Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Shower Valve Hot Water Plugged
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tbart517
10-19-09, 07:03 AM
We have recently moved into a home that was foreclosed and sat vacant for a while. We soon found that there was no hot water from the shower valve in the master bath. I have taken the valve apart as far as possible. This is a single handle valve; don't know the manufacturer. I have removed the cartridge, no hot water, cold works fine. On the cast portion of the valve there are shutoff screws, one for hot and one for cold. When I completely remove this from the hot side, there is hot water. I have tried to use air pressure to unclog and pieces of wire, but no luck. Is there anything else to try before I cut a huge hole in the wall behind the shower and replace the entire valve?
lefty
10-19-09, 08:15 AM
It may be a faulty cartridge, or it may be that the cartridge simply needs to be redialed, if it's a pressure balanced valve.
Unless you can figure out the mfgr. or post a picture of the valve (completly ASSEMBLED), you're probably better off calling a plumber who can actually see it and identify it.
Unless you can figure out the mfgr. or post a picture of the valve (completly ASSEMBLED), you're probably better off calling a plumber who can actually see it and identify it.
tbart517
10-19-09, 08:42 AM
Even with the cartridge removed, no hot water comes out. But there is hot water up to the valve.
lefty
10-19-09, 08:48 AM
It's a pressure balanced valve, and the balancer is in the valve body. Still need to know the mfgr. before we can tell you how to fix it.
Milemaker13
10-19-09, 08:50 AM
What exactly is a 'pressure balanced valve'? How does it work? I have never heard of it before and I am curious.
lefty
10-19-09, 08:58 AM
Pressure balanced valves have been code required (at least around here) for about 13 or 14 years. They cut down the incoming hot water pressure when there is a drop in the cold water pressure to the valve, like when somebody flushes a toilet or the automatic sprinklers come on. They prevent scalding while using the shower.
Milemaker13
10-19-09, 09:42 AM
Code, really? You folks in CA sure do have the rules!
So, is that to say that you cannot install a 2 handle faucet in the shower? And also, is there a way to pipe the house/ shower to avoid the drop anyway? Like, won't the hot water PSI drop also?... its fed from the cold water too....
Well, I do like to learn something new everyday!:thumbup:
So, is that to say that you cannot install a 2 handle faucet in the shower? And also, is there a way to pipe the house/ shower to avoid the drop anyway? Like, won't the hot water PSI drop also?... its fed from the cold water too....
Well, I do like to learn something new everyday!:thumbup:
tbart517
10-19-09, 10:25 AM
I believe the valve is a Pegasus. It is not pressure balanced. It has the adjustable hardstop for scald prevention.
Somewhere in the 3-4" between the inlet at the cartridge and the shutoff screw, it is blocked. Would there be a check-valve in this section? It looks like a complete casting.
Somewhere in the 3-4" between the inlet at the cartridge and the shutoff screw, it is blocked. Would there be a check-valve in this section? It looks like a complete casting.