Mira Excel Exposed Mixer Shower

JohnSwift10

I have a Mira Excel Exposed Mixer Shower installed in 2016 and it has gradually needed the temperature control increased over the previous months.

At first I thought it was just because it was winter and the cold water was colder but I noticed that if I turned the flow down it would get hotter and also the hot pipe into the mixer would also get hotter when I did this.

The hot water temperature from my combi boiler is hot enough.

The shower is now on it's highest setting and is only hot enough if I turn the flow down.

Is this easily fixable or should I just get a new shower?

I would have to get someone to fix it as my arthritic hands aren't able to do things like that anymore.

It took me half an hour to replace a plug on my electric mower the other week.

Albermarle

Are you in a hard water area ?

JohnSwift10

I am not in a hard water area.

Tayside in Scotland

WIAWSNB

Hi John.

I take it it's a 'thermostatic' mixer? In which case, the temperature should remain fairly constant regardless of flow, or whether one side - H or C - fluctuates.

However, they do require a minimum Hot supply to operate properly. With my current mixer, it's 60oC - any idea what yours could be?

Photo of the mixer, please?

As a temporary measure, you could experiment with tweaking down the Cold isolating valve a touch, and see if that helps. I'd do this by setting the mixer to FULLY cold, let it run FULL flow, and start adjusting the isolating valve until you just detect a reduction. Try that. Tweak it a bit more if needed.

If this doesn't work, reopen it fully, and it's plumber time, I fear.

JohnSwift10

here it is

WIAWSNB

Thanks.

Mira 'Excel'?

Do you know for sure it's thermostatic? Does it have any actual temperatures printed on it - say, 38oC?

Where do the two vertical pipes go to?

JohnSwift10

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81856584#Comment_81856584

They go to the attic then the left one is connected to the combi boiler for hot water and the right one is connected to the cold water supply.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81856774#Comment_81856774

Do they have isolating valve on them? Ie, to try the wee tweaks I mentioned before?

And, what DHW output is your combi set to? Could this be tweaked upwards for winter use? If so, does it make a difference?

Bottom line - the Mira Excels are very good units, but they ain't cheap. So if you cannot overcome the problem yourself, it's likely gonna cost :-(

plumb1_2

blocked filters? Temperature adjustment might need resetting? Thermostatic cartridge might need cleaning or replacing, non return valves not working correctly?
it needs stripping down to investigate.

Funny enough it was hunting in my garage last night for my cordless work light, for a job today, after 20 minutes gave up. Couldn’t see the wood for the trees. 🙁

But what I did find was a brand new boxed Mira Excell shower, I bet that’s been there since 2016.😳

knightstyle

Old neighbour had similar problem and it was blocked filters. The pipes coming down into the unit have fine filters where they connect to the unit and they can get blocked/restricted by small bits coming from the pipework. Simple DIY job if you can turn off the water to the shower.

Heedtheadvice

As above two common causes are filters and thermostatic elements failing.

Given your condition probably best just to get a plumber to sort those.

However checking the temperature of the incoming hot pipe to the shower and the boiler water temperature you could do first because as already posted it might just be a little low at present combined with fairly cold water.