how to make my shower hotter?

applemartini44 · 15 Oct 2012

I had a Gainsborough GS500 mixed shower installed 2 years ago as part of a
bathroom refit. I have a combination boiler and the water is mains fed.

The boiler is working perfectly well - I have checked at all the hot water
taps and the temperature is fine. However, when I run a shower, despite having the temperature dialled up to maximum, my shower never gets hotter than tepid.

Can you tell me what the problem is and how difficult it would be to fix?

warmadmax · 15 Oct 2012

is it a recent problem or has it always been wrong?

if you turn the shower down (slower flow, not colder) does it get warmer?
are your other hot water taps working correctly?

rjm2k · 15 Oct 2012

You probably know this anyway but worth a check, is there a button on the shower dial you can press that allows it to turn more into the hot zone?

warmadmax · 15 Oct 2012

missed the bit about other taps being fine

try the shower on slow, and try rjm2k's of moving the temp past the safety stop.

could be the thermostatic cartridge has had it or there's a blockage in the hot water feed to the shower (check the filters if it has them)

applemartini44 · 15 Oct 2012

"is it a recent problem or has it always been wrong?"

Noticed it last winter when I really needed hot showers. In the summer I don't mind so much but yes I guess it's always like that

"if you turn the shower down (slower flow, not colder) does it get warmer?"
No

"You probably know this anyway but worth a check, is there a button on the shower dial you can press that allows it to turn more into the hot zone?"
Nope - no such button. It is like a tap and it is turned to the max

"could be the thermostatic cartridge has had it or there's a blockage in the hot water feed to the shower (check the filters if it has them)"
How do I know if it has filters and how do I check them?

trying to find an image: http://www.gainsboroughshowers.co.uk/shower-store/Mixer-Shower/GS500-exposed/

HERTS P&D · 15 Oct 2012

Time for a new cartridge.

You can get spares from 'shower doctor' they are based in Scotland and are very good. Tell them what your shower is and they can sell you a replacement, their also have a good website.

Andy

applemartini44 · 15 Oct 2012

is that a big job?

Someone suggested re commissioning or calibrating the shower - does that sound right or crazy?

yerino · 15 Oct 2012

If it has never been right you don't need a new cartridge. You can tweak the cartridge inside which is held on by four screws. You take out the screws and turn the dial inside a 1/4 of a turn more towards the hot.

Hard to explain but you can "commission" these showers to get them hotter.

warmadmax · 16 Oct 2012

exploded view on the parts page here

http://www.gainsboroughshowers.co.uk/parts-store/Gainsborough-Showers/Gainsborough-GS500/

applemartini44 · 16 Oct 2012

"If it has never been right you don't need a new cartridge. You can tweak the cartridge inside which is held on by four screws. You take out the screws and turn the dial inside a 1/4 of a turn more towards the hot.
Hard to explain but you can "commission" these showers to get them hotter."

This sounds like the right idea. Is there anywhere that shows how to do this in pictures or video in absolute fool-proof detail ;o)

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how to make my shower hotter?

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