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Author Topic: Shower problems II  (Read 7006 times)

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Offline SiW

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Shower problems II
« on: January 09, 2012, 06:52:50 PM »
I have a instant hot water boiler, and have just replaced the shower mixer tap. the cold water pressure is really bad but the hot is normal, so i can only get a crappy slow shower. any suggestions as to why the cold is so bad?

Cheers

Simon

Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/q-and-a-baths-and-showers/64/shower-problems-ii/939/

Offline Plumber

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2012, 07:08:38 PM »
It sounds like someone forgot to remove the restrictor inside the mixer on the cold water side (usually available on all pressure mixers). Or someone put the restrictor in.

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Offline SiW

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2012, 09:17:49 AM »
Thanks for the quick reply.

I don't think that's the problem. Here's what I tried...

I have two identical mixers, one on the bath, the other on the shower. Last night, I swapped them, bath is fine on both, shower not fine on both. I even turned the mixer through 180degrees so hot and cold were reversed - same problem.

Shower is fed from same pipework runs as bath. When you feel the pipes at the mixer, and the mixer is set in the middle, the cold pipe starts getting hot, so obviously the cold pressure isn't what it should be, but in the same room, off literally the same pipe run?

Help - Please :)

Offline robbo

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2012, 04:39:14 PM »
hi, you probably need to call in a Plumber who will go through the normal tests to establish the problem, sounds like a blockage of some sort but it is difficult to find the problem without being there, goodluck,cheers

Offline SiW

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2012, 06:53:02 PM »
Thanks Robbo,

I was on the verge of calling someone out and decided to take one last look and see if there was anything blocking the pipe.

Anyway, I connected a hose to the pipe and took it outside and turned on the mains...

At first, clean cold water came out  - not at the same pressure as the bath or vanity, then something odd happened, the water went hot!

Cut a long story short, there is a very small hot water tank in the kitchen, there is a prv on the cold feed. The cold supply for the shower is fed from after the prv, and not the same run of pipe in the bathroom that all the other pipes are on. So, after destroying the hallway wall, I've now fixed it, and can get back to grouting the floor tiles, something I should have had finished last week :)

Offline Plumber

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2012, 04:29:51 PM »
Good old DIY  :o

Offline SiW

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2012, 05:46:13 PM »
Good old DIY  :o

Thats the problem, how many DIYers do you know who braze pipe joins? Not many thats for sure.
I did all mine with compression fittings simply because I know how to use them and I detest this plastic pipe crap, there's no skill involved, and from what I've seen, very little care used in installing it.

Offline Plumber

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2012, 06:50:41 PM »
Is your background plumbing? I understand what your saying, the trouble with DIY though is that your insurance might bail if your house flooded tomorrow. Even if you did everything right. I just don't think it worth risking. A few years ago I would have agreed with your comment on plastic pipe, today if installed correctly there is absolutely no issues, on the contraray some manufacturers now offer over a 50 year warranty. The trouble with all things is as usual the $, if I quoted in copper I would be out of a job as much as I love it, skills with copper are getting lost and our training institutes don't even teach half of what I learned back in my day. A pity really..  :-X

Offline integrated

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2012, 08:19:18 PM »
Good old DIY  :o

Thats the problem, how many DIYers do you know who braze pipe joins? Not many thats for sure.
I did all mine with compression fittings simply because I know how to use them and I detest this plastic pipe crap, there's no skill involved, and from what I've seen, very little care used in installing it.


a wall is the last place i would use a compression fitting...

insurance void...

undertaking illegal works...

cue the PGDB....                  meh - your unlicensed - they wont bother you!!





Offline robbo

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2012, 07:54:48 AM »
Good old DIY  :o

Thats the problem, how many DIYers do you know who braze pipe joins? Not many thats for sure.
I did all mine with compression fittings simply because I know how to use them and I detest this plastic pipe crap, there's no skill involved, and from what I've seen, very little care used in installing it.

Offline robbo

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2012, 08:01:11 AM »
hi guys, yes no skill required!! for a start the skill required is (1) you will need to know which pipes go where (2) you will need the correct tools and you will know not to put compression joints in the wall, D.I.Y. will never die,cheers

Offline roberto

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2012, 08:59:15 PM »
DIY plumbing should be illegal to the point where if you get caught you should be arrested, completly disgusts me!!!

Offline robbo

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Re: Shower problems II
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2012, 01:24:09 PM »
hi guys/Roberto, we are not that important,cheers


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