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The most asked questions about shower valves

The most asked questions about shower valves

By Benjamin Clarke | Published on 17th August 2021

1. How does a thermostatic shower valve work?

Thermostatic showers contain a 'mixer' valve, which provides hot and cold water to an exact temperature. This makes showering much easier and gets rid of the need for having separate hot and cold taps and trying to adjust them to get the right temperature. In order to achieve the right temperature, these types of showers store a large amount of hot water and mix in the right amount of cold water accordingly. If the temperature is changed on the valve mid-shower, the result should be almost instantaneous., rather than days gone by of waiting for ages get the desired temperature.

2. How do I replace a shower valve?

If you've got a few tools and have had a go at a bit of plumbing work in the past before, then replacing a thermostatic shower valve is not the most difficult DIY job to carry out. The most important steps to go through are:

  1. Do your pre-install checks
  2. Turn off the water
  3. Remove existing pipework
  4. Remove existing shower valve
  5. Flush out the pipes
  6. Install the new shower valve

Read these steps in full detail here >>

3. What is a thermostatic shower valve?

Rather than a regular shower where you have to adjust the hot and cold taps to try and get exactly the right temperature, a thermostatic shower contains a mixer valve that provides hot and cold water to an exact temperature. This provides greater convenience, control and safety because it means you don't have to worry about the temperature either being too cold or too hot. The shower takes care of this for you.

4. How do I install a shower valve?

If you've got some DIY and plumbing experience, then installing a shower valve is something you can do yourself. If it's not something you feel comfortable doing, then leave it to a professional as water is capable of causing a lot of expensive damage if not dealt with properly.

The steps for installing a shower valve are:

  1. Do necessary checks before you start
  2. Turn off the water
  3. Remove any existing pipework
  4. Remove any existing shower valve
  5. Flush out the pipes
  6. Install the new shower valve

Read these steps in more detail here >>

5. What shower valve do I have?

If you have a valve that is long and thin with twistable taps at each end with one containing incremental numbers representing the temperature, and the other for switching the flow on or off, then you most likely have a thermostatic shower valve.

If you have two separate valves or taps to twist to get the desired temperature and water pressure, then you probably have an old mixer valve, which is the precursor to a thermostatic shower valve.

If you have a single tap/lever that delivers hot or cold water, you might have a simple pressure balance valve. This helps to keep the water at your chosen temperature regardless of if a tap is used or a toilet flushed elsewhere in the house.

6. Where do I mount a shower valve?

You should always check the manufacturer's instructions before installing a shower valve as each brad could have slightly different requirements. Placement would also depend on whether the valve is a visible or hidden shower valve. If you're still unsure, please consult a professional.

7. Should I replace my shower valve?

If your shower valve is leaking or is not delivering water at a comfortable temperature, then it's probably best to get a new shower valve. Not only will this improve your showering experience, but it will likely be much safer. A leaking valve can lead to expensive water damage, while a valve not delivering water at a comfortable temperature can lead to scalding.

8. What are shower valve stops?

Shower valves often come equipped with hot and cold water 'shutoffs' (or stops). These effectively allow you to turn off the water flow into your shower without having to turn off the water in the rest of your house. This is helpful if you have a plumber round to do some work in your shower. They can isolate the shower and do the work without disrupting whatever you are doing in your home that day. Shower valve stops are usually located somewhere around shower valve and can be activated with a few twists of a flathead screwdriver. When the water needs to be switched back on, use the screwdriver to turn the valve stops the other way.

9. Are shower valves universal?

These days, shower valves are not universal and interchangeable as most manufacturer's make valves to their own specifications and individual parts. For this reason, it's best to speak to a professional plumber about installing a new shower valve rather than buying a similar one and just hoping you can make it fit.

10. How do shower valves work?

When you turn the tap or lever in your shower, water starts running from both the hot and cold water pipes. The water meets at your shower valve, which mixes it together and then delivers the mixture of hot and cold water to your shower head, allowing you to take a shower. The most common type of shower valve that is installed today is the thermostatic shower valve. This still mixes the hot and cold water together, but can detect the temperature and will deliver the water from the shower to your specified temperature. This helps with more comfortable showering and stops you getting drenched with very cold water or scaled by very hot water.

View our shower and bath valves

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