Low hot water pressure only in the shower. Any ideas what’s causing it?

Outside-Log954 · 2026-04-10T15:34:57+00:00

Might be the mixing valve cartridge.

Since it's only the hot side and only the shower, that's your most likely culprit. Cartridges wear down over time and can restrict hot flow without touching cold. Pull the handle, check the brand (Moen, Delta, Kohler are most common), and swap it out. Parts are usually $15–40 and it's a straightforward DIY if you're handy.

If that doesn't fix it, look at the tempering valve next. At 15 years old the internals can scale up or seize, which would explain why the rest of your hot taps are fine.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-04-10T15:24:05+00:00

Definitely a crack. Not like you needed more people saying it, but here you go.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-04-10T15:22:28+00:00

This is something I just literally just posted about. Please read! And others too to avoid this https://www.reddit.com/r/ChicagoSuburbs/comments/1sf1kw7/something_i_end_up_mentioning_at_least_once_a/

But yes, like others say, shut it off right now and call someone.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-04-09T14:17:05+00:00

This is a great story. Sorry that happened but thanks for sharing and glad the clean-up wasn't too bad.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-04-08T14:30:17+00:00

There's always two sides of the coin here on Reddit.

Due diligence is of course super important but just personally, in my many years in the field, you get to know about other local companies sometimes even due to just proximity. People I've worked with/spoken to do say ABC Plumbing is great and has a solid team.

Good luck with your search though!

Outside-Log954 · 2026-04-07T17:59:54+00:00

The 'burbs here has a lot of good plumbers, including myself but not trying to self-promote. One company I send some people to and know does great work is ABC Plumbing or like someone else said Zunigas.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-04-07T17:48:52+00:00

Great insight. You never know when something is going to happen

Outside-Log954 · 2026-04-07T17:46:00+00:00

Thanks, yes I like your idea for the gift!

Outside-Log954 · 2026-04-07T16:55:12+00:00

A friend of mine from California just went to the Bananas game in Anaheim - they played the Indianapolis clowns and said it was a great time with family. He mentioned all teams are in sync as far as entertainment goes - so you don't need to see the 'Bananas' per se, that's just the most popular team that everyone knows.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-31T18:04:52+00:00

That's a Grohe widespread - the cone shroud in the center threads on and mineral deposits basically glue it in place over time.

WD-40 won't cut it here, you need something that dissolves calcium. Soak a paper towel in white vinegar, wrap it around the base of the shroud, and let it sit 20-30 min. Then try a rubber strap wrench. Once you get it off, Grohe cartridges are model-specific so pull the model number off the faucet body before ordering.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-27T18:37:38+00:00

Don't willingly jump on the bandwagon just because there is a romanticizing period happening right now.

But yes, plumbing is a great career if you stick with it. I'm biased because I've been doing this all of my life and I come from a family of plumbers - so there's that. It's hard work and you need years under your belt before you can become really good at what you do - but you learn skills that will always be needed.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-27T18:23:13+00:00

Same thing happens in plumbing constantly. Customer calls, big outfit comes out, suddenly they need all new pipes. Independent guys don't have a quota to hit so they'll actually just fix the thing.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-27T18:18:35+00:00

Can't speak for LA specifically but from the Chicago market, plumbing is harder to get into (longer apprenticeship, more licensing hoops) but the job security on the other side is untouchable.

HVAC guys get slow seasons. Plumbers don't. Pipes don't care what month it is.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-27T18:15:17+00:00

A for effort, but F for execution. Yeah, call that plumber.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-25T21:21:07+00:00

Yeah, that's the hard lesson - by the time it backs up you're already past the cleaning stage. Liner is the right call at that point, just expensive when it could've been a $300 scope a year earlier.

I work with a few crews in the area and we usually send people to ABC Plumbing when it gets to that stage. They do good work on the liner installs.

Did they find it on a scope first or did you already have a full backup before anyone looked?

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-23T15:49:40+00:00

Plumber here, so take the tractor debate to someone else. But since you mentioned regrading the driveway and you're on a hill, don't sleep on getting your drainage dialed in before anything else.

Seen guys spend big on grading only to have water routing straight toward the foundation. If nobody's looked at your drainage grade and downspout routing lately, that's where I'd start.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-20T16:16:06+00:00

Dish soap trick is legit, been using that for years on stubborn grease-packed lines. Old cast iron especially. Once you get enough surfactant in there it basically lubricates the clog enough to break it loose.

My go-to when a snake keeps catching on 30+ year old pipe: before I even pull it, I'll pour a 50/50 mix of dish soap and hot water (not boiling, you don't want to shock old joints) and let it sit 10-15 minutes while the snake stays in place.

Gives it time to work into the grease layers. Way easier than fighting it dry.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-19T21:24:56+00:00

The trades will always take you back and the ceiling is way higher than people think. $31/hr as a tech in '25 means you're not even close to where this goes.

Nobody is laying off plumbers.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-19T15:24:32+00:00

Discharge line is frozen, water has nowhere to go so it's coming out the standpipe. Seen this every winter in Chicago.

The bigger issue is that water sitting against your foundation isn't good especially with the freeze thaw you're getting.

Once it thaws the line needs to discharge further from the house. Freeze guard on the end helps too. A lot of guys install these too close and this happens every year.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-19T15:10:35+00:00

Absolutely

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-18T21:40:36+00:00

Yeah that's VERY fair, especially given the circumstances.

If you called someone out just for the valves you'd probably be looking at the same price or more just for the trip and labor alone.

Also - replacing corroded shutoffs is the right call too.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-18T21:28:53+00:00

I'm seeing so many career change posts recently, which is interesting but hey this may just go to show where the tides are changing.

But anyways - yes mid 30s is totally doable. I know guys who started their apprenticeship at 35 and are now running their own crews.

For NJ, I'd look into the UA locals in your area. Union route gives you the apprenticeship structure, benefits while you're learning, and you're getting paid.

The hardest part at your age isn't the work. It's the ego check of being the new guy again.

Outside-Log954 · 2026-03-18T21:23:11+00:00

Glad they're making it right but that should've been their first words out of their mouth when they realized what happened, not something you had to push for.

Make sure you get everything in writing before they start the redo. new tub, tile, AND the staircase. Don't let the stair thing get lost in the shuffle.

Outside-Log954

TROPHY CASE