247 Rapid Response
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247 Rapid Response engineer at the rear of a fully-kitted emergency response van on a London street at night

Emergency plumbing

Shower repair (no pressure or not working) across London

A weak trickle, no flow at all, or water that lurches from scalding to freezing usually means a furred-up cartridge, a worn ceramic disc, or a failed element behind the wall. Our directly-employed, fully insured London plumbers diagnose the cause and fit the right part, typically reaching emergencies across London and the M25 within 30 to 60 minutes.

30 to 60 min target response12-month guaranteeGas Safe Registered
30-60 MINResponse time
12 MOWorkmanship guarantee
FULLYInsured & accredited
24/7365 days a year

Showers fail in three predictable ways: they drip when shut off, they lose pressure or flow, or they swing between scalding and freezing as the cartridge or solenoid loses temperature control. The cause depends on the type. Thermostatic mixer cartridges on Aqualisa, Mira, and Bristan units scale up in hard-water postcodes and lose their wax-element response. Manual mixer cartridges wear at the ceramic disc and start to bypass. Electric showers fail at the heater tank element, the microswitch, the flow valve, or the solenoid in that rough order. And no-flow complaints are very often nothing to do with the shower itself, they are an isolation valve closed, a stored-water cylinder run cold, or a 22mm cold supply choked by limescale on the gravity feed from a loft tank.

We diagnose first, parts second. Every shower visit starts with a pressure and temperature check at the inlets, a flow-rate measurement at the head, and a visual on the cartridge, the diverter, and the head itself. Where a thermostatic cartridge has failed we fit a genuine Aqualisa, Mira, or Bristan replacement so the calibration matches the original body. Electric showers are tested with insulation and continuity readings on the element and solenoid before parts are ordered. Where the shower itself is beyond economic repair we recommend a like-for-like or upgraded replacement and quote on a fixed basis before any work starts.

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When We Use This

Where this service applies

  • Dripping shower head or diverter after the lever has been turned off
  • Thermostatic mixer cycling between hot and cold, calibration drift on Aqualisa, Mira, or Bristan cartridges
  • No flow at the head despite full hot and cold supply at adjacent taps
  • Weak flow only on the shower while basin taps run normally, typical of a choked rose or limescaled cartridge
  • Electric shower trips the RCD or runs cold, element or solenoid failure on Mira Sport, Triton, or similar
  • Pull-cord switch failure on a ceiling-mounted electric shower isolator
  • Leaking shower hose, head, or wall outlet causing damp on the tile face or below
  • Gravity-fed shower losing pressure as the cold cistern empties faster than it refills
  • Booster pump fault on a power-showered installation, separate quote on our pump replacement page
Our Process

How we deliver

No surprises, no upselling. The exact path every job follows.

  1. 1
    Symptom triage
    We identify the shower type (thermostatic mixer, manual mixer, electric, or power shower) and the failure mode (drip, no flow, no temperature, intermittent) so the right diagnostic kit comes off the van.
  2. 2
    Pressure and flow check at the inlets
    Hot and cold inlets isolated and gauged, flow measured at the head, and the head and hose checked for scale. This often resolves no-pressure complaints without opening the valve body at all.
  3. 3
    Cartridge or component test
    On mixer showers the cartridge is stripped, inspected for scale and disc wear, and either descaled or replaced. On electric showers the element, solenoid, and microswitch are tested with a multimeter before any part is ordered.
  4. 4
    Repair-or-replace recommendation
    If a genuine cartridge is available and economic, we fit it. If the body is corroded, the chrome failing, or the model long discontinued, we quote a like-for-like replacement before any further work.
  5. 5
    Part fitted and resealed
    Genuine Aqualisa, Mira, or Bristan thermostatic cartridge fitted with new O-rings, or new shower body installed in the existing wall holes with a fresh silicone weather-seal on the wall plate.
  6. 6
    Calibration and temperature check
    Thermostatic units calibrated to 38C set-point with a digital thermometer at the head. The 43C upper limit-stop is verified, and the unit is cycled hot-to-cold to confirm response.
  7. 7
    Site cleared and tested in service
    Old parts bagged, area wiped down, and the shower run through three full cycles to confirm stable flow and temperature before we leave.
Frequently Asked

Your questions answered

My shower has lost pressure overnight, what is the likely cause?
The three most common causes, in order: a limescale-blocked shower head or hose (try unscrewing and soaking the rose in a kettle-descaler solution), a partially closed in-line isolation valve behind a service panel, or a scaled-up thermostatic cartridge. If the rest of the cold supply in the house is also weak it usually points to a wider mains issue, see our low water pressure diagnosis page.
How much does a shower repair cost?
Most cartridge swaps and routine repairs complete within the one-hour minimum labour charge, with parts in addition. Electric shower diagnostics and part replacement typically run 60 to 90 minutes. A full shower replacement, where the cartridge is uneconomic, is quoted on a fixed basis before any work starts.
Do I have to replace the whole shower if the cartridge fails?
No. Aqualisa, Mira, and Bristan all supply replacement thermostatic cartridges for the major bar-mixer and concealed valve ranges, and a genuine cartridge fit restores the original calibration and warranty behaviour. We only recommend a full replacement when the body is corroded or the cartridge is no longer manufactured.
My electric shower runs cold, is the element gone?
Often yes, but not always. The other common faults are a failed solenoid, a failed microswitch on the flow valve, or a tripped ECO setting that needs a manual reset. We test element resistance and solenoid continuity with a multimeter before ordering parts, so you do not pay for the wrong component.
Can you fit a more powerful shower if the old one is too weak?
Yes. On gravity-fed systems we can quote for a single-impeller or twin-impeller booster pump to raise flow, see the pump replacement page. On mains-pressure systems we can fit a higher-flow head or a pressure-balanced thermostatic valve, subject to a flow and pressure check at the inlets.
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30 to 60 minute response across every London borough. Gas Safe registered. 12-month workmanship guarantee.

FAQ

Shower repair (no pressure or not working): your questions

How fast can you reach me for shower repair (no pressure or not working)?
Typical on-site time is 30 to 60 minutes across the M25, subject to engineer availability and traffic. Live dispatch, never queued. Times quoted are best-effort targets, not contractual guarantees.
What does shower repair (no pressure or not working) typically cost?
Labour is one flat rate across London and the M25, billed per 30 minutes: from £75 / 30 min (daytime) up to £147 / 30 min (nighttime), with a one-hour minimum then 30-minute increments. There is no callout fee. Domestic prices shown inc VAT, no hidden extras. Fixed-price conversion available on most jobs after diagnosis. Full rate card.
Is the work guaranteed?
Yes. Shower repair (no pressure or not working) carries the same 12-month workmanship guarantee as every other emergency plumbing job we do.
Are you Gas Safe registered?
Yes. Gas Safe Register number 972173. Verifiable live at gassaferegister.co.uk before our engineer walks in.

Need shower repair (no pressure or not working) now?

30 to 60 minute response across every London borough. Gas Safe registered. 12-month workmanship guarantee.