Hello,

I purchased an electric shower from Argos,

the description stated 'suitable for all water systems'.

I employed a trades person on a fit only basis,

when the shower was fitted it did not function,

on investigation the shower was suitable for cold water mains supply only which I do not have.

This has resulted in me paying the trades person twice,

the second time to fit a suitable shower and left a fixing hole in my wall the new shower doesn't cover.

I have written to Argos and they state

1. It is the fitters responsibility to read the manufacturers instructions even though the fitting was carried out correctly

2. The duty of care rests with the trades person even though I instructed them to fit the shower confident it was the right one as advertised.

I have asked for compensation for the plumbing costs and a goodwill gesture for the damaged wall which they are refusing.

Can anyone help.

Thanks

Why did the trades man connect it then if you have no cold water feed...did he connect it to the hot water feed ?

This wont have enough pressure which the tradesman would have known ?

Andy

I employed a trades person at short notice as I only have a shower (no bath) and my shower had ceased to work.

The agreement was I would supply the shower and that they would fit the shower to the wall, plumb the water connection and wire the electrics.

I'm not sure how a trades person who does not specialise in showers (nor do they need to for a shower swap) would know what was suitable and what was not and why they would disbelieve me when I said 'fit this please', there was nothing to gain for them.

I have since learnt there are at least 4 types of shower water supply, mains, combi, vented and tank gravity fed,

that's an aside the shower I bought clearly stated suitable for all water systems,

my trades person was a general builder and carried out the job as instructed.

show us the item on the argos site.

So your saying you do not have cold water mains supply in your bathroom?

How do your cold taps work in the bathroom then???

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/8331977

Argos have changed the item description to read

- Compatible with all water systems

- install as per manufacturers guidelines.

Which is still incorrect

the shower is not compatible with all water systems

and the installation in my case was correct,

the installation is not the issue.

Why do you ask as this isn't relevant or helpful,

but as you asked I have cold water mains to the sink,

I assume as the pressure is low in my area when the bathroom was fitted, before my time,

a gravity fed system from the loft was installed so I have a cold water supply but at low pressure which electric showers aren't suitable for,

I need either an external pump fitted for about £440.00 or an electric shower with an integrated pump,

hope this helps you, can you help me?

" a gravity fed system from the loft was installed "

Beginning to make sense now....if only you had posted that in your initial post

Well I've just read the instructions on installation and it says cold water mains pressure.

So you may have a case.

But they also say read before installing.

There is also mention in the fault finding section at back of booklet about gravity fed systems and you can use this shower with an average gravity system.

What is the height of the tank to the shower unit?

Ps my triton electric shower works fine from my cold water tank system and there is only 5 foot height difference.

After re-reading your responses in starting to think your general builder is seeing you as a bit of a cash cow.

The pressure from a gravity fed system as long as you have at least a head of at least 5 feet will give you mains pressure anyway- your shower should function.

A trades person should of read the specifics of installing the shower.

Is he qualified to do the electrics?

You can buy a water pump from around £60 trade (around 100 quid to fit)

Or even if you went to screwdix you can get one for around £100

https://www.screwfix.com/c/bathrooms-kitchens/shower-pumps/cat820270?cm_mmc=Google-_-Bathrooms%20%7c%20Showers%20and%20Enclosures%20%7c%20Generic%20-%20Non-RLSAs-_-Parts%20-%20Pumps%20-%20Exact-_-water%20shower%20pump__kenshoo_clickid_&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImfWs9eOB1wIVCI0bCh02Sge4EAAYASAAEgJ6UPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CK7erPrjgdcCFfcT0wodmZgPRg

I'm thinking you are being seen as a free ATM machine by the general builder.

One other small point, why didn't you get a plumber to do the shower rather than a general builder?

Thanks for the response,

assuming the fitter arrived and read the instructions

he would not have fitted the shower

I would have been liable for a call out charge which to me would be Argos' fault.

Sorry I have read the booklet and in no way does it say gravity fed will work, can you please quote.

I have consulted Which and you dont need any qualifications to swap out a shower only install from new.

The builder has not taken any advantage

they fitted the shower as requested,

it wasnt fit for purpose,

I bought another shower they fitted that and charged accordingly,

I used a general trades person as this happened on a Sunday evening,

we dont have a bath and in a busy house hold

I needed the situation rectifying quickly before work, Uni etc

and they were the only ones available at short notice

he was more than capable of connecting one pipe, drilling four holes in the wall and connecting three wires.

