Hi! I am going to having a contractor install a new standing shower in my bathroom, but I am ordering all the materials. I like the idea of a thermostatic valve/trim - but don't want a separate/additional faucet for volume control (I just like the idea of a pre-set water temperature in my shower). I am not very familiar with plumbing terminology; what should I be looking for? (Also, is there an easy way to determine if my post-1999 condo has 3/4" or 1/2" plumbing in the shower?) I will have one outlet only - to the shower head - with no separate hand shower/jets/tub spout .I found a few divert-style valve/trim kits I liked, but am assuming I should not use them. I also like a few Pfister models, but have read that they are not as recommended by plumbers as say, Moen.

Thanks much!

Ps- I am having the bathroom gutted so walls will be open for full valve access.

Since the walls will be open, you can measure the piping. Most likely the supply is 3/4 but the risers could be 1/2 or 3/4". There are no real "pre-set" temp controls, only set to a maximum. Depending on supply temps, the mixer valve can be reset so you can have warmer or colder. What you can do is to keep adjusting the control so that the water temp will be what you want when the handle is full left, hot position. You can also moderate the temp through the HW heater but I don't recommend as dishwashers may not sanitize properly. Delta and Moen are both good brands. Stay away from store branded units as parts can be difficult to find. Moen gives a lifetime guarantee.

Ask your contractor what you should order, he does thei all of the time and knows. How much do you think you are saving by ordering yourself? Ask the contractor to nid the whole deal and see what he would charge you for the same unit.

Thank you. This makes me think the thermostatic valve isn't really worth the added cost - seems I'll easily spend double or more if I go that route, so I'll go with something simpler and order a moen as it seems universally recommended (although I've seen some bad reviews of their ExacTemp valves). I was going to order this b/f the walls are opened up, but I'll take the trim off my current valve and see if I can tell what size the current valve is hooked up to. This all started as a small job that is turning big. Tried a DIY valve trim update some time ago and ended up damaging the valve trying to remove something with a ton of mineral deposit on it; plumber rigged it so it sort-of works but I have no cold water and know the valve is junk (glacier bay) and should be replaced anyway. Now my shower is leaking, not sure if it's the drain and/or behind the wall (getting water below and I can see the grout outside the pan get damp after a shower) - the shower's completely tiled in, and I've wanted to replace so I am having it all done at once including new tile. Argh. Thanks again for your response!

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Originally Posted by alnme

Thank you. This makes me think the thermostatic valve isn't really worth the added cost - seems I'll easily spend double or more if I go that route, so I'll go with something simpler and order a moen as it seems universally recommended (although I've seen some bad reviews of their ExacTemp valves). I was going to order this b/f the walls are opened up, but I'll take the trim off my current valve and see if I can tell what size the current valve is hooked up to. This all started as a small job that is turning big. Tried a DIY valve trim update some time ago and ended up damaging the valve trying to remove something with a ton of mineral deposit on it; plumber rigged it so it sort-of works but I have no cold water and know the valve is junk (glacier bay) and should be replaced anyway. Now my shower is leaking, not sure if it's the drain and/or behind the wall (getting water below and I can see the grout outside the pan get damp after a shower) - the shower's completely tiled in, and I've wanted to replace so I am having it all done at once including new tile. Argh. Thanks again for your response!

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Post-1999 condo with single shower head/valve will have 1/2" supplies...almost guarantee that!

Good luck!

Mark