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HELP! shower unit flooding water

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Davegod

Platinum Member
turned tap on in kitchen and suddenly hear the shower turn on. Upon investigation there's water flooding from within the unit itself. Looks like a join has burst, it's screaming out at high pressure (literally, quite loud). I just need to turn the water off!

I've no idea where either the mains or shower shut-off valve is, it's a rented flat. It's not under sinks or anything. I wondered if the connection where the wall pipe joins the shower could be it? I don't want to turn it on spec.

it's 1.30am over here, seems all the "24hr 365" plumbers are in bed, or the pub 🙁

the pipe is in the top-left of the unit, unfortunately cameraphone quality might not make it useful:
shower.jpg
 
it's a flat/apartment :/ I know there's a valve like Locut0s out in the street but it's gas.

I think the water is turned off to the building (all flats) via a thing which is buried into the pavement outside, needs the council. I can't believe there isnt a valve to turn it off to the flat but then what I've been googling makes that sound plausible (the buildings Georgian)
 
Sorry your description and picture are very confusing to me. I've never seen anything like what you have in the pic, not that I do any handiwork mind you. What are those 2 dials for? Is this pic of some kind of connection box IN your shower?

You say turning on the tap in your kitchen caused this to happen? I assume then it's all the same line? Sounds very odd, perhaps you can try shutting off the kitchen sink cut off, should be under the kitchen sink.
 
the pic is the inside of the shower unit. dial 1 turns on the power and dial 2 sets the temp. The water comes in the top-left corner via the pipe (can see the tile is cut away) which is fitted with the copper thing that connects to the grey part of the shower unit. There must be a connection between the two (covered with the white fixing) which is where the weakness is, the water is shooting out of there.

I think the kitchen tap probably just changed the water pressure which was the final straw on the washer or something.
 
Originally posted by: Davegod
the pic is the inside of the shower unit. dial 1 turns on the power and dial 2 sets the temp. The water comes in the top-left corner via the pipe (can see the tile is cut away) which is fitted with the copper thing that connects to the grey part of the shower unit. There must be a connection between the two (covered with the white fixing) which is where the weakness is, the water is shooting out of there.

I think the kitchen tap probably just changed the water pressure which was the final straw on the washer or something.
Click to expand...

So the break is inside the shower unit? That is after the pipe enters the shower unit? Is all the water, or most, contained in the shower stall then? If so that's not so bad, I thought you had a leak behind the wall, now THAT would be bad!!

Wait you said power!??!! So this is an instant heater? You need to shut off the power to it before you get electrocuted then! [AT THE BREAKER!!!]
 
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Originally posted by: Davegod
the pic is the inside of the shower unit. dial 1 turns on the power and dial 2 sets the temp. The water comes in the top-left corner via the pipe (can see the tile is cut away) which is fitted with the copper thing that connects to the grey part of the shower unit. There must be a connection between the two (covered with the white fixing) which is where the weakness is, the water is shooting out of there.

I think the kitchen tap probably just changed the water pressure which was the final straw on the washer or something.
Click to expand...

So the break is inside the shower unit? That is after the pipe enters the shower unit? Is all the water, or most, contained in the shower stall then? If so that's not so bad, I thought you had a leak behind the wall, now THAT would be bad!!

Wait you said power!??!! So this is an instant heater? You need to shut off the power to it before you get electrocuted then! [AT THE BREAKER!!!]
Click to expand...

Aww too late 🙁 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Originally posted by: Locut0s
Originally posted by: Davegod
the pic is the inside of the shower unit. dial 1 turns on the power and dial 2 sets the temp. The water comes in the top-left corner via the pipe (can see the tile is cut away) which is fitted with the copper thing that connects to the grey part of the shower unit. There must be a connection between the two (covered with the white fixing) which is where the weakness is, the water is shooting out of there.

I think the kitchen tap probably just changed the water pressure which was the final straw on the washer or something.
Click to expand...

So the break is inside the shower unit? That is after the pipe enters the shower unit? Is all the water, or most, contained in the shower stall then? If so that's not so bad, I thought you had a leak behind the wall, now THAT would be bad!!

Wait you said power!??!! So this is an instant heater? You need to shut off the power to it before you get electrocuted then! [AT THE BREAKER!!!]
Click to expand...

Aww too late 🙁 🙂
Click to expand...
It is very likely that the breaker/gfi is already trip. 

Good thing that you are home when it bust, because it could have been worst if the water seep between the wall and leaks outside of the shower stall/pan.

It could be a faulty/manufacture defect electronic shower valve, failed/water logged water hammer arrestor, but it could be improper installation that cause the failure. It look like water hammer is the cause & I'm surprise that it didn't fail when someone last shutoff the shower. 

Electronic valve creates very high water hammer force, therefore they are tend to require water hammer arrestor to reduce water hammer. Some electronic valves are design to be slow closing (normally 4 seconds) to reduce the hammer affect. 

Household water hammer start out around 30X the working pressure force, and can reach as high as 150-200X the working pressure force, pending on pressure & water line speed. 
 
Sounds like it was a leak waiting to happen due to loose pipe or what not, the kitchen sink just triggered it. Water hammer may help but since it's not really your property I guess there's not much you can do.

That makes me realize how our setup is so bad. The main shut off is just a regular valve like a garden hose would have but it's broken in half so you can't turn it by hand. It's also BEHIND drywall and about a foot off there's a hole big enough for a hand go go through.

There's probably about 4 pairs of plyers in that wall. 😱 I wont even talk about how unsafe our breaker box is.. omg.

Always good to know where these things are though, for emergencies like this. (water shut off, breaker box, etc)
 
Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
Sounds like it was a leak waiting to happen due to loose pipe or what not, the kitchen sink just triggered it. Water hammer may help but since it's not really your property I guess there's not much you can do.

That makes me realize how our setup is so bad. The main shut off is just a regular valve like a garden hose would have but it's broken in half so you can't turn it by hand. It's also BEHIND drywall and about a foot off there's a hole big enough for a hand go go through.

There's probably about 4 pairs of plyers in that wall. 😱 I wont even talk about how unsafe our breaker box is.. omg.

Always good to know where these things are though, for emergencies like this. (water shut off, breaker box, etc)
Click to expand...
Get a replacement handle for your globe valvete if it is an older home, otherwise you might want to get a ball valve replacement handle. They should cost less than $3.00 to replace, or purchase a valve and use the handle for part if you can't find a replacement handle (should be less than $10.00).




 
I just realised, the dark grey unit beside the leak is what was replaced when the shower stopped working a few months ago. The guy used an official part though.

The white clasp thing where the water was coming through is actually split down the middle, I think from the force of it :Q

Fortunately the landlord had resealed the bath fairly recently (right before a city regs inspection). I used some bin bags anyway to make sure the water flowed into the bath and not anywhere else.
 
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