bathroom mixer/shower tap playing up

[Jennie]

Hi all

I've got a job tomorrow to look at a bathroom mixer/shower tap that is playing up. It apparently works OK on the bath. But when you pull the diverter switch up for the shower, it is temperamental - apparently running hot and cold.

She says the shower head is fairly new and clean. Assuming no one is turning other taps on while she's in the shower (and nicking the water), what could I check in the tap?

Thanks again for all your advice - it's always so useful.

Jennie

 

[Crinkmeister]

Maybe the diverter valve itself is faulty. You can get spare valves for some taps - but not all! I had to change the whole tap on my own bath because of a leaky valve.

 

[Jennie]

What were the 'symptoms' with your divertor valve?

If it was dodgy, would it just affect the flow rate? (My customer is complaining of hot/cold fluctuations, but I suspect it might be more due to water demands within her flat, and maybe also neighbouring flat, that are taking water from her shower).

Much thanks

Jennie

 

[Masood]

What were the 'symptoms' with your divertor valve?

If it was dodgy, would it just affect the flow rate? (My customer is complaining of hot/cold fluctuations, but I suspect it might be more due to water demands within her flat, and maybe also neighbouring flat, that are taking water from her shower).

Much thanks

Jennie

Depending on boiler, if the diverter is affecting flow rate then it will affect water temperature out of a combi.

 

[Jennie]

Hiya. It's the diverter on a bathroom mixer/shower tap - the kind that lets you choose between sending water through the bath taps or through the flexible hose to the shower.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

what plumbing system is it on?

If its gravity the shower head will be aboe the taps and the pressures will change

 

[Chalked]

It's probably fluctuating on both the shower and bath but you would only notice when having a shower. It will be down to the hot/ cold system.

 

[Crinkmeister]

Mine was leaking such that some water would dribble from the tap outlet even when showering. TBH, I never noticed a temperature fluctuation, but my tap is gravity fed, not a combi system. You've probably fixed it by now anyway!

 

[Jennie]

Hiya everyone,
The mystery continues. I looked at the tap today - all seems fine, but the customer insists her shower is fluctuating hot/cold. She has a mixer bath tap with hose attached. The system runs on a combi.
Admittedly, it took a little while to run the deadleg through the tap. Even then, when the hot water came, it took a little while to reach full heat.
The tap seemed fine. The temperature and flow rate was stable, and the diverter worked fine.
I got her to turn the cold kitchen tap on - the flow rate in the shower dropped slightly, but temperature stayed the same. When she turned the hot kitchen tap on, the shower lost all the heat. However, she lives alone, so having her hot water nicked shouldn't be an issue.
The customer insists though that the temperature fluctuates even after a couple of minutes, when the deadleg has gone.
I suspect, though, she isn't giving it long enough. She was quite anxious about wasting water and heating costs when I was testing it.
This must be such a common problem. I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts.
Thanks so much for your advice.
Jennie

 

[Crinkmeister]

Assuming the boiler is working correctly, then possibly your customer is being over-sensitive? Maybe you could suggest installing a thermostatic bath/shower mixer? However, they ain't cheap!!

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

check the manufacturers instructions for the tap as it might need flow limiters when fited to a combi as it is asking for too much hot water which the combi cannot supply

 

[TonyC]

Was It ok before she changed the shower head?