Smales
New Member
Sometimes the shower works fine, and temperature control for the water is perfect. Other times, there IS no temperature control. The water comes out either all hot - or close enough that it doesn't make any difference - or super cold, and twisting the temperature control dial has no effect. Over the years, I've replaced the temperature control cartridge (Moen 1222) several times, but it always seems to go bad. Recently, I discovered that simply taking the shower head off allows perfect temperature control, even if I simply remove the head while the temperature is out of control. I assumed the shower head was clogged or filled with limescale, so was creating back pressure that affected the temperature control cartridge. I cleaned it with white vinegar. This apparently returned temperature control, but only temporarily. Eventually, we're either burning or freezing again.
Assuming the shower head itself was simply worn out or of poor design, I replaced it for another last week. Tonight when I got home from work, there was nothing but scalding hot water coming out of the shower head. I removed the head and had total control of the temperature of the water coming out of the pipe. I put the shower head back on, and had nothing but cold.
There were no flushed or flushing toilets, no other water in the house was running, and no one had taken a shower or done anything with water in the house for at least an hour before I tried to take a shower.
Does anyone have any idea what the hell is going on? Why does the shower head - no matter which one - affect the water temperature like this? And is there anything I can do about it?
Assuming the shower head itself was simply worn out or of poor design, I replaced it for another last week. Tonight when I got home from work, there was nothing but scalding hot water coming out of the shower head. I removed the head and had total control of the temperature of the water coming out of the pipe. I put the shower head back on, and had nothing but cold.
There were no flushed or flushing toilets, no other water in the house was running, and no one had taken a shower or done anything with water in the house for at least an hour before I tried to take a shower.
Does anyone have any idea what the hell is going on? Why does the shower head - no matter which one - affect the water temperature like this? And is there anything I can do about it?