Lidl Thermostatic Shower £14.99

Highland_Lass_2

I broke my kitchen tap the other day and went to Lidl to get the £7.99 ones. Husband (self employed plumber) said they looked quite good and is going to fit them tonight so I'll let you know what they're like.

gromituk

There are plenty of places where cold taps come from the mains, and plenty where they don't, so no point in arguing either way.

Bath cold taps are more likely not to come from the mains, because of the greater flow rate possible from a cistern - if you don't restrict it through a shower head.

Modern cold cisterns must be fitted with a "Byelaw 30 kit", which includes a lid and other things to reduce the possibility of the water getting contaminated.

Godspeed

Was'nt there an episode of 'Rogue Traders' where a plumber they had got in decided to 'whizz' in the cistern, or go in a bucket then pour it in the cistern??

Nice.....

quoia

gromituk wrote:

Bath cold taps are more likely not to come from the mains, because of the greater flow rate possible from a cistern - if you don't restrict it through a shower head.

Personally I'd say it is exactly the reverse.
Even with a 22mm (3/4") feed to the bath, the flow possible due to gravity from a tank in the loft to an upstairs bathroom (head of water probably 2.5metres/8feet) is far lower than mains pressure through a 15mm (1/2") pipe.

Even with the maximum head of water available (normally no more than 3.6metres / 12feet even if it is high in the rafters and not on the loft floor) mains pressure wins almost every time.

The only occasions I'm aware of where cold water taps are fed from a header tank (other than to balance pressure to a mixer tap/unit) is when you live in a low pressure area. Usually a village on the top of a hill or similar, and it's a struggle for the mains pressure to actually fill the storage tank in the first place.

In "normal" environments there is ample flow from the mains pressure to fill the cold tank very rapidly, and if this is the case, the cold water tap on the bath would definitely fill it quicker if connected to the mains and not fed from a tank in the loft.

quoia

thewelshman wrote:

By a 1inch pipe to the loft, but I've never seen the bathroom cold feed supplied off this.

I think you missed my point ...

You said "the bathroom cold water supply comes from the cold water tank in the attic. This is done because it's that much closer"

Can hardly be closer to take a pipe from a bath tap to a tank that is above the height of the bath, that is fed by a pipe that has mains pressure water in it.

However back to a previous point, presuming from your name , any chance you live in Wales?
Perhaps not in one of the valleys but quite a few feet above sea level ?
Low pressure water area ?
Bit like having a prostrate problem. Sink cold tap more of a dribble than a fire hose?

As some sort of indication, how far can you squirt water out the end of a hose pipe ? Our mains pressure means it's about 20 metres or more (70feet approx)

Spikey_2

Spikey wrote:

Do they go on the wall or will fit existing tub?

some help would be appreciated.....

quoia

Spikey wrote:

some help would be appreciated.....

On the wall.
It's a shower mixer unit - nothing to do with a bath, other than that's where the water might end up to stop it landing on the floor!

Spikey_2

quoia wrote:

On the wall.
It's a shower mixer unit - nothing to do with a bath, other than that's where the water might end up to stop it landing on the floor!

Sorry for the stupid Question... if you have a tub then the holes will need blocking and the pipes taking into the wall and the unit then being fixed?

Is it worth it?

Spikey

gromituk

If you do that, you'll have no way of filling the bath, except from the shower! It's something to be added to the existing bath taps.

quoia

Spikey wrote:

Sorry for the stupid Question... if you have a tub then the holes will need blocking and the pipes taking into the wall and the unit then being fixed?

Is it worth it?

Spikey

Not sure why you would need to block the holes in the tub unless you're removing the taps ?
If you do that how will you fill the tub if you want a bath ?
It will take forever through this, compared to a pair of hot and cold taps.

You can fit it in addition to the bath taps.
You would need to split off the hot and cold to this unit and bury the last few feet of pipework in the wall.

Is it worth it? Depends where it is, what you want it for, how cheap can you do it, how long will it take, are you about to decorate the bathroom or have you just done it ?
Probably some other considerations as well.