can anyone help me solve a shower problem? its driving me mad

[del boy]

I MOVED INTO MY NEW HOME 3YRS AGO AND IN THE BATHROOM WAS A TRITON T80SI. THIS WAS EXISTING AND AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF MOVING IN THE SHOWER BURNT OUT SO I WENT TO SWAP IT OVER AND FOUND THAT THE SUPPLY IS COLD MAINS AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD A PUMPED SHOWER ON THE MAINS????? ANY WAY I INSTALLED A MIRA SPORT 8.5kw TO REPLACE THE TRITON and got the low pressure reading so after checking everything was fitted correctly I decided to try to a 9.5kw. same thing happened (low pressure light came on and no water flowing)
tried this again with the Mira advance and still got nothing.
Now I definitely have a cold mains water supply (combi boiler and no storage tank)and this had stumped me so I fitted the triton t80 si (pumped) which was the original shower out of curiosity and it worked (untill now) with no blow offs and no operational problems at all.
problem I now have is the triton t80 si has burnt out after only 18months and before I buy another triton t80 si I wanted to try this forum to see if anyone has a clue what's going on here or if anyone has a solution for me?
mixer shower is out of the question due to a tiling issue so I need to find an answer to fitting an electric shower.
I have also had the mains pressure tested and although its not the best it is ok and should work but they don't.
SO HERES THE SHORT STORY.
1.moved into a new home and a triton t80 si (pumped) was on the wall
2 It burnt out after only a few months
3. found the water supply was mains and tried fitting normal showers but they wont work.
4. fitted a pumped shower on a cold main system and it worked for 18 months.
5. heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllpppppppppp I don't get this at all.

ps. electrics have been checked and correct cable is there.

IF anyone can explain this to me I would be very grateful as I am a PLUMBER my self and have been for over 21yrs and am totally baffled with this.
(only positive thing here for me is its not a customers house as I don't know how many times I would be back at this Lol)

thank you in advance

 

[petercj]

Take the shower off the wall, make sure all the valves are fully open, and using a bucket measure the flow, i.e. how many litres per minute. Then get on the phone to Triton technical advice and they will tell you whether it's worth fitting another shower on that feed, and if so, which one.

Customer Service Information

 

[Reg Man]

Obstruction in the water main or just generaly low pressure. Have the same problem in the house ive just purchased. Going to do total strip out, new mains pipe and hopefully unvented system if I can achieve pressure and volume.

 

[REDSAW]

known it before,
flush downstairs toilet and the shower cuts off.
pipe as first draw off sorted.

low pressure/damaged pipe work.

 

[Plum Bob 66]

you must have to much time on your hands. I tried the 9.5kw as I had one in stock and I am simply asking fellow plumbers for a bit of advice. you obviously do not have anything positive to say here so kindly move on to someone that's interested in your sarcastic remarks and leave me to communicate with level headed plumbers that are willing to help me out here. PS if you need any more info on the triton t8si "PUMPED SHOWER" most plumbers learn about this in year 1. goggle it and you will be educated from there. unfortunately I cannot paste a link for you as its forbidden on this site but I am sure you will find it if you look correctly.
now you and your immature mate can go on your jollies to where the sun don't shine

Ok Del Boy, apologies if my comment offended you., guess its time to move on. I have fitted the said Triton pumped shower so you were quite right, but i seemed to remember it was the ts80. Try having a a word with the Mira people, because i seem to remember they do a shower which is specific to low incoming mains pressure.

 

[vern]

known it before,
flush downstairs toilet and the shower cuts off.
pipe as first draw off sorted.

low pressure/damaged pipe work.

listen to this! Had my self on a Mira sport, found nearly closed ball valve tiled over!
DIY disaster zone!

 

[Plum Bob 66]

listen to this! Had my self on a Mira sport, found nearly closed ball valve tiled over!
DIY disaster zone!

Now thats a challenge Vern, did you you have to cut out tiling and p/board?

 

[theanalyst]

the triton t80 si shower needs to be feed from a tank not the mains mate dont know if you already this but there you go.

Hence this fine copy and past:

Performance
The T80si Pumped is a tank fed integral pumped electric shower designed for installations where the pressure of the mains water supply is too low, unreliable or non-existent. It can therefore be used in locations unsuitable for normal electric showers. This remarkable problem-solving shower is fed from your cold water tank which can be as little as 8cm above the unit.



another thing if your mains pressure is to low a mixer shower will be psshhh to and therefore need a pump and suitable sized tanks installed.

Good find!
If its fed off the tank then that'll be why the normal electric showers are showing low pressure...!

 

[del boy]

TO KOOGATUBAC.......really sorry bout sending that message to you it was indeed intended for the other users that were talking nonesense. please accept my apology and thank you for your input and help with my shower problem. no hard feelings I hope??
Kind Regards DEL BOY

 

[Koogatubac]

Its ok.

Have you found a solution yet?

 

[del boy]

not a full solution m8 but i am gonna use an idea from another member.
just gonna fit a storage tank in my loft and put a triton or mira pumped in.
think thats bout the only option I have

 

[vern]

Now thats a challenge Vern, did you you have to cut out tiling and p/board?

Yep, cut and shut job, some left over tiles in loft, about only luck I had on that job!

 

[Koogatubac]

Sounds good! Good luck

Get sum pics uploaded when your done

 

[del boy]

will do. speak soon

 

[Kimou]

This scenario may fit your symptoms.
If your mains pressure reduces in your area due to high usage at certain times, it could be significant enough to let your shower run dry, especially if it is upstairs and you use the water downstairs or flush a toilet, which is why it could burn out. And why it doesn't work on some showers. Try a flow rate test at different times to rule this out. And also test with other draw-offs in use to see if you at least have a supply to prevent burnout again.

 

[del boy]

Thanks to all for your advice/input into helping me solve my shower problem.
just wanted to give you all an update.

I decided to fit a storage tank in my loft this week and modified a little bit of pipework in my houae to give my new shower a storage supply through existing pipework. then moved a couple of fittings under the bath so the rest of house remains on a mains supply.
This got it all done without damaging any tiles/walls etc and problem now solved.

I now definitely think the issue with the showers burning out (along with poor cold mains pressure) was down to other people in the house using water when shower was in use. ie bath getting run in main bathroom when shower getting used in en-suite. anyway shower now has its own supply from the new storage tank and the rest of the house remains on mains/combi hot. so now I am pretty sure this will be the end of it for me.
thanks again to all for your help and advice and I hope I can return the favour one day.
Kind Regards DEL.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

thank you for letting us know the outcome