Mira Elite QT Shower

Taking the eco setting first at say 3.25 LPM, a 4.5kw element will give a temperature rise of 19.8C which gives a showering temp of 31.8C say 32C (from 12C) so lukewarm.
The full power setting, based on 3.35 LPM gives a temperature rise of 38.5C which gives a showering temp of 50.5C, say 51C which would be clearly incorrect as that is at scalding point and would/should have tripped the heating elements, either the measured flow rate is incorrect or the shower is running on one element but this would result in a even cooler temp of 31C. So you might take another flow test on full power as I would expect a flow rate of 4.5 LPM at 40C.

The eco flowrate would have to be as low as 2.3 LPM to give 40C but that is because you can't get the flow rate low enough with the temp control on max.

John.G wrote: »

Taking the eco setting first at say 3.25 LPM, a 4.5kw element will give a temperature rise of 19.8C which gives a showering temp of 31.8C say 32C (from 12C) so lukewarm.
The full power setting, based on 3.35 LPM gives a temperature rise of 38.5C which gives a showering temp of 50.5C, say 51C which would be clearly incorrect as that is at scalding point and would/should have tripped the heating elements, either the measured flow rate is incorrect or the shower is running on one element but this would result in a even cooler temp of 31C. So you might take another flow test on full power as I would expect a flow rate of 4.5 LPM at 40C.

The eco flowrate would have to be as low as 2.3 LPM to give 40C but that is because you can't get the flow rate low enough with the temp control on max.

Thanks for getting back....i'm not sure I fully understand your response, but am I correct in thinking that you think it's either an element problem or a flow rate problem? Should I get the Mira guy out to look at it? It still has a couple of months warranty I hope??

Looking to replace an 15 year old mira elite . Saw the new mira se <not the dual head >having read all the bad reviews of the newer versions .Im wondering if all these problems have been ironed out in the latest se version.?

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Definitely not. The Elite SE is still problematic. Its gotten to the stage where the Mira service engineers are blaming the original installation. I've seen uneven tiles, silicone around the shower, using other than screws provided & screws too tight used to get out of the warranty in the last few months alone. No other manufacturer carries on like this.

The main failing parts are now TCO, solenoid, pump elbow, shower hose & plastic cracking & breaking. Then you have the usual parts that fail less often like the flow valve & element. Unfortunately the flow valve is part of the heating can /element on this model so a faulty flow valve will cost around 200 supplied & fitted. Not worth spending this type of money on repair

The dual head is a big selling point though. A lot of people like the idea of a dual head & mira are the only ones doing dual head

Thanks Sleeper. Shame really .The main allure for me was the like for like replacement and the position of the filter .As the water where I live is bog filtered I was removing the cover and cleaning the filter about 4 times a year and liked the idea of being able to access it without removing the cover.
Looks like I will go with the triton ts 90 so.

Mira parts can be a little cheaper from the UK but you'll pay 6 to 10 euro shipping making them dearer than here.

I took out a Mira Elite QT last week. Two years old & holes in the plastic. Genuine mire screws used yet casing cracked. Screws weren't over tight. In fact a little looser & the shower would have jiggled if you rocked it back & forward. Shower pole was cracked & the shower hose was damaged. The new Mira Elite SE has all these same issues. I have written to them several times since this thread started almost 5 years ago about the many, many issues. They have never replied. I have sent emails to them through my supplier thinking they would have to reply to a big plumbing suppliers but again no contact from them at all in almost 5 years. Now there seems to be a policy of looking for loopholes in the installation to get out of the warranty. The Mira Vigour Thermostatic power shower comes factory preset at max 40c (I think). Sometimes the client will want us to override this for even hotter water. Mira make provisions for this so not a problem. The problem is many come with the max tempeture set way lower than 40c. In this case it left the factory assembled or calibrated incorrectly. This is a manufacture error. Homeowner rings The Shower Doctors (Mira customer care) & is told that the shower is installed incorrectly & they need to get the installer back!! A shower calibrated incorrectly at the time of manufacture is most definitely a warranty issue
This is Mira customer service at it's finest!!

