Mixer Bath Taps - too cold!

[puffernutter]

I have recently installed a set of second-hand mixer bath taps.

Facing the taps, to the left is a circular on/off control, to the right
is a circular hot/cold control and in the middle is a pull-up plunger to
divert to the shower head.

My problem is that whilst I know my hot water is very hot, this tap is
always mixing some cold in, even when on fully hot, so my wife is
complaining her baths are cold.

I've not inspected the tap closely yet, but it looks as if the hot/cold
end will fully unscrew. Is there likely to be any adjustment to reduce
the amount of cold mixing in, could it be designed like that for safety
(I know that in some installations they have to limit the maximum
temperature) or is it just FUBAR'd?

Cheers

Peter

 

[Graham.]

I have recently installed a set of second-hand mixer bath taps.

Facing the taps, to the left is a circular on/off control, to the right is a circular hot/cold control and in the middle is a
pull-up plunger to divert to the shower head.

My problem is that whilst I know my hot water is very hot, this tap is always mixing some cold in, even when on fully hot, so my
wife is complaining her baths are cold.

I've not inspected the tap closely yet, but it looks as if the hot/cold end will fully unscrew. Is there likely to be any
adjustment to reduce the amount of cold mixing in, could it be designed like that for safety (I know that in some installations
they have to limit the maximum temperature) or is it just FUBAR'd?

Cheers

Peter

On many thermostatic mixer tap designs there is a button you have to press to go beyond the "hand hot" setting.

 

[puffernutter]

Do you have mains pressure cold water and low pressure hot water fed to
the mixer? Is it specced to cope with that?

Nope! Gravity fed cold water and hot water.

Cheers

Peter

 

[The Medway Handyman]

I have recently installed a set of second-hand mixer bath taps.

Facing the taps, to the left is a circular on/off control, to the right
is a circular hot/cold control and in the middle is a pull-up plunger to
divert to the shower head.

Got a picture?

 

[harry]

I have recently installed a set of second-hand mixer bath taps.

Facing the taps, to the left is a circular on/off control, to the right
is a circular hot/cold control and in the middle is a pull-up plunger to
divert to the shower head.

My problem is that whilst I know my hot water is very hot, this tap is
always mixing some cold in, even when on fully hot, so my wife is
complaining her baths are cold.

I've not inspected the tap closely yet, but it looks as if the hot/cold
end will fully unscrew. Is there likely to be any adjustment to reduce
the amount of cold mixing in, could it be designed like that for safety
(I know that in some installations they have to limit the maximum
temperature) or is it just FUBAR'd?

Cheers

Peter

The thermostatic capsule may have failed. They normally are designed
to fail in the safe conditions, (ie cold).
There are several sorts,some are a bimetallic coiled metal strip, some
are a water/alcohol filled capsule.
Sometimes it's just s lime encrustaion bunged up the mechanism. Can be
clened of fwith a vinegar or similar soak.

 

[puffernutter]

Could be why the original owner sold them

do you have a brand name or pictures

Regards

Took the taps off the bath again and had a good in the workshop. There
I found that you can remove the thermostatic part and that left a thin
cylinder that was supposed to move under spring pressure (to close off
the cold I assume). When that was removed, it became obvious that a
ring of crud was the reason it was probably not closing the cold
properly. A quick scrub and I put it back together and put it back on
the bath - unfortunately, no change.

Then I noticed an adjusting screw in the centre of the thermostat, wind
that out a way and nice hot water appears! Obviously a way of setting a
maximum temperature.

Sorted.

Cheers

Peter