Water Flow/Temperature Question

g0g

Ok so I've never posted in here before and hope this isn't a regular problem and people are always asking this same question.

I'm living in an apartment and below is image of en suite shower unit. Hot water for the taps and rads comes via a central gas boiler which seems to be functioning fine, as the rads work and I can get piping hot water in the main shower and kitchen sink.

However, the en suite is acting up in recent weeks, gradually getting colder every few days despite the dial always being at 38C. We've had to start slowly increasing the dial up to nearly 44C to get the water to what feels like 38C. There's only so far I'll be able to go though until we run out of options, so I guess it's gotta be fixed.

Having (hopefully) ruled out the boiler as the problem I assume it has to be the mechanism in the bathroom? Does the model in the image below look familiar to anyone and are there known problems? I thought maybe the dial and temperature scale were loose from one another but that doesn't appear to be the case?

Is there a doohicky in behind my shower tiles making mix adjustments between the taps to get the heat level correct?

Do I simply need to call a plumber? My handyman skills would be fairly basic, but I'd give it a go if I thought there might be a simple fix?

Any advice much appreciated!

sullzz

This shower valve is thermostatic so the thermostatic cartridge might been to be replaced , or it could be a blocked filter , these are located where the valve connects to the pipes coming out of the wall , you should see two 3/4 " chrome nuts which the valve itself connects to , if you undo these you can remove the valve and you will see the filters , make sure you turn off the h+c water before doing this , if the filters are clean its down to the cartridge , you might have trouble getting a cartridge for this if there is no brand name on it , but the good news is that any bar type shower valve will fit the tail pieces coming out of the wall .

g0g

sullzz wrote: »

This shower valve is thermostatic so the thermostatic cartridge might been to be replaced , or it could be a blocked filter , these are located where the valve connects to the pipes coming out of the wall , you should see two 3/4 " chrome nuts which the valve itself connects to , if you undo these you can remove the valve and you will see the filters , make sure you turn off the h+c water before doing this , if the filters are clean its down to the cartridge , you might have trouble getting a cartridge for this if there is no brand name on it , but the good news is that any bar type shower valve will fit the tail pieces coming out of the wall .

Fantastic, hadn't expected such a quick and detailed reply! So I managed to get hold of a decent spanner to do the job but then decided to talk to the apartment block caretaker first. He reckoned it's much more likely the cartridge than the valves and has seen them go in a couple of the other apartments in the block.

I said I think they're a standard fitting so can buy any replacement and he said I'd need to be careful as it's some Italian brand that might be different, and he's gone away to research. On closer inspection I found out it's a Paini? (sounds expensive!) Is that a very common brand? Does it sound right that they could possibly be a different size or am I safe buying any old one off a page like this? A good few on that page are less than € 100 delivered - is paying more than that just for the look of it, or am I likly to get a replacement that will last longer if I pay for it?

Thanks again

embracingLife

You're not by any chance living in a new block in Dundrum in Dublin?! Or some other part of South Dublin?!

Its a long shot, but then again worth the try, to contact the developers/builders who built your building and tell you. Tell you what, I'll PM you a plumbing company who installed same taps in another developement. They should be able to source new cartridges for you, rather than buying online.

Anyway, like the catch phrase on that TV ad...."Go compare"!

just did a google search there and found Paini UK: http://www.paini.co.uk/product/2521/painitech-2000-thermostatic-bath-shower-mixer-chrome-2tcr111th.html

Cartridges, don't know which is yours!?
http://www.paini.co.uk/products/0/spares/cartridge%20valve.html

g0g

Nice one thanks for all of that! It's a block in Kilmainham, not Dundrum. I actually got a pack when we closed which listed all the bits and pieces installed in each room so I must check that. If you could send me on the contact details that'd be great. The one you linked matches the fitting in the bathroom I think, but it's the shower one I'm after!

embracingLife wrote: »

You're not by any chance living in a new block in Dundrum in Dublin?! Or some other part of South Dublin?!

Its a long shot, but then again worth the try, to contact the developers/builders who built your building and tell you. Tell you what, I'll PM you a plumbing company who installed same taps in another developement. They should be able to source new cartridges for you, rather than buying online.

Anyway, like the catch phrase on that TV ad...."Go compare"!

just did a google search there and found Paini UK: http://www.paini.co.uk/product/2521/painitech-2000-thermostatic-bath-shower-mixer-chrome-2tcr111th.html

Cartridges, don't know which is yours!?
http://www.paini.co.uk/products/0/spares/cartridge%20valve.html

g0g

Just digging up this thread to hopefully resolve the problem. Apartment caretaker never got back to me so I'll just try and sort it myself. Can someone tell me is there an Irish/international standard for distance between the hot and cold pipes coming from the wall. I've measured and it appears to be 150mm between the centre of each pipe. Does this ring a bell as the norm?

heinbloed

150mm distance is standard.

About the original problem: are both suplies (hot and cold) pressurised?
These automatic mixing valves need to have a similar pressure on both inlets, a certain discrepancy is allowed for however. Check the manufacturer's instructions.
The cartridge might be defect as well, sludged-up.

g0g

heinbloed wrote: »

150mm distance is standard.

About the original problem: are both suplies (hot and cold) pressurised?
These automatic mixing valves need to have a similar pressure on both inlets, a certain discrepancy is allowed for however. Check the manufacturer's instructions.
The cartridge might be defect as well, sludged-up.

Thanks for the reply! Honest answer re pressurising is I don't know! However, temeperature in the apartment main bathroom shower works fine, as do the two bathroom sinks and the kitchen sink. Am I right in saying it's not likely there's a pressue problem unique to one part of the system? Not sure if I still have the original instructions will need to check the box of manuals from when I moved in. Going rate for a new piece is in the region of € 100 yeah? What I've been told is to siwtch off the hot and cold water, remove the unit, put on new one and turn back on supply.

heinbloed

A shower mixing valve like the one posted costs around €35.- upwards. For € 100.- expect top-quality with 5 year warranty, noise reduced, easy cleaning (lotus effect).
You won't find these prices in the Irish/British DIY chain, check the www. or your local plumbing center.

Since the original part had not been taken off do this first. Clean the filters at the back of it, flush both supply pipes. This might do the trick.

Am I right in saying it's not likely there's a pressue problem unique to one part of the system?

This could be the case indeed.

g0g

heinbloed wrote: »

A shower mixing valve like the one posted costs around €35.- upwards. For € 100.- expect top-quality with 5 year warranty, noise reduced, easy cleaning (lotus effect).
You won't find these prices in the Irish/British DIY chain, check the www. or your local plumbing center.

Since the original part had not been taken off do this first. Clean the filters at the back of it, flush both supply pipes. This might do the trick.



This could be the case indeed.

Thanks again for the replies. I tried the local place in Kilmainham earlier with the tap sticking out of the wall but they wanted to flog me a whole Triton unit for € 100. Will keep hunting for better value.

So are you suggesting take it off the wall and let water flow through both pipes for a bit? How does the filter get "dirty" if it's fresh water? Would I expect the other taps around the apartment then to stop working over time too?

sullzz

When you take it if the wall , you will see gauze mesh type filters in the connections of the valve itself , these get blocked with dirt , the water in your tank is not fresh water , if you were to look into your attic tank you will see dirt at the bottom , also you will have flux in the pipework , your other taps are not getting blocked as these don't have filters in them.