2 Reasons Why Your Shower is Cold (and Your Water Heater Isn’t to Blame)
Puzzles are a popular hobby, particularly during the pandemic. But one puzzle that is overly frustrating is trying to figure out why you are dealing with a cold shower, especially when the rest of the faucets and appliances in your home have hot water.
Like any puzzle, a good place to start is by examining the clues you have. Since the cold water is a localized issue, you can probably rule out the water heater being an issue. That leaves us with problems that can occur closer to the affected shower. In our experience, there are two common explanations for having hot water everywhere but a single shower – a faulty shower mixer valve or a hot limit stop set too high.
Faulty shower mixing valve
The mixing valve is found behind the wall where the cold and hot water pipes meet before going up to the showerhead. When you turn the shower faucet handle, you are adjusting the valve to allow the proper blend of hot and cold water, resulting in your desired temperature. However, this valve can wear out and go bad over time, preventing hot water from passing through when you turn on the shower. To fix or replace the mixing valve, you (or better yet, a plumber) will need to disassemble the shower fixture and possibly get behind the wall.
The hot limit stop is set too high
The hot limit stop goes by a few other names, including anti-scald device and rotational limit stop. Whatever you call it, this is a safety feature built into most of today’s faucets. The hot limit stop can prevent scalding by restricting how far you can rotate the handle in the hot water direction. However, if the hot limit stop is improperly set, it could prevent you from turning the hot water on high enough for a comfortable shower.
To check and reset the hot limit stop, remove the handle or head from your shower fixture. If you see a small plastic disc on the faucet head, that’s the anti-scald device. Gently loosen the device and turn slightly to the right. Test the water temperature and repeat until you find the right setting.
Plumbing experts in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio
If you need help solving the riddle of why your shower is cold when you have hot water everywhere else, talk to the knowledgeable team at Ohio Buckeye Plumbing. To schedule an appointment, call (440) 283-9377.