Are shower valves adjustable internally?

[A930Rocket]

I’m wrapping up some new apartments and many people have complained about the low water temp in the shower.

I went to a random unit and took a digital thermometer and got 123* at the kitchen faucet and 101.8 at the spout/shower. The inspector says 120* max.

Same distance for both to the electric water heater.

How can there be a 20* difference?

I’ll find out the make and model of the shower valve tomorrow, but if I take the cover off, can the shower valve be adjusted to get more hot water out of it?

Any ideas from the great PPOT?

*** BTW, my plumber is worthless***

[dad911]

Yes. 'Hot' is limited. Usually by a stop under the trim that limits travel.

I would make plumber do it. You don't want the liability if someone gets scalded.

[nota]

showers have a ghimic that limits the hot when another line is open so no burns

also hot water lines get clogged with lime deposits quicker as do shower heads
esp low flow newer heads

ether or both can limit total flow

new connections can stir up the deposits in the old water main sending gunk in to your new system
as they drill the old pipe [inside a sleeve] that shakes the pipe

[aigel]

What kind of thermometer are you using?

[SoCal911T]

Originally Posted by dad911

Yes. 'Hot' is limited. Usually by a stop under the trim that limits travel.

At least out here, those stops aren't for limiting travel. They're so you can shut off the water to a valve to service it without shutting off the water to an entire apartment building. They usually are frozen from lack of use but it's a good idea on paper.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by SoCal911T

At least out here, those stops aren't for limiting travel. They're so you can shut off the water to a valve to service it without shutting off the water to an entire apartment building. They usually are frozen from lack of use but it's a good idea on paper.

No, not shutoffs. Diverter has an adjustment so water heater can be set to 130-140 and shower limited to 120.

Like this kohler:

[BK911]

Yup. Recently adjusted mine to increase water temp at shower.

[SoCal911T]

Originally Posted by dad911

No, not shutoffs. Diverter has an adjustment so water heater can be set to 130-140 and shower limited to 120.

Yes, but two completely different things. All valves don't have temp adjusting feature.

[A930Rocket]

It’s a cheapo digital thermometer from Amazon.

Originally Posted by aigel

What kind of thermometer are you using?

[A930Rocket]

If there is an adjustable screw to change the water temp like that Kohler, it would be an easy fix. But then my plumber probably doesn’t want to adjust 152+ shower valves!

[rfuerst911sc]

Every shower valve I have installed in the past 20 years has had an adjustable temp mechanism . Either a screw or a ring . That was for Delta and Moen .

[A930Rocket]

We checked another unit and the plumber raised the temp to 118* by his digital thermometer. Plumbing inspector says 115*-120* max, which might not be hot enough for some people.

[dad911]

Inspector is correct. Don't set it higher.

www.asse-plumbing.org/WaterHeaterScaldHazards.pdf