Mixer Shower Recommendations

[chris_c201]

Hi all,

Previously posted about an issue with poor flow rate abs pressure in a tower shower despite good inlet pressure.

Summary now being I'm scrapping the shower and looking to put in a new mixer with maximum pressure and flow rate.

It's fed by a system boiler with large megaflo style tank and the feeds are at 3 bar.

Not bothered whether it's concealed, panel, exposed, digital, dual head etc just that I'll achieve the objective of having a luxury shower that can rinse my hair and ideally tear my skin off :-)

Been looking at mira platinum that says flow rate of 16l/pm at 1.0 bar which is far better than the 9l/pm I'm getting currently at 3 bar!

Any input appreciated,
Chris

[CorradoTDI]

Mira or Hansgrohe Raindance

[bigdom]

Have a look at Aqualisa digital

[loughran]

bigdom said:

Have a look at Aqualisa digital

Seconded.

[miniman]

loughran said:

Seconded.

Thirded.

[chris_c201]

Thanks for the feedback folks, for those recommending the aqualisa digital, are you basing on experience and if so was it the high pressure setup as opposed to pumped?

Anyone ever measured pressure / flow rate?

[Murph7355]

I have 2x Mira Platinum's in the house and an Aqualisa non-digital.

The Mira's an excellent shower. Recommended.

Aqualisa is also very good. Not really comparable range for range.

[blueg33]

bigdom said:

Have a look at Aqualisa digital

Have a look and go elsewhere.

Aqualisa warranty is half that of other makers, they discontinue parts too quickly, ie I can't get parts for a shower that was installed 10 yrs ago despite the fact that Aqualisa acknowlege that it fails.

We used to put them in 200 houses a year but have stopped. We now use Grohe, much better

Edited by blueg33 on Wednesday 1st October 07:55

[Griff Boy]

Best shower for flow rates us a simple Mira Excel. Been around for years, still out performs anything similar, not the prettiest, but does exactly what is says on the tin!

[miniman]

chris_c201 said:

Thanks for the feedback folks, for those recommending the aqualisa digital, are you basing on experience and if so was it the high pressure setup as opposed to pumped?

Anyone ever measured pressure / flow rate?

Ours was the pumped version. At the time, the key advantage was that it could be installed without touching the bathroom because it pumps the water through the ceiling and down the riser rail, with all the gubbins hidden away in the loft.

[LFB531]

You'll see these fitted in decent hotels, a Hansgrohe Clubmaster, quoted flow rate 19 l/min at 3 bar.

I'd always wanted one but was a bit scared of the retail price at £300+ for just the head and arm! found a NOS one on eBay for about £80, rigged it to my existing Grohe mixer with Megaflo cylinder and wow! Job done.

[chris_c201]

Griff Boy said:

Best shower for flow rates us a simple Mira Excel. Been around for years, still out performs anything similar, not the prettiest, but does exactly what is says on the tin!

C20l/pm at 1.0 bar, could have a winner!

Anyone else got one and would recommend / critique?

[LFB531]

This is fun!

I've just looked at the spec and the Grohtherm 2000 mixer valve I've got is rated at 42 l/min albeit at 3 bar.

Fair to say any of the options being suggested will get you wet! We put the Mira Excel into our rented properties as it's bulletproof.

[tuffer]

I have an Axor mixer in one shower and a Hansgrohe in the other, fed by a Stuart Turner Monsoon twin impeller at 3 bar. Job jobbed.

[chris_c201]

Right... i'm officially now at analysis paralysis... can tell i work in business change.

So, the Grohtherm 2000 has two variants, EV (3/4") and "New" (1/2") only the EV is the older one with older style handset but higher flowrates.

I'm going to put up my short-list and throw a dart and be done with it... as someone mentioned, the models mentioned (Mira Excel / Platinum, Grohtherm 2000 etc) will all work and all a darn sight better than my current restrictive, rats nest of pipe-work panel shower.

Thanks for all the input!
Chris

[AW10]

Fitted a Hansgrohe Raindance 240 recently (http://www.reuter-shop.com/hansgrohe-raindance-showerpipe-240-mm-a23662.php) - it's awesome. Very solid feel made mostly from metal. Massive amount of water coming down from above as it's feed by a 3 bar Stuart Turner pump. Friends fitted an Aqua Lisa digital and I can't comment on how it works but it doesn't feel very solid or robust.

[Smiler.]

If buying a digital unit, be prepared for it to be DOA (seized solenoid valve due to poor stock rotation).

The last few I've bought have been like that.

The new Grohe pumped units require 0.1 bar so not suitable for installation in loft space.

We went for a Mira unit as it has no such requirement.


They are fantastic though, the older Grohe unit has been running for a couple of years now & the after sales service is not bad.

On the back of installing these, I devised a commercial system for public showers in gyms etc negating the need for plumbing valves into the partition walls (which always eventually jam/leak).

[chris_c201]

So I'm 99% on the grohtherm 2000 ev (3/4" valve), quick question I can't find the answer to online;

Is the the hot and cold feeds still 15mm inlets?

[chris_c201]

Well, quick update now i've decided and installation complete;

- Removed the panel shower
- Installed Grohtherm 2000 3/4" mixer bar, rated at 42 l/pm (3 bar)
- Tempesta Duo handset

I've not measured the flow and don't need to, it's 100 times better than previous setup and a nice powerful shower on either of the handset settings.

Will likely buy a RainDance E120 shower head at some point as had one recently when in a holiday cottage and liked the variety of settings, only thing is they are rather pricey for a shower head!

Anyway, thanks for the advice from the folk that input to the thread!

Chri