Hot water woes
#1
03-13-17, 07:46 AM
Hot water woes
I just repaired my hot water tempering valve on my boiler. Its a tankless system so this tempering valve was how i set how hot the water is for the house.
After replacing the internals of this valve i now have a bit of control over how how the hot water for the house is, which is great.
Now however i have a new issue. My shower has lousy water pressure on hot or cold, O and hot is now more like lukewarm at best.
The faucet is a very old moen i think from the 70's but i cant an image of it on the moen site.
After replacing the internals of this valve i now have a bit of control over how how the hot water for the house is, which is great.
Now however i have a new issue. My shower has lousy water pressure on hot or cold, O and hot is now more like lukewarm at best.
The faucet is a very old moen i think from the 70's but i cant an image of it on the moen site.
#2
03-13-17, 09:14 AM
Member
It is possible that the shower valve is an "anti-scald" type which is basically a balancing valve. If there is not enough cold water pressure to offset the hot water and keep it from getting too hot the valve will not pass much of either.
I had a similar problem once that required replacement of the cartridge in the shower valve that controls the balancing.
In the photo below that I think is from an American Standard valve, the cartridge is behind the large screw fitting just to the right of the valve body. I originally bought a replacement for the fitting and the cartridge inside, but it is just a metal cylinder with holes that can be cleaned with vinegar or other deposit-removing solution. The cartridge needs to slide freely inside the fitting to work correctly.
Since this is could be a valve problem, the thread may be moved to the plumbing forum.
I had a similar problem once that required replacement of the cartridge in the shower valve that controls the balancing.
In the photo below that I think is from an American Standard valve, the cartridge is behind the large screw fitting just to the right of the valve body. I originally bought a replacement for the fitting and the cartridge inside, but it is just a metal cylinder with holes that can be cleaned with vinegar or other deposit-removing solution. The cartridge needs to slide freely inside the fitting to work correctly.
Since this is could be a valve problem, the thread may be moved to the plumbing forum.
#3
03-13-17, 09:44 AM
Group Moderator
Thread moved to plumbing.
I'm not a plumber but I don't recall many anti scald valves in use back in the 70's.
Since the problem is just in the one shower that would be the likeliest place for the problem. If you have old plumbing and especially with a well system.... you may have dislodged rust and sediment that ended up in the shower valve or even the shower head.
Post a few pictures of what you have here and maybe someone will recognize it.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html
I'm not a plumber but I don't recall many anti scald valves in use back in the 70's.
Since the problem is just in the one shower that would be the likeliest place for the problem. If you have old plumbing and especially with a well system.... you may have dislodged rust and sediment that ended up in the shower valve or even the shower head.
Post a few pictures of what you have here and maybe someone will recognize it.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html
#4
03-14-17, 06:33 AM
Turned out that some debris from when i repaired my water tempering valve made its way upstream. I ended up having to remove part of the shower water valve and clean it out along with the hose leading up to the showerhead. I am glad there was a screen in the connection to the showerhead, lots of stuff ended up blowing out of there. The whole hose had debris in it. Water pressure is now better than it has ever been to my memory. I am wondering now if there is debris in the other shower valve or hose since pressure in that bathroom has never been stellar.
BTW when i say it had low pressure i mean like the pulse setting on the showerhead never worked right because there was so little pressure. Now the pulse setting really works and honestly i think i should put in one of those water saver inserts.
Also this moen shower is old as dirt i looked on their site and couldnt find my model but its also all brass so this thing will probably last a long time now that i have a whole house water softener / filter.
BTW when i say it had low pressure i mean like the pulse setting on the showerhead never worked right because there was so little pressure. Now the pulse setting really works and honestly i think i should put in one of those water saver inserts.
Also this moen shower is old as dirt i looked on their site and couldnt find my model but its also all brass so this thing will probably last a long time now that i have a whole house water softener / filter.
#5
03-14-17, 07:14 AM
Forum Topic Moderator
I would take the aerators off the faucets and clean them. There are screens in the inlet of your washer that clog. Take them out and clean them be sure to put them back in. These clog all the time. Can't remember how many repairs calls I have gone on for that reason.
#6
03-14-17, 08:57 AM
I am going to go around and see what i can do about potential clogs. I am thinking one of those sink drain tools to remove hair might be handy for large blockages. I hope that now that i have a very good whole house filter / softener that this will be much more rare once i get this cleaned out. With how much of a problem it is to reach my washer connection i might look into something i can put there to make it easier before i even work on it.
