Gravity feed shower isolating valve, none fitted?

landmarkjohn

I live in a 90's built McInerney house in Limerick. I need to replace the brushes on an early model Mira Elite shower (Mark 1? the one before the ST model, it has 5mm x 8mm brushes).

I have had a look for a valve to turn off the supply to the shower so I don't need to drain the system.... looked in the loft to try and identify the feed, had a look where shower shares dividing stud wall with hot press but I can't see any.

Would it be common for no valve to be fitted to isolate the shower? Thanks.

PS I included detail on the job at hand incase anyone has top tips on replacing these brushes

Sleeper12

If your electric shower is from the 90s then it should be replaced imo. It's on borrowed time as it is. No one thought that some showers would last this long (10 years is the average life span). There is a much greater chance of a fire from a shower that old.

In answer to your question it's very possible someone saved a fiver & didn't put in a valve.
Have you found a half inch pipe coming from the bottom of the tank to the shower? If there is none then shutting off the cold in the hot press might do the trick

landmarkjohn

Sleeper12 wrote: »

If your electric shower is from the 90s then it should be replaced imo. It's on borrowed time as it is.

Agreed, but I'm afraid that might turn into "well I never liked those tiles so we might as well change them as well"

No one thought that some showers would last this long (10 years is the average life span). There is a much greater chance of a fire from a shower that old.

And we don't switch off the pull cord, must start doing that

In answer to your question it's very possible someone saved a fiver & didn't put in a valve.
Likely then judging by the scrimping on insulation, the quality of some building is pretty deplorable, this was the nineties, we knew all about U values and ozone layer etc but I digress :mad:

Have you found a half inch pipe coming from the bottom of the tank to the shower? If there is none then shutting off the cold in the hot press might do the trick

Found two half inch coming from low down on tank that disappeared downwards no stop valves, wasn't able to identify if one was for the shower. Looks like I will need to drain system.

Pete67

If you really don't want to drain the tank you should be able to reach inside the tank and plug the outlet temporarily with a suitable bung while you cut the 1/2 inch pipe and install a ball valve close to the tank.

Make sure the bung can't become dislodged or have a second person to hold it in place.

landmarkjohn

Pete67 wrote: »

If you really don't want to drain the tank you should be able to reach inside the tank and plug the outlet temporarily with a suitable bung while you cut the 1/2 inch pipe and install a ball valve close to the tank.

Make sure the bung can't become dislodged or have a second person to hold it in place.

OOOOOH, sounds fraught with danger for the average DIYer.... I can see it...

Me: Have you got good hold of that bung?

Helper: Yep, got it.

Me: Right, I'm going to make the cut.

Helper: OK.

starts cutting... expects a dribble but...

Helper: Sh*t, hang on, it came out.... where is it, can't find it..

:eek::eek::eek:

landmarkjohn

Job done in situ. Wasn't able to get out the old brush at the top out so put the new one in on top of it..... I don't expect it to last too long but might give me time to plan for new one.

Thinking of going Triton T90SR if it's a fit?

Wearb

landmarkjohn wrote: »

Job done in situ. Wasn't able to get out the old brush at the top out so put the new one in on top of it..... I don't expect it to last too long but might give me time to plan for new one.

Thinking of going Triton T90SR if it's a fit?

Last bit of old brush might cause lots of trouble. You never know if its going to jam or fly out and cause a short somewhere.

Wear your insulating wellies in the shower