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jedijfo · Dec 9, 2017, 06:05 PM

I had a leaky Simmons shower water valve. I fixed it by installing a new T-10 stem. However, now the water is only luke warm. Tried adjusting the temp. limit screw with no results. Tried another new T10 stem with no results. The stems both click when shaken.

Very hot water everywhere else in the house and the HW pipe going to the Simmons valve feels hot. The shower has a low flow head.

I have not replaced the seats because they appear OK. Could there be a clog in the HW line? Any other ideas? Please help.

Thanks,
Jack

Milo Dolezal · Dec 10, 2017, 12:04 AM

It should be simple installation. See the enclosed YouTube clip. See if you installed that new cartridge as described in the clip. If you have integral stops, make sure they are BOTH fully open ( both hot and cold, all the way to the max ). Also, make sure you screw that new cartridge all the way INTO that large brass nut, before you insert the whole thing back into the body of the faucet

Let me know how you did

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKNbNwAoD0E

Milo

jedijfo · Dec 11, 2017, 02:36 PM

Well I had a plumber over and he cant figure it out either. He recommends changing the valve. We tried flushing the hot water line several times with the stem taken out. We tried 3 different stems. There is scalding hot water getting to the valve but not coming out. Only thing that made a difference was throttling back on the cold water supply.. Its is still a mystery.

I will keep u posted.
Jack

massplumber2008 · Dec 12, 2017, 02:10 PM

Hi Jack

If you have a single handle lavatory (sink) faucet in the bathroom (or at a Jacuzzi tub) then shut off the hot water supply shut off valve under the sink and then try running the shower again and see if this fixes the issue. If the issue is resolved then your single handle faucet has a defective balancing spool (cartridge) and is allowing hot water to cross over into the cold water screwing things up at the shower. If shutting the valve off under the sink (or you don't have a single handle faucet) fails to resolve the issue then I would strongly suggest contacting Symmons industries (located in Massachusetts) and talk to their tech. support team.

In my experience, this is not going to be an issue at the shower valve... issue is with a cross connection somewhere else close by and it is simply coincidental in timing with the shower repair!

Post back...

Mark

jedijfo · Dec 12, 2017, 05:10 PM

Thanks Mark. I do not have a single handle faucet in the bathroom. Only single handle faucets I have are on the first floor (kitchen) and basement. Also, I have another shower on the second floor (Master bedroom bath) with an identical Simmons shower valve. It is operating fine.

I do have two shutoff faucets in the basement that feed the 2nd floor bathroom where the problem shower is located. If I throttle the cold water shutoff faucet back in the basement, I get hot water coming out of the shower. Also, if I turn on the cold water faucet in the problem bathroom, the water get hotter also.

massplumber2008 · Dec 12, 2017, 05:31 PM

Hi Jack

Do you have a recirculating hot water line associated with your hot water system?

Do you have a gas or electric hot water heater or a hot water storage system? If a hot water storage system what is the name brand and approximately how old?

jedijfo · Dec 12, 2017, 05:39 PM

Mark - no recirculating hot water line. Hot water storage tank (30 gal) off the gas boiler. Boiler is Viessmann. Hot water tank is Superstore.

I should mention that when we opened the Simmons valve (took out the stem), turned off the cold water feed to the bathroom, we got very hot water pouring out of the valve without the stem in it. So hot water appears to be getting to the valve.
We did this to try to flush the hot water line to the valve.

Jack

massplumber2008 · Dec 13, 2017, 07:55 PM

Hi Jack

There is simply no way that 3 symmons TA-10 stem assemblies are failing.

If the stem was inserted fully into the T-11 nut fully as Milo indicated and you are spinning the stem a little back and forth as the nut gets tightened so it doesn't bind/seize then it is highly unlikely that you have an issue at that shower valve. Here, in my opinion without being there, of course, there has to be a cross connection somewhere back feeding cold water into the shower valve causing this issue.

You said, "Also, if I turn on the cold water faucet in the problem bathroom, the water get hotter also.". I certainly can't be sure, but at a minimum, this seems to confirm to me that you have a cross connection somewhere... just having trouble pinning it down from here!

Finally, try calling Symmons industries at 800-796-6667 and talk to tech. support... see what they think of this. The tech. department at this company is fantastic and will be thrilled to help (PS: the TA-10 has a lifetime warranty and is supplied free of charge if you work with them).

Mark

Milo Dolezal · Dec 18, 2017, 08:05 PM

Try this: since you have exactly the same, properly working, shower faucet in the other bathroom, swap the cartridges. It will tell you what is wrong with the faucet in question - the body of the faucet or the cartridge. Mystery solved.

Let me know how you did

Milo