Do you have a bath faucet that absolutely does not run you a hot enough bath? Or maybe a shower faucet that seems to delight in scalding you when you accidentally bump the control lever with your elbow? You can fix these types of problems by adjusting the maximum temperature of the faucet. Doing so requires only basic tools, and in most cases only takes a few minutes of trial and error to get your shower faucet running the way you want it. A Quick Lesson on How the Levers Work Most single lever shower faucets are designed to have up to 270 degrees of rotation. At about 45 degrees from the "off" position, the cold water is fully on and the hot water is still off. As you continue rotating, the hot water starts to come on until, at about 135 degrees of rotation, both the hot and cold water is on full. From this point, the hot stays on and the cold is gradually turned off until, at 270 degrees, the hot water is fully on and the cold water is fully off. The mechanism inside a single lever faucet is adjustable and can be moved so that it limits the amount of rotation.

Remember, it's at the full 270 degrees of rotation that you only have hot water. At less than that, cold water is still mixing in. If you can't rotate the lever a full 270 degrees, cold water is always mixing with the hot. The shorter the maximum rotation is, the more cold water is being added and the cooler the faucet's maximum temperature. Look Under the Handle To adjust your shower faucet's temperature, take the lever or handle off. Home For Sale Boomer NcIn most cases, you can easily pry out a piece of metal or plastic on the front of the faucet handle to get at the screw that holds the handle on. Basenji Mix Puppies For SaleSome handles have a hole hidden on the underside; Motorhome For Sale In Msyou can use a small screwdriver or Allen wrench to remove the handle.

Once the handle is off, you should see a collar with a little plastic nub that sticks up. When the handle is in place, it's this nub that stops the rotation at the "maximum hot" position. Look inside the handle or slide it back into place and turn the faucet on and off to help visualize how this works. Some collars have two pieces. On the back piece, the nub is always at the 12 o'clock position and the other piece can be pulled out and rotated clockwise from the 12 o'clock position and reinserted. The farther clockwise from 12 o'clock, the more the lever's rotation is limited and the colder the maximum temperature. On other collars, there is an adjustment screw that can allow for some adjustment of the collar. Remember that pushing the nub clockwise means a cooler maximum temperature. Older single lever faucets may have hot and cold adjustment screws instead of a collar. To increase temperature, turn the hot water adjustment screw counterclockwise or the cold water screw clockwise. To decrease the temperature, do the opposite.

The key to proper adjustment is to experiment and test--trial and error will get you there.How to Fix a Moen Shower Valve With No Hot Water Moen single-handle shower valves contain a cartridge that regulates the flow of hot and cold water. In addition, some Moen valves, including the Posi-Temp line, have a feature called scald-guard, which is an adjustable stop that limits how far you can turn the handle in the hot direction. If you are not able to get hot water from your Moen valve, the solution may be as simple as adjusting the scald-guard feature, but if that doesn't work, or there is no such feature, you'll have to remove the cartridge and clean or replace it. Check to make sure there is no valve on the hot water line somewhere in the house that is turned off and preventing hot water from reaching the shower. Pry off the cap of the valve handle, if there is one, with a screwdriver and then unscrew the handle from the faucet stem. Some handles, particularly lever-type, may be attached with an allen nut.

If so, loosen it with an allen wrench and remove the handle. Then pry the escutcheon from the wall and remove it. Check the posi-temp valve on the hot water inlet. If it is in the vertical, off, position, rotate it 1/4-turn to the horizontal position with a screwdriver. If the faucet has a scald-guard limiter, check it and adjust if necessary. Then replace the handle and try the faucet. Turn off the water to the shower if there is no posi-temp or scald-guard feature, or if adjusting these made no difference. Then remove the handle and the plastic scald-guard limiter. Use needle-nose pliers to remove the pin holding the cartridge in place by grasping it and lifting it straight out. Be sure the water is off before you do this. Replace the handle on the faucet stem and use the handle to pull the cartridge out of the faucet assembly. Pay close attention to the orientation of the cartridge because it, or its replacement, will have to be inserted in the same orientation.

Examine the cartridge holes for signs of blockage that may be preventing hot water from passing through the valve. Shake the cartridge and listen for a rattling sound, similar to that of a paint can when you shake it. If you don't hear any, the balancing spool may be stuck. Hold the cartridge in your hand and push the stem with your thumb. When the end cap pops off of the other end, pry the spool loose with a small screwdriver. Clean it and the inside of the cartridge, then reassemble the cartridge and shake it. If you hear a rattling sound, reinstall it in the faucet. If you cannot clean it sufficiently to produce a rattling sound, replace the cartridge. Insert the cartridge, or its replacement, back into the valve and push on the handle while you re-insert the holding pin. You shouldn't have to force the pin. When the cartridge is properly seated, it will slide right in. Replace the scald-guard limiter and the handle and tighten the screw to hold the handle securely to the faucet stem.

Then snap the cap back on. The balancing spools in Moen cartridges tend to become stuck if you don't use the shower for an extended period. You can avoid this by turning on the shower every few weeks, even if you don't use it. Don't pull out the pin holding the cartridge in place until you are sure the water is off. If you do, you will have an uncontrollable geyser that you won't be able to stop until you do turn off the water, and you could be scalded. Plumber Surplus: Moen Posi-Temp Tub and Shower Valves Bungalow 23: How to Replace a Moen Shower Valve Cartridge Normally you take your shower in warm to hot water. When you run out of hot water, your need for a shower... How to Fix a Moen Shower Valve With No Hot Water. Moen single-handle shower valves contain a cartridge that regulates the flow... How to Adjust a Moen Shower. How to Adjust the Temperature in a Shower Mixer Valve. The mixing valve of a... If you're having a problem with only the hot water pressure in your shower, this can only be because of a few...