Gainsborough 9.5 Select Shower

[AlanWright]

[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Hi Guys,[/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]On of my customers wants advise on an electric shower and wants to boost the pressure to solve his problem.
[/FONT]
I am not convinced that pressure is the problem because the cold setting gives a very good shower and if all he wanted was cold showers then he would be happy. Any thoughts on what the real problem is?

From a customer in Huddersfield:-
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]I have a Gainsborough 9.5 Select Shower which is fed from the 15mm cold water supply. The spray from the shower head is appalling, especially as you move the dial from Cold to hot. The pressure reduces as it moves from Cold to hot.[/FONT]

I can eliminate the shower hose and head as being a problem because the spray is fantastic when set to the cold setting on the electric shower. The electric shower itself is new, only purchased in late Dec 2013 and is still under warranty. I can confirm the shower does not cut out either.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Hi Alan

I suspect that your customer simply doesn't understand the inherent limitations of instant electric showers, particularly in mid winter when the incoming main temp is low.

Sounds like he also doesn't understand the trade off between temperature and flow rate.

"Dear Plumber. The laws of physics are inconveniencing me. Can you please organise for them to be suspended in my house..."

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Ray is spot on, the customer is a muppet. I get a decent flow out my triton 9.5 when put on to high but I know it's nothing compared to a boosted shower.

 

[Best]

Ask them have they ever used a shower before that heats the water? Remind the customer that electric showers are simple devices that only heat the water as it passes through them. Tell them the cold to hot adjusting knob is really just a flow valve - less flow more heat. Obviously, in winter the incoming water will be very cold & flow will be less than in summer for same output temperature.
It is possible that one of the showers elements is not working though, I guess, but that would mean a very small amount of flow this weather for high temperature. Give them Gainsborough number for advice.

 

[jonnyswamp]

Is this a newly installed shower or existing that has steadily got worse
If existing, then what Best says above or maybe scale problem etc
If new install, this would need a 10mm cable feeding it, if any smaller then the output would be limited
Someone upgraded shower from 7.5 to 9.5 without upgrading cable etc?

 

[gassafe]

Gainsborough are the cheapest & worst showers out there from my experiences! Made by redring I think, and no chance of getting through to anyone, under warranty or not...

Problems is probs still user error, but its a cheap shower too!

 

[Best]

Gainsborough are the cheapest & worst showers out there from my experiences! Made by redring I think, and no chance of getting through to anyone, under warranty or not...

Problems is probs still user error, but its a cheap shower too!

As far as I know, Gainsborough Showers are not made by Redring, but actually linked with Aqualisa showers. Aqualisa shower in recent times that had square shaped casing was just a Gainsborough shower when you removed the case & frankly, as you say, very poor.
I think the parts for Gainsborough could be bought from an Aqualisa/Gainsborough agent, although you would have been told to buy entire shower "engine" (works) with Gainsborough.
Redring I found to be very reliable generally, although later versions have had problems with small pcb.

 

[REDSAW]

my gainsborough has been going for 20 odd years,

its started to clap out now though!.