Replacement changer for five head shower

CarPark2

OK, so i am not a plumber, so i don't know the correct words for what i seek.
We have a shower that has water coming from five directions - 1 overhead, 2 at chest height and 2 at leg height. It is a bit like this set up (but not as fancy) https://www.livinghouse.co.uk/acatalog/brushed-nickel-body-jet.html


There is a knob on the wall that gives different combinations of each of these five sources. We moved into the house three years ago, and that knob has always been stuck. It isn't terrible, as it is stuck at the overhead shower spray, but given that all the plumbing is there for this great shower experience, it would be nice to be able to use it.

This is the knob that is on the wall


When i remove that, i see this:


I have used WD40 and tried a vice grip, but i still cannot move that knob. We live in a hard water area, so i guess it may just be corroded. Behind that, there seems to be one pipe feeding in, and five pipes coming out (which would make sense).

I am wondering:
a) Is there anyway that i could loosen this, so that it would be usable?
If not,
b) It is possible to replace the unit that you see in the second picture, without pulling out all the tiles?
c) What is that unit called - i have no idea what to call this, so it is hard to search for a replacement online!

Thanks in advance.

K.Flyer

If it is a hard water area I'd say you are right as to why it's stuck.
The inner cartridge should be removable, probably by the hex nut, then soak it in a solution to clean it up and put it back in.
Just make sure the water supply to it is off before opening anything, just in case.

CarPark2

Thanks a lot for that advice. The regular socket didn't fit on it, so i ordered a deep socket and used a breaker bar from the car and it opened it up. I took it out, took the pieces apart and when i put them back together and back into the unit, it all works. So all good. Two plumbers had told us that we would need to take off the tiles and pull out the whole system, so i delighted that it was so easy.

Two follow on questions:
When i took the unit apart, there was some grease on it where the different subparts fit together. I figure after 15 years that could probably do with being replenished. What kind of grease do plumbers use for that?

There is a separate knob for adjusting the temperature. It also doesn't move. I took it out of the wall, but i am not sure what to do with it. I don't want to wreck it, but i don't know what parts should come apart. I figure some force will need to be applied as they are so locked together, but i don't want to force the wrong parts.
I include photos below. Any advice?

K.Flyer

CarPark2 wrote: »

Two follow on questions:
When i took the unit apart, there was some grease on it where the different subparts fit together. I figure after 15 years that could probably do with being replenished. What kind of grease do plumbers use for that?

I would think it's some silicone based grease.

CarPark2 wrote: »

There is a separate knob for adjusting the temperature. It also doesn't move. I took it out of the wall, but i am not sure what to do with it. I don't want to wreck it, but i don't know what parts should come apart. I figure some force will need to be applied as they are so locked together, but i don't want to force the wrong parts.

You were lucky, they can be a demon to remove.
That's the thermostatic cartridge. If you catch a hold of the cartridge and put the handle back on the spline, with some rocking back and forward you should be able to free it up. If it's not going to work, just replace the cartridge. They cost about 85 euro.

CarPark2

K.Flyer wrote: »

I would think it's some silicone based grease.



You were lucky, they can be a demon to remove.
That's the thermostatic cartridge. If you catch a hold of the cartridge and put the handle back on the spline, with some rocking back and forward you should be able to free it up. If it's not going to work, just replace the cartridge. They cost about 85 euro.

Thanks for getting back. What’s the spline?

CarPark2

CarPark2 wrote: »

Thanks for getting back. What’s the spline?

And where is the handle on it? Sorry, as you can see i know nothing about these things.

K.Flyer

The spline is the thin piece sticking out with the cut lines on it and the handle / knob fits back onto it.

CarPark2

K.Flyer wrote: »

The spline is the thin piece sticking out with the cut lines on it and the handle / knob fits back onto it.

Thanks!
One last stupid question - if that doesn't work, where would i buy a thermostatic cartridge? Can you get them in a general hardware like Chadwicks or are there specialist plumbing supply places?

K.Flyer

To me it looks exactly like a Shires Solent thermostatic cartridge.
I know Smallmans in Ranelagh stocked them as did Davies Plumbing Supplies in Raheny and Sallynoggin.

CarPark2

Thanks. OK, one last stupid question.

The shower is completely tiled apart from small holes which i have shown above.
How do I cut off water to this, without cutting off water to all the taps.

We have a pumped system, so i turned off the pump last night before i took this out. There was still some water flowing out when i took it out, but not so much that would cause a massive problem. But if i need to get a new cartridge, ideally i would like to bring the old one with me to make sure that the new one is an exact match.

In that case, i can't really leave the house without water for a few hours while i go to get a new cartridge.

K.Flyer

Without knowing your own plumbing system I have no idea. Not many plumbers would leave separate isolation valves for just a shower valve, it's hard enough to get some of them to fit isolation valves in convenient locations as it is.
My suggestion would be to phone the supplier first to see if they have them in stock, then you may just have to do without water for a few hours. Or else take photographs of the valve alongside a ruler indicating the length and diameter and bring that information to the supplier.