Nobody wants to find that they don’t have hot water for their shower. But, it can actually be far worse to suddenly find out you have no cold water. If this does happen, you’ll need to quickly find out what the problem is. There are several possibilities, and we will look at some of these in this article.
Determine the Problem
Of course, you know you had no cold water for your shower. But, is the problem only with the one shower, or is the problem more extensive? If you find that there is no cold water anywhere in your house, the shut-off valve for the main water supply line for your house may have been shut off. If it is, you can turn the valve on again, and the problem should be solved.
But, if you find that it is only the one shower that has no cold water, the problem is probably a broken pressure-balancing valve. This means you’ll want to replace this valve.
The pressure-balancing valve regulates the water pressure and the ratio of cold and hot water coming from the faucet. Unfortunately, over time, corrosion or mineral build-up can make the valve cartridge less effective. Fortunately, replacing this cartridge is not that difficult. But, you will need to take apart the faucet.
Replacing the Shower Cartridge
The first thing you need to do is buy a replacement cartridge. Be sure to buy the correct replacement cartridge. Also, make sure you have the necessary tools. You’ll need:
- Needle-nose pliers
- Allen wrenches
- Cartridge puller
- Locking pliers
- Flathead and Phillips screwdriver
- Plumber’s grease
Once you have the proper tools, follow these steps to replace your shower cartridge.
- Shut off the water to your shower.
- Cover the drain to avoid anything dropping in it.
- Remove the handle and any metal covers by removing the screws and then lifting off the stem.
- Make sure you become familiar with the parts of the faucet, so you will be able to put it back together. You could make a diagram or take a picture.
- Remove the parts inside the faucet and then clean away the build-up.
- Remove the retainer clip with your needle-nose pliers.
- Take out the cartridge with the cartridge puller.
- Install the replacement cartridge with the plumber’s grease.
- Replace the faucet parts you removed by using your diagram or picture.
- Test the shower to make sure the new cartridge works.
Final Thoughts
Anyone with a broken shower wants to get it working quickly. You can probably replace the cartridge yourself. But, if you have difficulty with the repair or if you just don’t want to replace the cartridge yourself, you’ll need to contact a plumber.
Contact Us
If you are having trouble with your shower or need assistance with any other plumbing problems, contact J Griffin Heating & Plumbing. With more than 30 years of experience helping homeowners diagnose and solve their plumbing issues, our licensed plumber can help fix your shower and deal with any other plumbing issues you may have. Call us at 781-520-1212 and connect with us on Facebook.
