Dear,

I just moved into a new apartment. When I take a shower first the water is cold then gets warm as usual. When I turn it off to put on some shampoo and then turn the water back on it first gets burning hot and then completely cold and I have to wait again for it to get warm all this without me moving the tap at all.
I also noticed that if I open the tap on full pressure and heat the water only gets so warm, whereas if I open the tap on full heat but less pressure the water gets hotter then otherwise.

I'm completely baffled as to what could be the cause, I've got a gas water heater (brand Vaillant) and the plumber came in July to do the yearly maintenance check up.

If anybody has any ideas as to what could be the issue that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot already!!

Cheers,
Maria

Hi Maria

What is the name brand of the shower valve (symmons, moen, delta, kohler, etc.)?

How many handles on the unit (one, two, or three)?

Approximately how old is the shower valve?

Back to you...

Mark

" new apartment" there is your answer, call management. As a renter you are not allowed or expected to make plumbing repairs. In the meantime do not shut it off, just step back out of the stream of the shower head and lather up.

Dear Mark,

the shower valve should be pretty new as far as I know the whole building was completely renovated during spring 2013. The shower valve is from the brand Ferro. I don't know how many handles there are on the unit, as in I'm not sure what you mean : to change from hot to cold it's just one faucet. And the rest there's so many different tubes and handles.. I took a picture I could send you, but uploading hasn't worked :/

After doing some research I've found this: How to Adjust a Shower Valve Water Temperature (http://www.handymanhowto.com/adjust-shower-valve-water-temperature/) which I think (although I know literally nothing about plumbing) might be part of the solution: too much cold water is added to the hot water? Even if it doesn't explain why it goes from burning hot to cold on its own? What do you think?

Thank you so much for your answer!
Cheers,
Maria

Hi Maria

Unfortunately, I can't find any literature on the Ferro shower valve, so hard to tell you how to fix things without that... UGH! If you are a tenant as Ballengerb1 suggested then you really should contact your landlord anyway... goodness forbid if something goes wrong you could be moving out almost as fast as you have moved in... ;)

If you own this unit then I would suggest looking online for the Ferro company and contact them for literature on your particular faucet. Here, each manufacturer of shower valves have unique ways to control temperature and unique replacement parts so you MUST have the information I mention or you will not be successful in your repair.

Glad to discuss more if you want.