Diagnosing a duff thermostatic shower cartridge
Discussion
I have a shower (Aqualisa Aquastream) that was getting increasingly noisy and now won't issue any water.
Temperatures have always been fine and stable while having a shower. And there are no drips. It just no longer squirts water.
Before I replace the whole unit (again - this brand only seem to last 4yrs), could it feasibly be the cartridge? And if so, how do I tell if the cartridge is faulty?
I had the cartridge out tonight (didn't think to isolate the water first! Mistake. Must figure out where the shut offs are!!) and it seems to twist back and forth (with a good twist and bit of pressure), and the coil is intact with no apparent blockages. But does this mean it's OK or could something else be faulty with it?
Cheers.
Temperatures have always been fine and stable while having a shower. And there are no drips. It just no longer squirts water.
Before I replace the whole unit (again - this brand only seem to last 4yrs), could it feasibly be the cartridge? And if so, how do I tell if the cartridge is faulty?
I had the cartridge out tonight (didn't think to isolate the water first! Mistake. Must figure out where the shut offs are!!) and it seems to twist back and forth (with a good twist and bit of pressure), and the coil is intact with no apparent blockages. But does this mean it's OK or could something else be faulty with it?
Cheers.
Sounds more like a blockage. When my Aqualisa cartridges fail they just produce mainly cool/ cold water.
Have you checked the hose if you twist the head the rubber inside the spiral can kink and block the ester stream. New hose is a much cheaper option.
To keep the cartridge good keep adjusting he temperature control if not in use for any period.
Have you checked the hose if you twist the head the rubber inside the spiral can kink and block the ester stream. New hose is a much cheaper option.
To keep the cartridge good keep adjusting he temperature control if not in use for any period.
Edited by elanfan on Monday 23 January 00:45
Took the shower hose off and water is actually coming out of the outlet now. Reconnecting the hose it comes out of there too. I wasn't getting anything from the head before so am wondering of dismantling the cartridge and pumping it a few times might have freed something up.
However, I don't think the pump's working. There's no pump noise and water pressure isn't as good as it was/should be. I do get an intermittent buzzing noise as though power might be being supplied to the pump, but not pumping. There's also some small black residue on the inside of the main case more or less where the top of the pump is (where you can see the windings). So am thinking the pump may have burnt out.
Does that sound feasible?
However, I don't think the pump's working. There's no pump noise and water pressure isn't as good as it was/should be. I do get an intermittent buzzing noise as though power might be being supplied to the pump, but not pumping. There's also some small black residue on the inside of the main case more or less where the top of the pump is (where you can see the windings). So am thinking the pump may have burnt out.
Does that sound feasible?
In case anyone has similar...
Called Aqualisa. They reckon either the wiring loom or the pump. I'm doubtful it's the former, but they offer a service including fitting and 2 yr warranty that's basically the same price as the parts cost of the loom, pump and cartridge (give or take).
I'm still not convinced that my taking out the cartridge and twisting it didn't result in water being able to flow, even though the pump doesn't work. So replacing that seems like a sensible move. Getting all three done at the same time may be a sledgehammer to crack a nut but it should sort it.
Pump cost alone was £100-£120 so that's the minimum it would have cost v £265 for the service noted above.
I can live with that for now and will get a bit braver on a specific self fix next time.
(My preferred approach was to rip out the Aqualisa and fit a Mira as I have elsewhere...but that was coming in at over 2k once retiling and a number of other headaches were considered...sadly not justifiable
)
Called Aqualisa. They reckon either the wiring loom or the pump. I'm doubtful it's the former, but they offer a service including fitting and 2 yr warranty that's basically the same price as the parts cost of the loom, pump and cartridge (give or take).
I'm still not convinced that my taking out the cartridge and twisting it didn't result in water being able to flow, even though the pump doesn't work. So replacing that seems like a sensible move. Getting all three done at the same time may be a sledgehammer to crack a nut but it should sort it.
Pump cost alone was £100-£120 so that's the minimum it would have cost v £265 for the service noted above.
I can live with that for now and will get a bit braver on a specific self fix next time.
(My preferred approach was to rip out the Aqualisa and fit a Mira as I have elsewhere...but that was coming in at over 2k once retiling and a number of other headaches were considered...sadly not justifiable
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