Shower control stuck

[E.T.]

Hello,

I’m hoping for a bit of guidance here please!

I have a shower (Mode Harrison exposed thermostatic mixer shower) which is about 18 months old.

The shower still works ok but the flow control can now only be turned clockwise (on) to around 3 o’clock where it won’t go any further. It used to turn all the way down to 6 o’clock.

I wonder whether something (limescale?) is preventing it from operating properly. Is that likely?

I have tried to take it apart to see if I can clean it but am not sure how to. I’ve removed the temperature control but from there am not sure how to remove the flow control.

With the flow control handle unscrewed there is access to a cavity in the flow control. It’s difficult to see inside but it looks as though there is a fitting that may be threaded (it doesn’t look or feel to be an Allen key type fitting). But then I can’t quite see properly. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Liam





(Mode Harrison exposed thermostatic mixer shower) W

 

[Agile]

I hate showers although I have needed to repair a few from time to time.

Unfortunately, you have not included your location so I cannot judge the hardness of the water in your area.

Certainly limescale can affect shower controls. I use chemicals to dissolve it as I have these for working on gas boilers. But DIYers usually make do with vinegar and other mild household chemicals.

One on the reasons I hate showers is that the makers seem to take great pleasure in making them largely unrepairable. But most can be if only you know how. In the extreme I would disconnect them and introduce my chemicals through the water connections.

A common cause of lime scale can be leaking seals which allow the shower to drip and provide a constant throughput of lime bearing mains water.

Some firms do have a knowledgeable person who gives "technical advice" but others just pass you to a "secretary" who will read dimensions from their specification sheet. You could try asking that when you have found out the hardness of the water in your area.

The ultimate solution might be a water softener, a polyphosphate chemical treatment unit or a magnetic water treatment unit. The latter can be very good when installed in the best way but are often not given very high ratings due to having been installed in a non ideal way.

 

[E.T.]

Thanks Agile. I’m in London SE5.

Do you think it should be possible to remove the flow control? The installation instructions online show a diagram of parts that make up the shower but don’t explain how you might take it apart for repairs.

Thanks.