Please help me identify this shower valve

[Triggaaar]

The temperature adjustment on this shower valve has become solid - I can't turn it from hot to cold. Has anyone got any idea what make it is so I can buy a new one, or whether I could get it serviced?

Thank you very much

 

[Gray0689]

Looks a bit like Hudson reed but could also be a cheap import if no name sorry but these kind of valves can be picked up cheap if it's an imported one but unless you know exactly what brand then the chances of getting replacement parts is like a needle in a haystack

 

[Triggaaar]

Thank you very much for the reply. I've just searched on Hudson Reed and they do look similar, although the new ones available are branded, so perhaps mine is a cheaper version.

But from that search I've just found this - it looks identical, although may not be:
Replacement Thermostatic Cartridge twin/triple valve | eBay UK

 

[Gray0689]

Yes looks similar you could take a chance and try it it will be cheaper if it fits than ripping old one out
But you will be a very lucky man if it's the same lol lottery time

 

[Triggaaar]

Yes looks similar you could take a chance and try it it will be cheaper if it fits than ripping old one out
But you will be a very lucky man if it's the same lol lottery time

I don't even know if I could take it out and replace it without re-tiling?

The code that ebay item gives is SA30049, which is a Hudson Reed part. Although I'll be lucky if I've found a replacement, but having found that ebay item is it really possible that it's different - I cannot tell the one in my hand from the one in that picture.

 

[easyt]

To be honest I would take a punt at the ebay item. If you can't identify but looks the part you only have £30 to chance.

 

[Triggaaar]

Looks like there are more expensive versions of the same part:
Ultra Group Therm Cartridge SA30049 on eBay (end time 03-May-11 21:57:36 BST)

Local merchants have all just closed, I could call them on Tuesday to see if any have the item in stock, and failing that I'll have to take a punt on the £30 model. It looks so identical it's difficult to imagine it being different.

Thanks for the Hudson guess, looks like you may have lead me on to a winner.

 

[Gray0689]

You can't take out without retiling
Give the eBay one a shot if it works £30 is a lot cheaper than ripping old one out and redoing

 

[Gray0689]

Hope it works for you

 

[easyt]

They had sold three on ebay. 2 left.

 

[Triggaaar]

Update:

The existing shower valve is likely to be Hudson Reed, because as well as resembling a Hudson Reed, and having the same cartridge design, the tap on the sink has HR on it.

The replacement cartridge arrived, I fitted it, and it worked as expected. I got a call a few hours later saying that the shower wouldn't come on at all, so I went to test it - the water supply was on, but the cartridge wasn't letting water through. I turned the cartridge (the whole thing) 3/4 turn anti-clockwise, and suddenly all was working. Bizarre, it was like it didn't like being all the way in. I switched off the water to adjust it properly, and I was going to test it, when I noticed that the end of the cartridge (that turns the temperature between hot and cold) wasn't turning as far as it did earlier in the day (it was down to 1/4 turn or less). I turned the water on, the shower was running, but the temperature could no longer be adjusted properly, it was always too hot (which is what had happened to the original, but the original had lasted several years, not 10 minutes).

I've removed the cartridge and it has loosed again, now allowing me to turn it 3/4 turn (this is all by hand, not using grips). What could have caused the cartridge to fail so quickly, high water pressure (the shower uses a pump), high hot water temperature, or what?

Thanks
Mike

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

:: The Shower-Doctor Ltd. :: look here
may give a exploded diagram on some exposed mixers wear in the o rings can cause a similar fault,hudson reeds not listed but contact them probably made by gummers or some other big name

 

[Triggaaar]

Thanks for the reply.

The Shower Doctor sells the same cartridges on ebay, at a much higher price, and they refer to the part as
'Ultra Group Therm Cartridge SA30049'
So I checked their 'Ultra' section, but it doesn't mean a lot to me.

I would expect wear on the old part, but obviously not on the new one, so I'm wondering what the problem is - either a cheap and broken replacement part, or a problem with my supply (eg, if my hot water pressure is very high, while the cold is very low - which I don't think should be the case, as it worked when first tested).

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

would help you if you had the mi,s may be able to be adjusted sounds like cartridge is allowing to much hot through

 

[easyt]

Should find info on their website. You can always give them a call if you are stuck.

Product Ranges

 

[Triggaaar]

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated.

would help you if you had the mi,s

The what? It would help if I was a plumber and knew what I was doing

may be able to be adjusted sounds like cartridge is allowing to much hot through

What's strange is that when I left it, it was working (it could run full cold), and when I came back (no one had a shower, they just tried to test it) it wouldn't allow any water through. And after fiddling, the adjustement was seizing up.

Note - you attach the Temperature Override Housing by screwing a bolt into the cartridge. I've assumed it does nothing more than allow you to fit the override housing, but I don't know if it affects the cartridge at all.

Should find info on their website. You can always give them a call if you are stuck.

Product Ranges

Thanks, I can't see anything on the site, but I will try calling them.

 

[easyt]

If you click on a shower tpe you will be able to view MI's .... Manufacturers instructions. But worth phoning them anyway.

http://www.ultra-group.co.uk/fixing_instructions/Twin_and_Triple_Valve_Instructions_concealed_(Valquest).pdf

 

[stevetheplumber]

i must take this oppertunity to reccomend shower doctors there service is great i recently sent them pics of an un branded shower by phone within an hour they came back with the name and reccomended what parts i needed from the symptoms and it arrived next day so nice to find good service and friendly with it

 

[Anders]

Apologies for reeling this in from the abyss but it must still be topical as I'm in need of help regarding it. I just pulled my therm cartridge out of my shower valve and it looks like the SA30049 which you guys are talking about, but I can't find a blue print / dimensions diagram for it which I require before spending out on one. Do any of you guys have one?

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Apologies for reeling this in from the abyss but it must still be topical as I'm in need of help regarding it. I just pulled my therm cartridge out of my shower valve and it looks like the SA30049 which you guys are talking about, but I can't find a blue print / dimensions diagram for it which I require before spending out on one. Do any of you guys have one?

Afraid not, its not something we would keep due to the amount of different cartridges. You could try shower doctor online? or the manufacturer

 

[enragedlime]

On of my bathroom installation customers wanted this not too long ago, should these dimensions not do the job message me and I am willing to help in any way. (Including coming to install the thing!)

SA30049

 

[Anders]

Sweet, thanks man. I'll give it a go but if I have any problems I might just take you up on your offer.