Hot Water in Shower?

[Charles Cravens]

There is plenty of hot water, yet in the shower the tempature must be turned to the extreme and the flow turned to max to get hot water. This started two days ago. Any suggestions?

[TechTalk]

Since around 1990, Newell has installed thermostatically controlled shower valves in new coaches. These valves maintain the set temperature even with variations in water pressure that occur with RV water pumps. Over time, the "thermoelement cartridge" that controls the temperature can fail and require replacement. When your coach was delivered new, the manual for the shower valve was included in a large loose leaf notebook of various component literature. If you can locate this manual, identify the specific cartridge with its part number in the illustrated parts breakdown. Our parts department can order the required cartridge with this information. If you cannot locate the manual, we may be able to order the correct part if you advise us of the brand of the shower valve. It will be either a Arwa Luwa or a Grohe. If you cannot identify the brand of the shower valve, another option is to have our service techs try to identify the brand of the valve from visual inspection when the coach is here.

TechTalk

[Harry Wuner]

What year Newell?

In My 82 Newell I could only get hot water. I checked the shower valve and it was OK. Taking off the valve cover in the closet, I found on each side of the shower valve there was a spring loaded (check?) valve. I cleaned the valves and now all works great. I guess one could remove the spring and plunger and get the same results.

[express1]

Since around 1990, Newell has installed thermostatically controlled shower valves in new coaches. These valves maintain the set temperature even with variations in water pressure that occur with RV water pumps. Over time, the "thermoelement cartridge" that controls the temperature can fail and require replacement. When your coach was delivered new, the manual for the shower valve was included in a large loose leaf notebook of various component literature. If you can locate this manual, identify the specific cartridge with its part number in the illustrated parts breakdown. Our parts department can order the required cartridge with this information. If you cannot locate the manual, we may be able to order the correct part if you advise us of the brand of the shower valve. It will be either a Arwa Luwa or a Grohe. If you cannot identify the brand of the shower valve, another option is to have our service techs try to identify the brand of the valve from visual inspection when the coach is here.

TechTalk
I know this goes back awhile, but has anyone posted or found a site that shows the break-down of our grohe shower controls....
I can't get the cover off to clean or replace cartridge that regulates water flow....
Thanks,
matt

[zcasa]

Hey Matt:

Michael sent to me a complete manual a couple of years ago on the Grohe shower. If I could find it I'd send it along, but maybe Michael can shoot to you an email on it.

[prairieschooner]

Matt,
You should most likley take Cold Showers anyway!!

[express1]

Now in Reno,,,, Its plenty cold enough for me....

[express1]

If I could see the breakdown on changing or replacing cartridge....
thanks

[prairieschooner]

Matt,
We came down 80 from Reno on our way home from Creede this summer. With the Construction on 80 they have the K Rails set at 10'!!! We had a few hours of excitement with only 1' on each side of the Coach and those @!%&* K Rails and I know that some were closer.
Just a heads up because your Coach is Wider and you will have less than 9" of clearance on each side!! Now with the Rocks that you are carrying around this could prove challenging.

[fulltiming]

I will look for the file when I get home tonight and will post it or send it to you Matt. The thermocartridge is likely bad and will have to be replaced. They are pricey. I will look up the company I ordered them from also.

[prestadude]

I concur with Prairieschooner on the K Rails. I drove through that section of 80 in July and felt like I was on a bobsled run. Interestingly, I heard on the news this morning that the construction has been shut down for the winter and the K rails are removed. The project is scheduled to continue until 2012 so I expect the K rails will reappear this Spring.

[fulltiming]

I have loaded a copy of the manual for the Grohe faucet to my website. You can find it here: http://www.newellowner.com/images/GroheManual.pdf

There are filters in the unit that may need cleaning out also.

If it is the thermoelement, I ordered mine from Everyfaucet.com. Part number 34 434, also number 47111000.

[folivier]

Thanks Michael, I just added that to my reading material.

[prairieschooner]

Clarke,
I would recommend that you replace the Sacrificial Anode on your Raritan Water Heater and see what happens. The Seaward does not have an Anode making it less expensive. No Guarantees but if the Anode is replaced at least the Corrosion will be suspended.
Here is a condensed version of how the Sacrificial Anodes work, as I have come to understand it;
When a Metallic Component is immersed in an Electrolyte it creates Voltage that is measured in Millivolts. The Sacrificial Anode is sized to create move Voltage that the Metallic Components in the Water Heater will. The Sacrificial Anode will be used up creating the Voltage needed to protect the Water Heater. Once the Sacrificial Anode begins to produce less Voltage than the Metallic Components then the Metallic Components begin to protect the Sacrificial Anode, this could appear as if the Anode is still in good condition while it is in fact not working. So as you can plainly see you should change the Sacrificial Anode at regular intervals (on a boat this should be every 3-4 months on the the items that are individually protected and 6-9 moths on the items that are tied together, normally refereed to as Electrically Bonded).