is a thermostatic shower important?
myladyfae
14 years ago
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Comments (18)
MongoCT
14 years agomyladyfae
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Thermostatic tub/shower with handshower
Comments (17)Thermostatic setups usually have separate volume and temperature controls. You set the temp with one knob and you can leave it there for a little while or leave it there forever. You control the flow, from off, to a trickle flow, to medium flow, to full flow, with a separate volume or flow control knob. Once the temperature is set on a thermostatic valve the temp will generally stay within +/- 1 degree regardless of other plumbing being used in the house. Pressure balanced valves usually have the temperature and volume combined in the same handle, the rotation of the knob changes the desired temperature, and as the knob is rotated your water flow essentially goes from full off to full on. There's no real intermediate flow setting. Pressure balanced valves generally hold the temperature to +/- 3 degrees. Within the Stillness line, there are variations within the individual items themselves; 1/2" valves versus 3/4" valves, valves with stops, etc. I'm not vetting out 1/2" versus 3/4", you'll have to do that on your own. But here are the essential parts that you'll need: 1) The main valve body, it can be the K-680 since you mentioned having both controls on one valve. An option would be the higher volume K-670 valve. 1a) You'll need a trim kit for the 680 valve. 2) Out the bottom of the K-680 you'll have a short length of copper leading to the tub volume controller, a K-681 valve. An option would be the 3/4" K-671 valve. 2a) You'll need a trim kit for the 680 volume controller. 3) Out the bottom of that valve you'll have another stub of copper leading to your tub spout. Now that the tub is taken care of, let's get on with the shower heads. You'll have a stub of copper coming out the top of the K-680 valve listed above in paragraph 1). 4) That will lead to your K-687 diverter or tranfer valve. 4a) You'll need a trim kit for the K-687 diverter valve. The valve can be plumbed to divert to either two or three outlets, in your case you'll only use two; one for the shower head, one for the handheld. The diverter valve has an inlet in the bottom and three outlet ports, one at 9 o'clock, one at 12, and the third at 3 o'clock. 5) Plumb the ones at 9 and 12 o'clock together and send their output to the shower head. 6) The outlet at 3 o'clock will run to a wall outlet for the handheld. 7) A hose will be connected to the wall outlet. 8) A handheld will be connected to the hose. 9) The handheld will hang on the slide bar which will be attached to the wall with the slide bar trim kit. I'm not sure if the slide bar trim kit is mandatory or just a pretty item. That's my best guess at what you need for the setup you described: Kohler Stillness thermostatic valve with built-in volume control, outputting to just a tub spout, or outputting to either a shower head or a handheld, or to the shower head and heldheld simultaneously. Mongo...See MoreIs it important to buy 'their' thermostat?
Comments (1)I wouldn't buy their name brand one - There are several manufacturers (like Honeywell) who have been making excellent thermostats for many, many years That being said, $100 doesn't buy a quality thermostat in my opinion - An good 'computer' thermostat can save you heating and cooling dollars every day for the life of your HVAC system and it would be a shame to miss out on much of that by using a cheap thermostat Don...See MoreThermostatic European shower valve? PLEASE HELP
Comments (1)Our Grohe thermostatic valve stopped adjusting the temp - probably because we didn't move it enough (one setting for summer, one for winter!). We had to open it up and replace the valve / cartridge. It was 20+ years old so it was a little stuck in there (note - get some PB Blaster) My guess is that yours is the same. You'll have to find the brand though, and see if parts are available. MAYBE take off the trim and see what you find?...See MoreHansgrohe C Thermostatic Shower System
Comments (1)I am also in a shower dilemna. I was looking at the Symmons shower system and read that it is comparable to Hansgrohe albeit less well known and less expensive. I'm not really sure though so hoping some folks with knowledge on this will respond to your post. I have also been trying to figure out if Kohler has something but I cannot put together how to "build" a system on Kohler. I am trying to get a shower/tub filler/hand spray system....See Moresevrm
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