Shower begins hots, gets colder as the handle turns.
February 22, 2019 4:26 PM Subscribe
The bath/shower in my kids' bathroom has a single handle on the faucet. It recently broke, so I got a replacement at the hardware store and put the new one one. Easy! Except for some reason, when you turn the handle now, scalding hot water comes out right away. Huh?
I'm not much of a handyman, and this one has me stumped. Seemed like we ought to be able to do a simple handle replacement and get things working again. To make sure this is clear: this is a combo bath/shower with one handle for the water. It's the kind where you turn it a little and water begins, cold. Turn it more and the water gets gradually warmer until you reach your desired temperature. Then the handle broke, I replaced it with an identical one from the same company (Moen) and everything seems to work except now the water starts off at the hottest temperature. If you keep turning it eventually moderates some. Instead of moving from cold to hot, we go from hot to warm. I'm at a loss. What's going on here?
I'm not much of a handyman, and this one has me stumped. Seemed like we ought to be able to do a simple handle replacement and get things working again. To make sure this is clear: this is a combo bath/shower with one handle for the water. It's the kind where you turn it a little and water begins, cold. Turn it more and the water gets gradually warmer until you reach your desired temperature. Then the handle broke, I replaced it with an identical one from the same company (Moen) and everything seems to work except now the water starts off at the hottest temperature. If you keep turning it eventually moderates some. Instead of moving from cold to hot, we go from hot to warm. I'm at a loss. What's going on here?
Some of the guts are out of alignment, or missing.
There's often two rubber "boots" and sit in sockets, and then mate up against a ball inside the handle. Those boots can come loose or get crooked.
Regardless of the details, you've not quite got it put back together correctly. I recommend taking it apart and putting it back together again and see what happens. Be sure to look at the assembly diagram carefully.
Edit: Doh, or see above.
posted by humboldt32 at 4:41 PM on February 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
There's often two rubber "boots" and sit in sockets, and then mate up against a ball inside the handle. Those boots can come loose or get crooked.
Regardless of the details, you've not quite got it put back together correctly. I recommend taking it apart and putting it back together again and see what happens. Be sure to look at the assembly diagram carefully.
Edit: Doh, or see above.
posted by humboldt32 at 4:41 PM on February 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
If the Moen cartridge is of the long stick variety (like this or this) you don't even have to take the cartridge out. Just remove the handle and rotate the bit the handle attaches to a 180 degrees.
posted by Mitheral at 1:14 AM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 1:14 AM on February 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
Sometimes you need to put the handle back on in the same “clock position” it was when you pulled it.
Also, the spindle/cartridge may not have been seated completely when you reassembled it all.
We just did this on a Symmons Temptrol shower valve (again!!) and a couple Moen faucets. I suggest watching a ton of YouTube videos, too. You can do this!!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:12 AM on February 23, 2019
Also, the spindle/cartridge may not have been seated completely when you reassembled it all.
We just did this on a Symmons Temptrol shower valve (again!!) and a couple Moen faucets. I suggest watching a ton of YouTube videos, too. You can do this!!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:12 AM on February 23, 2019
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posted by hankscorpio83 at 4:40 PM on February 22, 2019 [8 favorites]