Mira make good cartridge showers. I don't rate them for electric or power showers & the worst customer care I've ever seen. Five years & they still haven't replied to my many emails from the start of this thread almost five years ago!

John.G wrote: »

There is definitely a MINIMUM flow rate problem as the shower should get down to ~ 2 LPM whatever power setting is selected, even Low (cold)

This completely explains the lukewarm temperature on Eco power.

Its the flow rate/temp on the high setting that I am really interested in, that's why I asked you to repeat that particular test.
I would like you to repeat this flow test on the high setting and/or if not, just the last part, ie temp setting to max and change from Eco to High power without changing the temperature setting and just observe the temperature and see if the shower then runs alternatively hot/cold.

Overall, yes, I think you should get Mira involved.

Just an update on this. Mira called out and the thermostat was broken. Build up of limescale blamed.

cuculainn wrote: »

Just an update on this. Mira called out and the thermostat was broken. Build up of limescale blamed.

Whatever the fix, Is the temperature control now more "normal" ie about 2 oclock or so with both elements on and can you now get the required hot water temperature on ECO setting only and does the temperature control still have to be fully clockwise?.

John.G wrote:

Just a more general question re limescale build up, as the limescale builds up, is the first indication that you have to keep turning the temperature control anti clockwise to try and get the same flow rate and eventually it is fully anti clockwise but then cannot supply enough flow so the TCO operates? and/or does a heating element fail (burn out) due to the insulating effect of the limescale build up?. or have seen both of these events?.

You have described the flow dial perfectly as effected by limescale. As the heating can gets fuller & fuller with limescale more & more heat gets transferred into the can itself & it puts a lot of stress on the TCO. Very few elements will ever get as far as burning out from limescale. Usually the shower or element will be replaced before this happens either because A the homeowners will have to descale the shower head after each shower or B the heating can will start to blow TCOs because of the heat transference. Turn off the shower and listen to the kettling. You can literally hear the water come to the boil. You might need to replace the TCO every few weeks in this situation

John.G wrote: »

So is it likely that they could/would have replaced Cuculainn's heating can (&TCO).

They could have. It should be on the service report they left him exactly what part/parts were replaced


His doesn't sound like a limescale issue. He needed to turn the dial clockwise as time went on. For limescale you'd expect the dial needing to be turned more anti clockwise as time went on

Sleeper12 wrote: »

This doesn't make sense. There isn't a thermostat in the shower. There is a thermostatic cut out but this can't cause the issue you had. Did they charge you or was it covered under warranty?


The mind boggles as to why Mira hide the true cause of the problem but nothing surprises me about them anymore

No charge.

heating to right temp on high mod with the heating control at approx 2 o'clock
heating at eco mod with the temp turned to max

I would think it was the heating can (or element) that was replaced

Still, decent enough out of them to replace FOC, since they suspected limescale, maybe they took the top off the can and had a peep inside and found none.

Also one would think that with one element gone, then because there was heat with hi or ECO selected that it it would have required the same temperature control setting for both but it didn't.

Cc345 wrote:

Hi looking for some advice my mira elite qt suddenly stopped while having a shower the motor seems fine and tried taking out filter and letting water flow for a few mins from the tank but all seems fine. Does anyone have any ideas what it could be and would it be worth getting fixed it's a 5 year old thanks

Most likely a faulty solenoid coil. If it's faulty it will not open the solenoid valve to let water through

It's the pump elbow that needs replacing. This part leaking is one of the many known issues with this model

Edit: this is the part you need

https://www.dublinshowerrepair.com/product/mira-elite-qt-pump-elbow/

Power & plumbing are in the exact same place. You need a few inches of free space to the right of your mira to accommodate the triton. Only other issue that can cause problems is if old mira isn't tiled behind. We find that about 95 percent of mira elite showers can be replaced with the triton t90sr silent without much difficulty.

As for your doctor friends, I absolutely hate having to deal with them.