There are fewer things frustrating than getting into a shower and finding yourself under a spray of water that is lukewarm at best.
While sometimes the issue of temperature might be related to factors such as freezing conditions outside or a loss of pressure somewhere, it can also be related to your temperature valve.
When this is the case, the best course of action is to reset the valve, and doing so is a relatively straightforward process once you know what you're looking for.
Accessing the valve
In the case of the Gummers 1500 valve, the first thing you need to do is remove the front cap, which can be taken off using either a thin screwdriver or your fingernails. Once this has been lifted off, then remove the centre screw.
On older valves, the screw is likely to be flathead, while newer editions can be loosened using an Allen key. One thing to be aware of here is that once you start to take the screw out, water will begin to trickle out of the centre hole where it is inserted. However, this is normal, so don't panic when this occurs!
When you remove the screw, you may find a small O-ring inside. Remove this carefully and make sure you don't lose it! A handy tip here is to place it around the screw, as this way it will keep the two together and ensure you don't forget to re-insert the ring when you're putting everything back together.
Next, you need to turn the shower on by twisting the dial in an anti-clockwise motion, and remove the cap. Sometimes the dial will come off really easily, but it has been known for this to be particularly tricky in older models.
When this is the case, one of the tactics that many experienced plumbers use is to pour a kettle of boiling water over the knob, as this will cause the plastic to expand under the warmer temperature just enough so that it will loosen it up and allow you to remove it.
Adjusting the temperature
To do this, insert a small screwdriver into the central hole. To make the water hotter, unscrew the screw at the back of the valve, or turn it in a clockwise direction if you want the water colder.
If you want to make it hotter, set the valve to '9' and turn it anti-clockwise until you get the shower's temperature exactly as you want it. Remember, water will still be coming out at this point so you'll be able to gauge it until it's just right. After this, turn the valve back to '7', as this will give you more scope over how hot or cool you will be able to get your water's temperature to.
Finally, it's time to put everything back together. Don't forget to put the screw on with the O-ring in the centre and tighten it up, although this may not be as easy as it sounds while the water continues to run. Fit the cap back on, and you're done!
If any of this sounds confusing, then fear not - we've also produced a video guide to walk you through the process. Good luck!