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Ejm
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2018 11:18
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Hello All,
Each year when I open the cabin for the year I have a problem with my shower breaking. It is the middle knob that you turn one way it is hot the other is cold. I am on my second brand and both have broke. I drain the system, so I don't think anything is freezing. If anyone could help with either a good brand that wont break or if someone had a similar problem and found a way to fix it. PLEASE let me know
Thanks,
Eddie
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beachman
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2018 12:12
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I have not had this problem but I have been told that if you do not blow out the water from these valves completely, the slightest amount of remaining water can freeze and destroy the valves. Maybe disassemble it in the fall?
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Ejm
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2018 13:15
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That is what I was thinking, must be plastic and easily breaks. We are located in the Adirondacks Mountain NY. Very long winters there. I was thinking maybe they make a better fixture that would break as easy, but I may have to take it apart as you mentioned.
Thanks for the info
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Thelar
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2018 13:34 - Edited by: Thelar
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I had a similar problem. I had a shower valve that was one of those cartridge valve systems. When I opened the camp up the next year water was pouring out the on/off handle. I just ended up replacing it with a cheaper non cartridge valve fixture.
I think this is the model I had.
URL
I believe this is what I replaced it with
URL
No problem since I replaced it 4 years ago.
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Ejm
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2018 13:40
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I think that is the one I have, I know I bought it from Lowes. It figures the cheaper one works better. Thanks for the info!
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2018 16:20
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those valves are very hard to drain of water and should be avoided in freezing conditions.
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Ontario lakeside
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2018 16:25
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We use two brass ball valves in our shower, very robust!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJbcXnlBr74
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2018 20:24 - Edited by: ICC
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A standard one handle shower mixer can be used if it is either (a) blown out very well with air or (b), disassembled like you would do if replacing a cartridge or seals. I have done it both ways. I have a shower in a cabin that is now 15 years old; same shower valve. It has been blown out with compressed air, 60 psi maximum from a 1 gallon accumulator tank. At a cabin I sold a few years back I kept a set of the required wrenches and allen keys in a bathroom cabinet drawer and would pull the cartridge every fall. Reinstall whenever it was used for a winter stay and then removed again before leaving. It never failed.
Water contracts until the temperature drops to 4 C. Then it begins to expand slowly. When the temperature drops to 0 C and the water freezes it expands about 9%.. There is not an off the shelf valve made that will survive that. I've had high-quality brass bodied valves split over a winter. Sometimes there has been no visible crack, but there was, and the valve leaked a fine mist spray when pressurized water was applied.
Ball valves are bad if left closed with water in the ball. They'll split a side of the valve body every time.
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Ontario lakeside
Member
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# Posted: 30 May 2018 21:31
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Should have said, leave valve open in winter!
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Ejm
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2018 08:57
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Thank you for all the info. I am going this weekend to replace it. I would rather not take it apart each year. Could anyone recommend one that I should install?
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littlesalmon4
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2018 11:42
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Is it possible to take the shower head off, open the valve and dump some plumbing antifreeze in?
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NorthRick
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2018 13:37
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Quoting: littlesalmon4 Is it possible to take the shower head off, open the valve and dump some plumbing antifreeze in?
What we would do on our boat is pump RV antifreeze through the system until it comes out the faucets and shower head. Then drain it out of the system. Any spots like a shower valve or low spot in the piping will now have antifreeze instead of water. Probably easier to do than taking valves apart and I think more of a sure thing than blowing air through the system.
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gsreimers
Member
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2018 21:49
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Had the same problem and haven't replaced it yet but I have an idea I would like you all to consider for me.
My situation is a shower and I have the standard shower valve that gets water in and then directs up to the shower head. What if I were to install a valve made for a tub and then just run a line down below the cabin with a valve on it since I do not have a tub . (I have easy access to the bottom of the cabin.)
At the end of the season, open the valve below and it would all drain just like the shower tub combination in the house.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jun 2018 09:55
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Might work, but the one handle shower controls I've taken apart have places that can trap small amounts of water and trapped water will freeze and expand and possibly crack the valve casing. Combining that with blowing out the pipes with compressed air may be best.
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Ejm
Member
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# Posted: 7 Jun 2018 09:56
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We are all fixed up... Thanks again for all the info and support. I love this sight, so much knowledge and so helpful. I think next season I will either pump in anti antifreeze or just take it apart. Is pumping in a long process? I want to close up with the least amount of time.
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