Problem with powershower

[stem]

I have a powershower pump (Brightplan) which has worked perfectly since I moved in 13 years ago.

In the last few weeks, the showerhead has started making a spluttering noise that sounds as if there is air in the water, accompanied by a drop in water temperature that worsens the longer the shower is used. The problem is with the hot side of the supply, if the mixer is turned to the cold only position, the noise disappears and the flow is smooth.

Several attempts to purge the pipes by removing the showerhead and running water through without the pump running have only met with limited success, the problem returns almost immediately.

The pump sits on the floor at the side of the hot water cylinder, taking its hot supply from a tee in the 22mm pipe leaving the top of the cylinder which is inclined at approximately 30- 40 degrees towards the vent. From the tee the pipe reduces to 15mm for the short vertical drop into the pump inlet via an isolation valve and flexible connection.

From the pump, the pipes run under the floor, rising in the bathroom to the mixer. (Approximately 2.5 metres horizontal, 1.75 metres vertical)

The header tank is located in the loft immediately above the cylinder. This tank also provides the cold supply to the pump.

I guess the pipework must be OK to have worked well for this long, and as far as I am aware nothing has changed. Any ideas as to what might be causing the problem?

 

[Nige F]

Brightplan +13years use=impeller on hot side broken

 

[meldrew's_mate]

Scale or other debris restricting the inlet to the pump?
Has the hot flow to taps elsewhere become reduced?
Did the shower become progressively more interactive with other hot water demands? If so you may also have scale build-up on the hot water exit pipe from the cylinder.

All this assumes you have hard water

 

[bab]

Never heard of a Brightplan,If u want that kind of reliability again replace it with a Stuart Turner monsoon. check the bar pressure on its data plate & replace with same.

 

[stem]

Thanks for the replies

Nige F - Will turn pump over to switch hot & cold sides around to check for this.

meldrews mate - No debris manifest in in shower head, difficult to tell if pipe from cylinder is blocked without cutting it, or is there an easier way? However flow to taps etc still OK. Only one bathroom, me & the missus in the house, so the demands have not changed.

bab - I've never heard of a Brightplan either, unfortunately it doesen't have any other information, ie rating on it other than the name, I'll see if I can find any info on the net. Will consider Stuart Turner monsoon if I have to replace it.