help repairing shower valves

[geogridshorthair]

i can not figure out how to disassemble these valves.

there is no set screw to remove the handles.

i get very low water pressure from this shower while i have good pressure from every where else in the house.

house was built about 1993.

home depot and a quality plumbing supply store could not identify these valves.

steve in southern CA

 

[hj]

valve

Grohe and you have to pull them off with pliers, but protect them with tape or something else so you do not damage the finish where you grip them.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Redwood]

Grohe...

A name usually associated with higher quality products than big box stores sell.

Also associated with being a PITA (Pain in the ***) to work on and get parts.

 

[geogridshorthair]

thanks with the help on these

hj, you are probably right; they're Grohe Classic. Probably the 25540 00. Using the extension too.

Now i just need to find a place to order the parts from, any suggestions?

BTW, this site is great.

I had to rebuild a Grohe thermostatic valve at my inlaws home in Saratoga, CA and I did not have a clue where to start. But using this web site and help from hj and others I was able to ID the parts and complete the project.

Great site, thanks to all that contribute.

steve

 

[Verdeboy]

Did you try removing the shower head? If it is blocked with debris, that would cause low pressure.

 

[Redwood]

Did you try removing the shower head? If it is blocked with debris, that would cause low pressure.

I'd check that before taking the valve apart.

 

[hj]

Grohe

If it were a tub shower valve, even if only used for a shower, then I would say forget about improving the flow if both hot and cold were bad and it did not improve when both were opened. I had one like that years ago and it was impossible to cure it because the space around the restrictor tube was corroded shut.

 

[geogridshorthair]

not in the shower head

The first thing I did was remove the shower head and clean it in vinegar.

That was the easy thing to do.

I had spent some time trying to remove the handles (pulling, twisting and swearing). The strange thing is; now the pressue is significantly better. If there was a calcified obstruction in the valve body it must of come loose during this activity.

I still might order the parts to rebuild the valves, but I believe in the saying "if its not broke don't fix it". So the parts might just sit in the garage for awhile.

steve