- Turn off the water supply to the shower faucet.
- Use the screwdriver to remove the handle of the faucet.
- Take off the metal cover under the faucet handle to reveal the valve stem protruding from the wall of the shower.
- Use needle nose pliers to pull the retainer clip out of the top of the valve body.
- Tug on the valve stem and pull it out. Removing the valve stem will expose a space inside the valve body. The cartridge is lining the wall of the space.
- Use the cartridge puller to remove the cartridge from the faucet. ...
- Take the old cartridge to a home improvement center or hardware store to find an exact match, and purchase a new cartridge.
- Line the inside of the valve body and the new cartridge with silicone grease to ensure that the new cartridge will slide into the valve body easily.
- Insert the new cartridge into the valve body and put back the outer parts of the faucet that you removed in step 1 and 2. ...
- Turn back on the water supply to the shower.
Full Answer
How do you fix a clogged shower faucet drain?
Turn off the water supply to the shower. 2. Place a towel over the drain so dropped screws don't fall in. 3. Remove the faucet handle and any metal covers or trim plates (depending on manufacturer, there may be a small set screw or hex screw at the bottom of the handle or behind a plastic cap).
How do you fix cold water coming out of the faucet?
Turn back on the water supply to the shower. That’s it! Test the water to ensure that the cold water is now functioning. If the hot and cold water is reversed after reinstalling the faucet, this is an indication that the cartridge was put into the faucet backwards.
Should your Shower’s Hot and cold water be reversed?
Many people who have their hot and cold water reversed have decided to live with it. But it does not need to be this way! If your shower’s hot and cold water are reversed, this could be caused by a shower cartridge that is out of alignment. Or perhaps your plumber did some sloppy work and mismatched the cold and hot water control knobs.
Why does my shower have hot water but not cold water?
If the other faucets around the house do have hot and cold water, then the problem is most likely the pressure-balancing valve in your shower. Why Pressure-Balancing Valves Fail Pressure-balancing valves regulate both pressure and the ratio of cold and hot water that flows out of the showerhead.
Why is my cold water not working in my shower?
Lack of cold water is usually caused by a defective pressure-balancing valve in a cartridge. This part is located inside the shower faucet. So, are you feeling handy? With a few tools and some patience, you may be able to replace the valve cartridge on your own.
Why does my shower get hot but not cold water?
No cold water in the shower may indicate defective parts within the shower faucet. If you have a single-lever control in your shower, you likely need to replace the cartridge that houses the pressure-balancing valve.
How do I fix my cold water shower tap?
4:337:12Fix shower faucet that is only hot or cold. Valve cartridge replacement.YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInside all right take a flashlight and look in that tube and make sure there isn't any hard waterMoreInside all right take a flashlight and look in that tube and make sure there isn't any hard water deposits or anything that could be blocking. The new valve that you're gonna be placing.
Why does my hot water work but not cold water?
If there is no cold water anywhere in your home, it could be a possible indication of a frozen pipe or debris blocking the cold water pipe. Since the cold water pipe splits off from the hot water pipe that heads to the water heater, and you have no cold water, the blockage may be in the cold water pipe.
Where is my shower mixing valve located?
You can see the trim on the shower faucet, but the actual valve is behind the wall and is permanently connected to the plumbing. To replace it, you need an access panel through the shower wall, and if it isn't designed into your bathroom, you'll have to cut one.
How do I test my shower mixing valve?
0:026:09How to Replace a Shower Mixing Valve | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTurn it on full cold you have full pressure yeah full hot you've got full pressure but right in theMoreTurn it on full cold you have full pressure yeah full hot you've got full pressure but right in the middle where you want it mixed right the pressure dies down dramatically.
Why is shower not getting hot?
If the water in the shower never gets hot, the problem may be with the temperature control on the water heater. If you have an electric water heater, one of the elements may have burned out and the water either gets hot for only a short length of time, or it never gets hot at all.
Do all showers have mixing valves?
Not all shower trim sets come with valves. Because they work in tandem, both the shower faucets (the shower trim) and the shower valve must be made by the same manufacturer and be the right pairing to ensure a proper fit to work correctly.
Why is my shower mixer not mixing?
The usual suspects for this problem are a blocked shower head, kinked or damaged shower hose, or blocked inlet filters in the shower itself. It could also be due to faulty non-return valves.
