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Original poster

Why do I not have hot water from my shower, but I do everywhere else?

40 replies

formulaquestion · 02/01/2021 08:01

Mumsnetters you are my last hope... my shower won't get hot.. slightly warm yes but not hot enough to use.

We have hot water working properly from all other taps.

The shower unit is reasonably new and I also called the company because it's under warranty and they said it won't be that causing it.

Can anyone advise me? I have had 2 plumbers who both barely looked and said they don't know Sad

OP posts:
Bananarama101 · 02/01/2021 08:18

What sort of shower is it? One that has a thermostatic mixer bar thing that takes water from the boiler, or an electric one?

Original poster
formulaquestion · 02/01/2021 08:20

Thermostatic mixer I think!

OP posts:
Blueskysinjune · 02/01/2021 08:26

Have you got a combi boiler? Ours would occasionally not warm up as it wasn't pulling enough water through to heat up the boiler (I'm not a plumber, so probably the wrong language but that's how I understood it). Turning on the bathroom hot tap fully would help us warm the water up initially.

Happytentoes · 02/01/2021 08:27

The thermostat may be set to limit the temperature too low in the mixer. Google it, you will probably be able to remove a cover and turn the heat up.
Plumbers seem to have a thing about leaving these things on factory setting which appears to follow the idea that you’ll sue if it’s too hot.
Easily fixed if that’s the issue

Original poster
formulaquestion · 02/01/2021 08:28

@Blueskysinjune yes it is a combi boiler, but even running it as hot as it would go for ages it still is only luke warm 😩

OP posts:
Original poster
formulaquestion · 02/01/2021 08:29

@Happytentoes it's at the highest point because we already tried that 😩

OP posts:
UncomfortableSilence · 02/01/2021 08:32

When this happened to us it was the thermostatic valve that had gone and needed replacing.

SimonJT · 02/01/2021 08:32

Is the boiler ‘powerful’ enough for the amount of radiators and the actual shower?

My last flat had a shower fed from a combi, it was only hot if I had the shower on a very low power setting. To have the shower warm enough to actually be pleasant it wasn’t providing enough water to rinse my hair properly.

Instead of replacing the boiler the landlord fitted an electric shower, it was very hot, but I would have been wetter from being spat on.

Lordamighty · 02/01/2021 08:33

It must be the thermostatic mixer bar, if it’s still under warranty then they need to repair or replace it.
We have replaced ours this week, the filter on the HW side was clogged with sediment but because it was a few years old we put a new one in.

Happytentoes · 02/01/2021 08:34

Ok , well I have had the combi boiler thing too, but a long time ago in an older house, we had this problem, and it was a semi-blocked hot water pipe to the bathroom.
A very experience plumber tried everything else, the he disconnected the shower and literally sucked on the pipe, to get the blockage moving.
Without a plumber, I am not sure how you would test that one though.

ApolloandDaphne · 02/01/2021 08:34

You need to ask @pigletjohn. He (she?) is very helpful with such matters.

EllieFredrickson · 02/01/2021 08:35

We've had this. Tends to be the cartridge inside. These have all been Mira showers.

HeronLanyon · 02/01/2021 08:35

If it is a pressure issue - I have this.
In order to get my shower to run hot rather than warm I have to run the bath hot tap first. Or I run the shower and half cover the shower head with my hand for 5 Second or so to increase pressure. Works a treat but not sure this is wholly to be recommended ???

Thisyearcandoone · 02/01/2021 08:35

Does it happen with the heating is on or off ? My boiler doesn't work particularly well if both going at same time

Liv2015 · 02/01/2021 08:40

Just asked plumber DH he says the thermostat cartridge.

dun1urkin · 02/01/2021 08:40

Is it a Mira? We had this problem and eventually the shower stopped working. I called Mira out (was expensive but not extortionate) and the engineer was ACE! He showed me exactly what he was doing, how to change the filter thing, how to change the mix of hot and cold, loads of stuff. We had two showers and it was happening with both. Once he’d sorted the worst, he supervised me fixing the other one, and all was well. As I recall the filter things needed replacing, I bought myself a couple off eBay so knew when it needed doing again I could fix it. Then we moved house so I don’t know if my plumbing is still appreciated.

Oldraver · 02/01/2021 09:57

Although our showers were nearly 20 years old when this happened it was the thermostat that had gone and had to be replaced and bloody expensive

I think the manufacturer is fobbing you off

PigletJohn · 02/01/2021 10:06

Show us a photo of your shower mixer please.

GreenPlum · 02/01/2021 10:12

It seems you've got your answer and a plumber can fix it. In the meantime, try reducing the flow. I got hot water that way while I was waiting for the plumber.

Original poster
formulaquestion · 02/01/2021 10:12

Thanks for the replies guys.

The bathroom was only done 5 years ago when we moved in, this is our 3rd thermostat we have had. We just kept replacing it because we thought it was that. Now I am sure it can't be that
@PigletJohn thank you , here is a picture

OP posts:
Original poster
formulaquestion · 02/01/2021 10:13

Pic

Why do I not have hot water from my shower, but I do everywhere else?
OP posts:
Original poster
formulaquestion · 02/01/2021 10:15

It's not a Mira , I think the brand is intatec. I took out a warranty but there is no one answering the phone over the holidays.

OP posts:
HopingForOurRainbowBaby · 02/01/2021 10:28

Mine is exactly the same!! It's a pita!! Bath tap thermo, bathroom sink tap thermo within about 5 seconds, kitchen sink tap once it's warmed up thermo. Shower on low just warm enough to be able to shower comfortably, but you have to decide on head or body not both and on high it's bloody freezing. Have a shower after a wash day and there's no hope at all for it

Original poster
formulaquestion · 02/01/2021 10:35

@HopingForOurRainbowBaby 😩 do you have the same one?

OP posts:
Glittertwins · 02/01/2021 10:39

We have the opposite- heating but no hot water. It's the diverter valve on our combi boiler which is also stuck on heating. House is a sauna. Part and boiler engineer due today

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