I remodeled the bathroom 2 winters ago and installed a new Moen one-handled tub and shower faucet. Ive never been satisfied with the shower pressure since then. can I simply remove the cartridge from the valve and drill out the holes where the water comes in? I hate these water saving fixtures!! If I could find some nice looking handles and valves I would just plumb it direct to the shower with out all the restrictions. The shower head is not the problem, there isnt much pressure even if I remove the head. Any advice out there?

 

Hi Halfwet, Moen makes a good valve. You say you installed a tub/ shower valve. Does the tub spout have enough pressure? Does the spout leak when you have the shower on? Did you flush out the system after you installed the valve?
Pull the cartridge and inspect it for debris before you install it back close the shower doors or curtian and turn the water on to blow the system out. Do both hot and cold.If this doesn't work replace the cartridge Moen Has a lifetime Gaurentee. Good Luck Woodbutcher

 

No, the tub spout doesnt have alot of pressure either. I used to have a freestanding shower stall before I put in the tub/shower combo. I had Lots of pressure in the shower before, but it was just plumbed directly thru the hand valves and then to the shower head with no restrictions at all. Im hooked to the same 1/2" copper lines as before, I flushed the system when installed, and I feel since the water has to go thru the main valve now to be directed either to the shower or tub it just is restricted too much. I have plenty of pressure at the shut off valves. The water pressure hasnt been as good as I like ever since day 1. For example, the spray wont reach the far end of the tub, maybe only about 3/4ths of the way. Im tempted to replumb it direct to the shower head and install a couple of knobs/valves just for the shower, unless I can modify the existing valve or cartridge somehow

 

is your moen valve a pressure balancing valve? if so, sometimes the balancing spool will clog. this is located directly above the cartridge. you'll need a long screwdriver, with the widest blade you have, to remove it. some of these are so hard to get out, ive had to drill a hole in the center of the slot, and use a large screw extractor to remove spool. the bad part is, after drilling a hole in it, you need a new one, and around here in pgh theyre about $35 or $40. anyway, if you get it out without drilling, usually the holes in it are clogged. try poking the holes out, maybe soaking it in wd-40 or something. also, does your valve have built in water stops? ( shut-off valves ). these are 2 screws on both sides of the valve. maybe theyre not open all the way? good luck!

 

I pulled the cartridge out {with quite a bit of effort I might add, that rascal was stuck in there good and its only been 2 years}and I could see right away that there was no way a simple drill job was gonna fix the problem. I called Moen and I learned that strict goverment regulations require only a certain amount of water flow thru a faucet. I knew this was true about toilets but I didnt realize our wonderful lawmakers had so much time on their hands to pass regulations that affect whether or not I can get my whole body wet under the shower! LOL Anyway, if anyone knows where I can get a 'non complying' faucet let me know. Also, will a 2 handled shower valve have more flow than a single? Theres no cartridge in one of those. i know guys that have picked up faucets and toilets when the've gone to Canada fishing, I may have to go that route..Any info would be greatly appreciated. B.t.w., theres was no debris in my cartridge.

 

Hi halfwet, Today I worked on a couple of Moen valves they both had good pressure. I hope you ran the water through the valve body without the cartridge in place just to make sure there wasn't a piece of solder stuck in the system.I would also recomend that if you have "hard" water you use a plastic cartridge so the two pieces won't seize together. Thaks for responding. I hope you find the problem and share it with us.Good Luck Woodbutcher

 

First of all, I think what you have is a "low flow" fixture,(not "low pressure"). In any event, in my house, my water system is gravity flow, from my spring up on the hill to my house (no pump at all),I get a max of 22 psi in the cellar, less upstairs. I found that with the inherent low pressure in my system in order to get sufficient flow I needed to drill out flow restrictors in certain fixtures, in some cases it's easy: just enlarge the hole in the aerator in a faucet. In other cases, I needed to find a place in a washerless fixture where the water exits the metal housing and enters the cartridge and somehow enlarge this hole, sometimes I can get a twist drill in it, sometimes I need to use a dremel type tool. What a difference a little bit bigger hole makes. Don't try to enlarge a hole that an "o" ring will be closing however.
Barring this, if you need to get a new valve, see if they will help you take it apart before you buy it, and try to figure out where the water comes in, and figure out some "reverse engineering" to make it work better. Some fixtures are easier to modify than others. Hope this is helpful in some way.
simonmeridew

 

Thanks simon, yes that is very helpfull in that now I have hope for the future! I do believe with the faucet I currently have that the flow is restricted at the cartridge and there didnt seem to be a good way to drill it out. i went to my local small town Ace hardware to see if he had any "pre-regulation" fixtures upstairs or in the back and he sold the last one last week! But he can help me figure out how to 'engineer' one im sure! Thanks alot, Ill keep y'all posted

 

Hi halfwet,

So your shower only gets you half wet? Humm, well I'm glad to see there are others like me who are serious about taking showers with more than 3/4 gallon of water. lol.

A few years back, I made the mistake of buying a new low-flow show head. Yikes! No-flow is more like it. It reminds me of taking a shower with one of those 1 gallon camping jugs. Determined to restore my old water flow, (I hope the water police do not read this forum,) I bought supplies to make a double shower head!! Voila! (or violin, cello...) I now get as much or more water than I used to. In fact, I am down right spoiled!

Since your restriction is in the valving, I am reminded of my brother-in-laws house that has a shower with 2 sets of handles and 2 shower heads. A shower for 2.

Good luck.

Mark

 

Ok heres the next question..I have 3/8 copper supply lines to the shower, connected to 1/2 plastic to the valves...I could run 1/2" to the cold side without too much trouble. Would that cause too much imbalance if I dont switch the hot side to 1/2"? i could switch that too if I make a run all the way to the water heater, which has 3/8" on the outlet side. I Reckon Id have to 't' it right at the outlet with 1/2" then reduce back to 3/8". That surely would increase the flow to the shower. Thanks y'all!