Where is the cold water shut-off valve?
Crawl-space with no basement – the shut-off valve typically is located near the water heater or under the kitchen sink, but anywhere is possible. If it is located inside the crawl space, you may want to consider a second valve located in the living space, for example, near the water heater or under a sink.
Why am I getting hot water everywhere but the shower?
If you're getting hot water everywhere but your shower, it could be that your anti-scald device is set at too high a limit. Anti-scald devices (also called a “hot limit stop” or “rotational limit stop”) are safety features that most faucets have.
How do you adjust a shower valve?
0:193:27How to adjust your shower water temperature colder or hotterYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you'll see instructions in there what I mean by instructions you see how that little plus signMoreAnd you'll see instructions in there what I mean by instructions you see how that little plus sign says that way is hot this way is cold and to make my water hotter.
Why is only hot water coming out of shower?
If you're getting hot water everywhere but your shower, it could be that your anti-scald device is set at too high a limit. Anti-scald devices (also called a “hot limit stop” or “rotational limit stop”) are safety features that most faucets have.
Why is my shower mixer not mixing?
The usual suspects for this problem are a blocked shower head, kinked or damaged shower hose, or blocked inlet filters in the shower itself. It could also be due to faulty non-return valves.
How do you adjust a shower mixing valve?
2:083:27How to adjust your shower water temperature colder or hotterYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you can test it out see how hot it is and adjust it to where you want and then put your littleMoreAnd you can test it out see how hot it is and adjust it to where you want and then put your little faucet ring and cap back on so like I said that's how you make your water hotter.
How do you adjust a mixing valve?
0:291:38How to Adjust Your Alde Hot Water Mixing Valve - Tech Talk - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou want to turn that towards the plus symbol. That's going to allow more hot water to come into theMoreYou want to turn that towards the plus symbol. That's going to allow more hot water to come into the mixing valve. And then to all your faucets your shower.
Why is my shower faucet not working?
The most likely cause of your problem is a defective pressure balancing spool, which is a part of the cartridge inside your shower faucet. To fix the problem, you’ll need to replace the cartridge.
Why is my shower cartridge stuck in the faucet?
Unfortunately, a build up of corrosion may have caused your cartridge to become lodged inside the faucet over time. For most people, the hardest part of replacing a shower cartridge is getting the old cartridge to come out.
Do you need to take a shower when the weather is hot?
You’re going to want to take some cool showers when the weather heats up, especially if you don’t like running the A/C on all day long. If you’re having an issue getting cold water in your shower, fixing that problem is going to become critical to your happiness when the weather gets warm.
Why is there no cold water in my shower after replacing the faucet?
This is usually caused by clogging especially by minerals like calcium.
Why is my shower not cold?
If you have no cold water in your shower, it is a sign of a defective pressure-balancing valve. This is caused by corrosion and/or clogging of the valve cold water inlet by mineral deposits. To fix this problem, you will need to replace the shower faucet cartridge. A shower/bathtub pressure-balancing valve is the part of the faucet cartridge ...
Why Does My Shower Only Have Hot Water?
Most homeowners will from time to time experience lack of hot water in the shower but rarely is there no cold water. But it happens.
Why does my shower spool clog?
This is usually caused by clogging especially by minerals like calcium. A shower-balancing spool is the part on the shower valve that balances out the hot and cold water ratio to prevent a sudden cold water shock or scalding hot water. Cleaning or replacing the spool will in most cases fix the problem.
How does a shower mixing valve work?
A shower mixing valve works just like a pressure-balancing valve but has no way of balancing the cold and hot water pressures. With a mixing valve, you will suddenly receive scalding hot water if there is demand for cold water elsewhere in the house like a flushing the toilet.
What are the screws on a shower valve?
The 2 screws are the cold and hot water shut off valves. Use a screwdriver to turn the screws so that no water will be flowing to the shower valve.
How to clean a pressure balancing screw?
At this point you may decide to replace it with a new one or clean it. To clean the pressure-balancing spool, boil it in an equal part of water and vinegar solution.
Why is there no cold water in my shower?
If there’s no cold water in your shower, you’ve come to the right place. Lack of cold water is usually caused by a defective pressure-balancing valve in a cartridge. This part is located inside the shower faucet. So, are you feeling handy?
