In a nutshell, there are three different types of shower valves on the market: pressure balancing shower valve, thermostatic shower valve and diverter shower valve.
What size is a standard shower valve?
Shower Valve Height A height of 28 inches, or 2 feet 4 inches, is standard for valves in bathtub shower units. For shower stalls, install the valve at the standard height of 48 inches, or 4 feet. Install faucets at the same height as the valve, equidistant from the valve.
How do I know what type of shower valve I have?
Check behind the shower handle at the center of the trim plate to find the manufacturer symbol or brand name. “K” is for Kohler, “M” for Moen while Price Pfister, Delta and American Standard have their full names on the faucet.
What are the different types of shower mixing valves?
- Mixing Valves. A traditional type of shower valve is the mixing valve, designed to draw water to the shower head from the hot and cold taps. ...
- Pressure Balancing Valves. ...
- Thermostatic Valves. ...
- Diverter Valves. ...
- Transfer Valves.
How do you remove old shower fixtures?
Grip the shower head or the connecting nut, depending on the design of your shower head. Turn counterclockwise to unscrew and remove the old shower head. If you need more leverage, hold the shower pipe with your other hand as you turn. (Take care not to bend or move the shower pipe.)
How do I remove an old mixing valve?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEZl0mFEY0s
How do you replace a shower faucet with no access panel?
If you don't have an access panel, you might be able to replace the faucet by cutting a hole in the shower surround (Problem 3 below), but the best solution is to install a paintable plastic panel behind the faucet.
Are shower water valves universal?
Regardless of the shower trim kit style, the valve fixture basically does the same thing. ... Most shower rough-in valves have 4 ports. 2 inlets for the hot and cold water pipes, and two outlets, one for tub spout and one for showerhead.
Can you replace a shower valve with a different brand?
Showerhead threading is pretty much universal, you can swap one for most any other. Shower valve trim kits are the exact opposite...you may have luck by staying within a certain manufacturer, but for the most part trying to swap a trim kit onto an existing valve may or may not work.
Is there a difference in shower valves?
What's the difference between the two? A thermostatic valve can control what the water temperature actually is, while a pressure-balance shower valve can only control the ratio of how much hot water there is to cold water.