Temperature Control Valve (TCV) Stuck or Not Mixing: Cleaning the Cartridge and Replacing the Valve

If your thermostatic control valve (TCV) is stuck, hard to turn, only lets cold water through, or no longer mixes hot and cold correctly, the usual cause is mineral buildup on the cartridge and intake screens. Calcium, iron and sediment in the water supply collect inside the valve over time. A careful cartridge cleaning often restores full function. When it does not, the fix is a complete replacement valve assembly supplied through a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support. This article explains what the TCV does, what the warranty says about it, how the cleaning video approaches the job, and what to expect when the valve is replaced.

What the TCV Does

Depending on your faucet configuration, your Ella walk-in tub may include an Ella Thermostatic Control Valve that blends hot and cold water to your set temperature. The button on the control handle is essential to adjusting that temperature. Without it you lose about half of the temperature range, and adjusting the governor as shown in the video will not make up the difference, so mention a missing button when you contact the team. Not every faucet configuration includes a TCV. The Ella Fast-Fill faucet is non-thermostatic, with a hot valve, a cold valve and a diverter, and the water temperature is set at the handles like a conventional tub. A TCV faucet instead has the thermostatic valve and two diverters. Our article on what a thermostatic control valve is covers which faucets have one, and the team can confirm your configuration from your serial number.

Warranty Facts for the TCV

• The TCV carries a 1-year limited warranty, a specific exception to the lifetime parts warranty.
• Cartridge fouling from calcium, iron or contaminated water is not covered.
• An inline filter or mesh must be fitted on the supply and cleaned periodically.
• Removal, cleaning and replacement on site are done by you, a handyman or a licensed plumber. Ella does not send technicians.

Within the first year, a TCV that fails is replaced under the warranty once the team verifies it from your photos and serial number. After the first year, a replacement valve is available as a paid part through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. Keeping the inline filter in place and clean protects the cartridge.

Cleaning the Cartridge: The Video

The team shares a video showing how to clean the cartridge on an existing valve, and a handy homeowner can follow it. Free lifetime technical support is available by phone or ticket if a question comes up mid-job. In outline, the video covers these steps.

1. Shut off the water supply to the tub.
2. Remove the control handle, the governor and the trim to reach the valve.
3. Unscrew the collar and remove the cartridge.
4. Clean the sediment and scale off the cartridge and the intake screens.
5. Reassemble in reverse order, tightening the collar securely without over torquing.

When Cleaning Is Not Enough: Replacing the Valve

Cleaning is a fair first attempt, but once a cartridge has clogged, the team recommends replacing the valve as the longer-term fix, and it is the only option when the cartridge will not come clean. Keep these points in mind.

• The replacement is supplied as a complete valve assembly rather than a cartridge alone.
• The current replacement valve has 3/4 inch supply connections. Older valves may have 1/2 inch connections, in which case your plumber fits 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch NPT adapters. Our article on replacing an older TCV covers the fit in detail.
• To reach the valve, lift the chrome plate off the deck of the tub. It is held by the four visible screws at the corners of the plate plus a center screw hidden under the spout diverter valve.
• Send photos of the faucet deck and, if you can reach them, the supply connections under the deck so the team confirms the correct valve before anything ships.
• For the oldest faucet styles that are no longer made, the team may propose sending your existing valve in for refurbishment instead of a replacement.

After Service

After reassembly, turn the supply back on and run the faucet. The button on the handle lets you adjust the fill temperature across the full range. If the water is still cold after cleaning, the cartridge has fouled beyond cleaning and it is time to replace the valve. Our articles on no hot water at the tub, water that runs too hot and hot and cold crossing when the tub is off cover the other temperature symptoms.

Related Guides

• How Do I Adjust the Maximum Temperature on a Walk-In Tub Thermostatic Valve?
• What Should I Do When My Walk-In Tub TCV Fails After the Warranty?
• Why Does My Ella Thermostatic Faucet Only Run Lukewarm Water?
• How do I set the maximum hot water limit stop on the Ella TCV?
• How do I remove mineral build-up inside a 2-piece faucet diverter?
• What Is a Thermostatic Control Valve and Why Does a Tub Need One?

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.