My Gainsborough 8.5 SCL has, all of a sudden, started running completely cold: there is no trace of heat at all!! I have checked the fuse for the power and everyting is working okay. The unit is about three years old but is used rarely.

Any ideas??? Is is possible that the heating element is choked with scale??? (Hard water area) or is it something that needs replacing???

Fraser, July 2007

Hi I have the same prob wit a 10.5. I have sussed out what is wrong. There is a plunger that operates a switch (controlled by water pressure when you switch on) It loses its efficiency (duff seal???) and does not complete its travel to operate the switch. I helped it along with an insulated screwdriver and voila hot water. The bad news is it is not a replaceable part and you guessed it new shower engine required. Bet your bottom doller I will be keeping my old engine to strip it in the future.

Mickeyh, May 2008

I have recently visited a customer who has exactly the same problem with her 10.5 SCL shower -- totally cold running but electrics appear OK.

The manual has a fault diagnosis table, which if I remember correctly states that one possibility is that the cutout has operated, and that -- wait for it! -- this is not a user-replaceable part and a 'new unit' must be purchased. (Or words to that effect.)

I interpret this as meaning a totally new 'innards' (replacement shower engine) costing about £50 depending where you buy it!!

I might buy and fit this for the customer, but having read this posting (and similar ones) I might recommend she lets me fit a different make (e.g. a Mira), which from my experience has never suffered from this permanent cutting out.

Alan Kauffman, November 2007

I've had the same problem with my Gainsborough 10.5 SDL which we use every day.
I'm guessing it's the element. If I find the answer I'll post it.

Nick BEALE, September 2007