There’s nothing worse than getting ready for a nice hot soak only to discover you’re in the midst of a cold water shower.
If things simply never heat up, it’s probably because your water heater has been working overtime and needs time to regenerate. But if your hot water shower turns suddenly chilly, a plumbing problem may lay within the unit itself.
Here is a quick way to diagnose your hot water shower troubles.
WATER HEATER PROBLEMS
First, check all your fixtures throughout the house to see if your cold water shower is a singular problem or a whole-house situation. If none of the plumbing allows hot water to pass, then the problem is your water heater. Check the temperature control on the unit to see if the setting is ideal. Next, check to see if it’s blown a fuse. If you have a gas unit, it could be that the pilot light has blown out. However, if there is still no sign of a hot water shower after the pilot has been relit, then you may have a variety of problems: obstructions in the flue, a defective part, a faulty temperature control, sediment buildup, etc.
HOT WATER SHOWERS: AN ISOLATED INCIDENT
Once you check out other fixtures in the home, you may find it’s just your shower stall that’s suffering from sudden cold water. First, find the shut off valve for the hot water and see if it’s closed. If so, opening the valve could remedy the situation. But if the water still remains warm for only short periods of time, you may have a blockage or obstruction in the pipes or a problem with your bathroom shower valve.
REMOVE, RINSE, AND REPLACE
When the rubber parts in the shower valve get worn and distorted from old age, they can swell up and restrict the waterways. This swelling only increases as the water temperature traveling through the valve increase, and it’s not uncommon for these rubber parts to break off within the mixer valves . These stray components can travel into an orifice or port in the mixer and cause an obstruction in the hot water valve. Therefore, the part has to come off and the valve needs to be flushed out.
DON’T RISK IT
When it comes to hot water shower problems, the diagnosis is simple, but the actual operation is a different story. The body of the shower valve is hidden in the wall and not readily accessible, so care has to be taken in order to avoid more damage to the part. And unlike kitchen or sink faucets, repair and replacement of the shower valve is much more difficult and requires a higher level of skill. Haldeman Mechanical can properly flush the valve, remove any debris in the lines, lubricate all moving parts, and replace worn components and washers with ease. Contact us today!