Leaking shower
Posted by: Dungassin on 05 July 2010
Just spent 30 minutes on the phone talking to the plumber who refitted one of our bathrooms about the shower, which drips after you run and switch off any of the other taps in that bathroom. He'd originally referred us back to the shower manufacturers, who referred us back to him. 
Unfortunately he's had a heart attack and is off sick for 3 months. So I rang the bathroom showroom, and spoke to the bloke there, who had already also spoken to the manufacturers.
My thoughts run as follows : Having some understanding of pressures and flows (well, I was a "gasman"), it seems to me that the problem must be that when we run/switch off something, you get a pressure surge which temporarily overcomes the valves in the shower. Specs for shower say OK up to 5 Bar, so either we have abnormally high mains pressure (unlikely as we are on the end of our particular water main), or the shower is outside spec.
Hopefully man in showroom will now be chasing manufacturers to get them to come out to do a "service visit".
All bloody annoying, and you can guess who is getting the brunt of SWMBO's displeasure.
Unfortunately he's had a heart attack and is off sick for 3 months. So I rang the bathroom showroom, and spoke to the bloke there, who had already also spoken to the manufacturers.
My thoughts run as follows : Having some understanding of pressures and flows (well, I was a "gasman"), it seems to me that the problem must be that when we run/switch off something, you get a pressure surge which temporarily overcomes the valves in the shower. Specs for shower say OK up to 5 Bar, so either we have abnormally high mains pressure (unlikely as we are on the end of our particular water main), or the shower is outside spec.
Hopefully man in showroom will now be chasing manufacturers to get them to come out to do a "service visit".
All bloody annoying, and you can guess who is getting the brunt of SWMBO's displeasure.
quote:Post the end result
I'll do that.
Plumbers are not SWMBO's favourite people ATM.
When we had our kitchen refitted 2 years ago, we had our old boiler replaced with a Baxi combiboiler. Seems to be always giving trouble.
They replaced the whole thing a year ago, and all was well for a while, apart from occasional burst of hot steam/water out of the overflow (no, we don't overpressurise it - gauge kept at the low pressure end of the green bar), which means she moved her potted plants from below the overflow.
Then we noticed that hot water was again becoming unreliable - sometimes barely rising above lukewarm. Engineer came out, fiddled with it, but didn't cure the problem. Next, one of our upstairs radiators leaked and had to be replaced.
Then we noticed that when we ran the hot water, the downstairs radiators heated up (even with although the heating shouldn't have been on (ambient temp above the thermostat setting).
Engineer came again, and replaced the interlock valve that stops domestic hot water getting into the heating side of things. Yup - it had been leaking and wasting energy. That accounted for the tepid hot water, and also explained (to me, at least) why the hot water had sometimes looked milky when first run.
Engineer departed without topping up the anti-corrosion fluid, so I did that myself.
All well until a couple of days ago, since when hot water/steam has again started appearing from the overflow when hot water is run (not every time, though).
I feel another engineer visit coming on ...
Oop`s not good then, IMHO combi`s are trouble waiting to happen and things are not getting better with condensing boilers. Whilst they will save you money on gas in the long term they will cost more due to a shorter life span, there is just to much technology inside them. Much better to stick with a system boiler and retain the cylinder in the airing cupboard because although the cylinder takes up precious space if the boiler goes for a burton you still have hot water via the immersion heater and also if you have a unvented cylinder they can be sited in the roof space with the boiler as well.
Me i`m a fan of the old fashioned y plan system simple to maintain and at a reasonable cost too just like my old landy 110 defender
Me i`m a fan of the old fashioned y plan system simple to maintain and at a reasonable cost too just like my old landy 110 defender
That's basically what SWMBO says. Somehow it's all become my fault, although she discussed the boiler installation with the kitchen company and central heating engineer before agreeing to it. Her main requirement at the time seemed to be to get the boiler out of the kitchen, and she seemed happy with the idea of a combi-boiler in the linen cupboard instead.
That's female "logic" for you. SHE makes the decision, and it's MY fault. Still, I should understand this after 38 years of marriage ...
That's female "logic" for you. SHE makes the decision, and it's MY fault. Still, I should understand this after 38 years of marriage ...
Stupid boy pike [ to coin a phrase from dads army ]
quote:Originally posted by Dungassin:
Yup, anaesthetists don't like low humidity - at least in the gases that are actually going into the patient. Being a bit of a cynic, I always thought the main benefit of all those antibacterial filters we started using on the ends of anaesthetic/ventilator circuits towards the end of my career benefitted the patient more by helping to humidify the inthaled gases.
