Merano / Arezzo shower spares

[23vc]

Trying to find a black, exposed thermo bar mixer. The merano (plumbworld) and arezzo (vic plumb) seem a decent price, but anyone got any experience of trying to get spares (most likely thermo cartridge) for them?
Always normally use bristan as parts available, but need a black shower this time. Not sure if the cartridges tend to be a bit generic? Didn’t find much searching for those brands spare parts.

 

[Gasguru]

Most of these names (Merano etc) are just made up...the showers will be bought wholesale from a generic manufacturer.
Some of these bathroom suppliers even go to the effort of trademarking the names to make them seem more genuine.
Personally I wouldn't touch anything that's not from a proven manufacturer with a proper backup....and many of these online merchants are just about surviving.
As for black/gold/bronze....how long will the finish last? It'll be "off trend" before you know it once customers see the limescale buildup etc and the fact that you can't attack it with scale remover.
They're even trying to push avocado colours....

 

[23vc]

Yeah I know, but the mrs wants one
As I feared then, might have an issue with the parts, if I could at least find one that deffo did spare cartridges it’d help, I’ll carry on looking

 

[denso13]

The merano (plumbworld) and arezzo (vic plumb) seem a decent price

Perhaps contact their customer services and ask? They are probably just generic parts but you may be lucky.

 

[georgeqwerty]

just fitted a Arrezo black bar type.
It's already gone belly up.
i.e water temp is low and not adjustable.
Contacted Vic Plumbing for replacement under guarantee.
Guy did not appear very confident about what to say , eventually came back with , take the valve out clean it of scale and dirt and put it back.
Apparently this does not void the warranty, the guy was asked and he confirmed it would not harm the warranty.
Did all that so in all honesty i could say 'i did that' , i also flushed the pipes at the same time.
filters were clean and no limescale present.
O.K , so the next step while waiting to call V.P back i tried to find spares , have you looked for hens teeth ?
Paper work with the unit was of no use , only good for installation.
Also it does not fit in in the same way as a type 6 or 8.
The valve is held in place by a threaded lock ring which requires a special tool.
As someone else has already stated these units would be produced by one manufacturer and rebadged by the seller.
Trick is to find the ORIGINAL manufacturer to find specific detail about the valve component.
Would avoid for peace of mind.

 

[georgeqwerty]

now into March.
after being given the run around for the last two months by V.P .this included being told the product was out of warranty period.
this had to be proven to them that it was not out of warranty which we did.
they informed us to contact the manufacturer, they almost by return of post sent a thermostatic control unit.
completely wrong type so sent them a picture .
the reply was that it was not their product BUT it is a product supported by ,you guessed it Victorian Plumbing
AN ITEM HE SAID THAT SHOULD BE HELD IN STOCK BY THEM.
To be continued

 

[polesapart]

Ah, Victoria Plumbing!

But it all looked so nice in the online catalogue! And cheap!

 

[Lal321]

Just thought I’d share my experience with merano (plumbworld).
Good looking shower at a reasonable price however…..
I’m on my second shower from plumbworld and in the process of trying to get a refund.
The first one. Plumbed in and was fine for 3/4 weeks then suddenly a drop in temperature. Quick online chat to plumbworld and they said the cartridge may need replacing…. (After 3 weeks??)
Anyway, they sent the replacement part out within 2 days, but I couldn’t get the old cartridge out (specialist tool needed as someone stated above).
After a week of exchanging emails with Chris from plumbworld and getting no where….. (he sent the same YouTube video of how to remove the cartridge 3 times even though I told him it was a different design and the video was no help) I decided to send the shower back for a replacement.
No questions asked a week later the replacement arrived.
Swapped the showers straight away and we were back in business hot showers again….
Six days later temperature drop again.
Back onto plumbworld.
This time they try to blame the water pressure, saying equal amounts of hot and cold are needed for the mixer to operate correctly.
“if you turn the cold tap on does the shower get hotter”
Simple answer “no”.
Turning in the cold taps didn’t effect the temp of the shower.
This weekend I have taken the shower back off and connected a pressure gauge to see what pressure I’m getting. both hot and cold are 3 bar (equal).
I have also lent an old shower mixer of my dad 12 years+ and that gets to temperature fine.
The merano shower at maximum wouldn’t get over 31 degrees.
I’m just waiting to hear back off plumbworld but will hopefully get a full refund

 

[Whitty23]

Did you have the tool to get it out, I have a customer who has been sent a new thermostat but without the removal tool. I’m puzzled as well as the cartridge in is a brass colour and the new one is chrome, is this the wrong type as you were sent?

 

[stefrank]

Merrano Square shower bar from Plumb world (Mrs wanted it) Was running tepid after 12 months. You can remove the brass collar using a pair of needle nose pliers. Nearest online picture to the one out of mine is the Vado V-001 (slight difference though as the one I have has a plastic nut on the back end, the Vado doesn't appear to have it.

. Since taking it apart and reinstalling it the shower warms up but its goes from tepid to too hot within a mm of adjustment and is almost impossible to calibrate. Still trying to find a replacement. If anyone can identify the attached picture. The WK number on it doesn't bring up any results either.