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Problem with regulating the water temperature in the bath faucet and specificall

ber 42723 11
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  • #1 16966230
    ber
    Level 15  
    Posts: 227
    Help: 8
    Rate: 39
    This is not an "electrical" problem, but rather a hydraulic one, but maybe someone has encountered a similar problem.
    I have the following problem with a classic bathtub faucet. When I set the battery holder more or less in the middle, lukewarm water flies through the tap but the shower is cold (sometimes for a while). When I move the handle more to the left, i.e. hot water through the faucet, hot water flies through the shower, once warm, once cold, once lukewarm.
    Because I also had another problem with the switch (when the water was pouring through the faucet into the tub, also from the shower) I thought it was the switch's fault.
    I took out the switch and cleaned it (although it was in good condition), reinstalled, tightened well. Now the water stream is directed properly, nothing leaks and seeps. Unfortunately, the water temperature in the shower is still unpredictable (while the tap is always ok).

    Could it be the switch's fault? Or maybe the head works badly? I have no idea what to do about it :(

    The battery is a regular Valvex mixing battery, the switch is difficult for me to specify, but a newer type - easily removable (just unscrew from above), all as if combined.
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  • #2 16966274
    zdzichra
    Level 32  
    Posts: 1531
    Help: 167
    Rate: 303
    Water getting out of the tap has a lower pressure than from the shower, i.e. from the tap it is easier than from the shower and this is probably a problem because probably the hot and cold water in this faucet mixes differently for different pressures. If you have valves before the faucet play with them you will probably achieve the desired effect.
  • #3 16966292
    Freddy
    Level 43  
    Posts: 19997
    Help: 1394
    Rate: 2805
    I rather bet on accumulated stone in the battery.
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  • #4 16966302
    ber
    Level 15  
    Posts: 227
    Help: 8
    Rate: 39
    zdzichra wrote:
    If you have valves in front of the battery, play with them, you will probably manage to achieve the desired effect.


    I don't know if I reason well. Since the problem did not occur before, either the hot water pressure in the block generally dropped / the cold water pressure increased (then all residents would have a similar problem) or something with "my" pipes / valves is not right.

    Added after 2 [minutes]:

    Freddy wrote:
    I rather bet on accumulated stone in the battery.

    Mhmmm .... in the battery, i.e. in the mixing head?
  • #5 16966320
    Freddy
    Level 43  
    Posts: 19997
    Help: 1394
    Rate: 2805
    Review the entire battery carefully.
  • #6 16966332
    zdzichra
    Level 32  
    Posts: 1531
    Help: 167
    Rate: 303
    There should be filter strainers next to the battery, maybe one of them loses its capacity?
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  • #7 16966351
    Freddy
    Level 43  
    Posts: 19997
    Help: 1394
    Rate: 2805
    zdzichra wrote:
    There should be filter strainers next to the battery, maybe one of them loses its capacity?
    Well, then there would be no differences between a tap and a shower.
  • #8 16966357
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
  • #9 16966390
    zdzichra
    Level 32  
    Posts: 1531
    Help: 167
    Rate: 303
    Freddy wrote:
    Well, then there would be no differences between a tap and a shower.

    They can be. Check it, it is 5 minutes of work and it can seriously limit the volume of this topic. You can disassemble the strainers for a trial and one of the possible causes will fall off.
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  • #10 16966446
    ber
    Level 15  
    Posts: 227
    Help: 8
    Rate: 39
    Art.B wrote:
    Installation in a block with central hot water?


    Yes.

    Added after 1 [minutes]:

    zdzichra wrote:
    Freddy wrote:
    Well, then there would be no differences between a tap and a shower.

    They can be. Check it, it is 5 minutes of work and it can seriously limit the volume of this topic. You can disassemble the strainers for a trial and one of the possible causes will fall off.


    Tomorrow I will review the entire battery and will also experiment with valves.
  • #11 16966480
    Anonymous
    Anonymous  
  • #12 16971730
    ber
    Level 15  
    Posts: 227
    Help: 8
    Rate: 39
    Because a lot of people said something - thank you for that :) I will write what I have agreed. Unfortunately, my plans to review the entire battery were unsuccessful - after turning off the main hot water valve, it turned out that the water drips quite intensively. Therefore, I did not experiment, I did not want to aggravate the situation, I opened the valve and in this position is ok. I will wait until it is fixed.

