How problematic is doing a mixer shower swap?

[WaterTight]

Or is it as easy as loosen two nuts, remove old shower, re-ptfe protruding threads, put on new nuts and tighten?

It can't be that easy can it?

 

[WaterTight]

Except, I imagine, having just written that, that's it's not ptfe, but, washers, yes, probably.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

yes rubber washers. don't forget to isolate water or you will get wet!

 

[pobsdad]

Depends on shower,some have a back plate screwed to the wall,but if it's a bar mixer it should take you all of 2 mins.Just imagine getting 10 to do every day?

 

[WHPES]

If its a bar mixer with 150mm between centres its very easy.

 

[kay-jay]

really easy as said above!

last one i did didn't even need changing! council had sent someone round to do a bit of maintenence and the gobin had switched the hot and cold round in airing cupboard resulting in a shower that never gets hot.

 

[WaterTight]

So would this valve:



Be easily replaced by this valve:



Deliberately chosen because it has +/- 5mm centres in case the other one is a bit off.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

looks like it should be straight swap. although there will be holes in the tiles where the centre part is fixed to the tiles but a bit of silicone should sort that out.

 

[WaterTight]

Ok, cheers.

Just bought it, not fitted it yet. Didn't come with washers. Instructions says to ptfe thread. Is that unusual? I suppose I could buy some washers to fit but maybe MI take precedence?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

if you use ptfe just put it on the end of the spindle so that when you put the new mixer on you don't see the ptfe.

 

[dontknowitall]

Or buy a couple of washers - only a few pence and could save you an hour of hassle as you won't have to tighten it up too much. A rubber washer is nearly water tight when the nut is turned by hand.

Just had a thought which makes this is a good idea - if you dislodge a fitting on the incoming pipe behind the tiles you'll end up having to dig into the wall to fix that as well.

 

[SimonG]

So would this valve:

View attachment 2693

Be easily replaced by this valve:

View attachment 2694

Deliberately chosen because it has +/- 5mm centres in case the other one is a bit off.

I don't think it will be an easy swap, surface mounted shower valve with the chrome elbows fixed direct to 15mm copper coming out the wall will be a mare to swap for a bar mixer with the offset fittings that go into a backplate elbow, unless you went for one of the bristans with the nice surface mount kits.

My preference would be for another surface mounted shower valve, not bar mixer, most have between 5 and 10mm play as you can screw the elbows in and out.

Just my two pence worth.

 

[WaterTight]

Hi Simon,

If I follow what you said correctly you're saying that the current shower won't use offset fittings going into a backplate elbow but rather will be connected onto copper tails protruding proud from the tiles??

In which I case I imagine it would be nearly impossible to swap for the one I've bought, yes.

Here is a close up:




I had thought I would just fit new shower onto existing offset threaded tails. If this won't be what I find when I pull off the shower would you have any recommendations for what would be an easier swap to put on?

Thanks

 

[WaterTight]

Do you mean you think the current shower is connected by two compression elbows and therefore a straight swap using existing fittings coming out of the wall would be easiest done with something like this:

[DLMURL="http://www.homesupply.co.uk/bristan-jute-manual-surface-mounted--recessed---riser=JUSHUARC.htm"]Bristan Jute Manual Surface Mounted / Recessed - Riser, Surface Mounted (Exposed) Showers, JUSHUARC[/DLMURL]

 

[WaterTight]

Anyone? Is this the case?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

yes the bristan jute looks like it will work very well for your needs mate.

 

[WaterTight]

Excellent.

But is that what he was on about, sort of two copper pipes coming out the wall to attatch compression to? So basically any shower that has those kind of surface mounted compression fittings?

 

[tackleburger]

Depends on shower,some have a back plate screwed to the wall,but if it's a bar mixer it should take you all of 2 mins.Just imagine getting 10 to do every day?

Mmm ten of them a day at Say £50 a time. Soon forget about your knees when you get up in the morning Pobs!

 

[SimonG]

Excellent.

But is that what he was on about, sort of two copper pipes coming out the wall to attatch compression to? So basically any shower that has those kind of surface mounted compression fittings?

Aye thats what I was on about, the Bristan Jute looks like the job. Been to the pub, pool night!

 

[WaterTight]

Cheers mate!

 

[WaterTight]

Thank you for your advice Simon.

Just done the job. Your advice turned what would have been a "what the..." "this won't..." "i don't know how..." job including trips to merchants and headache into one that, albeit a bit fiddly was plain sailing, satisfying and lucrative.

Please buy yourself a pint and pretend it was from me.

 

[SimonG]

No problem, glad it went well 🙂