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Shower problems

My shower is a mixer tap with shower attachment that runs from my combi boiler (worcester bosch).  Last couple of days I noticed the hot tap to turn it on was stiffer and not turning as much, but then my son said when he had a shower the last couple of days it was down to a trickle and going hot and cold. I checked the boiler yesterday and pressure was very low so assumed that was it, but just tried the shower today and its still not right, hot tap stiffer than ever have to turn several times to even get a trickle and shower running cold. When I checked the boiler it wasn't doing anything.  When we tried cold tap pressure seemed fine.

I am not sure what the issue is and not sure if I need a plumber or whether it is connected with my boiler. 

Any suggestions appreciated so I don't get the wrong person to come and fix.
Thanks

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Comments

  • akh43
    akh43 Posts: 1,576 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My mixer tap looks like this, except have replaced the shower fiitting over the years, it was in the house when I moved in 19 years ago. https://www.toolstation.com/deva-tudor-taps/p56897

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  • Grenage
    Grenage Posts: 3,108 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It's probably just the tap.  Run a hot tap somewhere else; if that's fine then just assume it's the tap.
  • As above, other taps OK?
    Depending on what is inside the housing, you can replace the old for a newer ceramic cartridge or whatever it contains. My old tap fittings were washer but they take a standard ceramic cartridge and replaced them all for 1/4 turn.

    But the unit will need to be taken apart to see what needs replacing. Just did my shower diverter valve and really needed to part out for comparison as the unit is no longer made, but the valves are.

    Spanners and care is all I needed.
  • Ajmason42
    Ajmason42 Posts: 169 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts
    edited 9 October 2021 at 12:36PM
    If tap is stiff then it’s the tap. 

    Take shower head off and descale and try again is another option 

    if the shower temp ok to start then goes cold then warm again. You need to run another tap say the kitchen if the same happens then boiler issue likely a heat exchanger 


  • Another_Level
    Another_Level Posts: 285 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 9 October 2021 at 2:38PM
    As above if the bath shower mixer tap was previously working Ok and provided a safe and enjoyable shower experience. Then new tap inserts cartridges could be considered.

    Thats the cheapest option  <3





    Choose Stabila ! 
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As above if the bath shower mixer tap was previously working Ok and provided a safe and enjoyable shower experience. Then new tap inserts cartridges could be considered.

    Thats the cheapest option  <3





    It's a standard mixer tap, I'd doubt there will be any cartridges to replace.
  • neilmcl said:
    As above if the bath shower mixer tap was previously working Ok and provided a safe and enjoyable shower experience. Then new tap inserts cartridges could be considered.

    Thats the cheapest option  <3





    It's a standard mixer tap, I'd doubt there will be any cartridges to replace.
    Hot and cold inlets will have cartridges or similarly named products which will become stiff. Currently the Op has mentioned a bsm product which is just that  :) 

    Plenty of repair operatives and items available off the shelf to if necessary repair that bsm, personally i would only fit a thermostatic mixer item.

    But everyone knows why, Ta for the comment  :)

    Choose Stabila ! 
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 25,719 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    akh43 said:
    My mixer tap looks like this, except have replaced the shower fiitting over the years, it was in the house when I moved in 19 years ago. https://www.toolstation.com/deva-tudor-taps/p56897

    If it looks like that, it's an easy job to disconnect the tap and replace it with similar. No need to delve under the bath. 
    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
  • akh43
    akh43 Posts: 1,576 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    As above, other taps OK?
    Depending on what is inside the housing, you can replace the old for a newer ceramic cartridge or whatever it contains. My old tap fittings were washer but they take a standard ceramic cartridge and replaced them all for 1/4 turn.

    But the unit will need to be taken apart to see what needs replacing. Just did my shower diverter valve and really needed to part out for comparison as the unit is no longer made, but the valves are.

    Spanners and care is all I needed.
    Other taps seem ok, I did try the tap part of the mixer earlier and that worked fine and water ran hot, so I then switched it to the shower and it was better than earlier some pressure, but not as good as usual, so made it a quick shower in case it went cold.

    I don't want to make things worse by messing with what I don't understand. 


    Plenty of repair operatives and items available off the shelf to if necessary repair that bsm, personally i would only fit a thermostatic mixer item.

    But everyone knows why, Ta for the comment  :)
    Not sure what a bsm product is? The cold tap works fine, but that is probably because it is rarely used.

    Might seem easy for someone who knows what they are doing and has the correct tools I do have some spanners and other tools, but not sure if they would be the right ones. I have done a few minor plumbing jobs in the past. I have changed a ceramic cartridge in the sink taps that match the mixer, but it was years ago and I had spare taps under the bath that I could pinch the cartridges out of, they are now gone.  I think these would be bigger than the other taps, but without removing wouldn't know.

    GDB2222 said:
    akh43 said:
    My mixer tap looks like this, except have replaced the shower fiitting over the years, it was in the house when I moved in 19 years ago. https://www.toolstation.com/deva-tudor-taps/p56897

    If it looks like that, it's an easy job to disconnect the tap and replace it with similar. No need to delve under the bath. 
    How would I replace with similar without the need to delve under the bath?

    Just checked out a video on replacing the cartridge and now remember what I did, so think I could manage that, but not sure about anything else or changing the whole tap if that is actually needed as there is limited space around the bath area as right next to the sink.  Not sure whether I should try myself or just bring a plumber in to do it. 


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  • BUFF
    BUFF Posts: 2,185 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    bsm= bath shower mixer.
    if yours is as the link that you showed earlier then (after shutting water supplies off)  the body of the tap can be removed from the pillars without having to go under the bath.
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