What to do if you don't have cold water?
If these all don’t have cold water, you can begin to trace the problem. Look for the shutoff valves in your basement or wherever the main water supply line is. A valve may have been accidently turned off. Hopefully, you can just turn the shut-off valve back on and be good to go.
Why Is My Shower Cold?
See if they run hot and cold water. If the other faucets around the house do have hot and cold water, then the problem is most likely the pressure-balancing valve in your shower.
Is it hard to replace a faucet valve?
Replacing a faucet valve cartridge isn’t hard but requires taking the faucet apart. The hardest part of this repair is getting the old cartridge out. This is a good time to call a professional if you don’t feel comfortable with this repair.
Why is my shower not getting cold water?
No cold water in the shower is generally due to a faulty pressure-balancing valve in a shower cartridge. Located inside the shower faucet, this part can be replaced with the assistance of a few tools. Replacing the defective shower faucet should help restore cold water to your shower.
Why is my shower not cold?
No cold water in the shower is generally due to a faulty pressure-balancing valve in a shower cartridge. Located inside the shower faucet, this part can be replaced with the assistance of a few tools. Replacing the defective shower faucet should help restore cold water to your shower.
How to remove cartridge from faucet?
Using the cartridge puller, detach the cartridge from the faucet. But first, you’ll need to remove the pin that is holding the cartridge in place. If you don’t, the cartridge will never come out. There are different types of cartridge pullers and all will function in different ways. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that you are using your particular model correctly.
How much does it cost to replace a shower cartridge?
Depending on the amount of tools you already have on hand, need to buy, and the brand of the cartridge, this replacement will typically range anywhere from $30 to $100.
Why is my shower not turning on?
Put simply, if your shower isn’t turned on very often, corrosion buildup with clog the pressure-balancing valve in the cartridge. With a defective valve, there is no balance between hot and cold water, effectively preventing ...
Why cover shower drain?
Cover the shower drain to ensure that small components don’t fall down the drain and get trapped.
Is it bad to take a cold shower?
The only thing worse than a freezing cold shower is a scalding hot one. While many are familiar with the issues of no hot water in the shower, the opposite is also possible: no cold water. As summer approaches, you are going to want to enjoy a cool shower, especially if prefer not to run your air conditioning all day long.
What happens when hot water runs out?
When hot water starts running out, we users tend to turn the handle to a hotter setting in desperation, and we get very hot or very cold water and decreased bandwidth in the warm range. ”. So, if someone showered before you, wait a little while so the water heater can fill back up. Grooming.
Why does my water temperature fluctuate?
The most obvious cause of fluctuating water temperatures, according to Abrams, is simply “running low on hot water from the water heater.”. He says, “This happens if you’re last in line for a shower at your house, or if you have an undersized water heater.
What temperature should a water heater be set to?
Being a tough guy and pushing the setting all the way to the hot setting is a recipe for disaster, especially if your water heater is already set too hot — water heaters should be set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, but many people crank them up much higher.”.
Why is there no cold water in my shower?
No cold water in the shower may indicate defective parts within the shower faucet.
Why does my faucet have cold water?
However, if you determine other faucets in the home do have cold water, the issue is likely a defective pressure-balancing valve and you will either need to replace the valve cartridge yourself or call a professional plumber to get the job done.
What happens if you don't have cold water?
If that’s the case, you can simply turn the valve back on and get back to showers as normal.
Can glass doctor help with shower doors?
And because they are part of the Neighborly family of home services, you know you can rely on them for great advice that works.
Can you replace a shower valve cartridge?
This is especially a problem if the shower isn’t in use on a regular basis. The process for replacing the val ve cartridge is not overly difficult; however, it does involve disassembling the faucet. For many DIYers, the hardest part of the job is removing the old cartridge. The good news is, at any point in the process, you can always call on the experts at Mr. Rooter if you’d rather let trained technicians take the job from here.
Your Shower Cartridge Is Malfunctioning
Shower cartridges are responsible for mixing hot and cold water before it comes out of your showerhead. Shower cartridge issues affect single knob control setups.
Determining if You Have a Hot Water Issue
Sometimes people confuse hot water issues with having their water temperatures switched. However, some water heating issues can have your water quickly changing temperatures.
Solutions
Before repairing your shower, you should always turn your water supply off.
