Check out some similar questions!

huntington22 · Oct 1, 2007, 06:48 PM

We started doing construction on our bathrooms. The bathroom that has not been remodel is where we take our showers. While taking a shower the water will be perfect. A few minutes it will change to extremely HOT and then FREEZING cold water. What has happened to our water system.
Thanks:confused:

bignaked101 · Oct 1, 2007, 06:54 PM

Sounds like a problem in your water heater... but I know almost absolutely nothing about plumbing...

KISS · Oct 1, 2007, 07:51 PM

More info needed: Single level shower valve? Does the volume of water change? Is the shower valve regulating/anti-scalding?

huntington22 · Oct 1, 2007, 08:01 PM

How would I know if it has a single level shower valve. The hot and cold have there own handle. The volume of water does decrease after the water is turned on. Then it will be normal after I turn the volume of water higher. I don't know if the shower valve regulating/anti-scalding. The water changes hot then to cold. It never stays the same temperature. I appreciate any help.
Thanks

bignaked101 · Oct 1, 2007, 08:24 PM

Water Heater?!

labman · Oct 1, 2007, 08:45 PM

Sounds like a long unused anti scald valve sticking. Look around on the controls and see it it says anti scald anywhere on it. It may just need taken apart and cleaned. Before doing so, you might see what some of our real plumbers such as Speedball1, Imgrowler, Doug? Have to say. I have never taken apart an anti scald valve let alone gotten one back together again. I have nearly always gotten things back together I have taken apart, but some times I have wished I hadn't taken them apart.

KISS · Oct 1, 2007, 08:58 PM

It could also be pebbles in the lines from a water main break that happened long ago. What happens is this debris finds itself at the valve and stops the flow of water. When you turn it off, it falls further away.

Getting it out is harder. Anti-scald valves is another possibility. Likely rare.

huntington22 · Oct 1, 2007, 08:59 PM

Thank you for the information. When we finally remodel this bathroom in the next month, I will install all new plumbing.
We had a black lab for many years. A little exotic. Our black lab beat at his own drum. He was a jumper. Jumped out of our backyard 5 or 6 times a week. Sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. We were with us for 8 years. We found him a good home with a lot of property. We now have a Chow Chow. She is a great dog. Protects that family, specially our kids. Dogs are incredible to have in a family. I appreciate your help with the shower. I hope it is a easy thing to fix.
Thanks again

huntington22 · Oct 1, 2007, 09:04 PM

We will be remodeling the bathroom in the next month or so... When we change out all the plumbing, should that fix the problem? I certainly hope so..
We had a sprinkle main break. We found it last night. Is that a way the pebbles could be getting into the system? So far all the other bathrooms that we have remodel did not have any leaks in the line. We checked the other bathrooms for the fluctuation in water and temperature and they don't seem to do it.. Does that help? Thanks for the information

KISS · Oct 2, 2007, 09:26 AM

A sprinker should not be able put junk in your lines, but it could affect the sprinkler line. Water will force the debris in the direction of water flow.

When a waer main breaks in the street somewhere, there is always a possibility to colect small stones.

When soldering pipe in the home, it possible to cause drops of solder to form in the pipe.

You can try a few things. Put a pice of paper towel over the tub dran and remove the shower head. Turn the water on full force. If it can get past the valve, it won't get caught in the shower head.

If you have a sink or outside faucet that's plumbed before the shower, take the areator off and try the same thing.

Check other faucets in the house when the condition occurs whle the freezing temps or extremely hot conditions are occurring in the bathroom.

In a worst case fix, turn off the shutoff to the faucet and remove the stem. Carefully turn on the shutoffs to flush the water through the stem. Disassembling right after the condition occurs, you might get lucky.

The keys here would be that the volume changes and the relationship to the temperature at the other taps during the fault condition.