What is a decent single lever bath mixer tap with shower ?

[3point14]

I truly can't justify multiples of hundreds but I just know that if I pick a £49 special from the internet it will be truly shocking and be leaking all over.

To go on a bath, not a wall, 180mm centres.

I want a good action a child can operate and am leaning towards a finger stick operation because of this. I initially thought of a combined on/off/temperature lever with a whole in it to aid movement by small hands.

I don't recognise most of the cheap "brand" names and the ones I do recognise, such as Grohe, can be expensive (though others are much more).

Can you steer me through the rubbish to something at least halfway decent.

As a design, potentially something like this:

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• 3point14
• 22 Jul 2011
• 1

Untitled

• 3point14
• 22 Jul 2011
• 1

Untitled

• 3point14
• 22 Jul 2011
• 1

 

[spareshunter]

I wouldn’t recommend a small child using any tap especially bath mixers that are notoriously difficult to get the temp just right.

Thermostatic is a must, check the spec, is your water off a combi, Megaflow or similar.

Tool station, Stroma thermostatic bath shower mixer 91081 95.48 + 94706 £ 15.84 = hose mixer kit 76879 £ 38.22 = £ 149.54 & free delivery or pick up. Fit these in rented accommodation and they are fine.

 

[3point14]

I wouldn’t recommend a small child using any tap especially bath mixers that are notoriously difficult to get the temp just right.

Thermostatic is a must, check the spec, is your water off a combi, Megaflow or similar.

Tool station, Stroma thermostatic bath shower mixer 91081 95.48 + 94706 £ 15.84 = hose mixer kit 76879 £ 38.22 = £ 149.54 & free delivery or pick up. Fit these in rented accommodation and they are fine.

Can't use that I'm afraid due to 180mm centres against this at 140/160mm.

We're not talking babies using this but children. Over 30 plus years I have not found mixers difficult at all. Better designed ones, presumably with higher grade materials and attention to detail even easier.

Water will be from instantaneous heater with hydraulic operation so the issue of flow /rate limiters comes into view.

 

[seco services]

What price range you looking at ?

 

[Charnwood]

Bristan Java on Ebay. Allegedly new, currently 65 nicker.

Not thermostatic, but how about fitting a TMV (Thermostatic Mixing Valve) under the bath to limit the temterature?
(I don't think thermostatic single lever bath shower mixers are available. Open to contradiction.)

 

[bernardgreen]

With children involved a thermostatic mixer is almost an essential safety feature.

Add a combi boiler into the equation and I would say it is essential to have some method to ensure the water from the shower is never too hot for safety.

Combi boiler, child in shower, someone turns on a hot tap elsewhere in the house, hot flow to shower reduces, child notices shower is colder so turns the control knob to hotter. The other tap is turned off and shower sudden increases in temperature. The child could be scalded before they can get away from the very hot water or injured in a fall as they try to get quickly away from the very hot water.

 

[spareshunter]

I agree with Bernardgreen. I also don’t as yet fit TMVs unless specified in rented property (old people’s homes etc yes).

I use this type, of which there are a few makes & designs on the market because of ease maintenance, unscrew tap new one on (in out bosh).
You also get a decent shower without altering the tiling etc.

I also use bar type showers in walls on retrofit for same reason. Easy to change & clean plastic internal non return valves when stuck or full of debris.

NB: Adaptors TS 94706 makes it 180mm centres.

 

[3point14]

With children involved a thermostatic mixer is almost an essential safety feature.

Add a combi boiler into the equation and I would say it is essential to have some method to ensure the water from the shower is never too hot for safety.

Combi boiler, child in shower, someone turns on a hot tap elsewhere in the house, hot flow to shower reduces, child notices shower is colder so turns the control knob to hotter. The other tap is turned off and shower sudden increases in temperature. The child could be scalded before they can get away from the very hot water or injured in a fall as they try to get quickly away from the very hot water.

Where do you get the combi boiler from ? I certainly don't have one. Instantaneous water heater with inbuilt flow rate / temperature control.

I take the point about locks at 38c or whatever but in reality, unless you super glued them a kid over 12 months old could press the button and turn the temperature up. We're not really talking about unsupervised anyway but the more safety the better I agree. Just how to implement it and still leave adults the ability to turn the temperature up.

 

[spareshunter]

Instantaneous water heater with inbuilt flow rate / temperature control, be more specific, make etc. There are installation restrictions, shower wise, on some I heaters.

Most thermostatic valve have limiter stops inside to lock the temperature, don’t need super glue.

Final note: thermostatic valves are more economical to run (water and gas wise) and will stabilise at required temp quickly, mixer valves need fiddling with for correct temperature, as people’s needs are different, the mixer valve will be set at the temp of last user when turned off, dangerous. Thermostatic valves however are set at 38c on stop (can be adjusted fixed). Plus it’s the convenience using is simples.

If I fit mixers in rented accommodation / hotels to be used as stand in showers, I get LL / owner to sign a disclaimer re: scalding.

You pay your money and take your choice. Rubber hose on single taps is the cheapest option, nice.

Happy showering.

 

[3point14]

Why so aggressive ?

To my mind, it smacks of the middle ages when you just couldn't have a dissenting opinion to the perceived wisdom that the earth was flat.

I think the original question asked for suggestions on a decent brand at a fair price. How we got from there to here I do not know.