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

del boy · Dec 5, 2012

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

vern · Dec 9, 2012

Plum Bob 66 said:
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 · Dec 9, 2012

Sounds good! Good luck

Get sum pics uploaded when your done 🙂

del boy · Dec 9, 2012

will do. speak soon

Kimou · Dec 9, 2012

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 · Dec 15, 2012

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.