[lantirn_light]

I'm looking for some guidance on what do next... I've already done some research on the forums here to solve my problem and have basically exhausted all current things I know to do.

Problem: Moen Château single handle faucet, circa 1982 (not Positemp - pulls straight out, left for hot, right for cold) stopped mixing hot/cold effectively about a week ago. Cold pressure is fine, hot pressure is a trickle. All other faucets/showers in house have hot water with plenty of pressue (i.e water heater works).

Fixes done already:

1. Shut off water main (my house was not designed well... no access panel to rear of shower faucet, it's behind a wall)
2. Removed old handle, eschucheon plate, and cartridge
3. Felt around inside middle of open faucet for obstructions or sediment... did not find any.
4. Felt around from the valve body from the front to see if there are any stop check valves or balancing valves to adjust/replace... none that I can find
5. Sprayed some Lime A Way inside middle of open faucet and let sit for an hour.
6. Turned water main back on to flush the valve and Lime A Way for 2 minutes while my wife watched... water ran clear very quickly, no real sediment came out, shut water main
7. Replaced cartridge with brand new Moen 1225 (Moen brand, not generic) cartridge, brand new eschucheon plate and handle as well for aesthetics
8. Turned water main back on
9. Shower faucet has the same problem.

Suggestions? Given the lack of access panel from the rear my only other choice that I can think of at this point is to have a plumber replace the faucet valve body entirely from the front which would be an expensive proposition given the amount of tear out and retiling needed.

[ballengerb1]

When you did your #6 did you try to do just the hot side and then the cold side. Your supply lines are separate and each need to be verified for proper volume. Everything you did was dead on and should have repaired a bad cartridge problem, so I must assume you don't have a cartridge problem at all, it's a supply line problem. In most homes its easy to shut off just the hot water but nearly impossible to just close the cold supply to a shower, you may have to actually cut a cold line and install a ball valve. I am giving you a Moen tutorial just to review your steps but it did appear you did the replacemnt correctly. http://www.moen.com/consumersupport/...3/moen0133.cfm

[lantirn_light]

When you did your #6 did you try to do just the hot side and then the cold side. Your supply lines are separate and each need to be verified for proper volume. Everything you did was dead on and should have repaired a bad cartridge problem, so I must assume you don't have a cartridge problem at all, its a supply line problem. In most homes its easy to shut off just the hot water but nearly impossible to just close the cold supply to a shower, you may have to actually cut a cold line and install a ball valve. I am giving you a Moen tutorial just to review your steps but it did appear you did the replacemnt correctly. Installation Help / Animated Tutorial - Installing the Moen 1225 / 1200 Cartridge

Alas, I would have done that on #6 if I could have. There doesn't appear to be any shutoff valves for either the hot or cold supply lines to this shower... at least if there are, they are behind a wall and inaccessible, unlike the recently remodeled shower in the basement. I will check the basement to see if there is a shutoff valve for the cold water after the main -> water heater connection. Thanks.

[ballengerb1]

You can shut off your hot supply by closing the valve just above your water heater, that stops all hot throughoutthe house. The only times I see cold shut offs midway through a house is when there has been an addition or major repair.renovation. That's why I said you may need to cut a cold line just prior to the bath and install a ball valve, you could go with a Sharkbite if you aren't handy with a solder torch. Welcome To Cash Acme

[lantirn_light]

You can shut off your hot supply by closing the valve just above your water heater, that stops all hot throughoutthe house. The only times I see cold shut offs midway through a house is when there has been an addition or major repair.renovation. Thats why I said you may need to cut a cold line just prior to the bath and install a ball valve, you could go with a Sharkbite if you aren't handy with a solder torch. Welcome To Cash Acme

Yup, definitely couldn't find a midway shutoff... not handy with soldering at all, so the SharkBite ball valve looks promising. I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

[ballengerb1]

Sharkbites are not cheap but you only need to add that one valve. Anybody with a tubing cutter can install the valve.

[gramps13]

Just called a plumber and he suspects the "anti-scalding" valve needs to be rebuilt. Does this sound feasible ? Quoted over $ 400 to rebuild it...

[speedball1]

Just called a plumber and he suspects the "anti-scalding" valve needs to be rebuilt. Does this sound feasible ? Quoted over $ 400 to rebuild it ...

What's the brand and model of your shower valve? Back to you. Tom

[lindyj]

Bought a new moen château valve and found DIY installation instructions online. Now works like a charm! Thanks for all your input. (Old one was "stuck" because of greenstone in our water supply)