Reversed supplies to shower valve - Problem ?

I'd reverse it at the pump and as for bath taps reverse them with some flexi's Dave.

 

Easy mistake to make, done it myself, as have others,I now alway check & put a few wraps of either red or blue insulation tape around the pipes to identify & to remind me.

 

Will it damage your shower in any way? Probably not. But it's effectively 'not working' as it is in any case, so it might as well be 'damaged' as its performance is 'faulty'.

Dave, sort it, man. And I think P-b's idea is a cracker - swap the pipes at the pump/in the loft, and then tackle the bath taps using flexis.

I know it's a kind of bodge, but at least everything will be back to 'normal'. Because are you really going to live with a thermostatic shower that's erratic, plumbed wrong and is simply unlikely to protect you if the cold water shuts off for some reason?

So you either bite the bullet and remove the shower and start again, or else you swap the supplies at a different point.

Tsk - silly mistake. You wouldn't find me doing that... (wanders off whistling... )

 

you may find in the makers instructions a way to reverse the temp flows on the valve if its a decent make.

 

I very much doubt it.

 

I think you may have been a little rash in your reply there PB. Some shower valves do enable you to change the supplies.

 

Not many now days, as rare as rocking horse shoite.

 

Good job, Dave, and pleased it did the trick

Bath only gets used a couple of times a year? It'll be even less now - certainly after the first person who jumps in to a filled-up-to-the-brim stone-cold bath...

 

Guys, thank you. Trying to work out why my brand new Galston shower runs either boiling hot or freezing cold. Absolutely no middle ground temperature.

The temperature on the dial is also opposite to that expected. Turn to hot and flow is cold, turn to cold and flow is boiling.

Could the hot/cold supply have been revered too?

Can anyone comment before I engage a new plumber to fix this?

 

rather than use flexis to change supply over why not change the red blue plastic bits on the taps or the heads or the tapes no expense

 

Almost certain. Symptoms are exactly what reversed supply would cause. If you still have the installation manual for the shower valve it will probably list fault symptoms somewhere at the back, together with causes.

 

And that will do wahat for the problem? Absolutely nothing except confuse it even more.

 

never confused if you need to change the pipes over to the correct way now the pipes have been changed over in the attic too acomadate the shower was a simple solution so how would that confused sorry im confused see what i did there

 

Super, thank you.

Sadly I don’t have the instructions as plumber didn’t leave me with them and I have not been successful yet in accessing online so any tips how to find appreciated.

I did attempt a partial solution by turning the boiler temperature down to about 40c, this makes for a less scalding shower though a flow cycle still delivers really hot, have to stand back and wait for the cooler cycle to kick in

Am not confident in fixing this myself and somewhat stung by this plumber, not sure how best to trust engaging someone new and so prevent another expensive experience - your advice appreciated

 

It does sound as though your supplies (hot and cold) are back to front.

Can you post a photo of the shower valve or a link to an advert for it please? It's not a well known make.

On some showers, it's possible to take out the cartridge and reverse it to allow for reversed supplies (the Mira Excel is an example)
but on many, it will probably mean either altering the pipework or, if it's surface mounted, it might be possible to turn the whole
shower valve round. If it's this one, you could do just that, except it would mean the hose would come out of the top:

https://www.toolstation.com/galston-square-thermostatic-bar-mixer-shower-valve/p97120

If it IS this one (or one of the same design), it's a five minute job to turn it round and you'll be able to do it yourself. Let us know if so and I'll talk you through it.

 

You are a master

Yes, it is exactly the same square Galston wall mounted as you posted and from Tool-station too

Hot comes in on the right as you look at it

Have uploaded a photo, the nut is not flush to the pipe surround (plumber put round ones in as apparently the product square ones were too small - aka suspect his holes were too big) so wondering if where the flat bit of the screw is going to let water

I would rather cope with an upside down tap and steady water temperature than boiling/freezing variable flow

So very appreciative - success in sight

 

your previous shower mixer valve could have been adapted to work on reversed hot & cold connections,doubt the previous shower mixer valve was a (er) external riser product.. Now a fancy er bar mixer has been installed with reversed connections,who specified the new shower mixer valve ?

The installer would have experienced problems during initial comissioning & safety testing.

reinstalling the valve upside down presents some difficulties the er riser pipe and flexi shower hose may have different sized spigot connections glue welded into the valve body during manufacture also all the visable indicators will be out of view.

Replumbing the shower supply is recommended or fit a shower valve which can accept reversed h&c connections