The shower mixing valve on your Moen shower system does more than just turn the water on and off.
It also mixes the hot and cold water together at the right temperature, which allows you to take nice hot showers without scalding yourself.
Moen Shower Valve Not Mixing Properly
Unfortunately, if the valve isn’t mixing the water properly, it will either be too hot or too cold and neither extreme can be enjoyable to bathe in.
If your Moen shower mixing valve isn’t mixing properly, there are several things that you can do to correct this problem with minimal fuss or expense.
- Check If Is the Thermostat Working?
If the water is not mixing properly, make sure the thermostat is functioning by turning it up and down to see if you notice any difference in the way the water runs.
If there’s no change when you turn up or down, then there might be an issue with your thermostat. You can test this by unplugging it and plugging it back in again.
If that doesn’t work, contact a plumber for more help troubleshooting. There are also two other possible culprits:
The shower arm may be clogged or kinked, preventing the water from mixing. Make sure you clean out the shower arm regularly to keep hair from blocking it and causing problems.
Another possibility is that your valve stem isn’t fully closed, so water is leaking past its seat as soon as pressure builds up behind it.
- Replace The Timer
If you have an adjustable shower head, you should also be able to adjust the water pressure by turning the screw on top of the device.
Turning it clockwise will increase the flow while turning it counter-clockwise will decrease it.
If there is no adjustment knob, consult your owner’s manual for instructions on how to remove and adjust the internal parts of your showerhead.
You may need to replace the timer if it is broken or replaces the cartridge if it has become clogged with calcium deposits.
Another possible issue is that the water pump might not be working correctly. Consult the manufacturer’s manual for instructions on how to fix this issue.
To replace any of these components, turn off house power, unscrew or unclip any plastic parts that hold the unit together before disconnecting any other hoses that are attached.
- Replace The Diverter
The diverter is located on the end of the spout. It can get clogged with debris from shampoo, conditioner, or hair that gets stuck to it over time.
This will cause the water to be unable to flow into the shower head and instead goes straight down.
To fix this problem, it’s best to unscrew the old diverter by rotating it counterclockwise and replacing it with a new one.
If you need any assistance doing so, refer to your installation manual for more details. You may also want to contact a professional plumber to make sure the job is done properly.
If you have tried all these steps and are still experiencing problems with your shower valve not mixing properly, contact us for more information.
- Replace the Cartridge
- Turn off the water supply and remove the old cartridge.
- Remove the handle from the shower arm by unscrewing it from its shaft.
- Unscrew the cartridge by turning it counterclockwise with a wrench or pliers.
- Install the new cartridge in place of the old one, tightening it to 35-foot pounds using a wrench or pliers.
- Place the new handle on the shower arm, aligning it so that its screw holes match up with the arm, and turn clockwise until tight (use caution not to strip out any screws).
- Reattach your plumbing system, ensuring that you follow all safety instructions for gas lines, electric wires, etc., as instructed in your installation guide.
- Check the Flush Face
If the valve is not mixing water properly, then the Flush Face may be clogged. This can happen if there is too much soap on the face or if it was hit with hard water deposits.
To fix this problem, turn off the water and remove the cover on the Flush Face by turning it counterclockwise.
Once it is removed, use a pencil eraser to clean off any dirt or soap that has built up. Put everything back together and turn on your shower!
You should notice an improvement in how your showers are flowing.
- Checking Behind the Wall
When it comes to plumbing, you must follow the order of operations. This means that before replacing parts, you must ensure the problem is in the valve and not behind the wall.
To check behind the wall:
- Turn off all water valves in your home.
- Unscrew and remove the shower head from your shower arm.
- Place a bucket under the faucet, so there are no drips on the floor.
- Remove any decorative caps on the faucet, then unscrew and remove both nuts at the base of the faucet that holds it to your countertop or wall.
- Carefully pull the faucet away from the wall.
- If you see corrosion inside where the hoses connect, replace it with an adjustable compression coupling.
- If you don’t see corrosion but notice wear around these connections, replace the washers.
- You can also buy a new hose assembly kit, which will come with instructions as well as a diagram showing how everything should go back together properly.
- Special Tools
If the hot and cold water is not mixing in your shower, there is likely an issue with the installation of your valve.
To troubleshoot this, turn on both the hot and cold-water valves in the shower. If they are mixed together, then you have an installation problem.
If they are only coming out of one side or if only one side is turned on, then you may have a valve problem.
After turning off both water sources, remove the handle to expose the screws that hold it in place.
Loosen these screws using a screwdriver until you can remove the handle from its housing by pulling it up and off from where it connects to the threaded shaft that controls flow direction.
Turn on each source again to see which side has better pressure; this indicates which way to install the new handle.