Poor hot water in shower

[GH blackpool]

I have a combi boiler which at the moment is providing a decent level of hot water to all taps, but my shower is merely warm.

It's a bog standard old style mixer shower (two columns, with a supply pipe feeding into each and meeting in the middle where the water descends into the shower hose), and I can feel that the hot supply pipe is hot, but even when turned to the max hotness on the 'handle', it's just warm.

Could the hot water side of the mixer be scaled up, meaning that more cold than hot is getting mixed?

If so, I'm happy enough shutting off the water supply and taking it off, can I give it a good old cleaning out?

 

[zk]

If you only turn the shower to the hot setting does the shower give you hot water? more than likely it's a thermostatic one and the valve is faulty.

 

[GH blackpool]

This is it with no cover.

Untitled

• GH blackpool
• 9 Jan 2009
• 1

When turned to what should be it's hottest - it's merely warm. The bath / sink taps etc though are pretty hot!

What do you reckon?

 

[GH blackpool]

Sorry to bump, but any idea?

 

[GH blackpool]

anyone? Thanks in advance

 

[seco services]

whats the pipe to it like hot or cold ?

 

[Razor900]

Any isolation valves on the feed pipes? If so restrict the flow on the cold and see what happens.

 

[GH blackpool]

No isolation valve I'm afraid. The hot supply pipe is hot.

Earlier in the year I used to have it on half mix and it was fine, but now at the same setting I used to use, it's freezing (though boiler fired up) so we have to turn it to full hotness which is merely warm.

Flow pressure is the same, and boiler definitely fired up as usual.

I'm not opposed to getting a new unit but I can't find it anywhere any more, they're all modern and would require hassle sorting the pipes and tiles.

Any idea where I might come across one if irrepairable?

 

[seco services]

i would opt for stripping it down and cleaning it out.
what make/model is it ?
have you a pic of the front cover ?

 

[mogget]

This is it with no cover.

Untitled

• GH blackpool
• 9 Jan 2009
• 1

When turned to what should be it's hottest - it's merely warm. The bath / sink taps etc though are pretty hot!

What do you reckon?

If I remember correctly, that is a Croydex venturi shower, usually used for mains cold / tank hot.

I had one and it was awful.

If you have a combi you will get much better performance by swapping it for a thermostatic shower valve.

 

[GH blackpool]

Thanks for the posts!

The problem with changing to thermostatic is that the pipes will need moving and tiles will probably need removing. What a pain in the cherries!

Worked fine for 4 years+ til now. Apparently discontinued too. What do you reckon chances of coming across one is?

 

[mogget]

Do you have access to the back of the surface it's fitted on?

 

[GH blackpool]

No mate, none at all.