Shower Pump - how to diagnose?

[dormermike]

Hi

We have a Aqualisa Aquaforce 65 pump installed, but it hasn't worked since we moved into this house. I've had an electrician look at it briefly and he said it was wired up properly and power going to it etc, just not working.

I've had a read up, and there are apparently reed switched installed in the pipework, and you can test these with a magnet.. problem is i cant seem to figure out where these switches might be, and rubbing a magnet randomly over the body and plastic parts does nothing.

Any ideas greatfully received please! I did wonder if it had every worked, looks quite shiny.

Cheers
Mike

Untitled

• dormermike
• 14 Mar 2011
• 2

 

[HERTS P&D]

Replace it with a Stuart & Turner pump.

Andy

 

[picasso]

first you need to figure out if its positive or negative head it looks like its sitting in your loft , if it is it will be probably be neg head and you need either an air switch or a negative head kit, is there any flow through the pump/shower when you turn the shower on?

 

[seco services]

As said it looks like the neg head pump.

All parts for the aquaforce are now obselete anyway apart from the the air switch.

 

[dormermike]

Its a dormer bungalow, that pump is sitting in the eaves, so yes attic effectively I guess. Hot water cylinder is also upstairs, so the hot water tank is actually slightly higher than the pump, but on the same floor if that makes sense.

Flow through the shower head is fine (i guess its basically a gravity feed now).

 

[dormermike]

I know its an old one, but before I replace it I want to be sure its broken

There is no switch in the shower cubicle if thats what you mean by air switch? there is just a mixer and outlet.

 

[seco services]

not knowning how long its not worked or why it wasn't repaired.
could be a pcb fault.
could be seized.

you could try removing it and remove end casing to see if it spin freely.
have alook at the pcb for any damage or burnt components.

 

[dormermike]

OK thanks - guess it could have been shot for a long time.

Can anyone confirm how it *should* work? I switch shower on at mixer, and pump kicks in automatically? I cant see a air button anywhere in the vicinity.

There is a jacuzzi bath too, but that works - however it has a dedicated RCD which needs to be switched on, and then to activate the bath you press a air button. There are two air buttons on the bath, one switches the pump on. Second one doesnt seem to do anything.

The bath im going to get rid of, call me old fashioned but I dont like a 2hp electric motor sitting underneath the bath full of water.

Cheers
Mike

 

[dormermike]

Finally fixed it - got it running anyway.

The live feed wire in the FCU was clamped to the insulation and not the cable core, and hence no supply to the pump - electrician had even looked at it and confirmed it was wired properly hence why i didnt look at the FCU - lesson learned - dont bother with electrician next time

Curiously, it might mean its never worked, and hence could be unused - lol.

Anyway, it purred into life and worked fine - except, leaking slightly from the cold impeller casing - I guess this could mean its cracked, though seems to be coming from either the input shaft seal or the housing itself, possibly underneath.

Either way, unusable.

I'm guessing parts (new seals) are not available for these? I have emailed aqualisa just in case, but I guess after a long time sat still it was never going to be a happy ending....