Hello. Tub spout recently replaced, as well as the showerhead (needed new ones of both anyways due to bad diverter valve, and I didn't like the old head).

Anyways, I find water pressure coming out to be very low. It's so low that when the shower is being used, and I turn the showerhead upside down, the water only goes a couple of inches in the air.

I started reading about repairing faucets and such. I got the handle off, and the compression nut, but I don't know where to go from here (in fact, I think I'm going the wrong way for this problem).

Behind the faucet are two valves that still let drips of water come out when fully closed (I hate that, old plumbing, etc).However, there are stainless steel supply hoses coming out of the valve and into a brass-looking body with 2 inlets and 2 outlets (hot/cold, tub/shower). After removing the hoses and aiming them into a bucket, and turning the water back on, I get a massive amount of pressure (that I would expect). This is true for both hot and cold. Also, not that it matters, but I get great water pressure out of the bathroom sink as well.

So I guess my next step is getting this brass body off. Am I correct? It appears the body is screwed into the tub's pipe, but the other three ports have the steel hoses and the shower pipe screwed onto them. The fitting on the shower pipe refuses to budge though, and I'm afraid of causing more harm than good.

It's an Aquasource single-handle faucet. If anyone needs pictures I can gladly supply them. Thanks!

Milo Dolezal

Mark nailed it, no additional commentary needed here.....

Perhaps one: Are you sure that body is NOT UPSIDE DOWN ? There is a sticker on it ( 1st photo) . It is upside down. Usually, they paste stickers on bodies in correct position.

Tonglebeak

I was going to remove it so that I could thoroughly clean it out...but...now that I think about it, I could just use a fitting brush and try to brush out as much as I can.

...Ok, I was born a blonde. Forgive me >_>

EDIT: Upside down? > Oh boy >_>

massplumber2008

Remove all the guts and then flush everything by pulsing the water on/off. There should not be any real buildup here as there was not dissimilar metals joined at the shower...so bet you there will not be a major issue there.

I see the lettering now....valve could certainly be upside down....although, as long as the shower diverter is on the tub spout I think you will be fine!!

Good eyes, Milo!

MARK

Tonglebeak

Well, it's done for now I suppose. I don't want to even get into the reason why I had to go to Lowes 3 times today (Let's just say I couldn't do things the way they were before)...



So, here's a few youtube videos of the water coming out of tub, shower, and showerhead hose. I think it's bad out of the hose because it's one of those "water-saver" showerheads. But the other two videos...what are you opinions? Should there be more pressure coming out? I would've expected more but that's just me...

Tub - YouTube - Water pressure - tub pipe

Shower - YouTube - Water coming out of shower pipe

Shower hose - YouTube - Water coming out of showerhead hose

massplumber2008

The work looks great!

The shutoffs are completely open...right?

How about chasing the pipes downstairs to a place where you can see the pipes that feed this bathroom...? Then, see if there any more shutoffs associated with this bathroom...? The water volume/pressure is low, for sure.

Chase this out a bit more...could be more mickey moused plumbing..*UGH*

MARK

afaroo

Hello Tonglebeak,

You done an excellent job it looks very nice but you still have low water volume/pressure, as Mark's says follow his instructions and I am sure you will find some thing, Thanks.

John

Tonglebeak

Well the piping is straightforward. Here's some more youtube goodness...

YouTube - Piping in Basement - this comes right off the well pump

YouTube - Bathroom sink water - Ignore the toothpaste

afaroo

Looking at the You Tube the bath room sink faucet flow is OK.
One other thing I may be wrong, there still may be dirt in you supply lines and you valve, I would suggest to close both S/O valves disconnect the supply lines I have marked for you on picture below, get a bucket open one valve a time and see if there is any dirt coming out, I may be wrong but you may try it, Thanks.

John

Attached Images

 

Tonglebeak

Here's a very loud video of the cold water side...I'm just going to assume the hot water side is the same at this point...my faucet is severely clogged, isn't it...

YouTube - Cold water supply hose

massplumber2008

I think you are hitting on something here John (Afaroo)...I think those flexible supply lines may be reducing the volume at least in some manner.

However, I think the volume of water at the sink is an illusion.... I think if you were to install an aerator at the sink volume would be low.

Tonglebeak...you have a flexible connector in the basement....I would replace that. That could definitely reduce the volume available to both the cold water to the house, and maybe also the cold water feed into the water heater!!

When you have a chance, someday, it may be a good idea to finish this job by connecting all together with copper pipe. At a minimum...replace the flexibel connectors...they definitely aren't helping you here!!

MARK