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Author:
Mlynch14 (CT)
I've got a Symmons Temptrol shower valve in my second floor bath that has a problem passing hot water. Sometimes it works OK but other times it can take several minutes or more to pass hot water. A workaround that seems to work is to turn the valve off for 30-60 seconds and then turn it back on. Might have to do this a couple of times. The valve is original to the house circa 1985 and I figured the problem was with the spindle so I replaced that but it didn't fix the problem. Once the hot water starts running then there's no further problem. The only other thing I can think to add is that my water is very hot. I don't see a lot of other parts in this valve that could be at fault. Any ideas?
Thanks, Michael
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Author:
packy (MA)
did you try turning on the hot water with the spindle removed? coulb be a problem not related to the valve?
i agree that there is nothing else to cause this problem. once you replace the cartridge, you replaced it all.
with the spindle in you hand, shake it forward to back and it should make a rattle as the balancing spool moves.
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Author:
Mlynch14 (CT)
Didn't try that but the sink on the same line right next to the shower doesn't have this problem and they are controlled by the save valve in the basement. And the shower does eventually work so I don't think there is any kind of blockage there. Perplexing.
Michael
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Author:
packy (MA)
i have installed and serviced countless symmons valves. i have never seen this problem. it is perplexing..
try 1 800 SYMMONS on monday morning. ask for technical help. they may have seen this.
just thought of this...
you might replace the volume control. that is the little lever operated cylinder just below the handle.
ask symmons to send you the necessary parts to replace that cylinder. thet are difficult to remove but if you take off the retaining brass piece 9your probably has 2 screws) and insert a 5/16 lag screw into the plastic cylinder it will come out. flush the valve again and insert the new part.
let us know how you make out..
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Author:
Mlynch14 (CT)
This is a type A without the volume control. Symmons site seems to suggest that the problem might be in the tankless water heater not being able to keep up with the volume of hot water needed by the tub/ shower while the faucet nearby uses less. There might be something to this and they also suggest that the problem could be worse in the winter when ground water is colder. Although I have seen the problem at other times of the year as well.
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Author:
packy (MA)
lets get this right....
you have water but it is not hot?
this is a whole different problem that what i was led to believe...
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Author:
Mlynch14 (CT)
No. I have water that is reluctant to get hot occasionally and only on the Symmons Temptrol valve. Everywhere else it might take a few seconds for the hot water to start up but here it can take minutes. This is using either the shower or tub. Using the tub it might be that the tankless water heater can't keep up with the volume of water but that doesn't seem to be the case with the shower. Once I get the hot water flowing There's plenty. The sink on the same line next to the shower does't have this problem. I theorized that some part in the valve was expanding from the hot water and eventually freeing up and working but replacing the Symmons spindle didn't fix this and I'm not seeing many other parts in there that could be at fault. The Symmons website suggested that the inability of a tankless water heater to put out enough hot water might explain this which I think might explain the tub just going lukewarm after a bit but not the reluctance of the valve to pass hot water to the shower head. Stumped.
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Author:
packy (MA)
try running the water in the sink next to the shower. when it gets hot, turn on the shower all the way to hot. any difference?
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Author:
Mlynch14 (CT)
No difference. So I know the hot water is reaching that bathroom. And both the sink and shower share the same shutoff valve in the basement.
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Author:
packy (MA)
so you turn on the sink to hot and the water gets hot relatively quickly and while that sink is running nice and hot you turn on the shower and the hot takes a while to get hot and the hot in the sink stays nice and hot.
i don't mind telling you that this makes no sense to me at all ???????
i'm thinking the only solution (for me) would be to install seperate shutoff on the hot and cold to the shower valve. remove the cartridge, turn on the sink full hot and open the hot shutoff to let the water blast out of the valve body. see if it gets hot right away or not.
i'm out of ideas...
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Author:
Mlynch14 (CT)
I guess that's one thing I haven't tried. I have a separate shut off for the hot and cold lines down in the basement. I'll shut off the cold and run the shower and see what I get. If I get a reduced flow that should tell me something. Not sure what, but something. Thanks.
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
rhm068 (MA)
I have very much the same problem. Did you ever try shutting off the cold? How is your hot water in shower now?
Thanks!!!
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