Hi all,
I'm hoping one of you may be able to point me in the right direction please.
I live in a flat. Have an indirect unvented system (Oso indirect 20 RI) and an Amptec Boiler.
There is also underfloor heating present - I notice no issues warming the property.
The main problem I have is with hot water to the shower. (The bathroom is situated directly behind the cupboard that the system resides within).
Often, I can start the shower and have a nice mix of heat and flow, however after less than a few minutes the heat goes, I have to turn the shower more to the hot water side and when it's working ok it warms up again with only the slightest of nudges to the left - until it starts to cool and then the nudging continues until I can't nudge no further.
However, the water flow drops considerably, sometimes to the point where to actually get something of a warm to hot shower I have to stand directly under a trickle of water.
At it's worst, the hot water is also slow running from both the kitchen taps (directly behind the bathroom) and the bathroom tap for both the sink and the bath.
Often, if I run a bath the hot water will stop for a while and then just start running again if I leave the tap open.
Cold water "pressure" appears to be fine and flows great. However, one thing I also noticed... if I open the cold water tap in the kitchen it sometimes sounds like the toilet is flushing.
When we note that the hot water is running really slowly, rightly or wrongly there's a process I complete that restores some pace to the hot water:-
However, the shower flow is always worse than the taps, so even this process doesn't get a nice balance between a cold or hot shower, again, the softest of nudges to the hot side of the shower results in scolding hot when the hot water flows well so it's a constant nudge left, nudge right battle, and then adjust the longer the shower is running.
It may be that there are several issues at play therefore, and as a layperson I'm imaging some sort of trapped air being sucked in somewhere/somehow but I wouldn't have the first real clue.
So, could anybody advise.
A) what could be the reason for the hot water rate constantly decreasing and why, if I should even be following my little procedure, is the reason why it restores the flow temporarily? Say 3-4 weeks at a time.
B) Could/should I consider replacing the shower with a thermostatic type so I don't constanty have to faff with little adjustments to maintain a comfortable shower heat and flow? Or, would this not be appropriate until the balance between hot and cold flow is resolved?
If any pictures would help do let me know or if I can clarify anything better to assist.
Many thanks.
I'm hoping one of you may be able to point me in the right direction please.
I live in a flat. Have an indirect unvented system (Oso indirect 20 RI) and an Amptec Boiler.
There is also underfloor heating present - I notice no issues warming the property.
The main problem I have is with hot water to the shower. (The bathroom is situated directly behind the cupboard that the system resides within).
Often, I can start the shower and have a nice mix of heat and flow, however after less than a few minutes the heat goes, I have to turn the shower more to the hot water side and when it's working ok it warms up again with only the slightest of nudges to the left - until it starts to cool and then the nudging continues until I can't nudge no further.
However, the water flow drops considerably, sometimes to the point where to actually get something of a warm to hot shower I have to stand directly under a trickle of water.
At it's worst, the hot water is also slow running from both the kitchen taps (directly behind the bathroom) and the bathroom tap for both the sink and the bath.
Often, if I run a bath the hot water will stop for a while and then just start running again if I leave the tap open.
Cold water "pressure" appears to be fine and flows great. However, one thing I also noticed... if I open the cold water tap in the kitchen it sometimes sounds like the toilet is flushing.
When we note that the hot water is running really slowly, rightly or wrongly there's a process I complete that restores some pace to the hot water:-
- I turn off the boiler at the fusebox.
- I close the stopcock for the cold water inflow.
- I open the hot water taps for kitchen, bath, sink and shower. Eventually the hot water stops flowing.
- I then open the T & P valve and listen to gurgling for a few minutes (water does not pass into the tundish (is that the right name?).
However, the shower flow is always worse than the taps, so even this process doesn't get a nice balance between a cold or hot shower, again, the softest of nudges to the hot side of the shower results in scolding hot when the hot water flows well so it's a constant nudge left, nudge right battle, and then adjust the longer the shower is running.
It may be that there are several issues at play therefore, and as a layperson I'm imaging some sort of trapped air being sucked in somewhere/somehow but I wouldn't have the first real clue.
So, could anybody advise.
A) what could be the reason for the hot water rate constantly decreasing and why, if I should even be following my little procedure, is the reason why it restores the flow temporarily? Say 3-4 weeks at a time.
B) Could/should I consider replacing the shower with a thermostatic type so I don't constanty have to faff with little adjustments to maintain a comfortable shower heat and flow? Or, would this not be appropriate until the balance between hot and cold flow is resolved?
If any pictures would help do let me know or if I can clarify anything better to assist.
Many thanks.