Have you ever admired why you are not getting that comfortable ravishing shower experience when you’re in a hotel? Maybe that’s because your shower valve, also known as shower faucet, is very old.
It’s time that you change it to have a well-equipped tub. Some of us have even thought about changing it, but we tend to back out when it comes to plumbing.
Plumbing is not an easy task. It’s very tricky. But don’t be scared because you’ll find the perfect guideline here.
Sometimes you’ll have to work smart instead of working hard. The key to doing any kind of plumbing job is being patient and working smartly.
Yes, you’ll have to work a little hard, but trust me, once you get successful at changing the shower valve, you won’t have to call a plumber again for small things. Be patient while you work and follow the steps thoroughly.
Things that you’ll have to do before installation.
Step 1: Read the manual
Once you buy a shower valve, you’ll see that they provide a manual with it. Read that faucet or valve manual very carefully. Check whether the set has all the parts or not because you can’t lose any of the parts. It is essential for the perfect installation.
Step 2: Gather the tools
There are some particular tools that you’ll need for the installation.
Tools:
- Adjustable wrench
- Crimping tool
- Caulking gun
- Hex key
- Hole saw
- Hammer
- Level
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Protective glove
- Slip joint pliers
- Screw and screwdriver
- Spray bottle
- Wrench
There are some necessary materials that you should know about before starting the installation.
- A valve and shower headset
- Emery cloth
- Flux
- Pfx tubing (you can use a regular copper tube). That might be expensive as you have to solder, clean, and adjust them. So pfx containers are pretty cost-effective)
- Rags
- Silicone sealant
- Teflon tape
These things should be enough for you to have your dream shower experience.
Now let’s start the installation process.
Step 1: Turn off the water
Before starting any kind of plumbing work, you’ll have to turn off the water supply. There should be a shower valve with a cut-off option. If you don’t see it, there will be the main water valve. That controls the water supply of the whole world. Once you turn it off, your full house won’t have any water supply. So prepare yourself before turning it off. Gather some water in case of need.
Step 2: find a suitable place
There should be a particular compartment which will hold the valve, if you don’t have it, you can plumb behind the wall. But in most cases, there is a specific door for this purpose only.
Step 3: Measure the height
It’s time to measure the height. If you don’t have kids in your house, you can install it in whatever height you like. The average height for this is around 45 to 48 inches. If you have kids, you might lower the height. Use a pencil and mark it.
Step 4: Insert the stud
Your bathroom should already have two horizontal studs. Install the new one vertically between them. Use an electric screwdriver for this purpose as it will make your work less stressful. As the vertical stud is the carrier for the valve, it should be stable and stiff. Measure the height one more time so that the installation is perfect.
Step 5: Separate the pipes
Usually, there are two pipes, one for the hot water one and one for the cold one. Now bring the Teflon tape you bought. Connect the hot water adapter to a hot water pipe. Use a wrench for this job. Do the same with the cold one.
Before attaching it, make sure of the water supply position, which means which side is for the cold one and which side is for the hot one. Then attach the pipes. Don’t mix it up. Otherwise, you’ll turn on to get hot water; you’ll get cold water instead.
Step 6: Set up drop ear elbow
Do you see the drop-ear elbow? Bring that Teflon tape and wrench again. Fix the PFX tube and wrap it with the drop-ear elbow.
Now, if you want to install the latest shower set, then fix the drop-ear elbow with the horizontal stud using an electric screwdriver. Make sure that the valve and the showerhead are parallel. Another tip, measure the distance between the vertical studs and the pipe.
If you’re installing a new shower, then drill some holes. Take proper measurements where you want them to be. Mark the points and then drill them with a drill saw. It will help to get precise work without damaging the wall.
Now install the handle as per instructions. Connect the fillets properly. Use Teflon tapes for this purpose. You can hide the holes around the head shower set using decorative plates. Give a final check before turning on the water supply. If everything is on the point, then turn on the water supply. You’ll have a brand new shower.
There are some small things that you should be careful about. Use gloves while working. You’ll find a variety of gloves at home depot. Choose the heavy-duty plumbing gloves. This will protect your hands from all the rough work. Clean your bathroom before starting to work.
Now you may ask. Eventually, the work will make your bathroom dirty, then what’s the point of cleaning it beforehand. This is because water and electricity are a deadly combination. As you’ll be using an electric screwdriver and so many other tools, including power, the cleaning will help you prevent any unwanted situation.
Conclusion
Another important thing. Measure everything correctly before starting to drill or attach it. Because once you’ve made the holes in your wall, there is no going back. Also, before attaching anything, read the instructions very carefully.
It’s tough to uninstall once you’ve installed everything. So think before you start working. Now don’t be paranoid. It’s not rocket science. You’ll be able to fix it in no time. Be patient, and you’ll be able to enjoy your brand new shower.