When it comes to plumbing issues, there’s likely a handful that instantly come to the minds of homeowners. Clogged garbage disposals, slow shower drains and no hot water are likely ones finding their way onto most people’s lists! However, today on the blog, we’re going to look at one many wouldn’t instantly consider and that happens to be no cold water coming out of the shower. Yep, that’s right! Just as a lack of hot water is considered a plumbing problem, the same can be said about cold water as well. After all, a nice warm shower is pretty nice, right? A scalding hot shower though? Not so much!
Throughout this blog, I’ll walk you through why a lack of cold water in the shower is in fact a problem, as well as what needs to be done to get it fixed!
But aren’t there separate lines for hot water and cold water?
When a customer is experiencing a lack of cold water in the shower, this is typically the first question they ask? They wonder if the hot water heater has somehow malfunctioned and is only sending hot water through the piping. While this is a solid guess as to why one may be experiencing this issue, it isn’t typically the correct answer. Plus, if you’ve already tested out other faucets throughout the home, you’re likely starting to notice the issue resides strictly with the shower. Having said that, you’ve successfully narrowed the problem down to the shower itself, not the water heater. Let’s continue.
So where is the problem?
Before we proceed to the likely culprit of this problem, run one quick test that’ll only take a few seconds. Locate where the shut-off valve is and make sure it hasn’t been accidentally turned off. Surprisingly enough, this happens a fair amount of times and is always an easy fix! If all is good on that note, chances are you have a failure with the pressure balancing valve.
First off, considering the average homeowner likely is unfamiliar with this part, let’s describe what this valve is and why it’s an important cog in a shower. This valve is typically located in the shower’s faucet. Essentially, it regulates the ratio of hot water to cold water coming from your showerhead and adjusts each to shoot out the water at your desired temperature. It mixes the two water supplies together and you’re left with water at the temperature you’ve set it to. It’s as simple as that!
How does the pressure balancing valve fail?
Unfortunately, considering the amount of pressure your plumbing system is under on a daily basis, the various parts throughout aren’t going to last forever. This can be said about sewer lines, water heaters, plumbing fixtures and so on! Pressure-balancing valves are no different! Through consistent wear and tear, it’ll eventually just break down and can be prone to corrosion and mineral build-up. This is particularly the case with showers that aren’t used as often. Think guest bathrooms or any other showers not getting a lot of use.
How can you replace/fix the faulty pressure balancing valve?
Like with most household plumbing projects, we typically recommend leaving the repairs up to a plumbing professional. This will ensure it gets fixed correctly the first time and doesn’t turn into an never-ending headache. When we have to replace a faulty pressure balancing valve, the process is fairly simple. The most difficult part of this entire process is taking apart the faucet. You have to get the old cartridge out with a cartridge puller (a tool that most homeowners likely don’t have laying around).
Before getting started, we always make sure to turn off the water supply going to the shower. If you’re looking to turn this into a DIY project, do not ignore this step! Before you’re able to remove the cartridge, you’ll need to take out the faucet handle, any trim plates, parts inside the body of the faucet and retainer clip. You’ll want to dissolve any mineral deposits as well with a quality cleaner! Now that you’re able to pull the cartridge, we would recommend taking it as a sample to your local hardware store. This will ensure you’re able to purchase the correct one for re-installing.
Considering how important it is to have a sound understanding of where each of these parts is to be installed, that is a major reason why we lean towards hiring a licensed plumber for this repair. It’ll be a quick repair too, thus saving you time and money!
Proceed With Caution
As you’re likely starting to see, not having any cold water can certainly be a safety concern. With no cold water to mix, make sure to proceed with caution when using your shower. The water will have the possibility to come out extremely hot and as a result, could pose some safety concerns. If you’re dealing with a lack of cold water in the entire house, make sure to pass on the message to everyone in your home. Until the problem is resolved, proceed with caution!
Other Potential Issues
While the pressure balancing valve tends to be the problem area with an absence of cold water, it’s not going to be the issue every single time. During winter time, it could be a result of a frozen pipe. There’s always going to be the possibility of one of the cold water pipes leading to your fixture becoming frozen. This would cause a lack of cold water.
A second potential problem that would almost certainly require the assistance of trained professionals would be a blockage in the pipe. Whether that be debris from the water main or even some corrosion, this would definitely be a more difficult problem to resolve. Before tearing out any walls to reveal the hidden piping though, have a plumber take a look. Sometimes, the problems can be resolved easier and not require a bunch of construction!
Thermostatic Shower Valves
Before I wrap up this blog post, I wanted to touch on one more quick point: thermostatic shower valves. This is the other type of shower valves that are used to control the water temperatures. These valves have two handles (one for volume and one for water temperature). Since they react to the temperature, rather than the pressure, you have control over the temperature of the water output. The water temperature will also remain the same even after you turn off the water, so showers after that will be set at what you left it at. No matter if you just have a trickle of water or have it at full blast, the temperature stays the same. All in all, these are certainly considered higher-end than their pressure-balancing alternatives, but also come at a steeper price tag.
Keep in mind that thermostatic showers also have cartridges capable of wearing out over time. If you’re having difficulties controlling the temperature, this very well could be the problem!
Have a Stine-Nichols Service Technician Take a Look!
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we’re all about doing whatever it takes to help our customers save a few bucks! After all, we know you have better things you’d rather spend your money on than plumbing repairs! In doing so, here on our blog, we love providing our customers with tips and tricks to help them do just that! Unfortunately, replacing a shower cartridge is not the easiest of DIY projects. If completed incorrectly, it’s one of those projects that will seem to constantly pop up in the future. That’s why we strongly recommend leaving it up to a pro!
As a member of the Plumbers Local 8 Union, our team of trained technicians have gone through the proper training to be able to handle just about any plumbing issue. Whether that means assisting in a large-scale commercial renovation or just replacing a shower cartridge, you can have the peace of mind that your project will be successfully completed the first time! Getting a free estimate is easy as well! Either call us at (816) 348-3481 or request a free estimate, and a member of our team will be in touch.