Temperature issue

So I’ve just replaced the cartridge in my Bristan Prism Exposed Shower Valve (PM SQSHXVO C) but having an issue with temperature. The replacement was ordered because shower was warm on hottest setting and would fluctuate a lot. The new cartridge has fixed the cold showers but now I’ve got a reverse problem in that it’s insanely hot. Turning the control anti-clockwise from 12 to 9 is about as hot as we can go the rest of the dial from 9 to 12 is scorching to skin melting hehe. The hot elbow inlets is very hot but the cold is cold but not ice cold as it used to be when running old cartridge. I’ve tried turning the little temperature adjustment inside the cartridge but couldn’t make too much difference. One of the other reasons for buying a new cartridge was that the old one while identical looking didn’t have the temperature adjustment for some reason. The flat hot water comes from a communal boiler on the roof and the cold from a supply in the basement which is pumped around the building at high pressure. The water pressures are extremely high. When remove the little screw on the end of the cartridge to adjust the temperature a lower water jet fires water across the room which is a lot more than the “little amount of water” in your videos that showed how to adjust temperatures. Could my high water pressure be an issue for the cartridge, I’m wondering if the shower that was originally installed might have been adjusted or something. It’s a new build block of flats 4 years old. When I got the new cartridge from you it came with two rubber rings but I assumed they were spares as the cartridge was already constructed and as far as I could see rubber rings were already on it. Was I supposed to do something with the rubber rings maybe? Thanks so much for your help.
Asked 4 years ago by Cameron Cooke, Brighton
The 'O' rings are one to seal the cartridge to the body, these may not always be necessary depending on which body you have the other o
'O' ring fits into the valve body and it is the ring that the piston slips back and forward between once again it is not always necessary to replace this.

If your pressure is really high then hang a towel over the end of the valve when adjusting the temperature.

You could try turning the valve to it's coldest removing the knob and refitting the knob at the hottest point then turning it to it's coldest you can try that a couple of times it may just be the knob has been refitted in the wrong place.

The only thing I can think of that may cause a problem with the temperature is has the valve been assembled correctly, the piston should have the teeth looking out and the thermostat should have the black bit facing out.


Generally these valves are easy to adjust unless you have unequal pressures and from what you say i don't think that is the problem

Answered 4 years ago by George Thomson

Thanks for your prompt reply.

So the handle was correctly placed, it has a spoke that comes out which aligns with the off position when off on this shower so that’s not a problem.

What is odd is that a day after using the shower the shower temperature suddenly dropped to the point where the high setting was basically cold to luke warm which is almost exactly the same as old cartridge this new one was to replace.

I took the head off again and adjusted the temperature screw and got it back to a hot temperature again.

Though again it’s warm, hot or very hot. But would settle for that than cold. Seems very hard to adjust on my system, doesn’t appear to be much granularity.

But here is my thinking. I’m wondering if the high pressure of the water that literally jets water out of the end of the threaded piece where you adjust the temperature is possibly causing the temperature screw to turn over time.

This would explain how I set it to hot, and then a day of so later was back to cold/luke warm.

Have you had an experience of this on high pressure systems? I don’t know exactly how the water arrives in my flat but I know we have a pumping room with massive pumps pumping cold water around the building and a communal hot water system on the roof which I assume gravity feeds hot water to flats below. I’m on first floor of a 5 floor building.

Any advise on how I can get the best out of this cartridge or any diagnostic tips I can try would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Answered 4 years ago by Cameron Cooke

The cartridge in these showers will shut down if the hot water is too hot as a safety measure, so that maybe the problem now.

Answered 4 years ago by Barrie Seabright

View Product and Order Online:

Do you require any further help with Tap or Shower Cartridges?

Please click the following link if you would like to see other answers or ask a question regarding the Sirrus 1503 Series Thermostatic Cartridge Assembly - SKBQ1503-973C

If you've landed here and this question is not about your specific product, please take a look at these similar items on our Bristan Cartridges page. Alternatively, if you're looking for any other brands you should view our full range of Cartridges.

If you would like to buy this cartridge or look others from the same brand, please view our Replacement Bristan Cartridges (All)

For any other support request please get in touch.