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Plumbing Problem

cbut8995 | Posted in General Questions on

Recently had a contractor come in and redo the bathroom. We picked out this Riobel shower set shower valve and rough in. 

It seems to lose all its pressure when I turn the shower to cold temp and all of the options either lose its pressure or no water comes out. 

The tiles are already up so Im worried I am losing out on such an expensive fixture. Also the pressure seems very low compared to the one the developer had installed but we didnt change anything about the water pressure since its a condo. We chose the higher pressure version for the fixtures as they have  1.75gpm option and 2+ gpm. The water pressure at the sink which i assume uses the same water line is amazing pressure as well

Any info would help as we withheld the final payment and added this problem to the checklist

https://www.build.com/riobel-trutm45/s1758197

https://www.build.com/house-of-rohl-r45/s1841711?uid=4366594

https://www.build.com/riobel-472/s1757949?uid=4151176&searchId=M8IlejCj9a

https://www.build.com/riobel-867/s1758022?uid=4151141&searchId=ic079hwzjj

https://www.build.com/riobel-4664/s1749862?uid=4134794&searchId=4wrVbLHhDq

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Replies

  1. Expert Member
    MALCOLM TAYLOR | | #1

    cbut8995,

    The problem is almost certainly in the cartridge, so don't worry about the tile being in, or needing to change out the rough in.

    1. cbut8995 | | #3

      So it should be an easy fix of removing the valve trim to access the rough in and clear it out or its the valve trim that is the problem.

      What about the problem where the temperature control valve affects the water that is coming out. I dont think water should stop coming out if I put the temp valve to the coldest setting.

      1. Expert Member
        MALCOLM TAYLOR | | #6

        It may be debris, or it may be a defective valve that needs replacing. Both repairs can be done without affecting the rough-in or finished wall.

  2. DC_Contrarian_ | | #2

    It's really common for new plumbing to have bits of crud in it that can clog the fixture. Thermostatic shower valves seem to be particularly susceptible. Usually fixing it is just a matter of opening the valve up and cleaning out the crud. The plumber should have checked for flow before leaving, but it may also be that it took a few minutes for the crud to get into the valve.

  3. cbut8995 | | #4

    So removing the cover where the control for the shower and cleaning that out?

    What about the problem where the temperature control valve affects the water that is coming out. I dont think water should stop coming out if I put the temp valve to the coldest setting.

  4. nynick | | #5

    We had a shower in a brand new house that just never got hot enough. Turns out the anti-scald was much too restrictive. We had the plumber remove it and bingo.

    I'd get that plumber back to solve both issues.

  5. RashidaMuhammad | | #7

    Hey there! That sounds frustrating with your shower pressure dropping like that. It's a bummer when a pricey fixture doesn't perform as expected. Have you considered reaching out to a professional plumbing service for advice? They might have some insights on how to troubleshoot or fix the issue. You could check out https://www.pm247.co.uk/services/plumbing/london/ for some expert help in London. Hopefully, you can get that shower back up to par soon!

  6. Uiloco | | #8

    Hey, that sounds frustrating. It might be an issue with the shower valve or rough-in installation. Sometimes, these valves have flow restrictors that can affect pressure, especially if not installed properly. Since the sink has good pressure, it's less likely to be a condo-wide issue. Maybe a pressure-balancing problem within the shower set?

    I went through a bathroom renovation last year and thought it would be easier, but it was quite a challenge without professional help. The bathroom design and layout took more work than I imagined. A friend recommended a good company that handles everything from concept to design, and it made the process smoother. They might be able to help you with your issue. Find out more information here https://acbathrooms.au/ .

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