Ask Me Help Desk - Water temp. Always changing

Water temp. always changing

When I run the water for a bath, it stays at what ever temp I put it. When I turn the shower on though, it is always changing, hot,cold,hot,warm,etc... I am confused as what's the difference? & how to fix it? The knob to turn the shower on was replaced but this did not fix the problem? :confused:

This should not happen unnless someone else is flushing the toilet, washing their hands in another sink, or turning on the cold water faucet in the kitchen. If you live alone then I would not have a clue, but if someone else lives there with you this may be the reason.

If the hot water comes out of the tub faucet without constantly changing the shower should do the same. If you replaced the knob that would not solve anything except you now have a new knob. If you live alone and no one else is there to monkey with the water while you're taking a shower, then you may want to change out the water diverter to the shower.

Quote:

Originally Posted by selectjess

When I run the water for a bath, it stays at what ever temp I put it. When I turn the shower on though, it is always changing, hot,cold,hot,warm,etc.... I am confused as what's the difference? & how to fix it? The knob to turn the shower on was replaced but this did not fix the problem?? :confused:

There is no one turning on & off the water while I'm in the shower.. I do live in an apt. but the unit on the side of me is empty, the person above me is usually not home when I shower & there are only 3 others that live in the building, it's not possible that they are always running water the same time I'm taking a shower ever time?

Well, the fact you live in an apartment makes all the difference in the world. If you are sharing a common hot water heater then you're going to have problems as someone always home. I thought you lived in a private home. Does this do this all the time, every time you shower or once in awhile? All the time meaning at all hours of the day or night. You may have to resort to taking showers late at night when you could feel "safe" that no one else is using the hot water as there is no other explanation and no quick fix at your end as the hot water is being diverted from your apartment by your neighbors.

There are gadgets sold that prevent you from being scalded in the shower, but in your case it sounds like someone is diverting the hot water away from your unit.

Good news select, if you are in an apartment this is not your problem to fix. You need to tell your landlord or maintainenece people to fix it now. It would be nice to know if you all share one heater but still the fix is up to the LL. Sounds like a dip tube may have broken off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinkiedooter

Well, the fact you live in an apartment makes all the difference in the world. If you are sharing a common hot water heater then you're going to have problems as someone always home. I thought you lived in a private home. Does this do this all the time, every time you shower or once in awhile? All the time meaning at all hours of the day or night. You may have to resort to taking showers late at night when you could feel "safe" that no one else is using the hot water as there is no other explanation and no quick fix at your end as the hot water is being diverted from your apartment by your neighbors.

I have tried to take a shower at dif. Times to rule that out. It is ALWAYS no matter what day or time. The thing is, it was not always like this? I've been there 3 years & this just started the past few months. I know it's not a problem I have to fix being in an apt. but I came to the landlord with this & they replaced the knobs, that was there fix? SO I thought I'd come on here & get some input so I can tell the landlord who seems to not know much.

Did the LL change the knobs or the whole mixer valve? Now this is a tub/shower combo and not 2 totally separate fixture, right? This is a bit weird since a combo has just the one mixing valve for both tub and shower. I'd try a little experiment by running the tub spout and having a thermometer in the stream to check if the temp varies. Then do the same test with the shower. Are your results the same, if so the mixing valve needs to be rebuild or replaced.

He just changed the knobs. It is a tub/shower combo. When I run the tub spout, the temp stays at what I put it. But when I turn the shower on, it varies, drastically & often?