Delta Shower Valve won't go higher than 80 degrees

[Steve Garson]

My contractor built a new bathroom, but we can't get the shower water hotter than 80 degrees, despite a water temp of 120.

I have adjusted the hot limit plastic stop to the max, to no avail. I then removed the cartridge and turned on the water, with shower door closed. The two springs and o-rings popped out and I can now see that the opening for the hot water seems distorted, so I presume the water flow is impeded. Is there any way to fix this? We have yet to take a shower in our new bath! Or are we going to be forced to cut open the wall and install a new rough in valve?

Steve G
Denver, CO

 

[Steve Garson]

Rough in is the Delta MultiChoice Universal Tub and Shower Valve Body Rough-in Kit 608738

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jadnashua]

Does the water start out cool then get hotter? Or the other way around?

 

[Opifex]

This looks very similar to my Delta valve. I'm not a professional, but I've done a bit of tinkering with my own valve and cartridge in the past, and it seems unlikely that there is a problem with the valve itself. I'm not sure how an all-metal valve body can become restricted. Do you not get hot water with the cartridge removed?

 

[Reach4]

You or your contractor should call Delta. https://www.deltafaucet.com/service-parts/frequently-asked-questions/support-and-warranty

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

The picture tells me that you did not remove the plastic insert before blowing out the faucet.....

just pull out that whole plastic insert if you have not already.....
their is probably a solder ball or a piece of
gravel wedjed behind the plastic insert........

just do it again without that white plastic insert in the body

 

[Kreemoweet]

Did the contractor do any soldering on that valve? It kinda looks melted in there, maybe the meltable parts were
not removed before soldering was done? Why isn't contractor addressing this issue?

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

Did the contractor do any soldering on that valve? It kinda looks melted in there, maybe the meltable parts were
not removed before soldering was done? Why isn't contractor addressing this issue?

its just a solder ball stuck behind that plastic insert....
take out the plastic insert holding the springs and washers and blast it again....

 

[Jadnashua]

One step in the install instructions that not everyone follows is to turn the water on prior to inserting the cartridge to flush the lines out of any debris that may be in there. Don't always have something, but it could be, and is easy to check...you need two people, one watching, and the second one at the main supply shutoff unless the valve has local in-line valves.

While you have the cartridge out, it should be fairly easy to gauge the relative volume of water out each port...it should be about equal. While you're doing that, you could also check the relative temperature of the supply lines if you run the water long enough.