Bristan AR2 SHXMTFF C Artisan Thermostatic Bar Shower Valve with Multi-Function Kit and Fast Fit Connections

I bought this as a direct replacement for a similar but older Bristan thermostatic bar shower unit. Because of this, installation was simple... Water off, unscrew the 2 connectors, screw on the new unit then water on. Voila. Hot showers again.I'm in disbelief at the number of people reviewing this product who appear to turn the shower on and start lathering themselves up before they've selected a comfortable temperature! Why in the world you would want to change the temperature mid shower with soapy hands... And if you did for any reason, you're in a shower and have been in a shower at the wrong temperature for some time already at this point, why not take an extra second to wash the suds off your hands before adjusting the temperature?And the person who couldn't tell which way was hot or cold? Seriously, if you can count, you can operate this shower. It has a safety button marked at 38, press the button to make it warmer and the far end of the control says 43. 99.9% of the population will rightly assume this is hotter.Seriously folks, don't worry about Karen who can't figure out how to wash her soapy hands while standing in a continuous jet of water or set the temperature before getting in... I don't even think having soap on your hands would prevent you from turning the control, unless you're doing it on purpose because you love to complain.Just buy it, it's not rocket science unless you have the intelligence and strength of a small child (P.S. my 7 year old can operate this shower without issue).

It was so easy to install. My husband seems to have lost confidence as he has got older and we usually call in tradesmen to do jobs whereas in the past he did many jobs but with the current pandemic and the lockdown we were reluctant to do that. He was able to take off the old thermostatic shower bar and fit this new one very, very easily. Before we ordered it, he made sure he could isolate the water supply and take off the old one and that worked ok so we went ahead with the purchase. Fortunately the manufacturer's seem to have got their act together and made standard sizes for this type of shower. If it had been a case of having to move water pipes etc we would have left it to the professionals. So many times in the past, what seemed to be an easy job turned out not to be so but for this installation of a replacement (not the same make) it all turned out well.The actual shower bar seems very well made, solid and shiny and most of all it works well.

Great shower, but as someone has already said, the temperature control knob lets it down. It requires a very firm grip and with it being perfectly smooth it's impossible to turn with wet, soapy hands. The temperatures are also impossible for me to read with not even a red/blue indication as to which way is hot/cold. So now I have to take my showers with my glasses on, wearing rubber gloves, and with a mole wrench on hand. Great design guys!16 months later - it now switches itself off after about 2 minutes for some reason. I have to lower the shower head to knee-level and it comes back on. So now I have to lie down to rinse myself off.

Just fitted this Bristan shower mixer,after turning off the mains supply.Removed the 17 year old Triton Tyne mixer bar., which was giving out a very weak water pressure.So to stop the nagging from her indoors I decide to fit the new Bristan shower bar.Decided not to use all of the fitments supplied and use the existing ones already fitted.Anyway lucky enough the screw threads were the same size as the Bristan ones.It was a little tricky lining up the nut couplings,because they both have to be screwed in together at the same time.Anyway eventually the both screwed in tightened,and please do not forget to put the rubber/filter washers inside the couplings before you start this bit of the job.That’s it really turned the mains pressure back on and thankfully no leaks,the Bristan Bar works perfectly now with plenty of delightfull pressure to keep the wife happy.Just a tip,I had to make a new spanner to fit the Bristan nut couplings properly,I found an old large steel thin spanner and with my electric grinder trimmed it to the exact size to fit the new nut coupling…a piece of cake…thought this may help you.

Having bought a house in the past year the old Bristan shower failed a month ago, however the shower temp felt poor from the day we moved.I saw a video on YouTube showing how easy it is to replaced just the shower valve. Feeling confident in the task I ordered a new Bristan shower valve and it was super easy to replace the old one with it. The difference is huge in it actually being hot and so much simpler to turn on and off with really smooth motion on the knobs.Don’t hesitate in buying this and they are really easy to replace your old shower valve.