High pressure I have two kohler shower faucets in my house and over time they have both got where they release higher water pressure than when they were new

You probably have a water flow reducer in the shower head. It is a rubber disk with a few holes in it. Just remove it and put the shower head back on. They are installed at the factory to save our environment. (Mine are all removed)

just turn the water valve down some

Make sure the hot water is turned back on. Pressure balancing valves won't work if both cold and hot water is not on. Pull shower head off and test to see how it flows out of the shower arm. If good, clear out shower head. Whenever water is turned off for a time, and then turned back on, restricting shower heads and aerators usually get clogged. In the future, always open up a tub spout before turning water back on. This releases the air and other debris most effectively before testing other fixtures in the house.

Check your thermostat setting on your water heater. you might need to set it higher.

this is due to the high water pressure !reduce the pressure on your valve

Try draining the system and apply air pressure (min 30psi) to each faucet. Open other hot water faucets to allow pressure to vent. Next try draining and cleaning the hot water tank.

Sounds like it was installed upside down or the cartridge is installed improperly

Verify the height from the shower valve to the Shower head, the instructions specify the correct distance if it is too short the pressure could be getting up to the shower head.

Perhaps the water pressure it too high at the valve not allowing all the water down the faucet outlet, there are set screws on the sides of the shower valve to adjust the water allowed in the mixing chamber.

Something is restricting the water flow to the faucet, creating enough pressure to send some of the ater supply up to the shower.

I hope some of these ideas help

ever since the pressure balancing regulations came out for shower valves, they have went from simple to very complicated devices. sounds as if some foreign material caused the valve to stop working. that valve is quit difficult to reassemble correctly because there is only one way it works and can be assemmbled many ways that do not work concerning alignment of the ports. if you dissassemble it and check that all the moving parts are functioning in the balancing cartridge you can then look closely at the alignment of the ports on the cartridge that the handle is connected to. understanding how the port align as the handle is turned should assist you in assembling it correctly......hope this helps.

Hi pglaw,

My best guess is the supply valve for the hot side isn't open all the way. This valve is right on the valve and is accessed by taking off the front cover plate. This would still allow the pressure balancing valve to let water through but then you would have a small flow on the hot side.

If this isn't it then then cartridge is bad.

Please rate this response and good Luck,, phil