Grohe shower control; no flow

[Hendog]

I've installed a Grohe shower control model 19 933. I don't have any water coming out of the top.

I understand the control is for either a downspout, or, shower control application. I am installing it in a walk in shower. The control came with a plug on top. I moved the plug to the bottom. I connected my shower pipe to the top. When I hooked it up and turned on the main supply, the control filled with water but it would not pass water to the shower head.

Any insight would be appreciated.
Thank you,
H

 

[Hendog]

Here's looking at the control from the bottom and then the top.

 

[Matt30]

There are 2 shutoffs a on that control. They are on either side of the cartridge, they take a flat screw driver. Did you open them?

 

[Hendog]

Yes, I opened the two shutoffs; they require a 90 degree turn with a flat screwdriver. The control did indeed fill with water.
I'm thinking it "wants" to route the water out the bottom. I moved the plug to the bottom. I'm wondering if the cartridge might be configurable for either top or bottom.

 

[Matt30]

Do you have both hot and cold water hooked up? You only have hot water on in the picture

 

[Hendog]

Yes. I took the cold off for a moment to address tiny leak, but yes I tested with both supplies on.

 

[frodo]

the valve has an arrow on it..or it says shw spout h or c down or up are these in the correct position

 

[frodo]

read your literature the 19933 has a built in bypass...
http://screencast.com/t/gcXRPFpuYo
look at the piping diagram for your model

 

[Matt30]

Also, what's with the metal chase? Don't let any brass or copper touch that

 

[Hendog]

the valve has an arrow on it..or it says shw spout h or c down or up are these in the correct position

I didn't see any arrow or markings for shower or spout (or up/down)...

read your literature the 19933 has a built in bypass...
http://screencast.com/t/gcXRPFpuYo
look at the piping diagram for your model

I went through all the literature including that one.

Also, what's with the metal chase? Don't let any brass or copper touch that

That's an aluminum mounting plate I built. The Grohe is quite deep and difficult to mount in a 2x4 wall, so mounting on a piece of aluminum rather than a thick piece of plywood gave me more room to play with. Also comes in handy when pointing a propane flame while sweating the joints; It's a great heat sink and shields the wall behind

I think the cartridge may be faulty. I even removed the plug at the bottom to see if water might come out of there but no go. I'm going to call the distributor and see if they can shed some light on this.

 

[Hendog]

Supply hooked up and maintenance valves shut off with no cartridge, then with valves ON and cartridge in turned to allow water flow...but nothing

 

[Hendog]

I think I discovered the problem! The pressure balance valve is working as it should! the hot water supply is shut off down in the floor by a hand valve but the cold supply needed to be left on to feed the toilet in the other bathroom. I would go and shut off the supply to the entire house to do any work, forgetting about the hot water shut off in the floor.
It's too late tonight to work on this but I'll have to confirm tomorrow. I feel a little silly now, but at least I see the solution.

 

[Hendog]

So I solved it myself just as I figured in my previous post.
The back story to this is: We had the main bathroom remodeled approx 3 years ago by hired contractor. Considering that was now done, I thought I'd tackle the ensuite myself. Two years ago in February I tore it down to the studs and there it sat. I capped both the hot and cold water, however I had to keep the cold water shut-off valve in the ON position to keep the toilet in the main operating. The hot shut-off was turned off. So here I am two years later plumbing my new shower control, all the while forgetting the hot water shut-off is OFF. This is what caused my pressure balance valve to not flow. I guess now I know it works VERY well.
Thanks for all the replies and attention to my silly little problem.

 

[Matt30]

Glad you figured it out!

My bill is in the mail

 

[IFIXH20]

Just a bit of advice before closing the valve behind the walls. Your adapters don't seem to have thread sealant on them. I see the teflon tape but no sealant. Most plumbers uses tape and sealant especially on pressure pipe.

 

[Hendog]

Just a bit of advice before closing the valve behind the walls. Your adapters don't seem to have thread sealant on them. I see the teflon tape but no sealant. Most plumbers uses tape and sealant especially on pressure pipe.

Good eye! No I don't have a thread sealant. Do you mean something like Blue Loctite? Do i use it WITH teflon tape or INSTEAD of teflon tape?
...oh man, and here I thought I was done. Now I'll have to take it all apart again. Oh well, better now than later that's for sure!