Chilly reasons you’re trembling in the shower
Your shower water turns cold while the sink stays hot if the mixing valve is broken or worn out.
Costs range from $220 to $990 for water heater repairs, helping you avoid more expensive problems down the road.
You can readjust your shower’s anti-scald device, then test the water temperature after each small change to prevent scalding.
Hiring a local plumbing repair professional provides reliable support with mixing valve replacement and water heater inspections, keeping your shower comfortable year-round.
There’s nothing worse than getting into the shower only to be blasted with freezing water. And if your sink water is warm, the problem is even more baffling. This guide explains the four potential reasons your shower water is cold but the sink is not—and, more importantly, how to fix it so you can go back to enjoying steamy showers.
The shower mixing valve is located in the temperature handles and regulates the amount of water that’s drawn from the hot and cold taps and sent to your shower head. If it’s broken or worn out, it can draw too much cold water and make for an unpleasant shower experience.
A broken mixing valve needs to be replaced. Even an experienced DIYer will have trouble replacing this part, so it’s best to call in a local plumbing repair pro to complete the job.
The shower’s anti-scald device is a safety feature that prevents the shower handle from rotating too far toward the hot water setting. If it’s set incorrectly, your shower might not get enough warm water, leaving you in the cold.
Adjusting the anti-scald device can warm up your shower water. You can do this yourself by removing the head or handle from the faucet and twisting the white plastic anti-scald device toward the right slightly. Test the temperature and readjust if necessary.
Your shower water could be cold because your water heater isn’t working properly. It could have broken parts or a malfunctioning thermometer, which means the water isn’t being heated to the proper temperature. However, if this is the case, water coming from the sink faucet will be cold as well.
Call in a plumber to check whether your water heater needs fixing. Water heater repair costs between $220 and $990, depending on the part that’s broken and the complexity of the repair.
Did someone in your household take a long, hot shower or bath? If you have a tank water heater, it’s possible they depleted the hot water supply, leaving your shower head cold. However, if this is the cause, your other sink fixtures will also be cold.
Wait 30 minutes to allow the water to reheat, then check the temperature in your shower. If this happens frequently, consider installing a tankless water heater, which costs $1,400 to $3,890 to install.
If you’re comfortable with DIY, you can adjust your shower’s anti-scald device yourself with little to no previous experience. And if a depleted hot water supply causes the issue, the solution is simply to wait.
However, certain repairs, like replacing a mixer valve or inspecting the water heater for broken parts, are best left to a pro. You can also call in a pro to adjust the anti-scald device if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.
Positive experience. As previously stated, the replacement/repair could not be completed (no fault of the plumbing tech) b/c misinformation was rec?d by property management maintenance. Thanks to the plumbing tech for your efforts. Appreciate you!
The WaterworksIf you want to pay the most exorbitant prices possible for your job, this is the company for you. “By the job” pricing is a rip-off, at least how these people use it. Every job is plugged into a category and prices are set by category. You might have a job that takes half an hour or one that...
Benjamin Franklin PlumbingCole has been handling plumbing and general contracting for our four properties over the past three years, and he’s always done a great job. Most recently, he installed a sink and countertop in our retail store where none existed before, and it turned out exactly how we needed. He’s...
ANB Renovations LLCMatt is a consummate professional. The work turned out to be far more difficult than expected and rather than turn the job down, Matt rose to the occasion and completed a near impossible task. I can not recommend Greene's Plumbing Service more highly. On a scale of 1-5 I would give Matt a...
Greene's Plumbing ServiceInvolved an extensive bathroom remodel, including removing tub & installing walk in shower, new drywall, custome tile work to ceiling, plumbing, etc. Overall, job was done on time and on budget. Nick & his team were very professional and had high attention to detail. Quality was great. Highly...
Stamos Flooring and Remodeling LLCAwesome company. Had a jacuzzi tub taken out and replaced with huge walk in shower with partial glass enclosure. Onyx to the ceiling with a decorative border, moved plumbing and installed hand held shower, new ceiling, flooring, and paint. Replaced window with glass block. Everything was done...
Columbus Bath DesignThe initial quoted price from a walk-through seemed high, but we discussed that the quote represented worst case scenario (re-wiring to two floors) and we were excited about the opportunity to have the work done in a timely manner with closing for fire safety reasons, etc. When the job was...
Initially, I called the Service People to have a leaking garbage disposal replaced. I had purchased a special deal through Angie's List: $79 for $200-worth of plumbing services. <br /> When I went to schedule the work, the earliest date I could get through Angie's List was after the upcoming...
This company did a very good job on the brick wall and it looks just amazing. The staff was always professional and was practically OCD on how the bricks were stacked and how they were laid. Although it took longer than expected, I am willing to sacrifice time over perfection anyday. The...
My Handy Mate LLC Improvement & Remodeling<p>I am so glad we called Rotor-Rooter. I was hesitant to call them because we usually prefer to give business to local providers. But when we had sewage back up in our basement on a Saturday evening, I had a hard time getting a hold of someone, not to mention the high weekend/evening rate...
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water CleanupFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Are you wondering why your shower is only getting hot water? It’s an uncommon issue but often an easy one to fix. Learn what causes it and how to fix it.
If you live with others, you’ve probably wondered at some point, why does flushing the toilet make the water in my shower go cold? Here’s why—and how to fix it.
When your hot water is not working, it’s not always a water heater issues. Find out the cause and how to correct the course in our guide.
If your hot water runs out fast, you've got a problem with your heating system—it's either broken, inefficient, or just not big enough for your family. Find out why you're running out of hot water and what to do about it with our handy guide.
If you like long showers, you may be wondering: How long should the hot water last in the shower? The answer depends on a few factors, so read on to find out.
It’s a big issue when no cold water is coming out of the faucet. Whether it’s a pipe problem or something else, take these steps to identify the cause and get cold water flowing again.
