I have a question about my shower. When I turn it on, it runs normally for about 3 minutes. Then the water stops flowing from the shower head and I can hear a humming sound coming from inside the wall. Its over a tub and when I shut off the shower part, the water runs out of the tub faucet normally. What can I do to fix this problem?
COMMUNITY FORUM
Its a single handle. If the diverter washer is my problem, is that hard to get to and replace? Its a mixet brand.
Here's the exploded view and price list of the mixet:
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/mixet.html
The only moving part is the cartridge.....
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/mixet.html
The only moving part is the cartridge.....
Anti-scald protection could be "in line" behind the wall or you might have an anti-scald device between the diverter and your shower head. Could it be that 1) your water heater is set at a temperature above 125 degrees, or that when this occurs someone somewhere else in your home is drawing cold water thereby reducing the cold water pressure to your shower, thereby increasing the water temperature at the shower head/anti scald valve sensor?
If this is the case, then the system/anti-scald device is doing exactly what it is supposed to do...i.e. stop flow to the shower head to avoid giving you a scald burn or worse. It may take from seconds to many minutes for the sensor to cool down enough to return flow, and usually requires a waiting period AFTER the water has been turned off and drained from the diverter up to the shower head, before the valve will open again and allow for flow to the shower head.
Current plumbing and building codes now require anti-scald protection in new construction and in many areas it is required when doing a shower area re-model.
If this is the case, then the system/anti-scald device is doing exactly what it is supposed to do...i.e. stop flow to the shower head to avoid giving you a scald burn or worse. It may take from seconds to many minutes for the sensor to cool down enough to return flow, and usually requires a waiting period AFTER the water has been turned off and drained from the diverter up to the shower head, before the valve will open again and allow for flow to the shower head.
Current plumbing and building codes now require anti-scald protection in new construction and in many areas it is required when doing a shower area re-model.
regards to my immediately previous post...obviously if you experience the exact same scenario when running only COLD water to the shower head...then this might not be the case UNLESS its a defective anti-scald valve. Another possibility is that the cartridge in your one-handled system is bad/clogged something and the "back pressure" to the "tub filling spout" is so great or your shower head is clogged up enough with sediment, etc. that the back pressure causes the diverter to trip. Just things to investigate before you start replacing parts prematurely.
