Do you think I'll miss having a tub filler?

16 years ago

We're installing a jacuzzi tub in a bathroom with a handheld shower unit on a sliding bar. I've read a couple of posts here and seen comments elsewhere about using the handheld shower at its lowest position to fill the tub. Is this going to take forever? I'm thinking the rate of water flow would be about the same whether I used a tub filler or not - and I'd like to keep things as simple as possible and prefer the deck uncluttered.

At first I thought the angle of the showerhead would make it all splashy while filling but the more I look at how the head is angled, it seems to me that when it's in its lowest position - it would work as a tubfiller too.

Any thoughts? Are there tubfillers that have a really high volume of water flow that would work much faster?

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Comments (7)

lazypup
16 years ago
A shower is restricted to 2.5gpm while a tub spout is rated at 4gpm.

If you have a hand shower that will reach to a point lower than 2" above the flood level rim of the tub it is required to have a backflow preventer installed on the line.
melisande
Original Author
16 years ago
We hadn't planned to install it that low - its lowest point would be about 6 inches above the tub itself BUT - that difference in gpm is not what I wanted to hear. Thanks for that.

Anyone know whether those fancy waterfall faucet tubfillers actually dispense water rapidly?

And here's another question - if I end up installing a tub filler on the deck of the tub surround - are there any handfeld showers that can be part of that faucet? It would be nice to be able to control the hand shower using the tub filler handles, but is that possible? The only ones I see are those giant Victorian style ones that rise way above the tub. I guess what I'm thinking of is like a spray that you'd use in the kitchen, separate from the faucet. Can I do that?

If I did that, I'd just install a regular shower head. Any views on whether handheld showers are as nice and forceful as regular showerheads can be?
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suzikay
16 years ago
Maybe I'm missing something here, but why don't you just use a tub/shower faucet- which would include a wall-mounted tub spout, and then have a handshower (wall mounted) as your main showerhead. Any good plumber or showroom could set this up for you.
heimert
16 years ago
I agree with suzikay. We have this--very simple. Just get a diverter valve. There are many different varities--we happened to get one from kohler that pulls out to divert--it mounts between the faucets. Pull out and water heads up to the showerhead, which is a pull-out style.

As for flow rates, are there limits on bath spouts? I assumed the limits were created by (a) pressure available; (b) pipe diameter (which affects a); (c) the valves used. There's not much point in regulating the flow rate, because you're going to fill the tub with the same amount of water regardless of how long it takes.
lazypup
16 years ago
The 2.5gpm for a shower is the maximum permitted by code.

The 4gpm flow rate for the tub spout is the minimum permissible flow rate.
sassyinak
16 years ago
The key is how big is the tub and long do you want to wait as you fill it. For example, my tub holds 65 gallons, my tub filler has a flow rate of 13 gallons per minute (at 45 psi). Therefore it takes about 5 minutes to fill. Fill even a 50 gallon tub at 2.5 gallons per minute, and well, you can do the math. Don't forget the water cools as your waiting!
melisande
Original Author
16 years ago
Sure - I'm going to fill the tub with the same amount of water (which, for the tubs we're looking at, is in the 70-80 gallon range). But, it will take almost twice as long - and yes, the water does cool. Sassinak - you're on my page! (I'm looking for a tub that holds less water, btw - but still, taking 15 minutes to fill a tub vs. 8 or so does seem like an issue).

We didn't want a wall spout because it's a two person tub - and we don't want a faucet poking into the head of Bather #2.

We did go to a good plumbing store yesterday - and it looks like we'll get the handheld PLUS a tub filler - with just a diverter between the two (no handles for the filler) - and mount the filler on the deck, possibly back side middle - so no having to have it in one's face.

I really appreciate the help. Lazypup, in particular - thanks for the clarification on flow rates. We brought home Grohe literature that indicates that one of their tub fillers will reach a rate of 15 gpm! (We have good pressure at the main point of entry to our house and will be replumbing from that point to the bathroom in order to keep that good pressure up where it belongs - so I'll be able to ZOOM fill my tub).

Not that it's been much of an issue - I actually have my day planned out right now so that I can fill our current fairly small tub (takes about 15 minutes) while I do stuff in the kitchen. It would be nice, though, to be able to plan a quicker bath!