Well, if you turn it all the way on, it should have the same temp as if you did it the way you described, so yeah, the regulator might be broken. A valve should last you several years before it starts leaking or breaks, so if you’ve had yours that long, it might be time for a new one.
The good news is that replacements are pretty cheap, and for this style of faucet they’re pretty easy to install, usually requiring only a screw driver and probably a pipe wrench to loosen the retaining ring. And if you have a name brand like Delta or Moen, it’s covered under a lifetime warranty as well.
Well, if you turn it all the way on, it should have the same temp as if you did it the way you described, so yeah, the regulator might be broken. A valve should last you several years before it starts leaking or breaks, so if you’ve had yours that long, it might be time for a new one.
The good news is that replacements are pretty cheap, and for this style of faucet they’re pretty easy to install, usually requiring only a screw driver and probably a pipe wrench to loosen the retaining ring. And if you have a name brand like Delta or Moen, it’s covered under a lifetime warranty as well.