No Cold Water In Shower After Replacing Cartridge (Solved)

If there was no cold water in your shower, I bet you replaced the shower cartridge.

But what if there’s still no cold water? You are not alone!

Replacing the cartridge is a good first step, but there are a few other things to check too.

In this quick post, I’ll go over what to check if there’s no cold water in shower after replacing cartridge, and show you what to do.

#1 Shut-Off Valves

The first thing you should do is to make sure that the shut-off valves controlling the hot and cold water supply to the shower are completely open.

Also Read: Shower Won’t Turn Off After Replacing Cartridge

These valves are typically located behind the shower access panel or under the sink.

If one or both of these valves are partially closed, it can restrict or completely prevent water flow to the shower.

Before going any further, verify that these valves are turned all the way in the open position.

#2 Cold Water Supply

If you’ve already checked that the shut-off valves are open and you’re still not getting cold water to the shower, go ahead and remove the cartridge again.

While the cartridge is out, have someone turn on the cold water supply to the shower.

If no water comes out, it means the issue is likely upstream from the shower valve itself.

This is probably caused by a blockage or obstruction in the cold water supply line.

In this case, you may need to investigate and clear any clogs in the cold water line leading to the shower. But this is a complex task.

So it might be a good idea to call a plumber.

#3 Pressure Balancing Spool

Some Moen shower valve models come with a separate pressure balancing spool.

This spool is designed to maintain a consistent water pressure and temperature, even when there are fluctuations in the water supply.

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Sometimes this pressure balancing spool can malfunction.

If it malfunctions, it will prevent cold water from flowing properly to the shower.

So if you have a Moen valve, find (read the manual) and inspect the pressure balancing spool. You have to replace this part if it’s not functioning correctly.

#4 Cartridge Installation

Even if you’ve replaced the shower cartridge with a new one, double-check that it’s installed correctly and oriented precisely as specified by the manufacturer’s instructions

Incorrect installations could mess with the water flow or cause other problems.

So take a good look at how it’s supposed to go in and make sure it’s sitting right and lined up properly inside the valve.

Even small mistakes during installation could be why you’re having trouble with cold water.

No Hot Water In Shower After Replacing Cartridge

What if cold water works fine, but there’s no hot water after replacing the cartridge?

This too can happen if you don’t install it properly. Sometimes, especially with thermostatic cartridges, incorrect orientation can block hot water flow.

So double-check the new cartridge installation first.

If that’s all right, here are the things you should troubleshoot:

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Reversed Hot And Cold

In some shower cartridge designs, the hot and cold water inlets can be reversed.

Take the new cartridge out again, and turn it around 180 degrees and put it back in.

If hot water starts working fine after this, it means you had the hot and cold connections switched when you first installed it.

Issue With The Non-return Valve

Many shower valve systems have a non-return valve on the hot water supply side.

The purpose of this valve is to prevent hot water from flowing back into the cold water supply lines, which could create a scalding hazard.

However, if this non-return valve is faulty, installed incorrectly, or blocked, it can restrict the flow of hot water to the shower.

So check the manual to see if your system has one of these valves

If there is, follow their instructions to find it, check it, and fix or replace it if needed.

Air Locks

Although it’s less common in high-pressure water systems, an air lock can occasionally occur after replacing a shower cartridge.

This trapped air can prevent hot water from flowing smoothly through the system.

Try turning on the hot water supply to the shower only, and let it run for an extended period.

At first, the water might sputter or spray unevenly as the air trapped in the system gets pushed out. Once that air is gone, the hot water should start flowing smoothly and steadily.