Ive moved into a new house which is old, ive chanced it to see if an aqualisa shower will work that was given to me by a family member, who then bought a new one, its all fully setup but only cold water comes out, the hot doesent seem to work. I assume its the expansion tank or whatever its called is the problem, but could I be mssing something else? When pressing the power button cold water comes out for about 20 seconds, then stops. Hot water not working. So I think its most probably the expansion tank or something ive missed?(The expansion tank has an outlet pipe, not ssure if this effects anything?) Thats where im at, Ive tried to list as much info as possible any help would be greatly apprecaited. Ive also included pics below.
Aqualisa showers and Expansion tank
- Thread starter 79diz
- Start date
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What do you mean by expansion tank? I can see a hot water cylinder in your pic.
Your shower appears to be electronically controlled. It doesn't look big enough to have a pump in it. I am not familiar with the model. It looks like it is the electronic thermostatic mixer.
One common mistake, is when the hot and the cold water are at different pressures. I can see your hot water cylinder is a low-pressure copper one. But what pressure is your cold water? Is it supplied from the loft cold water tank?
Put your thumb over the spout of a hot tap and turn it on. You can hold back the flow easily. That is low pressure. Now try with a cold tap. Can you do the same?
Your shower appears to be electronically controlled. It doesn't look big enough to have a pump in it. I am not familiar with the model. It looks like it is the electronic thermostatic mixer.
One common mistake, is when the hot and the cold water are at different pressures. I can see your hot water cylinder is a low-pressure copper one. But what pressure is your cold water? Is it supplied from the loft cold water tank?
Put your thumb over the spout of a hot tap and turn it on. You can hold back the flow easily. That is low pressure. Now try with a cold tap. Can you do the same?
The clue is on the inlet specs - min inlet pressure is 1Bar. That processor is for what is called a high pressure system and is non pumped. You have an open vented gravity HW system and would need the pumped version. Ask whoever gave you the box, they should confirm that they have a combi or an unvented cylinder.
This is what the pumped processor looks like - separate pump housing at the top
This is what the pumped processor looks like - separate pump housing at the top
As Madrab says, you have the wrong processor. There is a company that does repairs and reconditions these processors. I know they do an exchange for people changing from a vented to a pressurised system. They will probably do the same for you and exchange yours for a pumped version. Will be a lot cheaper than buying new. I've used them a few times and had excellent service.
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Looking closer at your pictures, it appears you have a combination cylinder with a small cold water store on top of the hot cylinder. If this is the case, a pumped shower is not an option as you don't have sufficient cold water storage. An electric shower using mains water is really your best option until you can properly update the system.
Thanks for informative and quick responses. Someone has suggested this pump will solve the problem, and get it to work to 1bar?
But you seem to think it wont? I bow to your superior knowledge, can you confirm this? What is the company you are talking about? Kind regards.
But you seem to think it wont? I bow to your superior knowledge, can you confirm this? What is the company you are talking about? Kind regards.
The problem you have is that water is supplied to the hot water cylinder from a small header tank with a very small capacity. If you put a pump in the system, you will rapidly drain the cold water tank and the hot water will stop flowing. This will result in a cold shower and probably a knackered pump.
The standard Aqualisa processor you have is designed to work on balanced mains pressure hot and cold. The pumped version is designed to work on balanced tank fed hot and cold. Unfortunately you have neither of these setups.
The standard Aqualisa processor you have is designed to work on balanced mains pressure hot and cold. The pumped version is designed to work on balanced tank fed hot and cold. Unfortunately you have neither of these setups.
As Elkato suggests, a combination cylinder cannot be pumped, it just doesn't have the capacity to ensure it doesn't run dry.
You need a re-design of your Hot and Cold water system if you want to up the pressure and flow of your shower. That will all be determined by the cold mains dynamic pressure and flow.
You need a re-design of your Hot and Cold water system if you want to up the pressure and flow of your shower. That will all be determined by the cold mains dynamic pressure and flow.
I only just saw this one for some reason, this is all we have in the house and the water pressure isnt great. There isn no other source in the house nothing in the loft etc. I think it previoulsy had a larger expansion tank in its place so the water was much better. I think as others are suggesting maybe this is what I need to change really.
So it seems eeryone is in agreement the main tank needs to be replacd doesn anyone have any suggestions? Someone told me about sunamp, what do you think or could be expensive?
sunamp.com
Or do I just go for an unvented cylinder, I think this is my only choice maybe? The house only has electric by the way.
Many thanks
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Or do I just go for an unvented cylinder, I think this is my only choice maybe? The house only has electric by the way.
Many thanks
Just so you know - what you are calling an expansion tank is actually a Cold Water Storage Cistern (CWSC). Where there is an open vented HW cylinder then there is a vent pipe from that, that is routed up, over and into the cistern to cope with expanded HW when there is a fault condition and the cylinder overheats.
The same happens with the combination cylinder you have, only issue with that is the CWSC on top of the cylinder is very small, hence why it can't be pumped.
Anything currently heated with electricity is seriously expensive though of course there are options for ASHP/PV/Solar etc and that heat bank utilises those technologies but that can be a very large outlay but if your budget can accommodate that then looking at renewables etc is certainly a way to go. If all you are looking to do is replace the HW cylinder just now then unvented is certainly an option. The key with unvented though is you need to know what your cold mains can supply in terms of dynamic pressure and flow. That's your starting point.
Ah Ok thanks again, Ive been loooking at water pressure and it isnt really great this is what I have
Water pressure
10 secs 60secs
Kitchen 1.3ltrs x6 7.8ltrs
Outside tap 1.5ltrs x6 9ltrs
Bathroom 2.1ltrs x6 12.6ltrs
15ltrs p/ minute good water pressure
10-15ltrrs p/m acceptable
Anything below is poor
I think the reason the water pressure is highest in the bathroom is because thats where it comes in, its an old house.
Is the pressure good enough for the bathroom do you think? Also it seems the property has always had vented, so how do I know if I can go with unvented and does unvented help with the water pressure at all?
Water pressure
10 secs 60secs
Kitchen 1.3ltrs x6 7.8ltrs
Outside tap 1.5ltrs x6 9ltrs
Bathroom 2.1ltrs x6 12.6ltrs
15ltrs p/ minute good water pressure
10-15ltrrs p/m acceptable
Anything below is poor
I think the reason the water pressure is highest in the bathroom is because thats where it comes in, its an old house.
Is the pressure good enough for the bathroom do you think? Also it seems the property has always had vented, so how do I know if I can go with unvented and does unvented help with the water pressure at all?
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