Problem shower.

onejontwo

Cheers keystone it sounds a bit grim with what you're saying but I'll do as you say and if no joy I'll be looking at a new shower purchase.

keystone

Au plaisir. Doesn't have to be grim. Someone will have one for you.

Cheers

ormus

itll almost certainly be cheaper/better to renew the whole mixer unit with another brand, than repair that one.

onejontwo

When you say mixer unit, do you mean the part that I photo'd? Also is this a major/expensive job?

keystone

The shower valve you have is hidden (ie buried in the wall) rather than exposed (surface mounted). To replace it will require getting at the existing valve by first removing tiles. Its almost inevitable that a replacement won't fit the plumbing and even if you replace it with an exposed thermo mixer then plumbing works will be required. Then you will have to retile to match - assuming you have spare tiles that is. So am sorry that I can't agree with Ormus that fitting a new valve will be cheaper than replacing the cartridge in this one.

However I would agree that long term that replacement would be a better solution but suggest that you should wait until you refurbish the entire bathroom before doing so. That way it doesn't matter what chopping and hacking and generally bu....ng bout is needed to fit a new valve. Additionally the valve seems to be fitted in an extremely low down position which cannot be optimal for showering so as and when you refurb you'll prolly want to raise it up.

Cost to replace somewhere between £ 200 - £ 300 for new valve and plumbing bits and £ 150 or so for labour. Restoring tiling an unknown quantity but if you have the tiles to match available (but they look like standard 4" white ones do not that much trouble to source) add another £50 ish. Very rough numbers and material cost wil depend very largely on the mixer valve you select. My indication is for a lower end one. Don't take it as gospel as its been done from a pic rather than a proper look.

Cost to repair iro £ 100 for parts and (provided the current cartridge comes out easliy) no more than an 30 mins or so to fit but you'll prolly have to pay for a minimum hours work unless you are doing it yourself. You need to replace one tile anyway.

That tiling is very, very DIY so if you start ripping the shower out for a new one you'll like as not find that the plumbing isn't too hot either and the job could easily escalate.

HTH

Cheers

onejontwo

Right just had a reply from "shower doctor" as keystone suggested, it seems my shower is a "New Team 911EQ"
(Newt-parent-32) whatever that means?? and it seems the part IS obsolete according to "shower doctor" So keystone
as you seem to be clued up when it comes to showers etc. Is there anywhere else I can try for a thermo-cartridge
as I don't fancy the option of fitting a complete mixer unit at a big cost as we did plan to refurbish the bathroom in about a years time
so the aim is to keep things "ticking over" as best as possible until that time comes. If you have any ideas that won't cost the earth until then
I would be grateful for any advice. Thanks in anticipation.

keystone

B......r! Would have hoped they could help. Have you tried Bristan Customer Services directly as above? Theres these guys below as another possibiliy as well but I've never used them. Seems you have to talk to them directly about what you want.

http://www.shower-spares.co.uk

Cheers

EDIT: Just one more thought. This cartridge is going to be problematical if Bristan themselves can't help. If you have access to the other side of the valve (or at least to the pipework feeding it somewhere) you might also like to consider fitting a blending valve. This is a thermo valve that mixes hot and cold supplies to a maximum temperature and are mostly found in hospitals and such like to prevent scalding. If you can fit one in the pipework such that there are no other drawoffs between it and the shower then you can get a functioning shower and it won't matter that the cartridge in the shower itself is nacked. You just won't be able to adjust the temo whilst you are in it. Supply cost iro £65 so marginally cheaper tha the cartridge. Fitting it is guesswork as you'll have to find a suitable location if you've got one.

HTH