Comparison guides
Repairing or replacing a failing shower pump
At a glance
- Noisy bearings or a failing motor are rarely worth repairing on an older pump; the cost of parts and labour can approach a new unit's price.
- A pump losing prime or cutting out intermittently sometimes points to an air lock or failing non-return valve rather than the pump itself, which is worth diagnosing before condemning it.
Before you commit
A pump losing prime or cutting out intermittently sometimes points to an air lock or failing non-return valve rather than the pump itself, which is worth diagnosing before condemning it.
Questions we get asked
How long do shower pumps typically last?
Domestic pumps generally have a working life measured in years rather than decades, and usage intensity affects that considerably.
Can a pump be upsized to improve a weak shower?
Often yes, provided the pipework feeding and leaving it, and the shower valve itself, can handle the higher flow rate.
How to choose
Point 1
Noisy bearings or a failing motor are rarely worth repairing on an older pump; the cost of parts and labour can approach a new unit's price.
Point 2
A pump losing prime or cutting out intermittently sometimes points to an air lock or failing non-return valve rather than the pump itself, which is worth diagnosing before condemning it.
Point 3
Replacing with a higher-output pump than the original can improve performance, but the supply pipework and shower valve need to be rated to handle the extra flow.
Not sure which option suits your property?
Most of these decisions come down to what is behind the wall and under the floor. A site visit settles it quickly.