Shower trim/valve buying for dummies, please?

12 years ago

OK, so this is what I think I need for my shower: trim, which equals the shower head and the little arm it goes on, and a pressure-balancing valve trim, and then the pressure-balancing valve itself which gets buried in the wall. (If I'm wrong so far, or calling something the wrong name, please let me know!)

So, I can either buy a shower trim package and then the appropriate valve; or, if I do not like one element of the package, can I purchase the shower head, arm, and pressure-balance valve trim separately? If so, what do I have to know to make sure they are compatible?

Finally, is there any good reason not to purchase a recently discontinued item to get a discount? I want Grohe since everyone says it will last the longest (my chief concern), and don't care if it's not the latest thing.

Thanks very much!

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Comments (4)

SYinUSA, GA zone 8
12 years ago
Pick out your trim first. Different brands have different valves that aren't compatible (usually) between the brands. The specs on the trim will tell you your valve options. People on the forums recommend valves with stops - these allow you to turn off the water supply at the valve rather than having to turn off water to the whole house. I'm not sure if you can purchase each trim element separately, but my thought is that you probably can without too much difficulty in compatibility issues, even between different brands. Threads on plumbing are standardized, so buying a separate shower head and arm shouldn't present a problem. The valve trim will still need to be compatible with the valve, though, even if it doesn't match the shower head and arm.

Discontinued items are alright as long as you're positive it's what you want; you won't be able to return it as easily if you change your mind. You might also have a more difficult time finding replacement parts if you ever need them, though usually the innards are the same between different faucets within a brand.
jayco
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, as usual there are way more things to know about this than I realized, so I'm a bit overwhelmed!
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Look up Hansgrohe Universal ibox - first of all, you will get a thermostatic valve instead of a pressure balance valve, thermostatic doesn't impact the GPM (gallons per minute) that the pressure balance does. Here is some hansgrohe info. and only will require you to have trim for this universal box - no additional trim needed. There are various options for configuration but I'm looking on page 16 of the "installation instructions" part No 90111601 and I'm reading "modify the diverter to allow simultaneous use of both functions". This came with my Hansgrohe trim - part number 04231xx0. I'm obviously a bit of a newbie but hopefully this info helps you understand that what you want can be done. I would go with hansgrohe for any shower fixture because their fixtures are famous for minimizing any restriction on the flow. You of course always want the option of having the maximum flow. Good luck. Hopefullly the experts will kick in here with more/better details if you need it. I bought my universal Ibox from a plumbing showroom and the salesman was helpful in explaining my options and what I could have done. Not much more expensive than buying on line. Here is a link that might be useful: see page 16 of this installation guide for hansgrohe trim 4231 This post was edited by elphaba on Sat, Jul 6, 13 at 21:39
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Sharron, it was faucets4cheap.com, oddly enough! I called them to report a problem with one part and talked to them about my trim options - they mentioned the restocking fee, although I might be able to wriggle my way out of it if I tried, I suppose. Their prices are so great that it's almost worth it to pay the restocking, though. The other question I have (which I forgot to mention in the first post): do I even need a volume control valve? We always use the shower on full power, so I'm not worried about controlling the flow. However, from what I understand, the thermostatic valve can't stop the water from flowing so you have to have a volume control just to turn it on and off. Correct? Argh!
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You probably can mix and match components from different vendors; once a pipe leaves a fixture, valve, etc., the next item in the piping doesn't care what was before it.
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"The 1st picture on the left has the hot and cold supply lines attached to it? The picture in the middle does not work with the 1st picture?" Correct. The middle picture in your first set of pictures and the last two pictures use a Hansgrohe iBox rough valve. The cartridge, which comes with the trim, determines if it will be pressure balanced or thermostatic. The iBox is what I use. I am not familiar with the showerpipe as I don't like it so have never looked into it. The S/E trim you show does not have a diverter. It would be for a shower only or a tub only. You turn the handle and how far you turn it determines the temperature. The flow stays constant, just the temperature changes. The Metris C trim you show has a diverter so it can have 2 functions. Tub and shower, 2 different types of shower, etc. You turn the top handle to determine where you want the water to come out. You turn the bottom handle to determine the temperature. The flow stays constant, just the temperature changes. The escutcheon is the big round piece that covers the hole. It is part of the trim package. The trim package includes the cartridge, escutcheon, and handles. The cartridge determines if it is pressure balance or thermostatic, and if it diverts or not. The iBox valve itself is the same for any configuration (but it might not use all of the ports, in which case your plumber will cap one off). I don't know what you mean by an integrated volume control, unless you are referring to a thermostatic valve. With a thermostatic valve, you can control the volume of water independent of the temperature. Pressure balance means water is either on or off, no volume control other than that. Thermostatic means any amount of water flow you would like. With thermostatic, you can leave the temperature setting alone so it will always be the temperature you like without having to adjust it (assuming no one else adjusts it). Once again, the shower head and slide bar DO NOT have to be the same brand as the valve. They are independent pieces. You can change them at any time if you don't like what you originally get. It doesn't matter what brand valve you get, you can use any brand of shower head. I actually do not like the hansgrohe wall outlet (used with a hose and slide bar or hook). It looks and feels cheap. Rohl makes a nice one, with an adjustable escutcheon. Delta is a similar setup to the Hansgrohe iBox; it's just not as flexible with installation.
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MongoCT
12 years ago
If you want durability, quality in valve construction, you;re not concerned about the "latest thing" style-wise, and you want a great price point...AND you're looking for pressure-balanced...

Look at the Symmons Temptrol line.

The valve bodies have been around for I can't even tell you how long. The valves are well-designed, spare parts if needed will always be around, and over the years the few times I've needed parts, usually for worn o-rings, Symmons has sent me replacement parts for free.

They are sold at the box stores (some are at least), and they are packages valve body and trim kit together, plus some include the shower head and tub spigot. Depends on what setup you need; shower, or shower plus tub.

In general, the entire package can be had for $80-$125 give or take.

For economy and performance, I recommend them without hesitation. If you want the latest-greatest style, look elsewhere.

A lot of shoppers will install this set but replace the shower head with another. Shower head threading is pretty much universal, so mix and match is simple.
jayco
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you, mongoct, that's very helpful. I made another post above about using a Danze set-up I got for free, vs buying a low-end Grohe, which I was under the impression is very reliable.

I can get a recently discontinued Grohe trim kit and a Grohsafe valve for the same price as you said the Symmons would be. Is the Symmons better, less good, the same? Thanks again, I truly appreciate it!

Shower trim/valve buying for dummies, please?

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SYinUSA, GA zone 8

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Shower trim/valve buying for dummies, please?

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SYinUSA, GA zone 8

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