Clogged Mixing Valve?

[2002sheds]

Hi All,
Happy upcoming 4th!

I am stumped by a lack of water from the shower in our Mother in Law unit, which is a shower stall that was put in around 15 years ago. The mixing valve is a Moen Adler (one handle). Plumbing to the shower is via 3/4” pex, and copper for the last few feet (I think). We have pretty hard water, and I’ve to remove the shower head several times to descale it. That has always done the trick, in terms of restoring flow. This time, however, turning on the shower resulted in around 20% of normal flow, all through the temperature range. The shower is at the end of the run. A vanity faucet that is a few feet away has full flow.

Of course, I suspect the mixing valve, but I haven’t the faintest idea of what to look for. I’m also concerned about the possibility of having to remove that valve, so if there is a solution that leaves the valve in place I will be grateful.

Thanks!
David

 

[2002sheds]

Hi,
So I am narrowing my suspect list to the 1222 cartridge in the mixing valve. If I am on the wrong track, please let me know.

Thanks,
David

 

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[GReynolds929]

That's where I would start.

 

[2002sheds]

Thanks, G !!

 

[2002sheds]

Hi,
So I am narrowing my suspect list to the 1222 cartridge in the mixing valve. If I am on the wrong track, please let me know.

Thanks,
David

Hi All,
To close this thread, I wanted to post that it was NOT the cartridge. The cartridge actually looked pretty good. I still swapped it though, since it was opened up and I had a spare.
When I turned the water back on, I had the same effect — a dribble. My prospects were pretty dim, considering that I had already descaled the rain shower head. Still, I removed the head to check the flow without it in place, and it was a torrent.
That was when I had the bright idea to look more closely at the connection between the supply pipe from the ceiling and the shower head. Sure enough, the one hole that all the water had to go through in order to reach the many was clogged. A few jabs with a toothpick got the stuff out, and after a quick rinse the shower head was replaced. This time, everything was perfect.
So even after cleaning 120 or so tiny holes of limescale, it came down to the one piece that was set aside during disassembly…


Thanks,
David