How A Shower Valve Works

This old house plumbing and heating expert richard trethewey fixes a faulty shower valve with new valve stems and seats.

How a shower valve works. Two or more handle valves. The pipes connect to a shower valve that controls the temperature and flow of water to the shower head. This is part of the waste plumbing system showerhead riser extends to shower head so that it s higher than your head. The water supply for a shower arrives via two pipes.

In stand alone showers there is usually only one valve that controls the water flow and temperature. Components of a thermostatic shower valve thermostatic element. How does a shower valve work. Behind the wall studs the plumbing nestles between the extra studs that provide support for the shower walls.

A shower control valve with the single control has either a knob or lever that is turned flipped or pushed to initiate the flow of water to the shower head. Main vent stack usually three inches. See below for a shopping list tools and steps subscribe to this old. Turning the knobs to control hot or cold water that runs from the spout.

The valve is designed to balance the incoming flow of hot or cold water even when the pressure varies due to another faucet being turned on or a toilet flushing. When taking a shower the shower valve is the plumbing component that lets you turn the water. How does a shower valve work. In a setup where the bathtub and shower are combined this valve is called a diverter valve.

The thermostatic element reduces its size with cold water and therefore allows the piston to pump in more hot. The pressure balancing valve is the most convenient and straightforward of the various shower. The other common type of shower valve is the thermostatic valve the thermostatic valve unlike the. In construction that is less than 30 years old these pipes are usually copper.

The thermostatic element is responsible for maintaining the temperature of water by compressing or. Most valves are marked with symbols for hot and cold water allowing you to easily adjust the temperature of the water. If your shower has a single handle then you also have a single valve that is controlled by that.