Hi

I wonder if someone can help me here...

I have an AquaLisa power shower, with pump model AquaForce 30. It's in a
separate shower cubicle with a thermostatic shower valve.

Recently (about a month ago) it started to drip a little from the tap/valve
in the shower cubicle... I have finally got round to investigating it. I
have turned off all the stopcock taps (taps on pipework) that I can find in
the cupboard with the hot water tank -for both cold water and hot water. I
have removed the cartridge from the shower valve tap thing and discover that
there is a small flow of water coming from two places:
1. Hot water from the hole right at the back
2. Cold water from the curved hole on the edge

I realise that there must be something wrong with my stopcock taps as there
is still water flowing when all water flow should have been stopped... I
found another cold water tap and closed that and it stopped the flow from
the curved hole (number 2 above). However, there is still hot water coming
out of the hole at the back (number 1) - this water is now gently flowing
down the tube at the bottom which goes to the shower head, now placed by the
drain hole in the shower tray.

Given that the leak was coming from the tap/valve in the shower cubicle
(dripping from the bottom of this), is the fault likely to be with the
cartridge itself? Or does the fact that there is water still flowing
slightly mean there is something wrong with the pump assembly?

Given that when I turned the cold water back on it flowed straight out of
the curved hole, I can only assume that my cartridge is at fault and that's
what I need to replace... but I am slightly concerned that the hot water is
still flowing even just a tiny trickle.

Update whilst writing this message: I found a tap for the cold water feed to
the bottom of the hot water tank and closed this - the trickle of hot water
has reduced considerably to a very small drip now. There must be a bit of a
problem with my pipework taps then...

Can someone confirm my suspicions with the cartridge being at fault / point
me in a better direction? If I get a new cartridge, does it just slot in
(with the 4 screws), or do I need some O-ring washer seals or something? Can
anyone recommend somewhere to get a new cartridge - I have read that they
can vary from about £80 to £100 - I'd prefer to pay less if the product is
identical!

Thanks a lot!

AlexL
(Watford UK)