The stuff on gravity fed systems is in the faq or troubleshooting pages.

General builder would need to be qualified in electrics.

What if he had fitted it and you turn it on and got electrocuted? Its not swapping out, and a reputable and qualified person would of read the specifics before installing.

It matters not that the builder was the only one available at short notice. In fact it should of been the 1st red flag.

I can see Argos point in their reply to you.

Not fitted in accordance to manufactures guidelines.

If they were read before fitting the product could of been returned.

Maybe someone with a law degree can pick thru the small print to the nth degree for you and find a small loophole but I don't think you have a strong case but still try.

Ok,

I have read the manufacturers guidance and there is nothing suggesting gravity fed is suitable, please quote.

No the builder would not need to be electrics qualified, please look at the advice from Which, I cant post the link as the forum wont let me.

The person did not need to read the instructions as it is very basic, drill four holes, secure shower, connect pipe, wire the same as a standard plug.

No red flags, job done at a reasonable price, the shower failed as it was not sold as described, the fitting was not the issue.

The shower was fitted in accordance with the manufactures guidelines even though they weren't consulted, even if they had been referred to that part of the booklet is past the compatibility piece which is the real issue, the shower failed to work as the water pressure was not sufficient.

I did return the product and was refunded as the item was not fit for purpose/sold as described my issue now is consequential loss.

In summation:

1. Was the shower advertised as suitable for ALL water systems, Yes,

2. Was the shower fitted correctly, Yes,

3. Did it work, No,

4. Was this due to the item being installed incorrectly, No,

5 Was the shower sold as advertised, No,

6 Had the instructions been read from cover to cover in spite of the advertised suitability would the shower have been fitted, No,

7 Would I have still been charged by the trades person for a call out, Yes,

8 Are Argos at fault, please comment......

1 yes

2 no ( shouldn't of been fitted if competent person reading instructions)

3 no

4 yes. Not fitted to manufactures guidelines. Would of been avoided by answer in post 2

5 no

6 no. And there lies your problem

7 no. Shower could of been returned and a suitable one purchased to be fitted.

8... Partly. But not to the level of compensation your requesting.

Ps you still have not said how much of a head of water you have above the shower.

My trinton shower works perfectly well inspire it saying its for cold mains only.

You haven't also answered y your builder wants to charge you £440 for a pump you can get for £60.

Hi

1. On the Argos link you provided it states "Compatible with all water systems - install as per manufacturers guidelines."

Did it state this at the time of purchase?

2. On the same Argos link were all 4 of the "view document PDF" displayed at time of purchase?

3. On the same Argos link if you download the very first "view document PDF" and go to Page 2 of PDF -Section 1 Checklist - Specification - Pumbling - Supply Source it states clearly "Mains pressure cold water".

4. In your above post its a bit confusing as you seem to imply the person you employed did not read the manufacturers and just installed the shower but then imply it was installed as per the manufactures instructions. (Did the person you employed fit the shower as per the install instructions from the manufacturer?)

I think the confusion comes from compatible with all water systems.

The shower does as long as your system gives mains pressue.

Mains water pressure is the ability to fill a 1 gallon container in 30 seconds or less.

If you have to modify your system then that's an addition and out of manufactures hands.

All you need to do is add a water pump. The specs don't say it has to be mains fed, just mains pressure.

Not sure his a complaint will fair as the instructions are correct.

It is suitable for all water systems with mains pressure.

Hi the wording and PDF documents have since been added. On point 4 the shower was fitted correctly, the documents were not read but nothing in the installation impaired the performance of the shower. Hope that makes sense.

1 yes

2 no ( shouldn't of been fitted if competent person reading instructions). The installation was performed correctly.

3 no

4 yes. Not fitted to manufactures guidelines. Would of been avoided by answer in post 2. Disagree fitted correctly, water supply wrong

5 no

6 no. And there lies your problem

7 no. Shower could of been returned and a suitable one purchased to be fitted. The shower was returned, the fee to the fitter would be a call out charge.

 

8... Partly. But not to the level of compensation your requesting. What level do you suggest?

 

 

Ps you still have not said how much of a head of water you have above the shower. Sorry not had time to measure it.

My trinton shower works perfectly well inspire it saying its for cold mains only.

You haven't also answered y your builder wants to charge you £440 for a pump you can get for £60.

Can I ask is your shower cold only gravity or gravity and hot water tank?

Gravity cold tank in the loft , seperste hot water tank.

Ok I only have the one supply maybe thats the difference?

ah you've finally understood...