Replacing a mixer shower

tommycatz

Hi, Please be aware that the mixer unit has a cold water and hot water feed which both need to be turned off or drained before removing the unit. Here's what happened few years ago at my previous house. 10pm on a monday night in winter, my wife noticed the Shower was leaking as the carpet was wet. She eventually found a plumber in the yellow pages, well the local 'Doctor Drains' franchise who said he was a plumber, he arrived at 11.30pm, I explained the problem, paid £140 in a cheque, showed him the main water stop !!!!, he turned it off and drained the cold water, he then unfastened all nuts on the mixer, not aware of the hot water tank was full, gallons of water then poured from the hot water pipe, through the ceiling into the hall, and lounge. The electric tripped, My wife was screaming at me yet she found this idiot. We were running around with towels and torches. It was carnage. When I managed to get the lights to stay on, I told the guy what he had done, and he said claim on you house insurance. I said can you replace the unit now and he said 'no I have not got one of these in stock!' So we had no water and the house was flooded. I took the mixer and had to order a new one. It took 2 days to arrive. My father in law then taught Doctor Drains how to fit it. We did claim on the house insurance for a new carpet. A year later the insurance company called saying they were checking certain claims. We told the the full truth and they went after Doctor Drains.
I have since replaced a Mixer unit myself in my current house. Not sure what happened to Doctor Drains!

ormus

the above doesnt apply if you have a combi boiler with no storage tanks.
also its a good idea to have two isolating valves in the H/C supply pipes.
makes servicing a doddle.

VoucherMan

It's a combi boiler so I just turned off the cold water supply & drained the pipes.

I've got the kit (see post 10) & watched the video a couple of times.

Looks fairly straightforward. I would have done it yesterday but don't have any circlip pliers. Only local hardware store open on a Sunday, Homebase, didn't have any either so I've ordered a pair online.

Should have it sorted by the weekend. Then I can start looking for MSE style advice for the rest of the bathroom. You have been warned!

1984ReturnsForReal_2

VoucherMan wrote: »

It's a combi boiler so I just turned off the cold water supply & drained the pipes.

I've got the kit (see post 10) & watched the video a couple of times.

Looks fairly straightforward. I would have done it yesterday but don't have any circlip pliers. Only local hardware store open on a Sunday, Homebase, didn't have any either so I've ordered a pair online.

Should have it sorted by the weekend. Then I can start looking for MSE style advice for the rest of the bathroom. You have been warned!

When you put the spindle back in you are probably going to have to give it a whack from the inside otherwise it will not protrude enough for the heat adjustment control to attach.

Also. Make sure you put the thermostat back in the right way around.

keystone

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

The whole cartridge assembly comes apart & is solid metal. Once cleaned up they are as good as new.

My point being that if the OP isn't confident enough nor has the correct tools to do this job without having to come back every 30 microseconds for continuing advice then a simple swap out is probably the simplest, quickest and (in terms of collected costs) the cheapest method if he wants to keep that shower valve.

Cheers

VoucherMan

keystone wrote: »

My point being that if the OP isn't confident enough confidence is building with each successfully completed job (post #1) nor has the correct tools on order (post #14) to do this job without having to come back every 30 microseconds for continuing advice with all the help and advice already given, plus a video to watch I should have more than enough information. While I appreciate all the advice given, no-one here is obliged to give it. I once visited a plumbing forum for help, but with such a friendly crowd on here willing and able to give it I no longer bother then a simple swap out is probably the simplest, quickest and (in terms of collected costs) the cheapest method if he wants to keep that shower valve. I have no love for any part of the existing shower. It was merely pointed out that this would be the cheapest way to get a decent working shower.

While I'm prepared to pay more if necessary, I did after all start off by asking advice on buying a new shower unit, the thought of saving money with a bit of DIY and getting a bit of free education at the same time always wins it for me.

VoucherMan

At last!

Finally managed to re-assemble the shower.

Struggled to screw the cartridge back in for a while. Eventually realised I'd left the cartridge in the on/open position. - Live and learn.

So thanks again for the advice and suggestions.

Now I'll have to turn the water off again to get the dishwasher plumbed in.

Well- I thought I'd treat myself with the money I saved on the shower.:)

1984ReturnsForReal_2

VoucherMan wrote: »

At last!

Finally managed to re-assemble the shower.

Struggled to screw the cartridge back in for a while. Eventually realised I'd left the cartridge in the on/open position. - Live and learn.

So thanks again for the advice and suggestions.

Now I'll have to turn the water off again to get the dishwasher plumbed in.

Well- I thought I'd treat myself with the money I saved on the shower.:)

Works ok then?

VoucherMan

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

Works ok then?

Well, it works and it's better than it was before. Still a bit stiff though.

I'm still tempted to get a new shower though. I'll wait until the new year and see how I feel then.