthebandit

keystone wrote: »

Boiler will only fire for hot water when it detects flow. No flow, no heat. So something is restricting the flow to the shower. First port of call is to check the filters on the shower.

Cheers

Yep although I would be rescaling the shower head as well

keystone

re or de?

Cheers

ahrimaniac

I know this sounds silly (forgive me!) but when you say flow, do you just mean water flow? Because there doesn't seem to be any marked change in the flow rate from the showerhead, it's actually quite powerful, just freezing cold!

keystone

Ah OK you didn't say that before. Set the shower controls to hot only and see what happens.

It may also be the thermostatic cartridge.

It may still be the filters in the shower.

One step at a time.

Cheers

Yorksboy

Looks like the shadower is only taking cold water.
To be sure the problem is not the boiler, check that you get hot water when you run a hot Tap in the bathroom. If this is ok, the I would suggest checking filters on the shower.
In my opinion thermostatic showers are not the best thing to use with combi boilers, better with pressure balancing type shower mixers (but that is just my opinion).

keystone

Yorksboy wrote: »

In my opinion thermostatic showers are not the best thing to use with combi boilers, better with pressure balancing type shower mixers (but that is just my opinion).

Perhaps you might be kind enough to expand on that.

Cheers

ahrimaniac

Hot water from the taps is okay - it fluctuates a bit and sometimes takes a few 'firing' attempts to get there, but the boiler is quite old so we've just kind of put up with it.

Set the shower controls to hot only and see what happens.

I've tried different temperatures and flow rates and it's the same - stays ice cold. I'm starting to think it is the shower unit, as you suggested.

Thanks for all your help folks, I'll hopefully see if I can get someone out soon to have a look.

southcoastrgi

Yorksboy wrote: »

In my opinion thermostatic showers are not the best thing to use with combi boilers, better with pressure balancing type shower mixers (but that is just my opinion).

& totally the wrong advice