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Original poster

Does anyone know anything about shower temperature controls?

15 replies

hiveofactivity · 13/07/2017 15:03

Our shower (separate to bath, combi-boiler so no tank, not electric) seems to have a temperature of either too hot or stone cold.

The temperature control is fixed into the shower unit and the water temperature seems to take about ten minutes to respond after the switch being turned to warmer or colder. Even then it seems to go from slightly too hot to stone cold, nowhere in between.

Have tried looking online but can't work out the problem. Before I call a plumber would like to have some idea of what they might say - has anyone had something similar fixed?

OP posts:
user1489844432 · 13/07/2017 18:46

Is it thermostatic shower? I actually have same issue. My research points me out towards issue with cartridges. As my shower is pretty old anyway I intend to get new one rather than trying to get cartridges replaced.

PearlyG8 · 13/07/2017 18:50

Some showers have limiter inside the control part. I got some advice - online and helpline - and adjusted it myself.

Ruhrpott · 13/07/2017 20:42

We had this in a shower. It was a relatively simple job to swop out the thermostatic control cartridge once we had the right one. New part cost about £69 from amazon.

Do you know which shower it is?

Ruhrpott · 13/07/2017 20:43

We did it ourselves with just a spanner. Instructions came with the part. Ours was a Grohe shower

Original poster
hiveofactivity · 15/07/2017 07:58

Thanks all - I'm not sure if it's a thermostatic shower, what does that mean? It isn't an electric one. There isn't a dial with temperatures on, just a metal knob that turns (the whole shower unit is metal). It doesn't have any markings on and I can't find a brand on the shower.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 15/07/2017 09:27

show us a photo

PigletJohn · 15/07/2017 09:28

and of the shower head as well.

While you wait for replies, unscrew the shower head and let water flow out of the hose or pipe. Is the temperature problem now gone?

Original poster
hiveofactivity · 15/07/2017 09:58

Piglet - thanks.
Photo hopefully attached now. The knob on the right adjusts the temp, the one on the left switches the water on and off.

Will try taking shower head off now.

Does anyone know anything about shower temperature controls?
OP posts:
Original poster
hiveofactivity · 15/07/2017 10:04

Piglet - emptied the hose and that seems to have fixed it - that's amazing! Is that all we need to do?

I wondered why sometimes the problem seemed to get better and it probably correlated with when I took the shower head off to clean it.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 15/07/2017 10:09

ah, it's a bar shower.

For some reason they are less reliable (and less expensive) than round mixers. It probably can't be repaired if it is worn or clogged with scale, and parts are usually unobtainable.

Luckily, however, it is likely that the pipes are a standard distance apart and the mixer can be removed by slackening the two nuts visible behind it, and a new one swapped in. You could get a very nice round-knob surface-mounted Aqualisa mixer that will be a lot better, and, if ever needed, spare parts are readily available.

If it is fairly recent, the nuts will probably be part of a sturdy bracket fixed to the wall (and tiled over), it will not just be hanging on the ends of the copper pipe.

If it is temperature-controlled (which is standard now) there will be a little button on the right-hand side, when pressed, it allows the temperature knob to travel further than usual. This is a scald-protection device.

PigletJohn · 15/07/2017 10:13

the fault is probably that limescale reduced the flow.

combi boilers have a flow switch so that they know when a tap has been turned on. Reduced flow may cause the boiler not to supply hot water.

Put it in a plastic container full of descaler, or buy a new one. They are widely available with rubbery nipples on the water holes, you rub these and they flex, causing the scale to break off. Tescos sell them.

More on here

Original poster
hiveofactivity · 15/07/2017 10:26

Piglet - thanks v much. The shower head has rubber nozzles but I think we need to clean it better!

Am minded to replace the bar shower at some point anyway, reckon it's about 8 years old, much prefer the round ones.

OP posts:
Ruhrpott · 15/07/2017 11:04

Looks very similar to the one we had in our last house which was an aqualisa 200

www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/aqualisa-midas-200-thermostatic-bar-valve-with-slide-rail-kit

PigletJohn · 15/07/2017 11:45

that's a lot for a bar mixer...

Aqualisa built their reputation on the round mixer shower with one (or two) round knobs. Depending how it's dressed up, it might look like this or this. They are pretty easy to service and parts are available going back quite a few years.

They make some hi-tech ones which are no doubt good, but to my mind are more complicated and have more to go wrong (and are more expensive)

Sometimes you can get last year's model on clearance.

Original poster
hiveofactivity · 15/07/2017 12:07

Ruhrpot thanks. That does look like ours.

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