Our shower has stopped working: did switching our thermostat off while away affect it?

Exodi

MothballsWallet said:

Okay, so we've now run a basic flow test as suggested by @WIAWSNB using a plastic washing up basin and jug:

• Day (4:40 pm): 3.5 litres in 10 seconds = 21 litres per minute
• Night (10:40 pm): 3.3 litres in 10 seconds = 19.8 litres per minute

One thing we can't rule out for the difference is that we were better coordinated on the night test than on the day test - we put the basin in the sink and my wife ran the cold tap while I ran the stopwatch.

I'm going to contact our water company (Severn Trent Water) and see if there's a pressure issue in our area: we asked one of our neighbours and they did have a pressure issue with their bathroom sink tap but not their shower from what they remember, but they're going to check for us and let us know.

We've got the video clips for day and night flow tests which I'll edit together and share via my YouTube account later - hopefully those can help answer many of the questions.

It appears you're doing anything and everything except replacing your 30 year old shower!

Your flow rates are impressive, I certainly wouldn't be wasting your own time, and the waterboards time launching an inquiry into why your flow rate decreased by ~5% one night. Either are over double what might be considered low pressure - many would envy these flow rates.

Get off the phone to Severn Trent Water, stop the uploads of your edited flow tests to YouTube and get the shower replaced 

MACKEM99

WIAWSNB said:

Eldi_Dos said:

WIAWSNB said:

MothballsWallet said:

Okay, so we've now run a basic flow test as suggested by @WIAWSNB using a plastic washing up basin and jug:

• Day (4:40 pm): 3.5 litres in 10 seconds = 21 litres per minute
• Night (10:40 pm): 3.3 litres in 10 seconds = 19.8 litres per minute

One thing we can't rule out for the difference is that we were better coordinated on the night test than on the day test - we put the basin in the sink and my wife ran the cold tap while I ran the stopwatch.

I'm going to contact our water company (Severn Trent Water) and see if there's a pressure issue in our area: we asked one of our neighbours and they did have a pressure issue with their bathroom sink tap but not their shower from what they remember, but they're going to check for us and let us know.

We've got the video clips for day and night flow tests which I'll edit together and share via my YouTube account later - hopefully those can help answer many of the questions.

It's interesting that the evening flow is slightly less - I'd have expected the opposite

Even if everyone on the street was going to bed around the same time ?
May even have been major story /event on the telly that night.

Everyone taking a midnight wee.

But not using Martin Lewis's poem?

grumpy_codger

Exodi said:

MothballsWallet said:

Okay, so we've now run a basic flow test as suggested by @WIAWSNB using a plastic washing up basin and jug:

• Day (4:40 pm): 3.5 litres in 10 seconds = 21 litres per minute
• Night (10:40 pm): 3.3 litres in 10 seconds = 19.8 litres per minute

One thing we can't rule out for the difference is that we were better coordinated on the night test than on the day test - we put the basin in the sink and my wife ran the cold tap while I ran the stopwatch.

I'm going to contact our water company (Severn Trent Water) and see if there's a pressure issue in our area: we asked one of our neighbours and they did have a pressure issue with their bathroom sink tap but not their shower from what they remember, but they're going to check for us and let us know.

We've got the video clips for day and night flow tests which I'll edit together and share via my YouTube account later - hopefully those can help answer many of the questions.

It appears you're doing anything and everything except replacing your 30 year old shower!

The fault is still a mystery - I don't have any plausible explanation. If the fault isn't with the shower, replacing it is unlikely to solve the problem. Unfortunately that's how most modern 'engineers' work - by replacing everything without trying to identify the fault.

Exodi

grumpy_codger said:

Exodi said:

MothballsWallet said:

Okay, so we've now run a basic flow test as suggested by @WIAWSNB using a plastic washing up basin and jug:

• Day (4:40 pm): 3.5 litres in 10 seconds = 21 litres per minute
• Night (10:40 pm): 3.3 litres in 10 seconds = 19.8 litres per minute

One thing we can't rule out for the difference is that we were better coordinated on the night test than on the day test - we put the basin in the sink and my wife ran the cold tap while I ran the stopwatch.

I'm going to contact our water company (Severn Trent Water) and see if there's a pressure issue in our area: we asked one of our neighbours and they did have a pressure issue with their bathroom sink tap but not their shower from what they remember, but they're going to check for us and let us know.

