Installation, replacement and repair
Shower mixer replacement
A worn shower mixer drips, leaks where it meets the wall, or swings between too hot and too cold. An exposed wall mixer is usually swapped in about an hour, while a concealed mixer needs hacking only if the valve body inside the wall has to be replaced.
Typical price
$80–$180exposed mixer, labour only, mixer extraTypical job time
45–90 min; longer with hacking
Estimate, confirm on WhatsApp
When to replace or repair
- Water drips from the shower head or spout long after the mixer is closed.
- Water leaks from the mixer body, the handle, or where the inlets meet the wall.
- The temperature jumps between hot and cold, or it is hard to set a comfortable temperature.
- The lever or knob is stiff, loose, or turns without changing anything.
- The diverter no longer switches cleanly between the overhead shower and the handset, or water comes out of both.
- Green or white crust has formed around the joints, or the chrome is peeling off the body.
Common reasons
- A worn ceramic cartridge, the part inside that controls flow and temperature.
- Scale and grit from the supply blocking the cartridge or the small filters in the inlets.
- Perished washers in the S-unions, the offset connectors between the wall and the mixer.
- A worn diverter in a two-way mixer that feeds both a rain shower and a handset.
- Very different hot and cold water pressures, which make the temperature hard to hold steady.
- A mixer fitted off-level or over-tightened, which strains the body and seals.
Before you call
Safe things to try first
- If your bathroom has its own stop valves, close them to stop a drip until the mixer is fixed.
- Before buying, measure from the centre of the hot inlet to the centre of the cold inlet on the wall, and check that the new mixer's specification sheet covers that distance in its adjustable range.
- Check that both inlets stick out from the tiles by about the same amount and sit level with each other. Photograph them with a tape measure in view.
- Note whether your hot water comes from a storage heater or an instant heater, and send photos of the mixer and any brand marking.
Stop and call if
- Water is leaking from inside the wall or from behind the tiles, not from the mixer itself.
- A wall connector is loose or turns when you move the mixer, which can damage the pipe in the wall.
- Hot water comes out scalding at a normal setting, especially if children or elderly people use the shower.
- Damp patches appear on the other side of the bathroom wall or on the ceiling of the flat below.
What we do
- 1Identify the mixer from your photos: exposed or concealed, one-way or two-way, and whether it is fed by a storage heater.
- 2For an exposed mixer, measure the inlet spacing and confirm the new mixer fits. For a concealed mixer, check whether a new cartridge for that model is available before suggesting any hacking.
- 3Shut off the water, remove the old mixer, and clean and re-tape the wall threads.
- 4Fit the new mixer level, with new washers in the S-unions and the cover plates sitting flush against the tiles.
- 5Run hot and cold through the full range, test the diverter, and check every joint for drips.
How much it costs
Most shower mixer replacement jobs in Singapore cost $80–$180 (exposed mixer, labour only, mixer extra). This is an estimate; the final price is confirmed on WhatsApp or on site before work starts.
- Replace an exposed wall mixer you supply$80–$150
- Supply and install a basic exposed mixer$180–$400
- Replace a concealed mixer cartridge, no hacking$80–$180
- Replace a concealed mixer body with hacking$250–$600
HDB, condo and landed
HDB
The mixer and fittings in your flat are yours to maintain. Exposed mixers are the usual setup in HDB bathrooms. Hacking bathroom wall tiles counts as renovation work, so check HDB's renovation guidelines before agreeing to replace a concealed mixer body.
Condo
Fittings inside your unit are yours. Inform management before the visit, and get approval before any hacking, as by-laws set work hours and some condos ask for a renovation deposit.
Landed
You own all the pipes. Long hot water runs from one heater to several bathrooms mean hot water takes longer to arrive, so test the mixer at each bathroom you use before choosing a thermostatic or rain shower model.
Shower mixer replacement: common questions
How do I measure for an exposed shower mixer?
Measure from the centre of the hot inlet to the centre of the cold inlet on the wall, and compare it with the range on the mixer's specification sheet. The adjustable S-unions only cover a small range, so do not assume any mixer will fit.
Do I need a licensed plumber to change a shower mixer?
No. PUB lists replacing mixers and shower heads as work that does not need a PUB Licensed Plumber. Repairing the pipe inside the wall behind the mixer is different and does need one.
Do shower mixers need a WELS label?
Yes. Since 1 April 2019, taps and mixers supplied and installed in Singapore must have a WELS rating of at least 2 ticks. Check the box before buying, especially from overseas sellers.
Do I need a mixer if I have an instant water heater?
Usually not. An instant heater takes in cold water and sets the temperature itself, and the shower set connects to the heater outlet. Mixers are used where hot water comes from a storage heater through separate hot and cold pipes.
Can I change a concealed mixer to an exposed one?
Yes, but the concealed valve has to be removed or capped, the wall patched, and new inlets set up for the exposed mixer. Changes to the pipes in the wall are work for a PUB Licensed Plumber, and the job is quoted after a look.
Why does my shower turn hot or cold when someone uses another tap?
Opening another tap drops the pressure on the hot or cold side, so the mix changes. A worn cartridge makes it worse. Thermostatic mixers are designed to hold the temperature more steadily.
Get a price for shower mixer replacement
Send a photo or short video, your home type and postal code. We reply with a price range and the earliest slot.
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