A shower mixer is a significant fixture in the bathroom, especially for home owners who want to upgrade their bathrooms and have limited space for bulgy and different knobs for hot and cold water. A shower mixer is suitable for both bath and shower enclosures. This can either wall-mounted or hidden behind the tiles, depending on your preference.
Both enclosed and exposed shower mixers can add elegance and functionality to the bathroom. While the mounted type is easier to install, the enclosed type is perfect for minimalistic bathroom designs.
In this particular instructional guide, we will focus on a thermostatic shower mixer.
Step 1:
Turn off the water shut valve if you need to remove an old shower unit and replace it with a new one.
Step 2:
Remove the old unit and check for the proper placement of the water feed, with the hot water on the left and the cold water on the right.
Step 3:
Get the “S” union connectors and screw them in the fittings on the wall up until it is extended at approximately 42 millimeters. Next, get the escutcheons and screw them to the wall, leaving at least 150-millimeter spacing between the centers of the escutcheons and ensuring the level is correct.
Step 4:
Get the mixer and install it, ensuring that it is firmly done. Be careful to screw the nuts too tight that they touch the escutcheons. Make the necessary adjustments if needed, both with the firmness of the nut and the horizontal position of these fittings.
Step 5:
Take note of how deep are the “S” union connectors to the wall and after you remove the escutcheons and the mixer.
Step 6:
Get the “S” union connector and seal its thread using Teflon tape. Ensure that you wrap it in the tightening direction. Next, with the use of an open-end wrench, tighten the connector and ensure that there is the 150-mm spacing from center to center as well as the depth that was previously measured. Check the leveling with the use of a spirit level. If the level is correct, seal the wall and the connectors using a silicon sealant.
Step 7:
Get the escutcheons and screw them to the wall. Get the shower mixer and remove the indicator caps, the blue and red ones. Ensure that the filters are properly placed and that the side facing inwards is the rounded one.
Step 8:
Fit the shower mixer into the “S” union connectors and tighten the nuts with an open-end wrench. Check for the level of the mixer by using a spirit level. Make the necessary adjustments.
Step 9:
Check for leaks by turning on the water supply.
Step 10:
Check if the thermostatic shower mixer is working properly by using a thermometer. If the temperature is correct, your task is done. However, if there are some adjustments needed, proceed to the next step.
Step 11:
Turn off the water evacuation outlet and with a flathead screwdriver, remove the cover of the mixer handle, followed by the handle itself.
Step 12:
Let the water run so you can make adjustments to the thermostatic cartridge. Do this by turning the notched black element and do so until the temperature reaches the correct level. Replace the handle and see to it that the handle guide points to the correct temperature which is 38 Degrees Celsius.
