The Complete Guide to Common Shower Pump Problems and Solutions
Contents
Basic Checks
My Shower Pump is Making Too Much Noise
My Shower Pump is Pulsing
My Shower Pump has Too Much Flow
My Pump Keeps Turning Itself Off
My Pump is Making a Constant Humming Noise
My Pump is Not Adding Pressure to My Shower
My Pump Keeps Turning Itself On and Off
How to Reduce Noise Coming From Your Shower Pump
The Quietest Shower Pumps on the Market
Introduction
Shower pumps are devices used to increase water pressure in residential or commercial shower systems. They are typically installed to improve the water flow and enhance the overall showering experience. However, the demand for shower pumps to be powerful and quiet, yet smaller for installation purposes, presents a problem.
If you have a problem with your shower, how do you know that it’s actually the shower pump that has failed? And what are the most common shower pump problems?
More importantly, what are the solutions to these shower pump issues?
To help you identify if it’s the shower pump that is causing the problem, and hopefully fix the issue, we’ve spoken to our in-house engineers. With over 40 years of experience, they’ve helpfully listed the most common shower pump problems and how to deal with them.
Basic Checks
Before you panic, call a plumber and buy a brand new shower pump, we advise performing a few basic checks.
More often than not, shower pump issues are down to a tripped wire. So if your pump isn’t working at all, check the following
- The power to the pump is turned on
- The power supplying the pump has not tripped out (this may be due to the pump running dry)
- None of the inlet or outlet pipes are kinked or blocked (This could stop water from getting through to the pump)
If none of these solutions seem to do the job, try resetting the pump by switching off the power for a few seconds before turning it back on.
My Shower Pump is Making Too Much Noise
One of the most complained about shower pump problems is noise. Ranging from a constant rattle to loud bangs and even excessive vibrations, this is often due to the way the shower pump has been installed.
Here are some noise issues that can happen with shower pumps, and what the cause usually is:
- A squeal or a whine is usually the result of damage to either the pump's bearings or impellers
- A loud vibrating noise throughout your home when showering is usually the result of a shoddy installation
- A buzzing or clicking sound is usually a result of a jam or blockage in the pump
Solution:
It’s important to ensure that anti-vibration feet are fitted, where supplied, and that the pump is on a firm platform. Try mounting the shower pump onto a concrete block, which will help absorb the vibrations and in turn, reduce the noise.
You should also ensure that any pipework on either side of the pump is properly supported by clips, and bends in flexible hoses are kept to a minimum.
You can read our full guide to fixing a noisy shower pump here:
My Shower Pump is Pulsing
If your shower pump is pulsing, more often than not, this isn’t due to the pump, but is actually due to some form of blockage in the plumbing system. The blockage will cause the flow rate to decrease and the pump will start and stop intermittently.
Solution:
An exact solution can be hard to pinpoint as the blockage could be at various points in the plumbing system. Make sure you check for limescale in the shower head or a collapsed hose causing back pressure at the pump.
You can check this by following these steps:
- Removing the head
- Removing the hose
- Check any filters on the pump itself
If you are still having problems, then we would advise that you contact a plumber to inspect your system.
My Shower Pump has Too Much Flow
You might think that of all the shower pump issues to have, too much flow would be one of the better ones; yet too much flow can lead to several problems.
- Firstly, if the flow is noticeably too strong, this could be have a damaging impact on the rest of the system
- Secondly, you could be wasting a lot of water which could add serious £££ on your water bill
- Finally, you could be using stored hot water too fast which may lead to severely cold showers and some angry members of your household!
So, as you can imagine, it’s important to have the appropriate flow rate.
Solution:
The best way to tackle this is to close the isolator valves on the outlet side of the pump down slightly - don’t restrict the flow on the inlet side of the pump.
My Pump Keeps Turning Itself Off
If your pump keeps turning itself off, then this may be due to the pump running dry. The majority of pumps have dry run protection, which cuts in to protect them from damage if the water supply is interrupted. If this protection kicks in, the pump will stop.
Solution:
To stop the shower pump from turning itself off you will need to:
- Turn off the mains power to the pump for a few seconds to reset the pump (there will usually be an isolator switch or fused spur)
- Open and close the taps to get any air out of the system
This should allow the pump to return to its normal state.
My Pump is Making a Constant Humming Noise
If your pump makes a constant humming noise, it may well be that it’s jammed. There are a number of possible reasons for this. In hard water areas it could have become clogged with limescale, or the problem could be due to a fault like a broken impeller.
