Shower Pump Help / Advice

Author
Discussion

skilly1

Original Poster:

2,700 posts

194 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Our shower pump is not very powerful and seems to be losing power gradualy over the past few months.

We did not install the pump so no idea what the pressure should be like. Any suggestions on what pump to replace with. I am quite handy with DIY and was thinking of having a go - can't be that hard? Can I increase the pressure in the new pump?




Edited by skilly1 on Monday 26th January 13:28

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Just fitted an ST 3 bar twin universal. Epic. Does yours need bleeding ?

skilly1

Original Poster:

2,700 posts

194 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Possibly, makes noise ike there is air in there. I thought that would be due to the pump seals going?

Any ideas how you bleed it?

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
I presume it's a Stuart Turner pump. Had one for years and it seems as good as when I fitted it.

I'd check the filters by popping off the pipes. Also confirm you don't have a problem with the supply. Can't see any need to bleed, TBH.

You can give them a call if you want more suggestions.

skilly1

Original Poster:

2,700 posts

194 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Yes it is a Stuart Tuner. Did not know there were filters - I will remove tonight and have a look.

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
They are like tiny strainers, at the pump and of the feed pipes on mine.

skilly1

Original Poster:

2,700 posts

194 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
So you just turn of the water valve on all 4 of the flexible hoses and undo the 4 brass fixing at the bottom with a spanner?

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Yes, that's it. Isolate the power. Catch the water residue with a cloth.

Here's a document - http://www.stuart-turner.co.uk/media/34682-Monsoon...

Slightly later pump, but should show it.

guindilias

5,245 posts

119 months

Monday 26th January 2015
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Stuart Turner are probably the best pump manufacturer there are - they will rebuild/recondition it as necessary. I still have an ancient ST "Number One" pump from WW2, pumping from an old well to a storage tank down at my cabin - 12v only and as much water comes out the seals as goes up the pipe - but it still works!
Have a 3 bar ST shower pump at the house as well, it would nearly strip the skin off your back!

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Is it drawing water from the top feed of the tank ? Is there an 'Essex' or 'Surrey' valve fitted to avoid air ingestion ?

skilly1

Original Poster:

2,700 posts

194 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
I have no idea, I will take a better pic tonight of the whole set-up.

Rickyy

6,618 posts

218 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
roofer said:
Just fitted an ST 3 bar twin universal. Epic. Does yours need bleeding ?
This! I installed one for a customer last week. The whole bathroom is supplied from it, the water hits the ceiling when the basin taps are turned on!


guindilias

5,245 posts

119 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Haha, I did the same thing when I installed mine - thought I may as well pump the whole bathroom. Toilet filled in no time, bath the same, basin - a disaster, almost impossible to live with! So I put it back to gravity feed...

skilly1

Original Poster:

2,700 posts

194 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Does not seem to be a 'surrey' valve at the top. I have cleaned out the filters and made no difference (not much in there).

Found out the pump is from 2008, and a service kit is £200 so I may buy a new one unless the 'surrey' valve will solve the problem?

skilly1

Original Poster:

2,700 posts

194 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Scratch that - just googled Surrey flange and its does have one. Definatly sounds like air or cavitation in the pump. I turned off the power and tuned on the shower as this is how they suggest you bleed it. Again made no difference. Any other ideas?

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Filters it be then.

Gingerbread Man

9,171 posts

212 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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It could be airlocked as a 2.5 bar pump with 22mm feeds should be a nice shower. If your shower has a shower hose and handset, try removing the handset, drop the hose into the bottom of the tray, as low as you can get it. Make sure the pump is turned on, then turn the shower on. Try all the way cold and all the way hot to hopefully clear any air out of each leg.

You could check the filters also. Typically on the inlet to the pump.

May be be able to bleed a joint at the highest point if accessible.

Or, turn the pump off, the shower on, try sucking on the shower hose when set all the way to cold and then again to hot. It might help to pull an airlock.

Jon1967x

7,178 posts

123 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
If it's only supplying the shower, the shower could be the fault. There will be filters on that too. You can normally dismantle and pull out the inner cartridge just turn the water off first!

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Would be interesting if you could test fully hot and fully cold to compare performance.

I'd expect water supply restriction. There could be wear on the pump causing it to suck in air, but I don't think that's very likely.

skilly1

Original Poster:

2,700 posts

194 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
We have two showers and both have the same problem, one shower was recently replaced. I have cleaned filters in pump.

If I turn it to full cold pressure is a lot more pressure on both showers - how I would expect it to be.

Edited by skilly1 on Tuesday 27th January 08:32