View Full Version : Shower not giving me hot water
mtwtfss
Apr 12, 2009, 10:32 AM
Hi everyone,
My shower faucet is not giving me hot water. I have one of those one handle, turn counter-clockwise, ones (I think made by Moen). I've taken off the faceplate and the handle but just see a red section and a green section on the cylinder, nothing to adjust. My sink's faucet is giving me hot water, so it's not the water boiler. Any ideas?
speedball1
Apr 12, 2009, 12:31 PM
Turn the water off to the valve and pull the cartridge, (see instructions) Check and clean the inlet ports on the cartridge. Now turn the hot wate4r on to flush out the supply. Reassemble and test. Better now? Good luck, Tom
mtwtfss
Apr 13, 2009, 06:23 PM
Hi Tom,
Thank you very much for the info. Unfortunately, I'm still having trouble getting the cartridge out. I've attached 3 pics. http://twitpic.com/photos/mtwtfss
There's no name on the plate so I'm even sure if it is a Moen. It looks similar to one of the faucets on the pdf you sent me. Are they all taken apart the same way?
Much appreciated for your time.
Leo
mtwtfss
Apr 13, 2009, 06:24 PM
Hi Tom,
Thank you very much for the info. Unfortunately, I'm still having trouble getting the cartridge out. I've attached 3 pics.
There's no name on the plate so I'm even sure if it is a Moen. It looks similar to one of the faucets on the pdf you sent me. Are they all taken apart the same way?
Much appreciated for your time.
Leohttp://twitpic.com/photos/mtwtfss
Sorry, here are the pics.
Milo Dolezal
Apr 13, 2009, 06:43 PM
Look at photo #2: there you see flat area in threaded portion of the trim piece. That's there for wrench / channel locks. Turn water off, put large crescent wrench over it and unscrew it. Now, the cartridge should be ready to be pulled out. Grab the brass stem piece with pliers and pull it out, straight towards you.
Let us know you you did...
mtwtfss
Apr 17, 2009, 08:28 AM
Not ignoring. There is no valve to turn off the water by the shower so I have to turn off the entire supply (from the basement) and I haven't had a chance to. When I do, I'll let you guys know if it worked. Thanks!
Milo Dolezal
Apr 17, 2009, 08:33 AM
I see in photo #3 that your shower valve has stops installed. No need to go to basement. Take screwdriver and close it on Hot and Cold side. ( I don't see the Cold side valve. It is covered by wall board. You will have to break it open little more so you can get in. )
Also, some Stops close by turning the slot 1/4 turn to vertical position. Others close by turning Stop several times Clockwise until they stop.
Give it a try. Let us know how you did...
mtwtfss
Apr 20, 2009, 08:38 AM
Just got a screwdriver big enough to close off the Hot and Cold side. I will try this tonight!
speedball1
Apr 20, 2009, 09:07 AM
[QUOTE][There's no name on the plate so I'm even sure if it is a Moen. It looks similar to one of the faucets on the pdf you sent me. Are they all taken apart the same way?/QUOTE] No! Your valve isn't a Moen. Moen cartridges are secured by a "U" shaped washer while you have to unscrew yours. Milo's got it nailed. Just follow his advice. Good luck, Tom
mtwtfss
Apr 21, 2009, 02:17 PM
Hi Milo, Speedball1,
Sorry for taking so long to try this. Took the day off to try to fix the problem. The good news, I've got warm water out of the shower head (good enough to take a shower). Bad news, not hot, though (I think how I'm labeling the pictures are right; please correct me if I'm wrong).
Here's what I did:
I shut off hot and cold water from the basement, then pulled the entire faucet out. Went back downstairs and turned on the hot. Lots of hot water came out of the wall. So that seemed to be working.
Then I noticed that the inside of the cylinder was stuck (first picture) so the hot water couldn't get through. I "unstuck" it. I thought both openings shouldn't be closed so I cut a pen top (kind of like washers?) and put them on the sides so the inside of the cylinder wouldn't move and this would allow hot and cold water to flow.
In the third picture, that green thing, when I turn it, it looks like it opens and closes the hot and cold side (as well as shutting it off completely).
Any ideas as to why I'm still not getting just hot?
You guys are the best. Thanks for all your help. You've made me feel like I can actually do something.
mtwtfss
Apr 21, 2009, 02:19 PM
Here are the pics.
mtwtfss
Apr 21, 2009, 05:48 PM
Actually, I figured out why I'm not getting hot water. The stupid person who installed it, didn't put the red ring on correctly, so the green part could NOT turn fully. Cold water was getting mixed in with the hot so I was getting warm.
I do have one problem now. The shower head is dripping. Doesn't stop. About 3 a second. The only way to stop it is to shut off the valves right now. Could those Bic washers be the cause?