Delta Shower Valve Temperature Limit Adjustment: Setting the Stop Safely

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A delta shower valve temperature limit adjustment is made at one part, which Delta calls the rotational limit stop. That part sets how hot the shower can get at the valve. Delta calls it the rotational limit stop. Its installation sheet describes the adjustment in detail, so this post follows that sheet. The sheet is document 72264 Rev. D for the 13/14 Series, dated 08/28/13. The 17 Series and 17T Series use the same idea with a temperature knob on the 17T. Check your valve model before you follow any step.

What the limit stop does

The limit stop caps hot water at the handle’s hot end. The sheet explains, “The Rotational Limit Stop is used to limit the amount of hot water available such that, if set properly, the user will not be scalded if the handle accidentally is rotated all the way to hot when a person is showering or filling a tub.” The stop does not change the temperature of the hot water heater. It sets how far the handle can mix in hot water before the handle hits its end.

The sheet describes the first position as the coldest setting. “The first position allows the LEAST amount of hot water to mix with the cold water in the system.” Moving the stop counterclockwise adds more hot water to the mix. The sheet warns that the last position “will result in the greatest amount of hot water to the mix, and the greatest risk of scald injury if someone accidentally turns the valve handle all the way to the hot side while showering.”

The temperature limit in the manual

The sheet gives a number for the outlet temperature. It says, “According to the majority of industry standards, the maximum allowable temperature of the water exiting the valve is 120” F. The same sentence adds a caveat in parentheses: “Your local plumbing codes may require a water temperature less than 120″ F.” Treat 120 F as the ceiling and check whether your local code asks for less.

The sheet also gives a comfort range. For a bath or shower, it says a water temperature “for a comfortable bath or shower is typically between” 90 F and 110 F. That range is a comfort guide, so a setting in that range is not a safety test. The safety number is the maximum at the valve.

Why the setting changes over time

The manual says the valve does not correct for every change in the water supply. In its warning, it states: “This valve does not automatically adjust for inlet temperature changes.” It also says that “The Rotational Limit Stop may need to be readjusted seasonally if the inlet water temperature changes.” The sheet’s example is winter, when the cold supply is colder than in summer, which can change the outlet temperature.

The same warning covers changes at the water heater. If the heater setting changes, the valve setting may also need a change. This is the reason the sheet asks the installer to fill in a label after adjusting the stop, so the owner can see what was set and when.

Steps to test and adjust

The manual’s adjustment procedure starts with a test of the water. It says to “Run the water so that the cold water is as cold as it will get and hot water is as hot as it will get.” Then place the handle on the stem and turn it counterclockwise until it stops. The sheet refers to page 9, step 5D, for handle placement.

Next, measure. The manual says, “Place a thermometer in a plastic tumbler and hold in the water stream.” If the reading is above the limit, the stop must move. The sheet says, “If the water temperature is above” the 120 F limit, “the Rotational Limit Stop must be repositioned clockwise to decrease valve outlet water temperature.” The manual lists the direction plainly: “Clockwise will decrease the outlet temperature, counterclockwise will increase the outlet temperature.”

To move the stop, the sheet says to “pull the disc back to a position where it is possible to remove the Rotational Limit Stop and readjust the teeth engagement position to the desired temperature.” It also gives the size of each step: “Temperature change per tooth (notch) could be” a few degrees, and the amount “based on inlet water conditions.” Repeat the test after each change. Then “Push disc until fully seated.”

The disc must go back in. The manual warns, “Failure to re-install Disc after setting Rotational Limit Stop could result in scald injury.” Finish the check with the cold water first. The sheet says to “MAKE SURE COLD WATER FLOWS FROM THE VALVE FIRST.” It adds that the hottest flow “DOES NOT EXCEED 120” or the maximum allowed by local code.

Where the stop sits and how the cartridge affects it

The stop is inside the valve. The sheet says, “Rotational Limit Stop is located behind the disc.” That is why the disc has to come off before the stop can be moved, and why the disc has to go back on afterward.

If you remove the cartridge for service, mark the stop first. The manual says, “Before removing valve cartridge assembly for any maintenance, be sure to note the position of the rotational limit stop on the cap.” It also says, “The valve cartridge assembly must always be put back in the same position.” Skipping that step can leave the valve set to a different temperature than before the repair.

The manual’s removal note is also a warning about force. “Do not pry the valve cartridge out of the body with a screwdriver.” To remove the cartridge, the sheet says to shut off the supplies, remove the handle and the bonnet nut, then rotate the handle “counterclockwise approximately 1/4 turn after the stop has been contacted” before lifting the cartridge out of the body.

Checks before you hand the valve back

The sheet asks for a label. It says, “After installation and adjustment, you must affix your name, company name and the date you” set the stop, and to attach the label to the back of the closest cabinet door. The sheet also asks that the water heater carry a second warning label. Filling in those labels is part of the job, not an extra.

The sheet also warns against a shut-off on the outlet. “Do not install a shut-off device on either outlet of this valve.” It explains that such a device “can defeat the ability of the valve to balance the hot and cold water pressures.” A valve with a shut-off on an outlet may not hold the limit you set.

When to call a pro

Delta’s sheet says, “Delta Faucet Company recommends using a professional plumber for all installation and repair.” It also gives a phone number for help with the setting: “1-800-345-DELTA.” Use the phone line if the handle, the disc or the stop does not match what the sheet describes. If you are changing the water heater setting or the valve setting, check with your local permit office, because some areas set their own maximum.

Quick answer

• The rotational limit stop caps the hot end of the handle at the valve. It does not change the water heater.
• The manual gives 120 F as the maximum allowable temperature at the valve, and says local codes may require less.
• Test with a thermometer in a plastic tumbler. Move the stop clockwise to lower the temperature, and reinstall the disc when done.

How we chose this source

Search results for shower valve temperature limit settings were mostly retailer pages and general guides. We chose Delta’s installation sheet because it is a manufacturer document with the adjustment procedure in full. We opened it directly on 2026-10-30 and saved the extracted text. The Moen limit stop sheets (INS10402 and INS10174A) were also opened, but they cover other valve families, so they are not used in this post.

What we could not verify

The sheet is document 72264 Rev. D, dated 08/28/13, for the 13/14 Series. We did not confirm the model on any valve, and we did not check for a newer revision. The sheet’s diagrams are not reproduced here, so the step numbers refer to the manual’s text. The temperature figures in the sheet are a maximum for that valve, not a guarantee for every home. Check your local code and your water heater setting before you choose a number.

FAQ

Does the limit stop control the water heater temperature? No. The sheet describes the stop as a cap on how much hot water the handle can mix in at the valve. It also warns that the valve “does not automatically adjust for inlet temperature changes.”

How often should I check it? The sheet says the stop “may need to be readjusted seasonally if the inlet water temperature changes.” Check the reading after a change in the water heater setting or the season.

Related guides

• Shower Water Temperature and Quality: What the Sources Say
• The Federal Shower Head Flow Limit Explained
• Shower Temperature Fluctuates: How to Fix It

Sources

• Delta Faucet Company, MultiChoice Valve Trim Installation Instructions, 13/14 Series, document 72264 Rev. D, 08/28/13. Read from https://pdf.lowes.com/installationguides/034449711913_install.pdf (opened 2026-10-30).