How to replace Estilo shower tap mixer?

Question

Hi, I have an Estilo shower tap mixer in my shower. However the flow rate is very slow at 3 litres per minute and I doubt it is suitable for a gravity fed system, and I would like to replace it with a higher flow rate mixer tap. Any recommendations?

Also, I am not sure how to take this tap mixer off as it doesn't seem to have an Allen key screw underneath the tap, only an encircled pin. See lift side of 2nd photo attached.

Any suggestions much appreciated, Rod

uqrmccre · Answer

Thanks Mitchell, I pulled to shower head apart and there are no flow inhibitors there, though I think I will try a higher pressure shower head first.  Cheers, Rod

MitchellMc · Answer

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @uqrmccre. It's sensational to have you join us and many thanks for your question on changing a wall mixer.

Just a quick note first that plumbing work like this does need to be carried out by a licensed plumber to ensure everything is safe and compliant.

Before looking at replacing the mixer, have you confirmed that your shower head is suitable for a gravity-fed system? That’s often a major restriction point. Many modern shower heads include flow limiters, and if it’s not designed for low-pressure systems, you can still get very low flow even with a suitable mixer. It’s usually the easiest and cheapest thing to check or swap first.

In terms of the mixer itself, wall-mounted shower mixers are quite different from basin or sink mixers. They’re not a self-contained unit and in most cases, you can’t simply remove and replace them from the front. The body of the mixer is plumbed into the wall, so changing it typically requires access to the pipework.

Because of that, a plumber would need to assess whether:

* It can be replaced without major work
* There is rear access (e.g. from the other side of the wall)
* Tiles or wall sheeting may need to be removed

Unfortunately, in many cases, replacing a wall mixer can involve disturbing the surrounding tiles if there’s no access from behind.

Regarding the handle removal, the grub screw is visible in the top left of your second phot, but even if you remove the handle and trim, it won’t allow you to swap out the full mixer body.

I’m not aware of any wall mixers specifically designed for very low-pressure (gravity-fed) systems, which is why it’s worth ruling out the shower head first.

Best next step would be to have a plumber take a look and confirm what’s feasible in your setup.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell