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Installing a new shower unit is not for the faint of heart.
It requires a great deal of planning and work. There are four stages to
installing a new shower unit: framing the shower walls, roughing in the
plumbing, installing the new shower unit, and finishing the plumbing. In
regards to the actual plumbing of a new shower unit you should plan on
hiring a plumber as most municipalities will not let a homeowner install
their own plumbing.
Most new shower units and their associated plumbing fixtures can support
various water pressures.
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However make sure to ask the bath/shower supply store about
this subject to ensure there are no specific issues with the particular type
of shower unit you plan to install. Similarly make sure you discuss water
pressure and piping requirements with the plumber to ensure the right size
supply and drain pipes are used for the new shower unit installation.
Shower Unit Mixing Valve Types
Bath/Shower Mixer: With this type of shower mixing valve unit the hose and
spray are shared with a bath mixer faucet assembly and the water temperature
can be adjusted through the bath mixer. This type of shower mixer unit is
inexpensive and can be somewhat difficult to control the temperature.
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Push-On Mixer Shower Unit Types: They work similar to the
Bath/Shower mixer. The hose and spray components on the push-on mixer can be
tied into the bath faucet tap and the water temperature can be adjusted via
the faucet taps. Again, this type of mixer is relatively inexpensive and
easy to install.
Manual Mixing Valve Unit Types: With this type of mixer unit, the hose and
spray are an integral part of the wall unit and the cold and hot supplies
are tied together via a single mixing valve.
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The water temperature is adjusted via a screw or knob in the single mixing
valve assembly. Manual mixing units are typically more expensive than the other
types of mixing units previously mentioned.
Thermostatic Mixing Units: Again the hose and spray of this type of shower
are an integral part of the wall unit. Similarly the hot and cold water lines
are connected via a single mixing valve. What makes this type of mixing valve
unit unique is that it has a built in thermostat with a stabilizer to
auto-adjust the water temperature and to prevent scalding. This type of shower
mixing unit is quite expensive.
Power showers incorporate a strong electric pump that enables easy modification
of both the water temperature and pressure coming out of the hose and spray
unit.
Electric showers are plumbed into the main cold water supply line and the water
is heated electrically prior to it exiting the shower head. Electric shower
units have several pros and cons but chief among them is that they need a very
specific and consistent water pressure to ensure a stable water temperature
exiting the shower head. Moreover, their control is limited. Either you can get
higher temperatures at less pressure or cooler temperatures at higher pressure.
Actually Installing Shower Unit
When installing a new shower unit it is important to follow the rough plumbing
instructions carefully. The shower drain, mixing valve, taps and shower head
exit pipe must be perfectly located. If not, you’ll find yourself having to pull
out the new shower unit and redoing the rough plumbing. Mark the required
locations for the drain, mixing valves, taps and shower head exit pipe on the
subfloor and wall studs to ensure they are installed in the right location.
Also, make sure the rough plumbing pipes are blocked in tightly to prevent
flexing or movement of the pipes when the taps are turned on and off. In
addition, pressure testing of the supply line pipes should be done to ensure
there are no leaks.
The shower pan, or tray, should be installed first when installing a new shower
unit, unless the shower unit is a one piece. The shower walls should then be
affixed to the walls studs and silicone caulk applied around all the seams. If
you’re installing a single piece fiberglass shower unit make sure to fasten the
shower to the wall studs with metal fastening brackets that slip over the shower
wall flange and nail to the wall studs.
Once the shower tray and walls are installed, you can then move on to complete
the finish plumbing. The finish plumbing involves installing the mixing
valve/faucet handles, the shower drain, and the shower spray head and hoses.
Finally turn water on to the shower supply lines to complete the new shower unit
installation. After turning the supply lines on check for any leaks. With any
luck you’ll have a fully functional and leak free new shower.
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See
My Shower Pan Ebook for More Details on Installing a Shower Pan Membrane Liner: For a more detailed set of
instructions on building a shower pan, including pictures and a detailed
cross-sectional view of the make-up of a shower pan, see my “Shower Pan Membrane
Liner Ebook”.
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Learning How to Fix a Leaky Faucet
Shower Units from Amazon.com
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