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auschb · Apr 11, 2009, 07:01 PM

I have two bathrooms in my home and I get both hot and cold water in one. The second is a guest bath so I just noticed the problem. I have good pressure coming out of the faucet when it is cold but when I turn the handle to hot it slows to a trickle almost off. Anybody have any suggestion as to what my problem may be?

creahands · Apr 12, 2009, 07:25 AM

Hi auschb

Need more info if possible. Single lever faucet? Did u check hot water shut valve under sink? Let us know and we should be able to help u.

Good luck

Chuck

auschb · Apr 12, 2009, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by creahands

Hi auschb

Need more info if possible. Single lever faucet? Did u check hot water shut valve under sink? Let us know and we should be able to help u.

Good luck

Chuck

The sink in the same bathroom has no problem with hot water, just the shower. It is a single dial on the tub/shower. Should the there be a hot water shut off for the shower?

speedball1 · Apr 12, 2009, 09:28 AM

Should the there be a hot water shut off for the shower?

there should be both a hot and a cold shutoff. Sometimes located behind the face plate in the form of screwdriver shutoffs and sonetines in a access panel located at the base on the other side of the wall. To you more I need to know the brand name of your valve. Regards, Tom

letmetellu · Apr 12, 2009, 09:34 AM

A very likely cause of this problem is the dip tube in your water heater is deteriorating and the small pieces are clogging up the hot water side of your faucet or the cartridge in the faucet.

If you know how to get the faucet apart I would suggest you take the faucet apart and look for debris in the hot side of the body of the faucet and also the cartridge that you take out. If it is the dip tube then this is a problem that you will have again until all of the tube has washed out of your lines, another problem that you will notice is that your hot water will become less and less.

massplumber2008 · Apr 13, 2009, 04:03 AM

In my area we usually install shutoffs in the basement for first floor tub/shower valves or if on the tub/shower on the second floor we will install a tub/shower valve with the slotted screw shutoffs that are integral to the valve.

A very likely cause of this will not be the dip tube as suggested by letmetellu (it is possible, just not very likely). More likely sediment/scale/mineral deposits, etc. have clogged the cartridge/stem assembly and the unit will need to be cleaned and the cartridge cleaned and/or replaced.

START WITH THE SIMPLEST!

Shut the water supply and remove the trim plate around the valve.

If it is a symmons valve then there will be a big nut that simply gets loosened counterclockwise to gain access to the cartridge. You must rotate the handle to warm position before loosening the nut to access the cartridge. Once the cartridge is removed you will want to observe the cartridge for anything obvious and then turn the water on to clear the lines of any sediment/scale/minerals that may have built up inside the valve/pipe. You can try dipping the cartridge in CLR or vinegar for a few minutes and then try to replace the unit and see how it goes from there or simply go to a local home supply store and purchase a new cartridge.

If this is amoen valve all above applies accept that there will be a copper clip that needs to be pulled up and out before you can access the cartridge.

There are other name brands and if yours is not one of the above see if you can get us a name brand or a picture of the valve.

Let us know what you discover...

MARK

Milo Dolezal · Apr 13, 2009, 06:23 AM

In addition to the other Experts' advices posted above: I think it may be the anti-scald device that is malfunctioning and/or a large piece of debris inside the hot water channel in the cartridge that prevents full water flow. In case of dirt inside cartridge: open up the faucet, remove cartridge, clean it and reinstall. If it doesn't help than replace entire cartridge.