Electric Shower Temperature

donglen

Hi, any help would be appreciated. For quite some time our Electric Shower has been giving us grief. The temperature of the water has a mind of it's own and needs to be "coaxed" to get it to the temperature needed.
Example:
Temperature settings go from 1-10, ideal shower setting approx 7 or 8. However, on initial start-up setting 7/8 is ice cold, we need to whack it up to 10 and then when it gets scalding, turn it back to 7 and jump under while it's in the process of cooling down, then it becomes ice-cold again and the process then starts again. You might have to do this 4/5/6 times over the course of a shower.
We've been making do with this (always had something else more urgent money wise), occasionally it will work fine but then again occasionally it won't give out hot water at all.
At this stage I'm sick of it and willing to just fork out for a new shower - will this solve the problem? I'm worried that the issue may be elsewhere rather than the shower?
The shower we currently have is a TritonT70si and it's 8 years old.
Anyone experienced this and have a solution? Is this just a natural end-of-life shower symptom and it simply needs replacing?

shane0007

donglen wrote: »

Hi, any help would be appreciated. For quite some time our Electric Shower has been giving us grief. The temperature of the water has a mind of it's own and needs to be "coaxed" to get it to the temperature needed.
Example:
Temperature settings go from 1-10, ideal shower setting approx 7 or 8. However, on initial start-up setting 7/8 is ice cold, we need to whack it up to 10 and then when it gets scalding, turn it back to 7 and jump under while it's in the process of cooling down, then it becomes ice-cold again and the process then starts again. You might have to do this 4/5/6 times over the course of a shower.
We've been making do with this (always had something else more urgent money wise), occasionally it will work fine but then again occasionally it won't give out hot water at all.
At this stage I'm sick of it and willing to just fork out for a new shower - will this solve the problem? I'm worried that the issue may be elsewhere rather than the shower?
The shower we currently have is a Triton720 si and it's 8 years old.
Anyone experienced this and have a solution? Is this just a natural end-of-life shower symptom and it simply needs replacing?

The shower is choked up with limescale.
Basically the volume of water being heated is reduced due to the volume of limescale & heats up too hot. Thermostat kicks in & turns off element, therefore cold & the process repeats.
They can be cleared but be very careful with electrics, etc. especially when re-assembling. There is a very recent case, I think in Carlow, where fitted shower electrocuted girl in shower due to incorrect wiring.

donglen

shane0007 wrote: »

The shower is choked up with limescale.
Basically the volume of water being heated is reduced due to the volume of limescale & heats up too hot. Thermostat kicks in & turns off element, therefore cold & the process repeats.
They can be cleared but be very careful with electrics, etc. especially when re-assembling. There is a very recent case, I think in Carlow, where fitted shower electrocuted girl in shower due to incorrect wiring.

Hi, thanks for the suggestion. I did take the Shower head apart and soaked overnight (as suggested in another thread) and gave it a good clean. It worked for 2 showers, I didn't have to change the temperature setting for these. I could still feel the temperature changing but not extreme enough hot or cold to have to adjust it.
However, on shower number 3 it is stone cold. It does not heat at all even when temperature gauge moved to 10.
As I've checked and cleaned the head and that hasn't worked I guess I should clean whatever filter mechanism is in the shower. The casing is sealed tight with sealant (to prevent water getting in I guess).
Can I just scrape this out and remove the casing, check out whatever's going on inside and then re-attach?

hufpc8w3adnk65

Where about in the country are you?

donglen

MrMac84 wrote: »

Where about in the country are you?

Cork.

hufpc8w3adnk65

donglen wrote: »

Hi, thanks for the suggestion. I did take the Shower head apart and soaked overnight (as suggested in another thread) and gave it a good clean. It worked for 2 showers, I didn't have to change the temperature setting for these. I could still feel the temperature changing but not extreme enough hot or cold to have to adjust it.
However, on shower number 3 it is stone cold. It does not heat at all even when temperature gauge moved to 10.
As I've checked and cleaned the head and that hasn't worked I guess I should clean whatever filter mechanism is in the shower. The casing is sealed tight with sealant (to prevent water getting in I guess).
Can I just scrape this out and remove the casing, check out whatever's going on inside and then re-attach?

Too be honest any thing that involves breaking seals and remaking them again you should be sure of what your doing before proceeding.water and electricity can be deadly.

donglen

MrMac84 wrote: »

Too be honest any thing that involves breaking seals and remaking them again you should be sure of what your doing before proceeding.water and electricity can be deadly.

I certainly don't know what I'm doing..........thank you for the warning.

corkplumber

donglen wrote: »

I certainly don't know what I'm doing..........thank you for the warning.

if your in cork city . I can have a look at it free of charge.

Is your shower working from a tank or from the mains?

corkplumber

sorry just noticed its a TritonT70si. it could be limescale as shane007 and also in the shower head.

7/8 years old . probably time for a new one

donglen

corkplumber wrote: »

sorry just noticed its a TritonT70si. it could be limescale as shane007 and also in the shower head.

7/8 years old . probably time for a new one

Yes I was thinking time for a new one also. However, I've been chatting to a few neighbours and they are being affected also so we now think it's actually a water pressure issue? I don't have a low-pressure indicator on my shower but next door does and they advise that it's "flickering" and they had/have the same issues as myself.
I know the source of the problem needs to be tackled (I'm assuming if it's more than us then there's a leak(s) in the mains somewhere) but that might take an eternity to be fixed, so, if that is the case would an upgrade to a differen't shower type alleviate the issue.

shane0007

Limescale can affect pressure also, i.e. restricting flow. You may find in limescale areas, all properties will be affected similarly.

If you know your water is high in limescale, it might be worth installing a filter.

hufpc8w3adnk65

donglen wrote: »

Yes I was thinking time for a new one also. However, I've been chatting to a few neighbours and they are being affected also so we now think it's actually a water pressure issue? I don't have a low-pressure indicator on my shower but next door does and they advise that it's "flickering" and they had/have the same issues as myself.
I know the source of the problem needs to be tackled (I'm assuming if it's more than us then there's a leak(s) in the mains somewhere) but that might take an eternity to be fixed, so, if that is the case would an upgrade to a differen't shower type alleviate the issue.

If its water pressure issue changen too a pumped shower is the answer but theres work too be done on the piping in the attic and the fuse board too as part of the upgrade

minty247

all electric showers should be gravity fed and not mains fed. A water tank in the attic would fix this. Low pressure would not be a problem again. Your element might be suspect also.

Damokc

Your shower is knackered I'm afraid. We live in a high lime water area and we've gone through 3 Tritons in 3 years. Apparently they've made a part that was once cleanable now a sealed unit.

donglen

Thanks to all for the replies and suggestions, I'll leave it in the hands of the experts, I've a plumber booked to diagnose the issue. I'm just not man enough to endure the cold showers!