Humidity within the actual anaesthetic machine/ventilator is, of course, a bad thing - makes the valves stick etc.
Ah, the "joys" of explaining how fluid logic ventilators work to junior staff/nurses/students ... usually involved a long lecture on fluid mechanics.
I was thinking more along he lines of low humidity causing an explosion.
I always thought we maintained the humidity in an operating theatre, at a level that would not allow static to be produced. Medical gasses and static not being a good combination.
Jolly good,i did say it was the valve did i not
quote:Originally posted by Dungassin:
On the shower front, a new valve assembly from Bristan came in the post this morning. I hadn't ordered it, so presumably it's for their engineer to install on Monday. I await the results with interest ...
Lets hope he is an engineer. If he is he’ll check the systems balanced.
Any fitting instructions with the valve?
quote:Lets hope he is an engineer. If he is he’ll check the systems balanced.
Any fitting instructions with the valve?
Well, Bristan did say they were sending one of their engineers. As for instructions - that's his problem.
quote:Originally posted by deadlifter:
Fatcat regarding your reply that the bristan engineer should check that the system is balanced.
BULLSHIT BULLSHIT BULLSHIT
Deadlifter
That’s your view but not necessarily correct, even though you are a plumber.
The first line from the Bristan mixing shower webpage.
“A Mixer Shower blends hot and cold water together and for the best performance the pressure from the hot and cold water should be balanced.”
Mixing shower webpage
Correct, and as for the shower valve leaking that will come down to some grit in the workings somewhere or a split/faulty o ring. Sometimes it happens
quote:Originally posted by Dungassin:quote:I bet he didn`t bother with the balancing bollocks either
I watched him. Did nothing other than change the valve.
A plumber masquerading as an engineer.
And obviously not a designer pretending to know his arse from his elbow. this was a simple problem with a simple cure and you tried to complicate the situation with a complete load of drivel,as i said previously your posts were/are unhelpful and as far as the solution to the original problem way off the mark.Please stick to the office and your particular job description
By the way my qualifications
City and Guilds craft 1-3
City and Guilds advanced craft
City and Guilds welding [various disciplines]
All relevant to the original post.
By the way my qualifications
City and Guilds craft 1-3
City and Guilds advanced craft
City and Guilds welding [various disciplines]
All relevant to the original post.
If you read the OP, a replacement valve wasn't on the horizon, the manufacturer and plumber said the other was responsible. I merely suggested ways of stopping the valve from leaking. I'm surprised you find learning so boring.
I'm not surprised you or your colleagues don't balance mixing valves. So long as it works it'll do, I doubt best or optimal performance is a priority.
I also don’t wish to sound condescending, but in my last three dealings with plumbers, I’ve stopped them placing the thermostat in a room with a gas fire, told them to remove the TRV on a radiator in a room containing the thermostat and made safe the electrical installation.
Oh and do you know why my washing machine keeps stopping mid cycle. Usually stops during rinsing accompanied by a bang from the drum.
I'm not surprised you or your colleagues don't balance mixing valves. So long as it works it'll do, I doubt best or optimal performance is a priority.
I also don’t wish to sound condescending, but in my last three dealings with plumbers, I’ve stopped them placing the thermostat in a room with a gas fire, told them to remove the TRV on a radiator in a room containing the thermostat and made safe the electrical installation.
Oh and do you know why my washing machine keeps stopping mid cycle. Usually stops during rinsing accompanied by a bang from the drum.
quote:If you read the OP, a replacement valve wasn't on the horizon, the manufacturer and plumber said the other was responsible. I merely suggested ways of stopping the valve from leaking. I'm surprised you find learning so boring.
My reply, Sounds like a faulty shower to me and as with faulty goods your point of contact would be the plumber or the merchants if he was/is employed by them and they MUST sort it. It is not your job to contact the manufactures of the shower
Quote
I also don’t wish to sound condescending, but in my last three dealings with plumbers, I’ve stopped them placing the thermostat in a room with a gas fire, told them to remove the TRV on a radiator in a room containing the thermostat and made safe the electrical installation.Quote
your problem not mine or Dungassin`s local to your area HARD SHIT be more carefull in your choice of tradesmen
Quote
Oh and do you know why my washing machine keeps stopping mid cycle. Usually stops during rinsing accompanied by a bang from the drum.Quote
Don`t know not involved in that particular area of expertise