We've got the video clips for day and night flow tests which I'll edit together and share via my YouTube account later - hopefully those can help answer many of the questions.

It appears you're doing anything and everything except replacing your 30 year old shower!

The fault is still a misterey - I don't have any plausible explanation. If the fault isn't with the shower, replacing it is unlikely to solve the problem. Unfortunately that's how most modern 'engineers' work - by replacing everything without trying to identify the fault.

How would you know the fault isn't with the shower - I'm not sure I understand you comment about modern 'engineers' so how exactly do you propose the OP diagnoses that the heating element hasn't failed, or the pressure sensor, or the myriad of internal components on the shower? Also remembering the context that the shower is 30 years old. I expect the fault only remains a mystery while the OP continues to avoid changing the shower.

The OP has confirmed the incoming flow rate is not an issue - they haven't mentioning noticing any reduced flow out the shower head either.

At what point, once the OP has dug up the foundations to their house and ripped up the floors to inspect the pipework do they bite the bullet and concede "hmm, maybe it is the 30 year old shower after all?".

grumpy_codger

Exodi said:

grumpy_codger said:

Exodi said:

MothballsWallet said:

Okay, so we've now run a basic flow test as suggested by @WIAWSNB using a plastic washing up basin and jug:

• Day (4:40 pm): 3.5 litres in 10 seconds = 21 litres per minute
• Night (10:40 pm): 3.3 litres in 10 seconds = 19.8 litres per minute

One thing we can't rule out for the difference is that we were better coordinated on the night test than on the day test - we put the basin in the sink and my wife ran the cold tap while I ran the stopwatch.

I'm going to contact our water company (Severn Trent Water) and see if there's a pressure issue in our area: we asked one of our neighbours and they did have a pressure issue with their bathroom sink tap but not their shower from what they remember, but they're going to check for us and let us know.

We've got the video clips for day and night flow tests which I'll edit together and share via my YouTube account later - hopefully those can help answer many of the questions.

It appears you're doing anything and everything except replacing your 30 year old shower!

The fault is still a misterey - I don't have any plausible explanation. If the fault isn't with the shower, replacing it is unlikely to solve the problem. Unfortunately that's how most modern 'engineers' work - by replacing everything without trying to identify the fault.

How would you know the fault isn't with the shower - how do you propose the OP diagnoses that the heating element hasn't failed, or the pressure sensor, or the myriad of internal components on the shower? Also remembering the context that the shower is 30 years old.

My understanding is that the shower doesn't work only "late at night". If so, this excludes a faulty  heating element. Have I misunderstood the OP?
Pressure sensor - possibly, but any competent DIYer with a tester can find this fault.
There are no any "myriad of internal components on the shower". In fact, it's a very primitive device except, possibly some modern 'singing and dancing' models.
Age is important, but only in combination with the frequency of usage. Most common fault, is, indeed, with a heating element, mainly because of the scale deposits. Solenoid valves fail too, but I don't see how this can depend on the time (of the day).

The OP has confirmed the incoming flow rate is not an issue - they haven't noticed any reduced flow out the shower head either.

If the issue were with the flow rate, not the pressure, the shower would make some very hot water, then shut off because of overheating.

Exodi

grumpy_codger said:

Exodi said:

grumpy_codger said:

Exodi said:

MothballsWallet said:

Okay, so we've now run a basic flow test as suggested by @WIAWSNB using a plastic washing up basin and jug:

• Day (4:40 pm): 3.5 litres in 10 seconds = 21 litres per minute
• Night (10:40 pm): 3.3 litres in 10 seconds = 19.8 litres per minute

One thing we can't rule out for the difference is that we were better coordinated on the night test than on the day test - we put the basin in the sink and my wife ran the cold tap while I ran the stopwatch.

I'm going to contact our water company (Severn Trent Water) and see if there's a pressure issue in our area: we asked one of our neighbours and they did have a pressure issue with their bathroom sink tap but not their shower from what they remember, but they're going to check for us and let us know.

We've got the video clips for day and night flow tests which I'll edit together and share via my YouTube account later - hopefully those can help answer many of the questions.

It appears you're doing anything and everything except replacing your 30 year old shower!

