Salamander Shower Pump Not Working — Troubleshooting Guide
Check the steps below first — if you're not confident, get it fixed safely today.
Post a job — we'll find you an engineer →Isolate at the fused spur before inspection. Do not run the pump without both inlets open — running dry even briefly will damage the impeller seals.
A shower pump that's lost pressure, won't start, or keeps shutting down unexpectedly is frustrating — and it's a problem we see regularly in homes with storage tank systems. Salamander pumps are robust, well-engineered units, but like any mechanical device they're vulnerable to low water head, blockages, and wear on internal components. Most faults are straightforward to diagnose and fix without calling an engineer: often it's simply a case of opening isolation valves fully, cleaning strainer filters, or checking the pump's mounting. This guide walks through the most common culprits and what you can safely do yourself. If you're uncomfortable working near electrical isolation switches or suspect a mechanical failure inside the pump itself, it's worth calling a Gas Safe registered engineer or your plumber.
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Most likely cause & what to check
Salamander Pumps (salamanderpumps.co.uk) are a popular UK-made brand known for reliability. Their main domestic ranges are the CT Force (positive head) and the Right Pump+ (universal, positive or negative head). Installation and service manuals can be downloaded from their website under Technical Downloads.
CT Force won't start: confirm both isolation valves are fully open and the fused spur is on. The CT Force is a positive head pump and needs at least 300mm of water head to activate — if your tank is low or the head is marginal, it may fail to trigger. Try opening the shower valve quickly and fully.
Right Pump+ not activating: the Right Pump+ has an electronic flow switch. If it fails to start, check there isn't a partial blockage in the shower head or valve restricting initial flow below the activation threshold. A partial descale of the shower head may help.
Pump cutting out: clean the inlet strainer filters (located inside the inlet union connections — Salamander pumps have them on both hot and cold). A blocked strainer reduces flow and can cause thermal shutdown. Salamander recommends checking these every 12 months.
Noisy Salamander pump: check the rubber anti-vibration feet haven't hardened or cracked. Salamander supply replacement kits (ask your plumber's merchant for the correct part for your model). Also ensure the pump body is not touching any pipework directly — all connections should be via flexible hoses.
Salamander offer a UK technical support line and their website has a fault diagnosis tool. For warranty claims (2 years parts, 1 year labour when installed by a plumber) contact them via salamanderpumps.co.uk.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I run my shower pump with just one inlet open?
No — running a pump dry or with a single inlet closed will damage the impeller seals within minutes, even briefly. Always ensure both hot and cold inlet isolation valves are fully open before switching on, and keep them open whenever the pump runs.
How often should I service my shower pump?
Salamander recommend checking the inlet strainer filters every 12 months — this is the main maintenance task. Access them through the union connections on both hot and cold inlets, remove any debris, and reassemble. For most domestic setups, that's all you need to do annually.
My pump won't switch on even though water is flowing. What's wrong?
Check the fused spur is switched on and that there's adequate water pressure in your system. Positive head pumps need at least 300mm of static head from the tank; universal pumps may have a flow switch that won't trigger if the shower head is partially blocked. A quick descale of the shower head or opening the valve fully often helps.
Is a noisy or vibrating pump dangerous?
Noise alone isn't dangerous, but it signals a problem. Hardened anti-vibration feet or pipework touching the pump body are the usual causes, and both are easily fixed with replacement kits or repositioning flexible hoses. Ignoring it may accelerate wear, so it's worth addressing promptly.