Solution:
One option for fixing this issue is to check the vent hole for a clog and clean it out if it looks like it needs cleaning.
Unfortunately, in most cases of constant humming noises, it’s usually a sign that you’ll need to replace the pump.
My Pump is Not Adding Pressure to My Shower
The most common problem with shower pumps is a lack of pressure. If you go from an invigorating blast to a simple dribble, then you know you have an issue.
Make these checks below and please keep in mind that for some of these issues you may need to contact a plumber.
Leaking Pump
Pump seals can deteriorate over time. Perform a thorough inspection of your shower pump. Is it leaking? Do any of the seals look defective? If so, then you could be losing some of the pressure in your system.
Airlocks
This is where air has entered the pump and is now restricting the flow rate.
To solve this issue the pump will need bleeding. Most high quality shower pumps will come with a bleed switch. This will allow you to follow the instructions in your shower pump installation guide to bleed the pump.
Blocked Pump Filters
Blocked pump filters can be due to debris getting into the pump during installation. You will need to ensure that the electric and water supply is switched off before giving the pump a thorough clean.
Frozen Pipes
During a cold winter, a shower pump pipe is likely to freeze. Take the time to warm the cold feed pipe to ensure ice doesn’t cause damage to the shower pump.
Added Note: If your shower pump is under 2 years old, then contact your pump provider. You could have the pump replaced under a warranty.
My Pump Keeps Turning Itself On and Off
If your shower pump keeps turning itself on and off, it could be because the pump detects a leak in the system and shuts itself off before causing further damage. This issue is often found in the higher end shower pumps.
Solution:
To fix this issue:
- Check for any visible leaks in the system
Make sure you inspect:
- Tap washers
- Pipe joints and connections
If you can't detect any obvious leaks you may need to call a plumber to fix your leak.
How to Reduce Noise Coming From Your Shower Pump
Noise is the biggest complaint we hear about shower pumps. Unfortunately, this may be due to the quality of the pump and apart from buying a new, higher quality pump, there may be little you can do to reduce the noise.
Saying that, the following products can help reduce vibrations associated with shower pumps.
Stuart Turner Anti-Vibration Mounting Pad
If the noise from your shower pump is becoming unbearable, then the Stuart Turner mounting pad is a cheap solution. Offering 23mm of padding, the pad offers additional sound insulation and absorbs the motor noise and vibrations from your shower pump.
Check prices on the Stuart Turner Anti-Vibration Mounting Pad here.
Pumpmat Sound Absorption Mat
Another cheap solution to your shower pump noise problems, this pumpmat uses open cell synthetic rubber technology and complex pore geometry to effectively absorb sound.
Check prices on the Pumpmat Sound Absorption Mat here.
The Quietest Shower Pumps on the Market
If the mounting pad or pumpmat doesn’t solve your noise problem, then you will need to buy a new pump. The newer pumps by brands like Salamander, Grundfos and Stuart Turner offer innovative pump technology that can pump with little to no noise or vibration.
Stuart Turner Monsoon ‘Super Silent’ Booster Pump
If you’re looking for the latest in pump technology, then you will love the Stuart Turner Monsoon range. Nicknamed the “super silent”, this shower pump is a low voltage, brass bodied system which actively reduces vibrations.
Check prices on the Stuart Turner Monsoon range here.
Grundfos Amazon ‘Ultra Quiet’ Shower Pump
As the name suggests, this pump really is “ultra quiet”. These pumps are low-noise, low-vibration due to the anti-vibration feet and long-life silicon carbide seals which are fitted as standard.
Check prices on the Grundfos Amazon range here.
Salamander CT Force Shower Pump with Noise Vibration Reduction Technology
Using patented NVR (noise vibration technology), the Salamander CT Force range is one of the best shower pumps on the market. The benefits of the NVR technology is noise as low as 46dB, vibration reduction and a sound pressure level at 1m, LP. In short, that means super quiet pumping.
Check prices on the Salamander CT Force range here.
Looking to buy a new shower pump? Check out our complete guide to buying a shower pump here.
Free Advice
If you’re struggling for advice, ring our dedicated pump experts for free advice on: 0800 112 3134 or 0333 577 3134.
We’re open Monday to Friday 07:00 - 17:30 and Saturday 08:30 - 12:30.
