How to Install a Shower Mixing Valve

How to Install a Shower Mixing Valve

When you have to replace the shower mixing valve will be a bit tougher than just replacing a faucet because this part of the shower is behind the wall. If you have a tiled wall this will require you to remove the tile from the wall and then replace it once you are finished.

If you are adding a bathroom or remodeling remember to add a access panel this will prevent you from having to remove and replace your tile, if you don’t have a access panel then unfortunately you will have to create one by breaking through the wall.

Brizo shower

Here are the steps you will need to take to make:

  1. Always remember to turn off the water. If you have traditional plumbing, you will need to shut the water to the whole house. Turning it off just to the shower might not work depending on where your shower mixing valve is located.
  2. Remove the shower faucet handle and pry the escutcheon plate from the wall. If your new valve includes a showerhead, use adjustable pliers to remove the old shower arm; you will need to turn it counterclockwise.
  3. At this point, you will need to get into the access panel to gain access to the shower valve. If you have a closet or bedroom wall adjoining the shower you might be able to locate the panel on that wall; if you don’t have a panel but do have the wall adjoining the shower you can save your tile but cut into the wall and create a panel.
  4. Cut the pipes attached to the old valve making the cuts 6 inches from where it is attached to the faucet. If the pipes come up from the floor, bend 90 degrees and connect horizontally to the valve, cut 6 inches below the elbows. Remember to cut the pipe leading to the showerhead.
  5. Remove the hardware that holds the old valve in place. Prepare the pipes for the new valve by soldering a 1/2-inch copper coupler onto each of the pipes. Prepare the new valve by attaching the brass sweat adapter to each water port and the outlet for the showerhead. Don’t forget to wrap plumbing tape around each adapter before you attach it, tighten with a wrench.
  6. Replace the hardware to secure the valve making sure to leave enough space from the front wall for the trim. Your instruction manual will have the proper distance. Once secure, test to make sure the trim fits. to avoid damaging the cartridge remove it from the valve when soldering the connections.
  7. Cut another 1/2-inch copper pipe, and attach it to the proper fittings that will connect the valve to the installed couplings. Before you solder it all together make sure you dry-fit everything to verify it fits, spread your flux on each joint and solder it with lead-free solder.
  8. After you have completed this install the cartridge, after checking all the connections turn on the water and look for leaks. Now that you verified there are no leaks close the wall up and install the shower escutcheon, handle, and showerhead.

Make sure you check with your local building department you might need a permit, check local codes to verify if your new valve needs to balance water pressure and limit temperature to prevent scalding. With all that down now you can sit back and relax at a job well done!

Decorate your Bathroom with Chrome

Decorate your Bathroom with Chrome

When designing, remodeling, or updating your bathroom, you’ll find that as you gather your ideas, a trend will emerge in what you are most interested in. If you are going for a sleek, modern look, you’ll find chrome accessories that suit your style. The same is true if you are looking for a more nostalgic or old-style look. You’ll also find lovely extras such as vanity chairs, lotion dispensers, glass canisters, and many other items with chrome trim that you can further decorate with. 

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Get The Modern Style Bathroom Look

Ico Bath modern products

Straight edges, sleek finishes, soothing colors, and an abundance of natural materials like marble and stone all work together to create the serene, simplified beauty of today’s modern bathroom. Here’s how you can get the look in your own home.

Think luxury. Think serenity. Think clean-lined, uncluttered space. This is the essence of the modern bathroom. It’s a look that has evolved over the years, taking advantage of the best of contemporary design in everything from faucet styles to tiles to bathtubs.

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Choose Your Shower Tile

Adex bathroom tiles

Are you looking to choose the right tile for your shower? There are so many different tiles to choose from and it can be overwhelming at times. But guess what, our experts at Plumbtile are here to guide and help you with choosing the proper tile. The tiles that are best to use in the shower are ceramic and porcelain. You do not want to use materials such as wood or linoleum. These most likely will get wet and create a moisture which could cause the lifting of hazardous molds. Continue reading →

Waterproofing Your Shower

 

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When you are remodeling your bathroom, you want to make sure everything is perfectly set. This means making sure all plumbing seals are good, all tiles are grouted properly but most importantly you waterproof the areas that have excessive water.  In order to waterproof your shower, you will want to first mark your area. Make sure to properly measure your wall and mark out where you will be waterproofing. Once you have your area measured out you can mask off the section with masking tape. A good rule of thumb is to extend your waterproofing 100mm above your water outlet and 100mm wider than the edges of your shower. Continue reading →

How To Know When You Should DIY A Renovation Project

There are so many DIY blogs and podcasts out there that self renovation has become a lot more common. It also helps the homeowner when it comes to budget. But is doing it yourself always the best option?

When is the right and wrong time to DIY?

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How to have your home be more Sustainable

envforum logoSustainability is a big buzzword these days, but what exactly does it mean? Sustainability means meeting your current needs without having a negative impact on the needs of future generations. It also requires you to make environmentally-conscious choices about the way you live. It’s not really plausible for most of us to have a completely sustainable home — one that uses only nature’s infinite resources with no affect on the environment around us. But fortunately, there are some measures you can take to make your home more sustainable.

Your choices as a consumer greatly affect the sustainability of your home. Using rechargeable batteries limits the waste of items that often can’t be recycled. Buying paper products made with recycled content continues the chain of sustainability. Better yet, lose the paper towels and use a washable cloth. Biodegradable trash bags and cups are made of corn that dissolves over time, adding one less type of plastic to our landfills. And energy/water saver appliances can all help contribute to a more sustainable way of living.

In this particular blog we are going to highlight a particular brand that we at Plumbtile are proud to provide; California Faucets takes water sustainability very seriously! Read more below.

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