There are some problems we usually encounter when dealing with shower valves. These could affect almost any type of valve, including sequential valves, recessed valves, bar mixers, and thermostatic valves. Many put all these fixtures into the “blending valve” category as all they do is basically blend hot and cold water together as a way to provide an ideal temperature.
Blender valves are very important for both homes and commercial properties. Hot water reservoirs must be kept above certain temperatures to keep bacteria and algae growth in check. However, these temperatures are too high for human consumption and use, being able to cause severe scalding. The solution is to install a blender or thermostatic shower kit that combines hot and cold water and reduces temperature.
Thermostatic shower kits are great because they react to differences in pressure caused by other fixtures being used at the same time. For example, when a toilet is flushed, water pressure in the cold line drops, causing hot water to run freely through the shower valve. Thermostatic shower kits work by adjusting the valve to compensate for this pressure drop so there is always a uniform water blend coming out.
Here are some problems we usually find when dealing with shower mixers.
Not Enough Water Coming From Your Shower Head
Several factors might cause this problem. The first thing we should check is that your shower head is not being blocked by dirt or mineral deposits. This happens often in places that have “hard water”. An easy solution is to grab a pin and unblock the jets. However, it is easier to prepare a cleaning solution and submerge the showerhead in it overnight.
One other cause would be a kink inside the bracket of the water hose, effectively cutting the water flow. Also, check if the inner hose wall has not collapsed, so it is always a good idea to disassemble the shower head and hose to check if anything is restricting the proper flow of water. Giving these a look will save you from performing more invasive operations.
You can also check the inlets inside the valves. They have these tiny filters in them that sometimes get blocked, so they might need a little cleaning.
Stiff Shower Controls
If you feel the shower valves have become too tight or hard to operate, you need to soften things up before the added tension causes them to fall apart. This is especially true if there is any metal-to-metal contact that progressively wears your valves out. Sometimes you only need to apply high-quality silicon grease to the valves or lever. However, you might need to get a thermostatic valve seal kit or cartridge to do the proper part replacements to avoid having to replace the whole shower valve in the future.
Uneven Water Temperature
This is a very common problem, and lots of people report that the water is coming too hot, too cold, or that the temperature changes when it shouldn't. Before taking your valve apart, we first must check the hot water supply. Sometimes by just feeling the pipe that connects your valve to the boiler one can determine if this is a valve problem or if there is something wrong with the boiler as the shower can only deliver what the boiler sends it. After you determine that the shower is receiving a stable supply of hot water, then we need to consider changing the cartridge as it is the piece that directly controls the temperature inside the shower.
If you need a thermostatic shower kit or would like to furnish your operation with high-quality thermostatic repair kits and parts, visit Quality Plumbing Supply. They not only carry plumbing repair kits for the most common shower valves and bathroom fixtures, but they also offer incredibly competitive prices for bulk orders. Browse through their extensive inventory of plumbing supplies or get in touch with them directly at 1-833-251-4591.
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