Water Pressure Assistance

[Jay101]

I've attached a photo of my problem, this isn't the only place it's like this in the house but the other places I can say it's due to calcium build up in the screen of the faucet ect, at the tub with both faucets wide open, this is my water pressure... not even enough to start the shower. I've replaced both hot & cold filter cartridges as I thought that was the problem but that's not it either. If I put a pressure gauge on my taps outside I get 55~psi, I think the city guarantees 60 so I could complain but I get good flow out of some taps in my house, what else could be the issue here?

 

[frodo]

i would say the valve is probably stopped up with calicum crap

i would remove and replace the valve.

what is behind that shower valve ? a closet or bedroom?

cut into wall from behind, replace valve with out tearing up the tub wall

 

[Jay101]

i would say the valve is probably stopped up with calicum crap

i would remove and replace the valve.

what is behind that shower valve ? a closet or bedroom?

cut into wall from behind, replace valve with out tearing up the tub wall

The otherside of my wall is where my stairs are, I think that's a project that's a little outside of my reach. :/

Also, what valve are you refering too? At this point isn't it just pipe behind there and the hot/cold taps restrict/give flow?

 

[frodo]

The otherside of my wall is where my stairs are, I think that's a project that's a little outside of my reach. :/

Also, what valve are you refering too? At this point isn't it just pipe behind there and the hot/cold taps restrict/give flow?

inside the valve itself

 

[Jay101]

Well I've replaced the left and right cartridge, from what I can tell there is no cartridge for them spout/middle, the left and right control that?

Edit : Or you mean there's a third one in between those two? So I would have to rip apart my wall to get at that, I don't understand the point of that one....

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr1sqzKCsRY[/ame]

 

[Mr_David]

no! Frodo just imposed a 3 handle valve with a built in divert instead of a 2 handle. You said what valve and he was showing a valve unit, not just replacing the stems.

What brand is that? You replaced the stems so you must know that.

Years ago Moen had a 2 handle valve that had a port that would easily get clogged with mineral deposits. We had a special brush that we could send up the tub spout tube to clean it off but eventual would close up again. We eventually had to replace the valves.
Take out the cold stem and turn on water to see what kind of volume you have.
If it's good then replacing the valve might be your only option.

Relooking at Picture It is a Moen, says right on the handle

Replace the valve. It is a defective design.

 

[Matt30]

I do believe I can make out the Moen symbol on the handle. Mr David, can you post a photo of that special brush? Or was it just something you made?

 

[Jay101]

no! Frodo just imposed a 3 handle valve with a built in divert instead of a 2 handle. You said what valve and he was showing a valve unit, not just replacing the stems.

What brand is that? You replaced the stems so you must know that.

Years ago Moen had a 2 handle valve that had a port that would easily get clogged with mineral deposits. We had a special brush that we could send up the tub spout tube to clean it off but eventual would close up again. We eventually had to replace the valves.
Take out the cold stem and turn on water to see what kind of volume you have.
If it's good then replacing the valve might be your only option.

Relooking at Picture It is a Moen, says right on the handle

Replace the valve. It is a defective design.

Yes, they are Moen! Uhm... When I take out the stems and look in-to the unit I literally see the elbow (which is scaley but looks clean) and I can see it go down but nothing there, you're saying where it goes down there's debree in there?

So turn off my main water supply, pull out the cold stem that I just replaced, turn on water supply and see if it's good or not? If there's little flow then it's the valve is what you're saying?

 

[Mr_David]

Yes, they are Moen! Uhm... When I take out the stems and look in-to the unit I literally see the elbow (which is scaley but looks clean) and I can see it go down but nothing there, you're saying where it goes down there's debree in there?

So turn off my main water supply, pull out the cold stem that I just replaced, turn on water supply and see if it's good or not? If there's little flow then it's the valve is what you're saying?

No! If you remove the stem and turn water on to house and you have good flow then it's not the water supply to the valve.
The valve has a restriction in the middle where the hot and cold mix and come out the spout. You probably can't fix it.
You have low volume flow from both hot and cold.
It is not likely you have a restriction in both the hot and cold lines unless that restriction starts before the water heater which would mean all hot in the house would be low as well.


There is a cone in middle that directs water to spout. when diverter is activated the water flows up through center of cone to shower head.
The clearance was made to small and minerals build up blocking the downward flow to spout. We used to have a special brush that would go up the tub spout tube but that was only a temporary fix.

 

[Jay101]

So the problem could be going up and down? I can't activate my shower head because of the flow... The only way to fix this is to replace the unit? :/ That's unfortunate news and the only way to do that is to find the right place on the wall behind, rip it all apart or rip apart the tub?

 

[frodo]

tub does not come out. if a plumber says he cant replace the valve from the back wall.
get another plumber, with the skills that can
it can be done, i have done it many times

 

[Mr_David]

I do believe I can make out the Moen symbol on the handle. Mr David, can you post a photo of that special brush? Or was it just something you made?

It was something the Moen rep came up with. Basically like a small fitting brush
on a longer flexible twisted wire. small enough to make the turn up through the 90.
used a drill like this to turn it.

 

[Matt30]

Neat! Thanks!

 

[Jay101]

So I've blocked off the spout and ran CLR/Water 50/50 mix through it a few times, letting it sit more each time, it's better but hasn't resolved my issue... I can't take out the back side because it's to my stairs so I guess my solution is to redo the entire bathroom wall behind the tile ect, is there a fixture you'd recommend to do this vs the one that's in there?

 

[CT18]

You can cut a access in the stair wall. I did it for the homeowner when we lived in Chicago for 2 years for work. I set up the ladder on the landing and had the homeowner buy a few planks. It was cheaper than tearing open the only bath tub/shower wall and getting at it that way.

Did you try taking out the cartridges and the shower head and hooking a compressor up to the stub out at the tub spout and blowing back through. It may dis lodge the blockage that way.

 

[KULTULZ]

You've really kept the tile grout and tub caulk clean...

If calcium deposits are that bad, you might want to consider a softener.

 

[Kurgen]

Hey guys,

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I am having a similar issue. Shower pressure is low at start and drops as the shower continues. I replaced all three valves to stop the leaks and replace the showerhead, but it did noting to help the pressure. Pressure is good in all other baths. The house was repiped with flex hose a few years ago. The valve body and stand pipe to the showerhead are original.

Could this be a scale issue as suggested above? If so, will that cause the pressure drop during use? My next step to solve this issue was to replace the valve body and stand pipe, but I thought I would check here first.

 

[Kurgen]

Hey all,

I have been watching this since I posted it and have not seen any action. Does anyone have any thoughts on what could be happening here? It is my brother's house and I don't want to start replacing things that do no good.