Plumbing (shower) help needed please
Plumbing (shower) help needed please
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Discussion

blindswelledrat

Original Poster:

25,257 posts

249 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
It might sound like an idiot question,but I will try and describe it as best as possible and see if anyone can offer me any advice/tricks of the trade to deal with this.

My shower is knackered and upon inspection a rubber washer had perished (or perished when I removed it).

Now the shower unit has a groove in it to accomodate this washer, and there is a corresponding groove in the cylinder that the shower unit screws in to thus one washer theoretically fills the two grooves (or does it? I only found 1 washer when I took it out-but should there have been 2?)

My problem is thus: WIth a new washer put on the shower unit I can no longer slide it onto the cylinder as the unit is relatively flush to the cylinder thus with the added girth of the washer it does not fit in. Even a hammers has failed to make any progress.
Is there a clever trick to get this to slide in (vaseline?) or should I line the internal groove with the washer first?

Any suggestions?

Ferg

15,242 posts

274 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
Is it the correct size washer, Tom? I'd use a bit of silicon grease if it IS the correct one. Clean the housing with a scotchbrite pad or similar.

AlexanderV8

1,486 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
I had a similar problem a few weeks ago. I bought a selection of O-rings from my local hardware store and used the best fit. There mustn't be any 'slop' - the O-ring needs to be tight. It will also be a close fit in the bore, otherwise water will find a way through the seal. Be careful with the hammer though as you don't want to knacker the surfaces. I used a bit of grease to get mine in first time (ooer missus).

blindswelledrat

Original Poster:

25,257 posts

249 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
Thanks.
Havent tried cleaning it, but I tried grease tonight and it didn't really do any good.
Fairly sure the ring is the right size. My wife took it into a plumb centre and they fitted it.
Its driving me up the 'king wall. Id happily get a local plumber in, but I dont feel like a real man not being able to push a thing into a thing.
Ferg. do you know if there's an easy way to identify a shower unit?
I soaked it in descaler as previously discussed but I can see has a couple of channels where the water has worn it causing drips so Ill have to thing about getting another anyway.
OR, is there a way to fill the grooves that water wear causes?

eddie1980

419 posts

205 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
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A really tight washer should fill the groves!

Simpo Two

89,683 posts

282 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
eddie1980 said:
A really tight washer should fill the groves!
Lemon?

blindswelledrat

Original Poster:

25,257 posts

249 months

Wednesday 17th February 2010
quotequote all
eddie1980 said:
A really tight washer should fill the groves!
No, they are across the unit and quite deep. Plus it is in a different part of the unit where there is no washer anyway.