My wife's just had a shower and it made a horrendous noise. It has happened before but a long time ago and I can't remember what (if anything) I did to cure it. Is it something to do with the hot water and I have to drain the tank? A quick search mentions water hammer but it doesn't sound like the pipes banging, more of groaning. It seems to have coincided with the sudden drop in temperature we've had this week.
Noisy Shower
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Caporegime
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Is it a pumped shower? Where's the noise coming from? Did the noise start straight away?
Yes it is a pumped shower (aqua lisa). The noise comes from the loft and it started more or less as soon as she got in the shower and lasted for about 20 seconds. I had a shower about 30 mins afterwards and it made a noise but not as loud or as long.
I've read some things in my searches about air in the system so it might be this. Do I just turn off the water at the mains and then run the hot water tap till it's drained to sort this out?
Associate
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Without hearing it it's hard to help, but my guess would be it's water hammer as the tank fill float valve closes
When I get home I'll try and record the noise and post it. I'll pop into the loft and get the Mrs to run the shower to also see if I can narrow the noise down.
Soldato
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This sounds like what happened to my parents shower when there wasn't enough water pressure getting to the pump causing cavitation.
Caporegime
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Sounds like cavitation or water starvation in the pump to me. Water hammer is not like a groaning.
Is the pump in the loft?
I had a lot of issues in my last house with an incorrectly installed shower pump. The instructions have to be followed otherwise air can be drawn in through the vent pipe etc. Pipes need to be the right diameter, pump shouldn't be too far from the cold cylinder, etc. etc.
Something else that springs to mind is that our cold cylinder sometimes emptied as it wasn't big enough to supply the shower for long enough.
There are many many possibilities basically, and we need a lot more info and detail about your installation to be able to help.
Is the pump in the loft?
I had a lot of issues in my last house with an incorrectly installed shower pump. The instructions have to be followed otherwise air can be drawn in through the vent pipe etc. Pipes need to be the right diameter, pump shouldn't be too far from the cold cylinder, etc. etc.
Something else that springs to mind is that our cold cylinder sometimes emptied as it wasn't big enough to supply the shower for long enough.
There are many many possibilities basically, and we need a lot more info and detail about your installation to be able to help.
It hasn't done it at all today though. During the working week I get showered between 6 - 6.30 (5 mins max) but at the weekends it's a lot later cos we have a lie-in. I've put it down to it being colder in the loft during the week. It's been installed for about 4 years now and it's done this a couple of times before but only in winter (hence the cold theory). Like I said, it's not a hammering (pipes against clips) noise, just a really load groaning that trails off.
Caporegime
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I'm assuming it's the pump that's making the noise (incredibly, you still haven't told us explicitly where the pump is!). I'm sorry to be an arse but it annoys the crap out of me when people start threads asking for help, then give people jack **** information because they're too lazy to type enough words to provide it.
And breeeathe.
And breeeathe.
You assume too much, it's not the pump making the noise or I would have stated that. Also, where do you think the pump for an Aqua Lisa shower is, under my bed? Now I'm no plumber/expert but I think I can rule the pump out as I've sat next to it when the shower's been on and it's not making any unusual noises (it's in the loft by the way in case I haven't told you).
Ok, if you've listened next to the pump then that's easy to rule out, as there's no mistaking the noise of cavitation/air locks!
Can you easily get in to the loft? You could then confirm if there are any issues on the cold water tank.
Another test would be to run several hot and cold taps elsewhere in the house - idea being that you could simulate similar levels of flow, without actually using the shower.
Can you easily get in to the loft? You could then confirm if there are any issues on the cold water tank.
Another test would be to run several hot and cold taps elsewhere in the house - idea being that you could simulate similar levels of flow, without actually using the shower.
Caporegime
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Assumption was my only option with the total lack of information you initially provided.
Not necessarily. How would I know that you would have stated that? Assume the lowest common denominator in troubleshooting threads (a valid assumption in this case). You couldn't even be arsed to give any proper info in the OP, so I was just assuming you couldn't be arsed to explicitly state whether it was the pump making the noise or not.
"where do you think the pump for an Aqua Lisa shower is, under my bed" - how the **** am I meant to know?
it could be practically anywhere 
.A pumped Aqualisa shower is what you said. Aqualisa make mixers as well as the Quartz, which is what I'm now guessing you have since you've finally told us the pump's in the loft.
And "In case" you haven't told me? You what? Quote me the part where you stated your pump was in the loft?! Pumps can be under the baths, in the airing cupboard next to the hot water cylinder (perhaps most common), in the loft, on a shelf, etc. etc. My guess is that whoever installed your shower pump did so incorrectly and air is being introduced, probably no proper air vents or something. If the air temperature alone is affecting it then your pump is knackered anyway, as it's nowhere near cold enough for this.
Terrible thread, terrible poster. Good luck
.Assumption was my only option with the total lack of information you initially provided.
Not necessarily. How would I know that you would have stated that? Assume the lowest common denominator in troubleshooting threads (a valid assumption in this case). You couldn't even be arsed to give any proper info in the OP, so I was just assuming you couldn't be arsed to explicitly state whether it was the pump making the noise or not.
"where do you think the pump for an Aqua Lisa shower is, under my bed" - how the **** am I meant to know?
A pumped Aqualisa shower is what you said. Aqualisa make mixers as well as the Quartz, which is what I'm now guessing you have since you've finally told us the pump's in the loft.
And "In case" you haven't told me? You what? Quote me the part where you stated your pump was in the loft?! Pumps can be under the baths, in the airing cupboard next to the hot water cylinder (perhaps most common), in the loft, on a shelf, etc. etc. My guess is that whoever installed your shower pump did so incorrectly and air is being introduced, probably no proper air vents or something. If the air temperature alone is affecting it then your pump is knackered anyway, as it's nowhere near cold enough for this.
Terrible thread, terrible poster. Good luck
Life's too short to get mixed up in a slanging match with someone, thanks for all your input
Now that you've established this is a terrible thread and I am a terrible poster there should be no reason for you to comment any further here.
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Soldato
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Go pick yourself up a new 'part two float valve and float' (side entry) and go fit it to the big tank in the loft! You'll be sorted then 
Mick
Mick
Go pick yourself up a new 'part two float valve and float' (side entry) and go fit it to the big tank in the loft! You'll be sorted then
Mick
Just to say thanks mate. I installed the valve this weekend and everything's sorted now. The old one was really gunked up and no noise since replacing.