The fault is still a misterey - I don't have any plausible explanation. If the fault isn't with the shower, replacing it is unlikely to solve the problem. Unfortunately that's how most modern 'engineers' work - by replacing everything without trying to identify the fault.

How would you know the fault isn't with the shower - how do you propose the OP diagnoses that the heating element hasn't failed, or the pressure sensor, or the myriad of internal components on the shower? Also remembering the context that the shower is 30 years old.

My understanding is that the shower doesn't work only "late at night". If so, this excludes a faulty  heating element. Have I misunderstood the OP?

It's a fair point, I've assumed it's all the time and night just happens to be when they use the shower, but I accept that this just an assumption on my part and could be clarified. As you highlight, if it works during the day then it's a different problem, though I personally doubt it works during the day. Happy to be proved wrong though.

MothballsWallet please could you confirm?

grumpy_codger said:

The OP has confirmed the incoming flow rate is not an issue - they haven't noticed any reduced flow out the shower head either.

If the issue were with the flow rate, not the pressure, the shower would make some very hot water, then shut off because of overheating.

I'm not clear if the shower would shut off or if just the heating element would switch off causing the shower to run cold. If the latter, then it would explain why very low pressure would cause a cold shower instead of the logical opposite (as discussed earlier in this thread). That's part of the reason the OP was asked to check the flow rate (and effectively confirmed there is no issue) - though of course you could argue they should check the flow rate/pressure at the shower inlet but I still know where I'd be putting my money on the fault lying.

Le_Kirk

Not sure if this question has been asked; is there a pull cord to switch off the shower and if so, is there a red neon light showing when the cord is pulled.  Sometimes the simplest solutions are best.

bjorn_toby_wilde

FreeBear said:

MothballsWallet said:

Okay, so we've now run a basic flow test as suggested by @WIAWSNB using a plastic washing up basin and jug:

• Day (4:40 pm): 3.5 litres in 10 seconds = 21 litres per minute
• Night (10:40 pm): 3.3 litres in 10 seconds = 19.8 litres per minute

Dang. Wish my flow was that good.

Best I can get is ~10l/min out of the bath tap. All the others are like 7l/min.

With the previous reference to taking a midnight wee I thought for a moment you were referring to your personal flow rate 🤣

FreeBear

Le_Kirk said:

Not sure if this question has been asked; is there a pull cord to switch off the shower and if so, is there a red neon light showing when the cord is pulled.  Sometimes the simplest solutions are best.

Worth popping the cover off the switch and checking that the terminals are tight (with power off at the CU of course). But if no power was getting to the shower, water wouldn't flow.

MothballsWallet

Exodi said:

MothballsWallet said:

Okay, so we've now run a basic flow test as suggested by @WIAWSNB using a plastic washing up basin and jug:

• Day (4:40 pm): 3.5 litres in 10 seconds = 21 litres per minute
• Night (10:40 pm): 3.3 litres in 10 seconds = 19.8 litres per minute

One thing we can't rule out for the difference is that we were better coordinated on the night test than on the day test - we put the basin in the sink and my wife ran the cold tap while I ran the stopwatch.

I'm going to contact our water company (Severn Trent Water) and see if there's a pressure issue in our area: we asked one of our neighbours and they did have a pressure issue with their bathroom sink tap but not their shower from what they remember, but they're going to check for us and let us know.

We've got the video clips for day and night flow tests which I'll edit together and share via my YouTube account later - hopefully those can help answer many of the questions.

It appears you're doing anything and everything except replacing your 30 year old shower!

Your flow rates are impressive, I certainly wouldn't be wasting your own time, and the waterboards time launching an inquiry into why your flow rate decreased by ~5% one night. Either are over double what might be considered low pressure - many would envy these flow rates.

Get off the phone to Severn Trent Water, stop the uploads of your edited flow tests to YouTube and get the shower replaced 

We'll definitely replacing the shower but we want to be sure that we won't see the same problem with the water flow from the new one because it's working fine in the day time, it's just we see a drop at night, and that's when my wife has her shower.

My wife has ran 2 other tests with filling a 1 litre jug today:

• 1:30 am test: the 1 litre jug was filled in 47 seconds
• 10:50 am test: the 1 litre jug was filled in 16 seconds

We'll try another test with our plastic basin in the kitchen again tonight  as it works best if both of us are doing it, we should be doing that after 11 pm.