Shires Solent Modern Therostatic Shower - Water Temp Issue

donal2000

Hi All,

I have a Shires Solent Modern Therostatic Shower in my ensuite. The issue I am having is that the shower is not reaching the max temperature. If I run my shower in the main bathroom on max temperature it would not be possible to stand under it. Likewise if I run the hot water tap it's not possible to keep your hand under it so I know the issue is with the shower.
The shower itself is just over 4 years old and is used everyday. I had somebody look at it and they reckon the thermostatic cartridge is gone and needs replacing. We stripped back the shower and removed the pin that was in the thermostatic cartridge. The problem we are having is that we cannot see how to remove the actual cartridge itself as it's in a cylinder and there is a type of lip at the front and we cannot work out if this comes off.
The shower is similar to the link shown below:
http://www.google.ie/imgres?q=shires+solent+modern+thermostatic+shower&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=818&tbm=isch&tbnid=ivRAZwneg8tBhM:&imgrefurl=http://www.bathroomtrade.co.uk/discontinued-products/shires-solent-modern-concealed-thermostatic-shower-mixer-chrome.html&docid=7KD1zjblWJB2GM&imgurl=http://www.bathroomtrade.co.uk/images/products/preview/9552.jpg&w=300&h=300&ei=uMRdT5H_FZCyhAeS-4ypBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=78&sig=106469045739077386067&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=144&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=78&ty=97

I was wondering if anybody has any advice on this issue or have had a similar issue?

Thanks in advance

Dice75

Has it always been like this or just over time?

I worked for Shires for a long time.

2 possible issues.

If it has always been like this since installation, whoever installed it didnt set up the temp knob correctly and it can be reset to let more hot through.

If it has slowly deteriorated it is probably a cartridge issue. As it cant be that old I would recommend taking the entire catrridge unit out & soaking in vinegar for 12-24 hours which sould return it to a good working condition.

Failing that a new cartridge might be required, but doubt it should come to that.

donal2000

Dice75 wrote: »

Has it always been like this or just over time?

I worked for Shires for a long time.

2 possible issues.

If it has always been like this since installation, whoever installed it didnt set up the temp knob correctly and it can be reset to let more hot through.

If it has slowly deteriorated it is probably a cartridge issue. As it cant be that old I would recommend taking the entire catrridge unit out & soaking in vinegar for 12-24 hours which sould return it to a good working condition.

Failing that a new cartridge might be required, but doubt it should come to that.

Thanks Dice75 for the reply.

The issue has happened over time. I was planning on soaking the cartridge in vinegar but the problem I am having is trying to get the actual cartridge out. Is it easy enough to remove? I managed to get the pin removed ok.

I removed the cover, tap head & tap insert. I then removed the pin which connects to the cartridge. There is what looks like a bushing at the front of the coil. I can't see how this bushing can be removed so I can get access to/remove the actual cartridge. I have tried with a long nose pliers gently turning the cartridge left and right but it won't budge. If you would have any info on how to remove it I'd really appreciate it.

farmer pat

Can somebody please tell me step by step how to remove the lower thero cartridge ,or even how to set up the temperature ,Now its to cold ,when press in red button and turn clockwise the temp increases but hen let it go it then turns back slowly until red button drops into place and cold again . I see small cap on knob ho do I remove this and then what thanks PAT

K.Flyer

First turn off the water supply to the shower valve.
You need to remove the two handles and the back plate to expose the valve assembly.
If you are lucky you can undo the lower cartridge by turning it anti-clockwise using a suitable spanner.
if you are unlucky, then the small centre piece may come away first, leaving you to improvise on how to get the outer section of the cartridge out of the main valve body.
I drilled two holes into the face of the cartridge and forced two decent screws into them which allowed me to use a small lever to twist it out.
Hope that helps.

farmer pat

Yes thanks that helps ,but to remove the knobs do I just pry away the small cap in the centre ,Also its in a house my daughter bought so maybe I just need to adjust the temperature setting ,are u familiar with this procedure or maybe you know a link ? I noticed I can force it clockwise with the red button in place but not sure what that does ,thanks for making the effort to give me free advice

K.Flyer

There is a small screw under that cap. I found it easier to remove those caps with a stanley blade.
If it is plumbed correctly the selector should go clockwise for cold and anti-clockwise for hot.
With the handle off and you twist the control fully anti-clockwise to hot and it rotates back by itself then the cartridge needs replacing.

farmer pat

Ah ok thanks ,are cartridges available ? what type do I need ?

