Electric shower leaking water

chewed

hi there, I have an electric shower that has suddenly started leaking water from the shower head. There's quite a lot of water coming out. I've tried turning off the water flow with an isolation valve on the other side of the wall, but this only seems to slow down the flow of water. Before I get a plumber in, is there anything I can do to stop this temporarily? Would it be dangerous to try and cap the outflow pipe from the shower (to the shower head)?

dodzy

chewed wrote: »

hi there, I have an electric shower that has suddenly started leaking water from the shower head. There's quite a lot of water coming out. I've tried turning off the water flow with an isolation valve on the other side of the wall, but this only seems to slow down the flow of water. Before I get a plumber in, is there anything I can do to stop this temporarily? Would it be dangerous to try and cap the outflow pipe from the shower (to the shower head)?

The isolation valve will DEFINITELY stop the flow, assuming the valve is functional. Shower model ?

masculinist

im trying to make a mental picture of the problem. Is the shower being fed from the mains or an overhead tank ?

chewed

dodzy wrote: »

The isolation valve will DEFINITELY stop the flow, assuming the valve is functional. Shower model ?

The isolation valve doesn't seem to shut it off completely! I have it horizontal and water still leaks out. When I twist it around I can hear the water gushing up the pipe. Can't remember the exact make, but it's a Triton. (not at home at the moment)

dodzy

chewed wrote: »

The isolation valve doesn't seem to shut it off completely! I have it horizontal and water still leaks out. When I twist it around I can hear the water gushing up the pipe. Can't remember the exact make, but it's a Triton. (not at home at the moment)

Those regular isolation valves ( Gate valves - red wheel ) are crap. So it appears you've 2 problems. If tank fed, it will have to be drained and valve replaced. Then onto your 2nd problem. Model number will help.

chewed

dodzy wrote: »

Those regular isolation valves ( Gate valves - red wheel ) are crap. So it appears you've 2 problems. If tank fed, it will have to be drained and valve replaced. Then onto your 2nd problem. Model number will help.

It's a Triton Aqua Sensation as2000

masculinist

Maybe this list of Triton Shower questions and answers will be helpful OP

http://www.tritonshowers.ie/triton-for-the-homeowner/after-sales-service/faq.aspx?productCategory=5765&questiontype=136

Water has started leaking from inside my power shower, what should I check?
Check that the unit is plumbed to gravity fed hot and cold supplies - it cannot be connected to mains water pressure (hot and/or cold).
If the unit is leaking from the inlet push-fit fittings then it is advisable to contact the installer of the unit and request that the problem be rectified.

Sleeper12

You don't have an electric shower. You have a power shower. A power shower has a hot & cold supply. If you are only shutting off one valve then obviously it won't shut off the water. If you can't find the other valve then one will do. Try turning the temperature all the way to cold. If it is Still leaking then turn it all the way to hot. You now should no water running through the shower.

Don't waste your time on a plumber. Call a proper shower repair company. Google shower repair. There are dozens of them. They will have the part with them. You need a new solenoid. This is around €100 supplied & fitted. You also need them to check the temperature cartridge. Quite often what happens is the rubber seals on this perish & little bits block the solenoid. If this is the case your new solenoid will fail within a few weeks. If you need a new cartridge you can add another €50 making it around €150 all in. If the shower is over 8 years old you'd be better off replacing it. Around €350 supplied & fitted.

chewed

Sleeper12 wrote: »

You don't have an electric shower. You have a power shower. A power shower has a hot & cold supply. If you are only shutting off one valve then obviously it won't shut off the water. If you can't find the other valve then one will do. Try turning the temperature all the way to cold. If it is Still leaking then turn it all the way to hot. You now should no water running through the shower.

Don't waste your time on a plumber. Call a proper shower repair company. Google shower repair. There are dozens of them. They will have the part with them. You need a new solenoid. This is around €100 supplied & fitted. You also need them to check the temperature cartridge. Quite often what happens is the rubber seals on this perish & little bits block the solenoid. If this is the case your new solenoid will fail within a few weeks. If you need a new cartridge you can add another €50 making it around €150 all in. If the shower is over 8 years old you'd be better off replacing it. Around €350 supplied & fitted.

Thanks Sleeper. I have to get a plumber out anyway for other jobs, but I may as well just replace the shower as you've suggested as it's well over 8 years old now. I just wanted to know could I try to block/cap the flow of water in the meantime? It's a good thing I'm not being charged for metered water just yet!!!

Sleeper12

chewed wrote: »

Thanks Sleeper. I have to get a plumber out anyway for other jobs, but I may as well just replace the shower as you've suggested as it's well over 8 years old now. I just wanted to know could I try to block/cap the flow of water in the meantime? It's a good thing I'm not being charged for metered water just yet!!!

As I say you were only shutting off the one valve. If plumbed correctly it'll have a separate cold supply from the attic tank. There should be a valve there. It should also have a separate hot supply. I'm guessing this is the one you were able to shut off.

chewed

The pipe feeds into the top of the immersion tank, but there's no valve as far as I can see!

Sleeper12

There will be a valve on a pipe going into the bottom of the cylinder. This will shut off all the hot water. But one valve off will be enough anyway. As I said above with one off you just adjust the temperature dial to either hot or cold. This should shut off all the water.