Electric Shower Issue - Heatrae Sadia 'Dove'

[sarahmac21]

We recently moved into a house and the previous owner put in an en suite into one of the bedrooms. It's pretty bad and I'd like to tear it down and start again. The shower inside is separate from the house combi boiler system. It's an electric shower and it a Heatrae Sadia 'Dove' model.

The water pressure is very low, however I have ordered a low pressure shower head to help with this. The main issue is the settings. There are 4 settings:

OFF
COLD
MEDIUM
HOT

And there is the Cold through to Hot dial to determind the temperature.

When the HOT setting is chosen the water stays scalding regardless of turning the temperature dial. When using the MEDIUM setting, the water will only get luke warm despite turning the temparature dial all the through to Hot.

So it's either a scalding hot shower or lukewarm. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Many thanks

 

[ChrisOxford]

With electrically heated showers, the water temperature is determined by:

(1) How many heating element(s) are switched on. This is the 4-position control.

(2) How fast the water's flowing through the heating element, which determines how much time the heating element has to warm it up. This is the continuously variable control.

The controls can often be very fiddly to set correctly, and in addition, the heating element will switch off completely if the water's flowing too slowly, resulting in the water suddenly going from very hot to cold.

I wonder whether it's ever worked correctly, in other words, whether the cold water feed into it is delivering enough water at the right pressure. If the rest of the en-suite is dodgy DIY, then this might be a problem.

As you suspect, the shower head can play a role in this too. Is the existing one at all scaled up? If so, descaling can make a big difference.

You may have to call in a professional plumber for diagnosis and advice, but have you tried ringing the manufacturer's helpline?

 

[sarahmac21]

Hi ChrisOxford,

Thank you for your help. I probably suspect the plumbing is dodgy too. The previous owner was a DIY enthusiast - but not a good one. Luckily my dad is a dab hand at building/decorating "everything-but-plumbing" as he does it for a living, so whilst we can do most stuff the plumbing is a mystery.

We actually put a new shower head on the shower as the old was grim. I'm on a second shower head now though as I don't like the multiple setting one's.

So if the water is only luke warm on the MEDIUM setting - would you say that a possibility is that not all the heating elements are on?

I haven't called the manufacturer but I might see if I can find the number now! We do have a downstairs bathroom but whilst I wait for my dad to fix a "thingy" on the wall so I can stand under the shower without holding it I have to use the en suite [I'm a girl, long hair, wash it everyday blah blah].

Sarah

 

[ChrisOxford]

So if the water is only luke warm on the MEDIUM setting - would you say that a possibility is that not all the heating elements are on?

Possibly, but you would need some knowledge of electricity and a multimeter (mains power off, meter set to low Ohms range) to be certain.

Good luck

 

[sarahmac21]

Wow all sounds very complicated...will get a plumber in I think!

Thank you!

Sarah

 

[seco services]

This is a old shower now.
Doubt you have a faulty heating element by the discription of the fault you are giving.

Why did you change the head first time ?
What was the shower performing like before head changed ?
Going by your discription of the fault i would be starting with a restricted flow problem ie by removing the head and running shower and also checking the inlet filter.

 

[ChrisOxford]

Going by your discription of the fault i would be starting with a restricted flow problem ie by removing the head and running shower and also checking the inlet filter.

I forgot about the inlet filter

 

[sarahmac21]

So I went home and the setting isn't HOT it's HIGH.

I removed the shower head as it was cruddy and not looked after....it's new home was the skip! The low pressure shower head I put on it last night works a treat.

Also - my dad had a fiddle with the settings last night and it seems to now be fine and I had a nice hot [but not scalding!] shower this morning.

Thanks for your helps guys!

Sarah

 

[ChrisOxford]

That's a result, Sarah, well done!

We actually put a new shower head on the shower as the old was grim. I'm on a second shower head now ...

I removed the shower head as it was cruddy and not looked after....

Sorry, I thought the head would be clean as you'd said that you had replaced it already.

Either way, keeping it scrupulously clean (e.g. with liquid kettle de-scaler) is essential if you live in a hard water area.

C.