shower mixer non return valves

[handsomejackuk]

Hi,

have fitted a Swirl Bar mixer. the mixer came with cranked fittings that i have not used because i have a back plate fitted. The non return valves are part of the crank fittings, what is the alternative way to fit some non return valves.. have 15mm speedfix going in to the shower backplate...?

THanks,..

 

[Paulus]

Hi jack,

Can you cut into the speedfix somewhere and put compressioin non-return valves in?

 

[handsomejackuk]

Hi jack,

Can you cut into the speedfix somewhere and put compressioin non-return valves in?

yeah, been looking at that, seems the cheapest way to do it... just out of interest, will i lose any pressure by fitting non - return valves, as the water has to overcome the spring for it to work... ?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

the spring is not very strong at all really just to hold the moving part in place

 

[handsomejackuk]

thanks Steve.... i must admit i have plumbed in a few things, but never used NRV's i can now see the reason for them now i am a bit older. and Wiser...

 

[WHPES]

If you're taking the supply from balanced gravity technically you won't need them.

 

[handsomejackuk]

Right then.... here we go...wonder if someone can help on this...?

have done away with the supplied non return valves and the cranked fittings that came with my swirl bar mixer, as I cant use them with my bar mixer back plate.

I have fitted two compression non return valves on the hot / cold pipes as close to the mixer as i could get...as previously suggested..

What i noticed tonite, is i am definitely not getting as much flow on the shower head with the mixer set at 38, as it has been before i had n.r.v.s inline...

It seems to me as though the hot side valve is chattering, as though there is not enough pressure to open the valve....

in an attempt previously to reduce cold water pressure to my bathroom, and upstairs basin i fitted a stop valve to the cold supply to reduce flow to these areas, as my mains pressure is very high... my kitchen, shed, washing machine dishwasher not such a problem as i need plenty of pressure there...!!

what i wanted to know is, it just the case of balancing the hot and cold supplies ( visually, or by testing flow per minute in a vessel) to my bathroom enough to dispense with the both. n.r.v.s....?

or could i just get rid of the hot n.r.v and then balance it...

or are both needed for water regulations. ?

or is there a way of adjusting the bar mixer valve to allow more hot, as if i bypass the safety red button on the bar mixer, i have loads of hot... water flow, but at too high a temp.... ?

or are the n.r.v.s required on both lines, and maybe i have a poor flow / pressure from my boiler... ?

please advise....

 

[handsomejackuk]

any ideas anyone.. could it be the n.r.v.s are crap i bought them from toolstation.... my system is not gravity fed... hot off the combi mains pressure cold....

 

[handsomejackuk]

since no one knows... i have taken out the n.r.v on the hot and all appears fine again...

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

ideally you need balanced water supplies and the combi slows the mians water down to heat it up so the cold is probably pushing back on the NRV on the hot side. Technically you do still need the NRVs installed.

But if your happy then your happy and I assume the shower is getting hot enough

 

[handsomejackuk]

i ditched the two N.R.V.s as they were both buzzing... if i need them i stick them in the loft. but not prepared to put up with lower pressure in my shower.