Almost every time I use my shower the water is not really hot enough. I was told to run the cold water a few minutes before taking a shower and then turn it to hot. No luck. It is a Moen shower unit. My wife's shower is about 25 feet away and she has plenty of hot water. I know, I should change showers with her. Anyway, there has been times when I have used the washing machine in the laundry room just prior to a shower and then it appears that the water is much warmer. The washing machine is approximately 8-10 feet away. Any help with this problem will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

There are a number of different Moen shower units. If it isn't very old there is a good chance you have a posi temp unit that is set too low. I need a better description of the unit to help you, like a model number or good physical description. Moen's website may also be helpful. Those instructions to run the cold first sound like what you would do if you had a Delta scald guard unit. As to the water being warmer after a load of wash, that is probably due to the water heater reheating up to full temp just before you get your shower.

I'll give you the routine to set the max temp for one of the common units, the one that the handle turns 3/4 turn from off to hot. Remove the handle with an allen wrench. WATCH HOW THINGS COME APART, some models are not intuitive for reassembly. Next there will be a phillips screw holding a plastic adaptor. Remove it and under it will be a splined plastic insert. You can see the stop on this piece that limits how far the handle can turn to full hot. Just pull it out and reinsert it aligning the stop ear with the protrusion on the piece below it. This lets you turn the faucet to full hot. Reassemble in reverse order. Now if you burn yourself it is your problem! :p