Bath/Shower Mixer Tap Problem

[comfy_coxy]

Hello all,

I need advice on a bath tap/shower mixer unit. I have recently installed a new bathroom suite which came with a tap/shower mixer unit which has a "diverter" consisting of a button which you pull up to divert the water up through the attached shower head instead of through the bath taps. When you hold the button up, the water goes through the shower head, but when you let the button go, it falls down and the water goes back through the taps. I reckon that the water pressure should keep the button up, but in our case there isn't enough pressure. The cold water is supplied from the tank in the loft above, and the hot water from the cylinder in the bathroom, so is on the same level. If I got a mixer tap with a kind of lever which would stay in place, presumably then that would work?

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

 

[sonray ltd]

as you say there is not the pressure to hold the valve open if your running a gravity water supply.

have you kept the 22mm copper pipe to the taps or has flexi pipes been fitted ?
these will reduce quite alot and can cause the same problem.

 

[GreenArmy]

Try turning on the bath taps first so the bath is filling, then pull up the lever to divert to the shower. This may work. If not then it is probably the water pressure as the previous member suggests.

 

[comfy_coxy]

Thanks for your responses guys.

Yes, I have fitted flexible tap connectors about 30cm long which push-fit onto the copper supply pipes. I can't see how they would reduce the water pressure, though. I am still thinking that the easiest solution is to replace the taps with a unit which has a lever instead of a pull button. Presumably that would then stay in place however low the water pressure is, thus maintaining the supply to the shower head.

Can anyone tell me if there is a particular name for a lever/switch valve instead of a pull up one which relies on the pressure keeping it up.

 

[sonray ltd]

flexi hoses make quite a difference on gravity feeds as the internal bore drops from 22mm to about 15mm

 

[Tom Rastall]

The Mira Excel bath shower mixer has a lever diverter to the shower and bath, and also works especially well with low pressure due to it's high internal bore size and specific cartridge for low pressure. This will also give thermostatic temperature control on the shower as well as the bath.

It is a bit of a beast however in terms of size but this is the trade off for low pressure performance.

Have a look at the below link....

These are available from Plumb Center and no doubt other merchants.

Mira Mixer Showers Excel Thermostatic - Product Details

 

[plumberdate]

flexi hoses make quite a difference on gravity feeds as the internal bore drops from 22mm to about 15mm

this sounds like your problem may friend! try piping straight through with 22mm. if you cant do pipework you can get plastic push fit of which obviously just pushfits lol