Shower Tap Loose - how to tighten?

DIYhelp76

Hi,

Hope someone can help with how to fix our loose tap I'll post a photo below to illustrate.  It's a shower tap (runs off the gas combi boiler, not electric).

The front tap part controls only the temperature.  The lever part at the back turns the water on and off. 

Both parts were loose.  I took the cap off the front tap part and tightened that screw, but there seems to be no way to access any screw to tighten the level handle part behind it, which is very loose (see pic).

Does anyone know how to do this pls?  Do I need to somehow take off completely the tap part at the front in order to access a screw behind it for the lever handle?

Don't want to break it or cause a leak! 

Don't know the make of tap unfortunately, it seems quite a cheap version.

Many thx.

DIYhelp76

shower tap loose

DIYhelp76

here is pic (hopefully...)

grumbler

Any grab screw for the level handle?

ThisIsWeird

See if the white handle unscrews. If it does, then remove it and there's a good chance there's a grub screw under it.

Or does the white handle itself perform this function?

plumb1_2

Remove the tap head, then there might be a locking nut behind to tighten the lever.

DIYhelp76

Just coming back to this as been really busy, thanks everyone for the replies. 

The tap is at an elderly parent's house. I'll visit and take another look today.

Hadn't thought of that, yes maybe the white handle part will unscrew.  Will try.

If i remove the tap head itself, will I need to isolate the water first - excuse dimness, but will this mean water escape if the mains aren't turned off?

ThisIsWeird

It shouldn't.

The handles and knobs are just that - the hand-grabby bits.

With handles and knobs removed, you'll see the top of the actual valve cartridge - the parts underneath with the spindle that the handles go on to and turn. That's the bit you'd need to unscrew before water comes out. I can't think of any way you'd do this by accident - they will usually have a brass hex nut and will be well stuck.

Tap more photos if you need more info. And see if you can find its make.

Good luck

(Always worth checking if there are isolating valves for the shower. If it's mounted against a cupboard wall, for example, then fair chance you'll find them in there. But water won't need to be off to just retighten the handles. If the valve itself is broken, then 'yes')