Help retrofitting new thermostatic shower

[Charlie Gordon]

Hi there. I’m looking to replace our existing Aqualisa Colt shower with a new shower from IKEA. I thought it was going to be a simple replacement job but I’ve discovered they’re fitted in different ways.

Our existing shower fits on with its own bracket and plastic ends just slip directly on to the copper pipes whereas our new IKEA one fits on like most thermostatic shower valves, using a shower fixing kit with a compression fitting.

The issue I’m having is that when using the shower fixing kit I don’t have much copper pipe protruding from the wall bracket holes so I can only just get the olive onto the pipe, there’s probably a 1mm overhang. I assume this is what is causing a leak when I try and hook it all up?

Does anybody know of a solution to my problem other than stripping the wall back and starting again? Are there different types of fixing kits that might work? Can a plumber extend the pipes? Could I cut down the pipes at the floor and connect plastic flexible pipes to the copper pipe and use this instead?

Any help appreciated, thanks!

Alternatively if anybody knows of any other showers that connect like our existing one, other than the new version of the Aqualisa Colt, please let me know!

 

[Charlie Gordon]

I just took some photos which might be useful…

Existing pipe length

• Charlie Gordon
• 2 Jul 2018

These go over the pipes

• Charlie Gordon
• 2 Jul 2018

Pipes coming out from existing wall fitting

• Charlie Gordon
• 2 Jul 2018

Existing shower wall fitting

• Charlie Gordon
• 2 Jul 2018

 

[Elkato531]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/swirl-bar-valve-wall-mount-fixing-kit-chrome-plated/8669h

Get some of these and fit a thermostatic bar mixer. Your pipes will need to be at 150mm centres but that should have been the spacing for the Aqualisa.

 

[Charlie Gordon]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/swirl-bar-valve-wall-mount-fixing-kit-chrome-plated/8669h

Get some of these and fit a thermostatic bar mixer. Your pipes will need to be at 150mm centres but that should have been the spacing for the Aqualisa.

Unfortunately as explained in my original post I have already tried this but the pipes I have protruding from the wall aren’t long enough which is why I’m looking for ideas. Thanks!

 

[dilalio]

All bar mixers come with their own pipe tail specs as detailed in the various MIs.

Yoill need to repipe and leave them long until final fitting.

Whats on the other side of the wall? If another room, you could get a new route through that way and poke new tails through at the appropriate spot.

 

[SandyLyon]

Why not replace like for like, some brand new Aqualisa Colt valves and kits on eBay.

Much easier than trying to alter tails etc

 

[Hot&Cold]

Looking at photo 1,if the wall tiles were in better condition then endeavouring with the ikea product would be advisable.

Which ikea product do you have ?,ikea dont make them they just sell them

other than the new version of the Aqualisa Colt,

Why dont you want the new version . It fits your pipe stubs and will hide some of the tile defects