Shower pump has apparently died... Any ideas as to what's happened?

[BogeyNights]

We have an ensuite shower room in our loft conversion. On Christmas Eve it started to go wrong...

The pump took a while to get going that morning when I ran the shower, but eventually was pretty happy, until I cooled the water coming from the shower head by turning the mixer tap to cold slightly. Then it became very unhappy and the water pressure became less until it gave up completely. Now when I turn on the tap, the pump will not activate at all. Same goes for the sink tap which is also fed by the same pump. What's more, we've had 3 short power cuts due to the weather in our area which may or may not have affected the pump.

For anyone techy, this may be useful...

The cold water tank in also in the loft conversion, on the floor, so lower than the shower head and sink tap.
The hot water tank in on the first floor which is where the pump is also found. It is positioned on a shelf above the hot water tank.
The hot water comes from the top of the cylinder up to the pump.

Moreover, last week we had the heating in the loft conversion looked at cos it wasn't working - and hasn't been since we had the conversion done almost 3 years ago (and that is a whole other story...) - but now the heating does work because the guy who fixed it (who we trust and regret that he did not have more to do with the heating at the time) solved the 'cowboy' job that the previous plumber left behind. Anyhow, I digress...

The fixing of the heating meant that the plumber had to run new pipes to the loft radiators and in doing so had a good rummage in the cupboard containing the hot water cylinder leaving a lot of dust and a few small lumps of plaster etc behind.

I've googled the problem and looked at the make etc of our pump. Its a negative head pump and a twin impeller centrifugal (!?) and the warning light on the pump indicates that 'is starved of water'. Other googling has also pointed to there being debris in the pump filter which made me wonder about the dust etc left behind by last weeks fixing.

Any plumbers out there who could warn me that it's going to be a big job to fix this, or (preferably) it could be fixed easily. My usual plumber is not around over Christmas otherwise I'd call him.

Fortunately we do have another bathroom which is working so we shan't be too smelly over the next week or so. TIA

[PigletJohn]

I am not very fond of shower pumps. It is possible that it has grit in its filter (if it has filters). See if you can find an instruction manual, or download one, and see if it tells you how to clean them. They may be gauze disks in the ends of the inlet hoses. Provided you turn the water supply off first it might be a diy job using your set of adjustable spanners.

[BogeyNights]

Thanks Piglet...

[PigletJohn]

BTW have a look in the cold water tank (it should have a close fitting plastic lid, and a black insulating jacket. Is there any detritus such as scraps of insulation, grit, limescale flakes, cigarette ends, drowned wildlife, sacks of sovereigns?

[PigletJohn]

BTW have a look in the cold water tank (it should have a close fitting plastic lid, and a black insulating jacket. Is there any detritus such as scraps of insulation, grit, limescale flakes, cigarette ends, drowned wildlife, sacks of sovereigns?

[BogeyNights]

Actually the lid doesn't fit properly cos of a pipe going in the top. And it is rather yuk in there. Limescale & sediment. So could be debris flowing into the pipe from there. Also the cold water tank is taking forever to refill once we've used the remaining shower. So perhaps there's gunk in the pipes there. What do you think. ?

[PigletJohn]

could well be.

the lid can be cut with a serrated knife, hacksaw, or sturdy pair of scissors to fit round the pipes, so that it clips onto the tank, so tightly that there is no crevasse into which a mountaineering spider or other wildlife could plummet to her doom.

If it is full of dirt and dead spiders, turn off the water, drain it (pref with the cold bath tap) and clean it out with a small dustpan and (paint)brush, then sponge it clean and rinse well. Or consider a new one. If it is slow to fill you might benefit from a new ballcock, it will also probably be quieter than the old one. You can also get modern "silent" valves which are very quiet.

If there is stopcock or service valve on the supply pipe close to the tank (there should be) verify that it is fully open, then backed off half a turn. Somebody might have closed it to reduce the noise from a worn ballcock.

[BogeyNights]

Piglet. You have been very helpful. I shall check for mountaineering equipment and get my dustpan out!! Thanks muchly.