What Is a Shower Valve?
Shower valves are the brass parts of your shower fixture and are located in the wall behind the trim. While these fittings can’t be seen when you step into a tub or shower, they are hugely important because they control the flow of hot and cold water out of the shower head.
When something goes wrong with a shower or bath fixture, such as a problem with the water flow or temperature control, the valve is quite often the culprit. Unlike other plumbing issues that involve working with your home’s pipes, you may consider doing it yourself when fixing or replacing a shower head or incorporating new shower and tub accessories into your home. For that reason, it’s helpful to understand the basic differences between the most common types of shower valves and how each one is different before embarking on any renovation projects.
If you’re purchasing a brand new fixture at the hardware store, the valves will most likely not come with the equipment. This can cause compatibility issues because valves are brand-specific and must match with the faucet that is installed. When installing new fixtures, you'll need to do your research to ensure that they match both the specific type of shower valve and the brand used in your home.
The 5 Most Common Shower Valve Types
1. Pressure-Balancing Valves
Pressure-balancing valves are the most frequently used type of shower valve. In most cases, they feature a single control and a handle, and there is no modification of the pressure of the water—when the tap is turned on, the water flows at a consistent force. Inside the component is a mechanism that moderates the ebb and flow of the hot and cold water, keeping the temperature constant within a few degrees Fahrenheit. To operate showers that use a pressure-balancing valve, simply turn the handle to the left to warm the water and to the right to make it colder.
2. Thermostatic Valves
More advanced and not as common as pressure-balancing valves, thermostatic valves have a built-in temperature-sensitive system that automatically adjusts the flow of hot or cold water based on changes in temperature. In most cases, there is a temperature dial on the valve’s face plate, which allows you to choose the temperature of the water before turning it on. Some newer models even feature anti-scald or anti-cold water features to prevent the shock of extreme water temperatures. Many thermostatic valves also include volume controls, which can be used to set the amount of water that flows from each individual outlet.
3. Diverter Valves
Commonly used alongside pressure-balancing valves in bathrooms that feature a combined bathtub and shower, diverter valves are the components that direct water from the shower head to the tub spout. By pressing down or pulling up on a lever, the user can move water back and forth from the tub spout to the shower head, and vice versa. Both two-way and three-way diverter valves are available.
4. Mixing Valves
Mostly found in older homes, mixing valves draw water from both the hot and cold taps and mix them together to create a temperature balance. If you’ve ever experienced a surge of hot water after someone flushes the toilet or runs a load of laundry using cold water, chances are that your bathroom features mixing valves, which are not designed to moderate sudden changes in temperature from the hot or cold water sources. Experts recommend setting your home’s water heater to 120° Fahrenheit to minimize the chances of scalding in homes that feature this type of valve.
5. Transfer Valves
If you’re looking to install multiple types of shower heads that can flow at the same time, you’ll need to use a transfer valve. These pieces keep water moving to features such as handheld shower heads or secondary overhead shower fixtures and are typically found within large walk-in shower designs. Transfer valves are essential in these environments because they allow for water to flow to all of the fixtures without shutting off the flow to the primary shower head. Most transfer valves also feature a control mechanism to switch between the different outlets (for example, to switch between the main shower head and a handheld shower head).
Summary
When you’re ready to swap out your existing shower head, be sure to investigate the type of valve currently installed. If you're looking to replace the shower head, your options could be limited by the model currently being used. And if you’re looking to add fixtures or upgrade, you might need to install a new type of valve to support temperature controls or other features.
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Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.