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Shower drip-drip-dripping! Any ideas?

13 replies

Watertorture · 11/04/2020 10:55

Hello,
For a week or so now my shower has been leaking, it's one of those showers with two heads and it will leak from either one so it's not a clogged shower head.
I've googled the installation guide and it suggests it needs a cartridge change - is this a diy job do you think?
It is a Mira Agile ERD and was installed about 2.5 years ago.
I'll see if I can attach a picture..
Thanks for reading

OP posts:
Watertorture · 11/04/2020 10:56

Pic

Shower drip-drip-dripping! Any ideas?
Shower drip-drip-dripping! Any ideas?
OP posts:
Muchlywrong · 11/04/2020 13:12

Does it leak constantly? Or does it stop after a while?

Watertorture · 11/04/2020 13:14

It's constant. Drip every couple of seconds. The water coming out is cold at least.
The boiler pressure is within the "green" area, though I did increase it about a month ago when the heating wasn't coming on.

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UtterlyPerfectCartoonGiraffe · 11/04/2020 13:15

No ideas I’m afraid, but same problem here for us. Our is a less fancy Mira, only a year old but dripping constantly and driving us up the wall. Ours is leaking out of where the hose attaches to the shower unit. I can tell you that swearing and pleading don’t work!

UtterlyPerfectCartoonGiraffe · 11/04/2020 13:19

We’re waiting for a call back from our plumber so if he has any tips I will let you know! We’ve just had our boiler replaced and have been told the shower isn’t compatible with the boiler (too much heat/pressure?) so we’d assumed it was to do with that. That will be no help to you if your boilers not new too though! Flowers

Watertorture · 11/04/2020 13:21

Haha I hadn't reached the pleading part yet but am sure it's coming!
I think it will need a new cartridge, but the online diagram didn't show me how to remove it etc without damaging the shower (or tiles!) I was hoping cleaning the cartridge (whatever that actually is) might work in the short term.
I had never heard of needing to match your shower to your boiler Shock I wonder is that true!
Thank you both for the posts

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Muchlywrong · 12/04/2020 01:22

If you have hard water, cleaning the cartridge may help. To access the cartridge, you will need to remove the left hand side handle. On most Miras, there will be a dust cap in the middle of the handle which needs to be levered off with a thin flat head screwdriver. There will then be a pozi screw that needs to be unscrewed which means that you can pull the handle off and loosen the cartridge with a wrench. Make sure you turn off the water to your shower and put a plug in the waste as you will more than likely end up dropping the screw. To loosen the cartridge you will need to turn it away from you. The best thing to clean it, is spirit vinegar.

Watertorture · 14/04/2020 11:11

@Muchlywrong thanks so much that sounds like really good advice - I didn't realise I'd had any more replies so sorry for not replying sooner.
Will give it a try today (fingers crossed!)

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Watertorture · 14/04/2020 11:14

@Muchlywrong sorry a final question - do you mean "left side" as in the left of the picture I've posted - the side that only has one turny bit on it and is closer to the pipe, or should it be the side that sticks out more and has the bits I turn for hot/cold and on/off?
🤦‍♀️

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Muchlywrong · 14/04/2020 11:22

Having looked at the picture, I should have clarified that I was wrong and it should be the right side. It is an all in one cartridge, so it can be broken into two parts, which can make it a little more difficult. I would be careful doing it and if possible, have a look on youtube to see if anyone has done a video of taking it apart to help you get an idea of what needs doing.

Watertorture · 14/04/2020 13:28

Thanks again. I'm wondering whether to try to order a new cartridge (water is soft here so might not help much to clean it) and do a one-in-one-out. I know some plumbers are still working but wouldn't class this as an emergency.
If I bugger it up I will have no shower which would be worse than the drip!
(Not a major problem these days I know but had hoped to be able to fix it!)

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Muchlywrong · 14/04/2020 23:59

It may be a good idea to get a new cartridge as it might come with instructions. On the plus side as well, if you can't fix it, you can definitely call out a plumber as it's then an emergency

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