Plumbing problem

[onlyconnect]

I have a Mira shower. It has a horizontal bar with a tap on one end and heat mixer on the other. This is now dripping from the middle. Got a plumber in. I was thinking, washer or tighten something up.

But without even opening it he's quoted for two new "cartridges". Expensive.

Is this the only way or is it worth having a poke around to look for a worn washer or a thing to tighten up?

Tim

 

[stevec67]

Google "shower cartridge", have a read and all will become clear. Can you remove the old one and descale it? maybe. Maybe not.

 

[Seeker_UK]

The 'cartridges' may be a reference to the ceramic washers. Yes, they're expensive, unfortunately.

Sometimes, the drip can be caused by bit of grit / limescale stuck in the valve and they clear after a day but IME that's rare.

 

[Bart]

The ‘diynot’ forum is good for this sort of stuff - just ignore the odd few grumpy contributors who don’t like to give any help to ... well,anyone really.

 

[zippy]

I had a similar query a while back, and the consensus was that I should save the hassle and buy a new one.

 

[peterm]

Many of the shower manufacturers have "eBay shops" where they sell new items in plain cardboard boxes at bargain prices (maybe discontinued models but the same mechanism inside).

That's how I replaced a couple of showers at less cost than the replacement parts to repair the old ones.

 

[Ellenor]

Buy a new “bar mixer” and have it changed. It’s a five minute job. I recommend Grohe.