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View Full Version : Installing a shower diverter behind the wall?


mfrohlich
Feb 13, 2009, 08:50 PM
I am remodeling a bathroom. I would like to install a rain shower head and a separate handheld shower arm. My walls are open, and I will be replumbing everything. Is it possible to install a diverter to switch the water from the rain head to the handheld unit, with something behind the wall or a valve of some sort (in the bronze finish) that is inline that could be shut off to divert water to one or the other. I would rather not have the diverter coming out of the same outlet as the rain head to divert to the handheld.

My valve is a price pfister x80-340 tub/shower valve. My original idea is to plumb the water line from where it would normally go to a tub spout, to a point higher on the wall equal to the shower head and off to one side. I just didn't think about the diverting part the tub spout usually takes care of. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your time.

Milo Dolezal
Feb 13, 2009, 09:03 PM
I am unable to locate this PP faucet... Can you post a photo ?

But in the interim:

Since you have open wall, you should do it the "right" way. So let me skip the retrofit solutions. Here are 3 basic set-ups:

1. Hansgrohge sells shower faucet body/trim that has volume and diverter incorporated into one valve. It is a very nifty set up. ( Hansgrohe ThermoBalance II Rough Valve, Tub/Shower (06623000) - PlumberSurplus.com (http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Prod/Hansgrohe-ThermoBalance-II-Rough-Valve-Tub-Shower-(06623000)/40323/Cat/281) ). With this body, you can connect 2 shower heads. This set up is nice and compact since it eliminates additional diverter valve that has to be mounted someplace on the wall. Since it is HansGrohe it also looks nice.

2. You can get just about any single handle shower body and diverter valve. Install shower valve and connect your h/c water supplies, run upper outlet to the diverter valve and than run 2 outlets as you wish (... rain s/h + hand-held).

3. If you favor old fashioned 3-stem tub/shower valve, you can utilize this type, too. Install it as usual, run Spout outlet to Hand-Held and upper (shower head) outlet to the ceiling for Rain Shower Head.

Let me know what you decided to do...