Shower Pressure Balancing

[JohnD]

My guest room has a MIRA mixer shower. The hot water comes from the cylinder fed from the cistern and has a head of 10metres. The cold is off the incoming main and has a pressure reducing valve with a gauge on it, to balance the pressure. Both are 15mm. This is a hard-water area but I have an ion-exchange softener.

between guests the valve seems to stick shut, I usually turn on the guest's basin cold tap and screw the pressure adjuster in and out until it starts to flow.

This week I tried that but no flow. I think I should buy a new pressure reducer, since balancing showers seem rather expensive. Not something I've ever bought before. What should I look for, and how to I make sure I get something suitable; preferably one that won't seize?

 

[Softus]

I tend to fit Caleffi PRVs - they're commonly available.

I don't get to see any that don't have a fairly frequent flow through them, but the ones I fit have never given me a problem (i.e. a call back).

 

[JohnD]

Thanks

I just had a look at the old one, it is a Caleffi too, but brass and less smooth in shape. It looks like it is a 22mm one with 15mm reducers. I think I had the shower and valve installed about 8 years ago.

I presume there is some kind of spring/plunger/needle valve inside, do you suppose it would do me any good to tinker with it?

There is a big black plastic slotted plug that screws in and out, don't know what happens if I screw it out all the way.

 

[Softus]

Seeing as a new one would be about £30, I can see that you'd be inclined to attempt to fix it, but I can't help you as I've never tried to take one apart. Sorry.

 

[JohnD]

Ta.

I have now bought an Aqualisa Pressure Balancing shower mixer, so I should be able to dispense with the troublesome balancing valve. (fingers crossed).