I have a shower valve that, over the years, got pretty gummed up. It has an inner flower-like controller for temperature and an outer handle for flow level and direction (just through the hand-held, just through the overhead, through both). It’s sort of like this, but a different design:
The inner temperature controller was stuck fast. So, I took it apart, descaled it, and then used 3-in-1 oil to lubricate it, but I know that’s not a long-term solution.
What’s a better oil, grease, or lubricant for a shower temperature valve like that?
OK, I think I have some of that. I use it for the o-rings on my water filter, not to lube, but as a seal (as per the directions on my filter). So, remove the 3-in-1, and then rub the silicone grease on the moving parts?
Sounds correct. I’ve never done it, I just assisted my BIL when he was fixing the main shower valves in my house in 2001. We were also fixing the seats and ensured their was no burrs left, but probably not helpful in your case.
The hardest parts were: (1) Finding the right size Allen wrench, (2) Actually loosening the screw, which was probably either glued in with that locktite stuff or just stuck from 15 years of scale buildup.
I just got cataract surgery so now I can actually see things in the shower. The first thing I discovered was water leaking from behind the valve plate. Figured it was shot so we call the management company to send out FRANK for replacement. He doesn’t mind if I hover around trying to learn something — he’s a good guy. He takes off the handle, takes off the plate, then I had to step out of the room for a moment. When I return, he’s gingerly tightening the shower head pipe coming out the wall. I said, “No! Really?” He smiles and says Always carry a little mirror on a stick. He stuck the mirror in the wall next to the valve and discovered the shower pipe was leaking inside the wall. Tighten and done.
I’m not certain I’m addressing the question but my shower has a mixer “cartridge” that is replaceable. I’m pretty sure one we replaced was from the 70s. It was stuck pretty badly and we had to look up some tricks to remove it.
I probably have that, too, but I was able to get things moving again by descaling with vinegar and some 3-in-1 (which I will replace with silicone grease this weekend).
My Delta unit started to leak a couple years ago. There are no external model numbers or marks to identify what mixer cartridge it uses, so I spent days trying to identify it by comparing general appearance and shape to on-line pics. I think I had it narrowed down to three different possible cartridges. Since we would have to cut the water off at the street, I considered buying all three to have on hand when I shut it down and took the valve apart. I figured I could return the two unused ones (possibly THREE unused ones).
My wife said, “Just call our odd-job guy, Joe, and have him come look at it.” I did. Turns out the valve doesn’t use a cartridge and just needed an O-ring replaced. He had a box of different sizes in his old station wagon. I think he charged me $40 in total. The valve has worked just fine ever since.