Unbalanced feeds scalding shower problem

[RUzeriouz]

I recently had a Worcester Junior boiler installed, this combi has no means of adjusting tap temperature. I now have a problem setting a bearable mix on my bath tap/shower mixer. The cold water feed comes from a loft tank two stories above and the hot feed is mains pressure from the Worcester. I can set a suitable temperature through the mixer bath tap, but as soon as I switch the lever to shower, the temperature is unbearably hot. I am being given contradictory advice. Some say use a thermostatic valve on just the hot feed pipe. Others say use a thermostatic shower/tap mixer made for unbalanced feeds; others say any thermostatic mixer will work. I've just spoke to a manufacturer of these thermostatic taps and they say they won't work, if the hot/cold feeds are unbalanced. Their advice was to put a pressure reducing valve on the hot supply pipe. I could do this but I don't want to lose shower pressure if I can avoid it. Or, will this make no particular difference to the combined hot/cold pressure mix as it will allow the cold pressure to come through? I'm going around in circles. Please can someone help?

 

[street elbow]

Hi

There is only one way ofcorrecting the problem with your shower:

Get it plumbed in correctly andget the cold feed to the shower fed from the mains.

This would only take half an hourto alter the pipework in loft, your shower then work as it should. Andwill not contravene the water regs.

I personally say that whoever put in your combi boiler should have picked this up. And altered the pipe work as part of the job.

David.

 

[RUzeriouz]

Thanks David. I'm sure you're right. It's just that this house is 1908 Edwardian with eccentric water arrangements and recently refurbished and I suppose I'm trying to avoid more disruption. But I shall have to look into this option.

 

[street elbow]

There will be no disruption to the house, all work in loft or where ever the cold water tank is. As I say half an hours work.

Tell me, were the shower and the combi boiler put in at the same time, when the house was refurbished?

David

 

[RUzeriouz]

The mixer-tap shower is the same as before, the combi replaced an old Heatline boiler and the water was never too hot. The problem has arisen since installing the Worcester which is so efficient - and has no temperature control. I know what you are suggesting makes complete sense, but don't you think a pressure reducing valve might be a simple solution. I'd really like to avoid banging holes in walls or lifting recently fitted carpets.

Thanks

Soma

 

[RUzeriouz]

Hello David,

Are you leading up to suggesting that I redirect the mains feed into my loft tank, from that tank, to the pipe that goes down through the house originally from the tank. I've just looked at things and it seems the tank feeds cold water to both the bath and sink in an upstairs bathroom as well as the bath and sink in the downstairs bathroom where I'm having the problem. (There are different boilers for upstairs and down.) What is the point of a cold water tank... why have them in the first place?

Thanks Soma

 

[JCplumb]

If you want to avoid lifting carpets then you're really narrowing your options down. I'd even say that you will always have this issue unless you are prepared to do what is necessary to resolve it.
A pressure reducer on the hot feed may help, but it will reduce the overall flow from the shower.

 

[WHPES]

Yesm remove the tank and connect up to the cold rising main. The tank should have disappeared when the combi boiler was fitted.

 

[street elbow]

Another quality renavation by boggitt & leggett. The installation is both illeagel and dangerous.

Just think, which is worth more, your newly laid carpets or the well being of your family,

Look at it this way you are under the shower having just got it at the correct temp. Then another member of the family uses the loo, washes there hands, fills the water bowl for the cat, you end up with 3rd degree burns to the body because the cold water was reduced to the shower.

Do the job properly take up the carpets lay a new pipe and have a relaxing shower knowing you will not get scolded.

While your at it check the hot and cold feeds to all other mixer taps, so the property complies with current regulations

Have you just bought the house? you may have some come back from the developer.

David

 

[street elbow]

WHPES.

That is what I was thinking in my first post, but it now seems that there are two hot water systems with showers and mixer taps, fed from this tank, so if he does as we said he may well fix one problem and create several more. We would need full details of the entire plumbing system top work this one out.

David.

David.

 

[RUzeriouz]

Yesm remove the tank and connect up to the cold rising main. The tank should have disappeared when the combi boiler was fitted.

Do you think the plumbing which has originally taken only tank pressure would be up to taking mains pressure?

Thanks