Hydroflow shower question
Vicky Larmour
power/electric shower but gives higher pressure than a
normal shower by using the cold water mains pressure to pull
down the hot water).
We've noticed that in the mornings, it often runs much colder
than would be expected from the temperature of the hot water
straight out of the taps. This problem almost never occurs in
the evenings, which is really confusing us! It doesn't seem to
make a difference how long the boiler has been heating the
hot water.
Our only thought is that it could be a valve sticking somewhere
internally, but why would this only happen in the mornings??
If anyone has one of these showers and has ever had this problem,
or if you have any idea about what might cause it, we'd really
appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks in advance,
Vicky
--
vicky.larmour[at]camcon.co.uk All opinions mine.
"What?" said Piglet, with a jump. And then, to show that
he hadn't been frightened, he jumped up and down once or
twice in an exercising sort of way. -- Winnie-the-Pooh
Peter Riocreux
Vicky> My husband and I have a Hydroflow Aquadart shower (not a
Vicky> power/electric shower but gives higher pressure than a normal
Vicky> shower by using the cold water mains pressure to pull down the
Vicky> hot water).
Vicky> We've noticed that in the mornings, it often runs much colder
Vicky> than would be expected from the temperature of the hot water
Vicky> straight out of the taps. This problem almost never occurs in
Vicky> the evenings, which is really confusing us! It doesn't seem to
Vicky> make a difference how long the boiler has been heating the hot
Vicky> water.
Vicky> Our only thought is that it could be a valve sticking somewhere
Vicky> internally, but why would this only happen in the mornings??
Vicky> If anyone has one of these showers and has ever had this
Vicky> problem, or if you have any idea about what might cause it,
Vicky> we'd really appreciate your thoughts.
My guess would be that the *cold* water is colder in the mornings, and
therefore the same mixture will be colder fo a given hot water
temperature.
I guess you could try an experiment - if you have a thermometer use
that, otherwise capture a known amount of water and put it in the
kettle and see how long it takes to boil. This second method will not
tell you the absolute temperatures, but will give a relative metric,
and given a reasonable estimate of the possible range of starting
temperatures (anyone?), you should be able to get quite close.
Pete
--
Peter Riocreux, Amulet Group, Dept. Computer Science, Manchester University,
Oxford Road, MANCHESTER, M13 9PL, UK. <http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/amulet/>
Voice: +44 161-2753531 Mobile: +44 7970-611366 Fax: +44 7970-524798
Peter Cherry
Apart from the temperature problems you experience, how do you get on
with the shower otherwise ?
I have seen them around and have always thought that it seems like a
superb idea, but are they as good in practice ?
I fitted a Power shower before I had heard about your shower type, it
would have been a lot less hassle to use a cold mains feed rather than
from the tank.
--
Peter Cherry
Vicky Larmour
>Vicky,
>
>Apart from the temperature problems you experience, how do you get on
>with the shower otherwise ?
It is great - gives us a great flow (our previous "normal" shower used to
dribble fitfully on your head). Also obviously it doesn't require any
electrical connection, just the plumbing.
You have to remember not to move the shower head below the unit that sits on
the wall (don't know if this is also the case with power showers) as that
lets air feed back into the shower and then you have to bleed it.
Otherwise, we love it!
Peter Cherry
>It is great - gives us a great flow (our previous "normal" shower used to
>dribble fitfully on your head). Also obviously it doesn't require any
>electrical connection, just the plumbing.
>
>You have to remember not to move the shower head below the unit that sits on
>the wall (don't know if this is also the case with power showers) as that
>lets air feed back into the shower and then you have to bleed it.
>
No I don't think this applies to Power Showers. We do sometimes find
that the supply slows a little and the pump speeds up a bit as if there
is not enough water coming in and air is being let in somewhere. I have
not managed to lay my finger on this, but it might be because my partner
is fairly short and puts the head below the unit.
Anybody got any idea's on this one ?
Thanks for your comments, I'll consider one if we buy another house with
no shower or a crumby one.
--
Peter Cherry
Keith Mendum
>
> My husband and I have a Hydroflow Aquadart shower (not a
> down the hot water).
>
> We've noticed that in the mornings, it often runs much colder
>
> Our only thought is that it could be a valve sticking somewhere
>
> or if you have any idea about what might cause it, we'd really
> appreciate your thoughts.
>
You may find that the water pressure is higher in the mornings - a
combination of the local reservoir having filled up overnight and fewer
people using water at that time.
--
Keith Mendum
My opinions, not Shell's
Check addresses before emailing me.
Richard Gethin
en...@nospam.ope.shell.com> writes
>You may find that the water pressure is higher in the mornings - a
>combination of the local reservoir having filled up overnight and fewer
>people using water at that time.
>
the other way around. I'm no good on fluid mechanics but wondered,
because it is venturi device, if the pressure was lower in the morning
because of demand on the network, then less hot water would be drawn
into the shower by the venturi action?
Does that make sense?
--
Richard Gethin
Richard Gethin
<vicky....@camcon.co.nospam.uk> writes
>If anyone has one of these showers and has ever had this problem,
>or if you have any idea about what might cause it, we'd really
>appreciate your thoughts.
these showers. I've been searching for years!
I see from another post of yours that you are pleased with it but I have
a few extra questions for you.
Your point about lowering the head below the box, does this only matter
if the shower is off? Does it work OK like this if the shower is
running? e.g. for washing kids hair?
How stable do you find the temperature?
How variable is the temperature? Can you get it hot hot and still a good
shower?
How is it affected by other people in the house opening taps, flushing
toilets etc.?
Many thanks ...
--
Richard Gethin
Vicky Larmour
>Your point about lowering the head below the box, does this only matter
>if the shower is off? Does it work OK like this if the shower is
>running? e.g. for washing kids hair?
No, it matters any time. I suppose therefore it wouldn't really be suitable
for washing kids' hair, unless you didn't mind bleeding it each time (which
isn't a huge hassle, but might be a bit annoying).
>How stable do you find the temperature?
Very stable, except for the problem I originally posted :-) Over the course
of a shower (and sometimes I have loooong showers) it stays pretty much the
same.
>How variable is the temperature? Can you get it hot hot and still a good
>shower?
Yep, I like hot hot hot showers and there's still a good pressure. Or you
can go right down to cold cold cold. Out of interest, the blurb in the
leaflet says the hot water temperature needs to be minimum 70 degrees, ours
is usually 60 degrees and we can still get the shower scalding hot.
>How is it affected by other people in the house opening taps, flushing
>toilets etc.?
Not sure about this one, we've always assumed it would be affected so tried
to avoid running water while someone's in the shower. I suppose we really
should try it sometime!
I've now tried measuring the cold water temperature in the morning and
evening and it is pretty much the same. Must try measuring the
(relative) pressure next by timing how long it takes to fill the sink with
the tap fully open.
Keith Mendum
Yes, it does and was the main reason we fitted a pumped shower. A
variation in pressure will affect the amount of hot water drawn in, if
the hot water flow into the venturi is restriced (eg by nozzle size) an
excess of pressure above a certain point as well as reduced cold water
pressure will make the shower too cold. Your fluid mechanics are
correct, but there are limitations in the design of the Hydroflow which
require that a pressure regulator is fitted to the cold feed for best
performance.
Simple it ain't!
Richard Gethin
<vicky....@camcon.co.nospam.uk> writes
>Vicky
>
<replies to Hydroflo questions snipped>
Thanks very much Vicky I must try one.
--
Richard Gethin