Shower Diverter Problem - not sending water to handheld

evilsheep

Hi

We're in the middle of having a new bathroom AND kitchen fitted (seemed like a good idea at the time, now I'm getting narky with being hungry and dirty ...). I sent our plumber the instructions to the new thermostatic shower we had bought, partly to check that it was appropriate for our supply, and for him to look it over before fitting as it's slightly unusual. He completed the install yesterday, but said the shower had to be set at one temperature, and that it was then only adjustable by removing the valve.

After he left, I took a look at the instructions and refitted part of the valve - it wasn't that it could only be set at one temperature at all, just that you could set a maximum temperature (I don't think he understood the instructions). Unfortunately, the diverter valve isn't working correctly - the water will come out of the bath tap fine (that's just the bottom lever), and I can send the supply up to the rigid riser (middle lever), but the top lever either cuts supply to the rigid riser head, or splits it between riser head and handheld (so both are on at the same time). It should send the water to rigid riser head OR handheld.

Before I experiment with taking bits off (which I'd rather not do without guidance), can anyone offer any advice? I've emailed Ultra

It's this shower valve (the instructions don't appear to mention how to fit the diverter), although I bought it from here for considerably cheaper (it's advertised as a 'Premier' which is part of the same company as Hudson Reed, but is definitely the Hudson Reed version as it says so on the shower - bargain!)

Any help would be gratefully appreciated as trying to get a plumber out is like searching for hen't teeth around here ...

bob_a_builder

It should send the water to rigid riser head OR handheld.

Should it ? or is that your hope / expectation of what it should do ?

web pages aren't clear on that - may be your instructions are ?

evilsheep

It was based on my hope/expectation, as why else would there be a diverter? And, why would there be a need for the water to come out at a reduced flow of both outlets, instead of one at a time?

The instructions are those that appear on both websites I linked to, and only refer to the thermostatic shower valve, with no mention of operation instructions (or rigid riser, diverter, and bath spout fitting).

Still awaiting a reply from Ultra/Hudson Reed ...

Angehrrsn

Have you had any success with resolving this problem. I too have the same issue and my plumber says it is a faulty diverter cartridge. Have raised a complaint and now waiting to hear.

evilsheep

I did resolve it through experimentation. Now, I'm not plumber (I can't even wire a plug - I'm a musician!), but I took the diverter off the riser, and tried turning it around and reconnecting - everything worked fine! There was a green mark on the inside of one end of the diverter, and that needed to be pointing down (not up, as it was installed). Hudson Reed did eventually forward instructions for the installation which clearly stated that it should have been installed that way too. Quite annoyed that the plumber didn't work this out though.