I live in a new build apartment, how do I turn on the power shower?

Question

For the life of me I can't figure out how to turn on the power shower. It doesn't have a button or a pull string or a fuse anywhere. Does anyone else have one of these?

I don't know the name or model number but I can tell you that it doesn't have a pump visable. It is just a shower head and a dial. The boiler is able to power the shower without a pump according to the manual. We don't know if that is how it has been set up.

Well when you turn the knob either way nothing happens. It has a dial to turn which looks like it's for pressure and a dial behind that for hot or cold. But nothing happens when you turn either

Oh and it's like a combi boiler but not. it says it's similar to one in the instructions. But it says it can power the shower without a pump. I would think there would be a string somewhere or a fuse to turn on but I can't find any anywhere,

Well there are some pipes but thats clear across the apartment in the boiler cubord. It's the ensuite with a seperate bathtub in another bathroom. All the taps work

Answer 1

A 'power shower' is a different thing to different people. It properly refers to a pressure boosting pump that will come on automatically when you open the shower valve, which may be separate or built in. This is assuming that it is wired up correctly and switched on. Some people call an electric shower a power shower, these showers are mains fed and heat the water internally, as it passes through. There is no pump required for these units. but there should be an isolator switch, either outside the bathroom or possibly a cord operated one inside, as others have suggested. If you would post the name/model type I could tell you what type you have?

ADDED>> Now the story has changed, it seems that you dont have a 'Power shower', just a normal shower valve? So what happens when you turn the control knob??? Is it a combi boiler? In which case the shower will be mains fed and there will be plenty of water pressure.

ADDED 2>> Seem as if the water to the shower valve is isolated for some reason. Do all the taps work ok?? Is there a cupboard behind the shower valve with pipes going to where the shower valve is? if so are there any valves/ stopcocks or anything on these two pipes? OR look below the bath (if it's an over bath shower) for two closed valves, they may just have screwdriver slots in them.

3) Well it seems like the water is turned off somewhere, or the valve has been fitted wrongly. You should get at least a trickle through. Looks like you will have to call the builders plumber or contact your landlord. It's difficult to diagnose when off site.

Answer 2

I agree with the above, do your research on the building and the management company involved. I lived in an apartment building on Deming Place. It was an old building. Fortunately, everything worked and the management company seemed to respond OK in 90% of the cases. Go through the Chicago Reader to look at apartments, then also check out some of the management companies. Do a little walking tour of the area to see exactly where you want to live, because you'll need to walk to get to the places you want. (driving anyplace, even on weekends, is insane) Make sure you visit the ward office and get some information from the alderman for that ward. The place I lived in for a year was a jr. 1 bedroom. At that time, I got a 25% discount off the rent for a year. (you might get that now because this is the slow season for rentals) I ended up paying $625 a month, with 1 1/2 month deposit. (This was 2003, though) Worked great for me, with about 30 restaurants and bars within 4 blocks, a grocery store, and easy CTA access to Wrigleyville. There are also apartment hunting services you can enlist. They don't charge you anything; they make their money from the apartment. However, they may steer you towards certain ones, so I'd again do your homework on this.

Answer 3

I agree with Davy B about the double pole switch. It should be in the hall, has a red light on it, usually not allowed to install them in the bathroom for electric shock risks. There is a possibility some lazy developer took a short-cut and hard -wired it without a switch. So check that the RCD trip in your electric board hasn't switched the supply off. It should have say "30mA" on it. If it doesnt have an RCD trip, then you can explain to your landlord that your living in a dangerous property, as this can be an electric shock risk.
Also, you might want to check that the mains water valve (looks like a tap) supplying your shower is open.

Answer 4

if your (power shower) is fed from the boiler it won't have an electrical part to it, so stop looking for a fuse or switch.
it sounds more likely that an isolation valve has not been turned on, these are an in line valve on the pipe work feeding the shower, it will have a slot in it, this needs to be turned so that the slot is in line with the pipe.

Answer 5

Very strange! It certainly should have a double pole switch to control it! That might be outside the bathroom but would probably be nearby possibly in an airing cupboard.

Contact the agent is about all I can say. I assume that it is really connected. I lived in a place once [years ago] where certain of teh electric sockets simply had no wiring!

Answer 6

sounds like there are isolation valves somewhere that are swithched off. Or if the shower has a pump it could be that the flow switch is stuck. Or try taking the shower head off ( if its on a flex/hose) and lowering it to the ground & then try it, this might make the flow switch kick in....... other than that its going to rain tomorrow so get your soap & sponge ready & nip outside!

Answer 7

Any power that is near water has to be GFCI protected,so Check your service panel look for a breaker that has a reset button on it or look in the bathroom for a GFCI outlet it also has reset button some of the outlets used for this do not have spaces to plug cords in because it is isolated for jacuzzi tubs or other things like the power shower.also check on the oppisite side of the wall where the shower is you should have an access panel there to see your pipes the power may be located there, Look for these sugg. Hope it works . GOOD LUCK

Answer 8

Look for the model on the makers website often there's a brief description of each model it'll probably say something about how it turns on because if it's not obvious it's probably considered 'innovative'

Answer 9

it should have a pump connected to it usual in the airing cupboard or under the bath (if you have one) or a pump built into it,could be the pump has packed up,best get in contact with your agent.

Answer 10

turn the dial