Make Shower Hotter!

[richard-cxcy4]

Hello, all.

This is one of those areas where my expertise is lacking.

The 38deg setting on our shower is not warm enough - the knobs have become increasingly limescale and stiff to operate. I will swap them out in the new year for some that are easier to turn and clean. These are b*stards.

I thought if I removed the cover plate, there would be a way to send more hot through the mixer with an adjustment. I assumed the two screws would donut that, but unless I am being really thick a few turns in either direction makes little difference?

What am I missing? The online installation manual assumes too much knowledge .

Please let me know, before I pay someone to come around for such a seemingly small job....

Thanks!

[richard-cxcy4]

It has occurred to me the valves may be behind the knobs themselves but I can't find any way to remove them. If I turn the without the cover plate on, they just spin too!

[Road2Ruin]

No idea about the pics. But can you turn the hot water temp up on the boiler or tank? The 38c on the mixer is completely arbitrary.

[drmotorsport]

I am facing exactly the same problem. Living in a hard water area is a pain and my thermostatic cartridge (also the concealed type) is finally bunged up after 11 years service. I have the original install instructions and the cartridge is directly behind the temperature mixer, you need to remove the knob and big retaining nut to then be able to pull out the cartridge which may be able to be cleaned up. As I have low expectations of success I have also shortlised a replacement valve unit!

[Shaoxter]

Following, I have the same issue.
It's just one shower (the one that gets used the most), so don't really want to increase the water temperature from the boiler.

[chip*]

I live in a hard water area too, and had the same problem with my shower mixer. My plumber friend scrapped the limescale off the thermostat the best he could, and it worked fine for 2 more years before the same problem reoccurred again. The mixer was >15 years old, so I decided to just buy a new mixer instead.

[OutInTheShed]

This is why I'd never have a concealed mixer.
They are really a service item.

[gazzarose]

Top knob the on/off bottom the temp?

The temp know will be thermostatic, so won't let itself flow past a set temperature to prevent scalding. When I installed my shower mixer is was adjustable, with some kind of stopper I think. Have to pop out a little cap from the side of the know, then pull off the knob. I can't remember the details but the stopper was under there. If the temp has always been too low, then adjust, if on the other hand its got gradually colder then it may need taking apart to clean out any build up inside.

[Autopilot]

https://community.screwfix.com/threads/thermostati...

I have a similar issue and while this is only one resource, it seemed useful!

[gmaz]

With mine I just turned up the temp to an indicated 42C. This does requires pushing the anti-scald button but that's easy enough.

[Gtom]

You should be able to take off the temperature knob and find a restriction ring behind it, you can take this off and move it around some so that the ‘38c’ limit becomes higher.

[Pistonsquirter]

leave the cartridge in acid for a few days. e.g vinegar

[Aluminati]

Gtom said:

You should be able to take off the temperature knob and find a restriction ring behind it, you can take this off and move it around some so that the ‘38c’ limit becomes higher.

This.

[B'stard Child]

Gtom said:

You should be able to take off the temperature knob and find a restriction ring behind it, you can take this off and move it around some so that the ‘38c’ limit becomes higher.

If you have a better half that is hamfisted and heavy handed and it's a prong type limiter it'll have already been snapped off ;-)

[JohnP68]

Is it this one?

https://www.vado.com/tablet-notion-chrome-2-outlet...

If so there are instructions on the Downloads tab. That explains how the temperature restarting ring works.

I had to fix one for a customer a couple of weeks ago. The screw heads in the middle are tightened to isolate the water supply. Each of the knobs is in two pieces - hold the front piece and turn the rear piece to take them apart, I can’t remember whether clockwise or anti clockwise to loosen. The front pieces can then be further dismantled, I used a blunt chisel that was just the right size to fit the notches in the brass ring inside and undo it. Then soaked in descaler for 30 mins, cleaned up and applied silicone grease to the plastic ring inside before reassembling. Good as new in the end