    However, I did what I could, i.e.
    Art.B wrote:
    Take off the phone and see if the difference continues.
    . I took off the phone and took out a kind of flow restrictor (plastic with several holes) between the tap and the hose. Water flowing only through a hose and without encountering resistance was always at the right temperature. It also turned out that the strainer between the shower hose and the handset was heavily clogged. Generally, the whole snake grew black inside and when it was torn off it stuck the strainer. It's much better after cleaning. Maybe as I look in the future, the batteries will be as it should be :)

    I'm a bit worried about the hose growing on the inside (I have a plastic hose, not of metal). I didn't think there could be so much shit out there, definitely not very healthy :(
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around a hydraulic issue with a classic bathtub faucet where the user experiences inconsistent water temperatures between the faucet and shower. The user notes that when the handle is set to a neutral position, lukewarm water flows from the tap while the shower remains cold. Adjusting the handle towards hot results in varying temperatures from the shower. Initial troubleshooting included cleaning the switch, which did not resolve the temperature inconsistency. Responses suggest potential causes such as pressure differences between hot and cold water, accumulated sediment in the faucet, or issues with filter strainers. The user plans to inspect the entire faucet assembly and experiment with valves to identify the root cause. Cleaning the flow restrictor and strainers showed improvement in water temperature consistency.
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FAQ

TL;DR: Shower going cold while the tub runs warm usually points to a flow restriction; a “5‑minute” strainer check often fixes it—“it is 5 minutes of work.” [Elektroda, zdzichra, post #16966390]

Why it matters: This FAQ helps apartment dwellers and DIYers quickly restore stable shower temperature without replacing the faucet.

Quick Facts

Why is my shower cold but the bathtub tap stays warm or hot?

The shower path has higher resistance than the tub spout. Any clog in the handset, hose, or restrictor lowers flow, upsets pressure balance, and the mixer skews cold. The tub outlet remains fine because it has less resistance. Cleaning the handset strainer and removing a flow restrictor restored correct temperature. [Elektroda, ber, post #16971730]

How can I diagnose the problem in 3 quick steps?

  1. Unscrew the shower handset and any plastic restrictor; run water and check temperature.
  2. If stable, clean the handset strainer and inspect the hose interior.
  3. Reassemble and retest; replace the hose if contamination recurs. [Elektroda, ber, post #16971730]

Could a flow restrictor be the culprit for temperature swings?

Yes. A small multi‑hole insert between the faucet and hose can choke flow. Removing the insert let water flow freely and stabilized temperature. Clean or discard it if clogged. “Water flowing only through a hose and without encountering resistance was always at the right temperature.” [Elektroda, ber, post #16971730]

Where should I check for clogs first?

Start at the shower end: handset strainer, hose interior, and any inline insert at the hose connection. In the reported case, a heavily clogged handset strainer and fouled hose caused the issue. Cleaning those parts made the shower temperature consistent again. [Elektroda, ber, post #16971730]

Do pressure differences between hot and cold lines really matter?

Yes, especially in apartment blocks. Significant pressure differences between hot and cold risers can distort the mix when the shower path adds resistance. Testing with the handset removed helps confirm a pressure‑driven imbalance. [Elektroda, 266564, post #16966480]

Should I tweak the shutoff valves before the faucet to balance pressures?

You can. Slightly throttling the higher‑pressure side can improve mixing stability. This is a quick way to test whether pressure imbalance is the root cause without replacing parts. Adjust a little at a time and retest the shower. [Elektroda, zdzichra, post #16966274]

Could limescale in the mixer cartridge cause unstable water temperature?

Yes. Scale buildup inside the mixer (“battery”) can disrupt the hot–cold blending. If cleaning strainers and hose does not help, inspect and descale the cartridge or review the whole faucet body for deposits. [Elektroda, Freddy, post #16966292]

What if the hot-water shutoff valve drips when closed?

Avoid full disassembly until the valve is repaired. In the thread, a leaking main valve halted further teardown; reopening it prevented worsening the leak. Treat a dripping shutoff as an edge case that needs fixing first. [Elektroda, ber, post #16971730]

Is a dirty, blackened plastic shower hose a health or performance concern?

Yes for performance, and it’s undesirable for hygiene. The fouled hose shed debris that clogged the handset strainer, driving temperature swings. Clean thoroughly or replace the hose if buildup returns after cleaning. [Elektroda, ber, post #16971730]

Will cleaning the handset and hose fix both shower and tap differences?

It can. After cleaning a clogged handset strainer and removing the restrictor, the shower matched the tub’s stable temperature. This shows the restriction, not the tub spout, caused the imbalance. [Elektroda, ber, post #16971730]

Should I review the entire faucet if quick checks don’t help?

Yes. “Review the entire battery carefully.” Inspect the mixer cartridge, diverter, and internal passages for scale or debris. Reassemble and test after each step to isolate the fault. [Elektroda, Freddy, post #16966320]

What is a “mixing battery” on a bathtub faucet?

It’s a single‑lever mixing faucet (e.g., Valvex) that blends hot and cold water and feeds either the tub spout or shower via a diverter. Temperature instability shows up when restrictions or scale upset that blending. [Elektroda, ber, post #16966230]

Does removing the handset confirm a pressure or restriction issue?

Yes. With the handset and insert removed, the reduced resistance made temperature stable. That simple test isolates restrictions downstream of the mixer as the cause. If it stabilizes, clean or replace those parts. [Elektroda, ber, post #16971730]

I live in a block with central hot water—anything special to know?

Yes. Blocks often have uneven riser pressures. That makes shower‑side restrictions more likely to skew mixing. Testing without the handset and adjusting valves can quickly validate this scenario. [Elektroda, 266564, post #16966480]
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