K.Flyer

Not sure if they are, but I need to find out fairly soon for myself as I used the last one I had a few weeks ago.
Leave it with me for a few days unless someone else has an answer sooner.

farmer pat

Does the cartridge have a TYPE number as Shires no more ,going to take it apart today

farmer pat

Oh thanks again actually now it goes more hot clockwise,Ooops I must have replumbed it wrong way will switch the pipes over

Dice75

farmer pat wrote: »

Ah ok thanks ,are cartridges available ? what type do I need ?

K.Flyer wrote: »

Not sure if they are, but I need to find out fairly soon for myself as I used the last one I had a few weeks ago.
Leave it with me for a few days unless someone else has an answer sooner.

Cartridges are available

SmallBalls

Dice75 wrote: »

Cartridges are available

Where are these on sale? Any idea does the same cartridge do all those concealed Shires valves?

I have an Ely valve myself but struggled to source a cartridge for it a year or two ago. Soaked it in vinegar for about two days which brought it back to life but would like to have spare cartridge there as back up.

K.Flyer

Valves are available from Ideal Standard...
but need to be ordered through your local supplier e.g. Chadwicks, Heatmerchants etc.
Ideal Standard Spares, Shires Shower Valve Therm Cartridge For Ely/Premier/Solent 

Dice75

What K.Flyer said. Although the price on that site of STG £166.88 + VAT is absolute madness!

I can get them in Dublin for €90 + VAT

chopperp

Good afternoon All

I have just changed my Cartridge as the pressure just dropped all of a sudden , however after inserting a brand new cartridge the pressure of my shower is still brutal and not as good as it originally was .

any ideas ?

K.Flyer

chopperp wrote: »

Good afternoon All

I have just changed my Cartridge as the pressure just dropped all of a sudden , however after inserting a brand new cartridge the pressure of my shower is still brutal and not as good as it originally was .

any ideas ?

If the pressure is equally bad on both hot and cold then the common denominator would be the shower hose internal tube or the shower head clogged up.
Try changing them first before getting into pulling the valve apart again.

chopperp

thanks tried with hose disconnected , however still the same are there any filters on the valve ?

novlean

Hello everyone.

I also got an issue when removing the thermostatic cartridge from the Shires PREMIER CONCEALED SHOWER VALVE (U960016AA).
Unfortunately, only the small centre piece has come out.

I tried to use K.Flyer technic : "drilled two holes into the face of the cartridge and forced two decent screws" but failed to drill the holes in the first place. The cartridge metal is fairly robust, so I wasn't able to drill through.

I heard people use "valve puller tool to remove the cartridge" but cannot find an appropriate one for the Shires.

Did anyone come across the valve puller tool for Shires?

K.Flyer wrote: »

First turn off the water supply to the shower valve.
You need to remove the two handles and the back plate to expose the valve assembly.
If you are lucky you can undo the lower cartridge by turning it anti-clockwise using a suitable spanner.
if you are unlucky, then the small centre piece may come away first, leaving you to improvise on how to get the outer section of the cartridge out of the main valve body.
I drilled two holes into the face of the cartridge and forced two decent screws into them which allowed me to use a small lever to twist it out.
Hope that helps.

novlean

Update..

Kudos to K.Flyer for the hint on how to get the old cartridge out!

(I drilled two holes into the face of the cartridge and forced two decent screws into them which allowed me to use a small lever to twist it out.)

In the end the DYI fix with replacing the old cartridge saved me a lot of $$ compared to what plumbers were quoting. My total cost was EUR 120 for the new cartridge (sourced from Davies in Raheny, Dublin) and few sturdy drill bits. Plus the time to install it.

Where most of the the Plumbers only quoted for the full shower refit. And no one actually suggested just replacing the cartridge. No one!
Their quotes started from EUR 700 up to EUR 1500. Well it seems they were mainly interested to earn more (and monetise on the lack of information for the options available) and don't really interested to suggest you a 'reasonable' solution.