went to a job this morning. a handyman has installed a shower with a kohler (i believe corailis) tub and shower valve upside down. the spout that they want to use as a toe tester gets no water unless the shower arm is capped.
my question... can i rotate the cartridge 180 deg to fix this or do i need to rotate the whole valve body?

That makes no sense. The diverter spout would ALWAYS have water coming out unless the diverter is activate. Installing it upside down with a diverter spout would mean the shower always flowed water even if the diverter was not operated.Reversing the cartridge just interchanges the hot and cold sides. You have to rotate the valve body to reorient the diverter/shower head functions.

Yes, the valve will have to be rotated, and I know I don't have to mention to run copper down to the tester.

that is what it does. water flows from the shower head ONLY.. if the head is removed and the shower arm is capped, water flows from the spout.

Completely illogical, so would appreciate a photo to see how it is piped.

no photo... tile installed and access from back side requires removing a pedestal lav and moving a washing machine that is as big as a VW.
anyway, why is it illogical? an upside down valve would send water out the top port and only send water to the bottom if the top is capped? this is a kohler valve...

GRAVITY will MAKE the water flow down to the diverter spout, unless it is some kind of weird connection.

i just got a call from the woman. she says a little is coming out of both pipes but when the diverter on the spout is lifted it does not change what comes out of the top????
i don't want to go thru ripping open a wall and rotating the valve if it is not going to fix it...
maybe make a little hole to see if the H and C markings are visible?

as per Kohler: [www.us.kohler.com]

page 9

Quote

NOTICE: Do not install the valve body upside down.

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

Page 10.......Try reversing the valve. Check the tab to see if it is reversed.

Paul48,

Refers to reversing left to right for a back to back installation.



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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

OK....I guess I didn't think that one through! The valve body must have a directional port that is suppose to aim downward. It's an odd situation, because I know valves have been inverted in the past for better flow. Maybe for a shower-only with a plug in the other port?

It almost acts like it was installed SIDEWAYS, with the H & C openings going to the diverter spout and shower are. If so, the the balancing function is what is screwing with the water flow. TUrn off the cold water supply to the water heater and see if you still have water on the hot side of the sink, since the hot and cold would be "directly connected" creating a by pass if it is sideways.



Edited 1 times.

I have installed MANY "shower only" valves upside down to eliminate a very serious "clogging" issue down the road.

went this morning and turned the valve rightside-up. all is well.



Edited 1 times.

packy,

I 'seem' to think that I remember something about this valve having a diaphragm integral to the flow.

Was not sure, did not want to 'muddy the waters, so I posted the actual instructions from Kohler.

remember the old joke: What should we do first? Throw away the instructions!



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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

some companies (grohe for one) should have the instructions thrown away. you can go out in the barnyard and read chicken scratchings easier than you can read their instructions.