concealed thermostatic valve in Alfred McAlpine home

bolly1 · Jul 9, 2011

Hi,
I'm new to the site and just looking for help. I have a concealed thermostatic valve shower in our ensuite and it is running too hot. A plumber came round and as the cartridge has no identification on it he took it to get another.But,(there's always a but!), he couldn't shut the water off, so all the while he was gone the hot water was running in the shower. When he came back he said the plumbing place didn't know the make and he came back without one.Then we soaked the cartridge in my Viakal, (water still running) and he chipped some limescale off. He then put it back and said try that. I am embarassed to say I paid him, thinking it might work but of course it hasn't solved the problem.
Does anybody on here know the make of the showers installed in McAlpine homes? Ours was built in 1999 before it was bought out by Wimpey. I am putting my faith in someone to let me know what cartridge I should buy.

many thanks

gmac · Jul 9, 2011

To be fair if I took the time to try and source the cartridge for you I'd have charged you as well, Time = Money.

Although I would had turned water supply off while attending suppliers.

tamz · Jul 9, 2011

Take a photo of it and post it up if you can

SafeGasInstall · Jul 9, 2011

charge yes but not turning water off ......hmm if there is not any working stop valves get some fitted as next time in emergency you can save the damage to the property ,and if the damage is happened your insurance will not pay as luck of service and maintain is invalidating your policy

bolly1 · Jul 10, 2011

The issue is not the paying of the bloke, just I was no better off than when he came and a whole lot of water down the drain.I will try and post a pic of the cartridge and fitting.
Thanks to the people who replied.

kay-jay · Jul 10, 2011

has it always run hot? some thermostatic showers have adjustable temperatures.

tamz · Jul 10, 2011

If the cartridge is scaled up, soaking in spirits of salts will clean it off.
You'll need to get your water off first though.

bolly1 · Jul 10, 2011

No it's not always run hot. My husband is trying to descale the cartridge, The cartridge has numbers on if anyone can identify what they mean, on the top it says 05 and then a seperate 00. I will try and get hubby to send the pic of the cartridge.