View Full Version : Low pressure in bathtub
nova1
Mar 26, 2008, 03:53 PM
My shower/bathtub has no water pressure. It does not matter if you turn the cold or the hot water on. The rest of the house is not having any problems with water pressure just this particular bathtub/shower.
I have already shut the water off to the faucet and removed the stem and washer assembles to check the pressure but the pressure is running strong.
Can any one tell me how I should proceed to figure out why I'm getting no water pressure?
ballengerb1
Mar 27, 2008, 09:06 AM
Was it a stem or a cartridge that you found when you took it apart? One handle or two?
nova1
Mar 27, 2008, 03:10 PM
Was iot a stem or a cartridge that you found when you took it apart? One handle or two?
It has a Cartridge and two handles.
ballengerb1
Mar 27, 2008, 03:19 PM
Each handle will have its own cartridge, is that what you found? You will need to shut down the main and remove both cartridges again. Hold a towel over the two openings and have someone else open and close the main to clear the lines. Inspect the inlet port for debris and clear that with air or water, grease the valve body hole with plumbers grease and reinstall the cartridges. You should be good to go but write back if you did not get great pressure when you held that towel over the hole.
nova1
Mar 27, 2008, 04:07 PM
Each handle will have its own cartridge, is that what you found? You will need to shut down the main and remove both cartridges again. Hold a towel over the two openings and have someone else open and close the main to clear the lines. Inspect the inlet port for debris and clear that with air or water, grease the valve bidy hole with plumbers grease and reinstall the cartridges. You should be good to go but write back if you did not get great pressure when you held that towel over the hole.
Yes, each handle has its own cartridge. I will try your suggestion and will get back to you and let you know Thanks.
nova1
Mar 28, 2008, 03:36 PM
Yes, each handle has its own cartridge. I will try your suggestion and will get back to you and let you know Thanks.
I have tried as you suggested but it still not getting enough pressure. I should also point out that the spout has the toggle for the shower and when I pull it up there's no water coming out of the shower head. There's lots of pressure when the handles and cartridges come out but when replaced water comes out real slow. Just wondering if I got the wrong cartridges , maybe a leak in the pipes behind wall. But how can that be when there's a lot of pressure when the handles and cartridges come off. I will try to take the shower head off and try to clean. Any more helpful solutions would be appreciated. Thanks
ballengerb1
Mar 29, 2008, 11:12 AM
Did you find any debris in the inlets of either cartrridge? I don't think there is any leak behind the wall, you'd know about it by now doing the back stroke. You might be needing to replace the cartridges with new, is it by chance a Moen? They are guaranteed for life.
ScottLwood
Mar 29, 2008, 12:00 PM
You may also want to check the tub spout, if its galvanized pipe there may me some buildup of trash debris or rust inside the pipe or spout. Also the pipe going to your showerhead maybe galvanized causing the same problem...
speedball1
Mar 30, 2008, 05:09 AM
First off, remove the shower head and check to see if there's a rubber washer with holes naround the edge. If there is then pry it out and toss it. It's clogging your shower pressure. Either check and clean the inlet ports on the cartridges or simply replace them. Let me know if this helps, Tom