Info needed

What are we talking about?

The information needed to action a shower repair and make a decision on the best way forward

What to find out

All showers

• Photographs: stand-back showing entire shower so it can be identified
• If identifying text/marks on the shower, a close up of these.
• The shower tiling so we can see which, if any may need to be removed / replaced
• And for digital showers a picture of the processor.

Electric shower:

• Make and model if available (can often be ascertained from photograpghs)
• The rating of the shower MCB in the consumer unit
• If you can see it, the supply cable size

Mixer shower:

• Where the shower is dripping from e.g. the outlet head / hose, the body and for single mixer valves if it is the centre of the body as this indicates the cartridge needs replacing.
• Make / model and if concealed / exposed / digital
• Age (if the householder knows)

For the property's hot water / heating system:

• Whether a combi boiler (no immersion cylinder)
• Whether a regular boiler (with an immersion cylinder and if so whether high pressure
• If there is a shower pump feeding the shower in question and note there should not be a shower pump with a combi boiler or high pressure cylinder but do check

Dependencies

Being able to turn the water off, access to relevant areas, tiling, replacements being 'like for like' or not. Note that 'like for like' means an exact match. Many showers, even when the same model are not 'like for like' meaning pipe work changes are needed which can considerably increase the time required to undertake the work.

Note re Aqualisa Aquavalves

Take off the handle and cover so the colour of the cartridge can be seen (grey / pink / green / orange / blue / white)

• Grey: the most universal thermostatic cartridge and can be used on all water systems. With combi boilers a cold water regulator must be fitted into the valve body during installation
• Pink: thermostatic for use with combi boilers only. A Yellow, Green or Blue regulator should be fitted into the end of the cartridge depending on the kW/BTU rating of the boiler
• Green: For use with unvented high pressure water systems only. Primarily used in Opto Thermo high pressure concealed and Hydramax high pressure valves. Usage of this cartridge on Aquavalves ceased mid 1993; for replacement units, use a grey thermostatic cartridge.
• Orange: thermostatic for use with low pressure water systems only.
• Blue: manual (non-thermostatic). May be used on all systems except combi boilers and multipoint boilers.
• White: manual (non-thermostatic). For use with ‘430’ range products manufactured between 1993 and 1996 only.

Comments

For a ‘how to’ on replacing the common Aqualisa cartridges Google: Aqualisa Thermostatic Cartridge Replacement Guide.

Also see: How much shower repair replacement guide.