What is :

Thermostatic Showers The traditional mains-fed shower can be a liability. One flush of a loo or turn of a hot tap can leave you under a torrent of scalding or freezing water. Thermostatic mixer showers allow you to preset the temperature you want to shower at and then maintain that temperature — regardless of innocent, or malicious, water use elsewhere in the house. Many thermostatic mixers can be used with pumped systems, gravity, standard mains pressure or combination boiler-fed supplies.

But check with the supplier that the one you want is compatible with your water system before you buy. There are many different styles of thermostatic mixer available but there are really only two distinct types: surface-mounted or recessed.

With surface-mounted units the whole valve attaches to the face of the wall and the hot and cold pipes are either run up the wall to fix underneath the unit, or come through the wall to attach at the back of the unit. With recessed units you just get to see the controls, while the valve and water connections are concealed, normally behind a plate that’s supplied with the kit.

Electric Showers Where there is an insufficient supply of stored or instant hot water, an electric shower is the solution, and has the advantage of being more flexible in where it is fitted – as it is not dependent on the position of the header tank – as well as being cheap and easier to fit. Water is fed directly from the mains and passed over an electric heater, located in a copper cylinder in the wall unit, producing hot water on demand. The shower’s flow rate depends on its power and the water pressure, but unfortunately cannot be increased with the addition of a pump.

Common problems

Failure to regulate temperature- If you see that your thermostatic valves fail to regulate water, then you should look for dirt in the check valves. This can prevent the valves from opening. Another problem can be that the water pipes are installed backwards. This can affect the system because the thermostatic valves have a cold and a hot side.

Failure of Hot and Cold Water to Mix The first thing you need to do is check the water pressure at the inlets. The proper mixing cannot take place if there is any obstruction, loose fitting, or damaged line. If the shower head is partially blocked, then this can be another problem. To solve the problem, take it off and clean it from debris.

Water is Either Too Hot or Too Cold Again, this can be a problem with dirt in the valves. Another issue can be the calibration. Most of the times, the system comes with some calibration instructions. All you need to do is remove the face of the handle and there will be an adjustment screw in which you can couple with a thermometer and adjust the setting.

Low water pressure This can be a cause of the debris in the valve or even a blocked shower head. Also it can be a problem with the debris in the cartridge or a water pressure problem elsewhere. The cartridge has screens that filter the debris in the water and can get clogged. To remove the cartridge take of the cover plate, the handle and accompanying o-ring, and then use a wrench to unscrew the cartridge

Obviously we cannot cover all shower faults here as this is only the basics and some faults are specific to your model of shower. Remember that most shower repairs will require a fully qualified plumber and you should not attempt to make a repair unless you know what you are doing and accept responsibility for your actions. Our Shower Specialists accepts no responsibility for any personal or physical damage caused by following our advice.

The most common shower faults we repair fully:

• Leaks and Drips
• Fluctuating Temperature
• Loss of Pressure
• No Hot Water

Don't hesitate to give us a call to book a repair. We will fix your shower quick