Can I reuse my current Grohe shower head, faucets, etc.

9 years ago

Just starting the process of figuring out the details of renovating my mini masterbathroom (it's small!). My shower pan is leaking again! We renovated the bathroom back in 1999. Then the shower pan started leaking in 2009. We did a patch job back in 09' ...cut out the bottom foot of the shower and put in a new pan. Patch job has never worked out great for various reasons. It's 2015 and we have to redo the whole shower pan. Hubby wants to just redo the shower. I'm concerned about it looking like another patch job (because of the difficulty matching tiles) so I would like to redo the entire bath.

So now I need to figure out how to save some money. This leads me to my question ... does anyone see any problems with me reusing my shower heads, shower faucets and sink faucets? They are Grohe parts. We've had problems with a leaking shower head in the past but "all" we needed to do is replace the rough in valve (carbodour cartridge) so if I get new rough in valves for the shower head, am I good to go? Will the plumber have any problems re-installing it? Thanks.

Featured Answer

MongoCT

9 years ago

Sink faucet, shower head, sure they can be reused. The shower head threads on to the arm, easy to R&R. Faucet hot and cold water supplies are connected with threaded unions, simply unthread. Drain tailpiece can be unthreaded from the trap assembly. Faucet itself is usually attached to the countertop by a threaded nut, you can use a wrench or a basin wrench to unthread that.

The shower supply valve? You can do it one of two ways. I'm sure there are others, but I'll mention these two.

1) You can cut the supply tubing that is soldered to the shower valve's ports about a foot or so away from the valve. When the new tubing is made up, the old valve with its 12" stub outs can be connected to the new plumbing with couplers. That prevents you from having to de-solder and re-solder the copper at the valve ports.

2) If you can't or don't want to do the above, you can remove the copper that is soldered to the shower valve's ports. I'd first remove the valve cartridge, and o-rings, etc, anything that can be damaged by heat. Heat the joints, break the joints, then clean them up really well with emery paper to get rid of any solder or flux residue. You want shiny metal.

Then the valve can be soldered back in. You already made repairs on one valve. If any other valves you're reusing are old, I'd recommend replacing the cartridge and o-rings with new ones like you did with the other.

Hope it makes sense!

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Comments (9)

PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
A new valve may require new trim kit, There is Hans-Grohe and Grohe? in regards to the shower head if its working now it should be removeable and able to reinstall and should be the same nipple size.

consult your plumber is the best advice, the new Ibox valves from hansgrohe are very nice....
xmkx thanked Mint tile Minneapolis
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I had read about the Hansgrohe valve, but I didn't care much for it. Can't understand exactly how I could control temperature, volume and diverter with only 2 handles... We recently installed a new shower with a rainshower head and handheld head, run by one of the Hansgrohe controls. It's very simple to operate. The temperature is controlled by the smaller handle on the outside. I think I've touched it once; after putting it on a temperature both my wife and I apparently find desirable, we never touch it. The larger, inner handle controls volume and diverter. With the Thermobalance II, shown above, you turn the handle left of center to use one shower head, or right to use the other showerhead. Want to be able to use both at the same time (as I did)? For a few more dollars, you get the Thermobalance III valve and trim... This unit could control three different showerheads, or the plumbing can be configured to control two showerheads -- which is what we did, and what I think you're saying you want to do. Turn it left to the for one showerhead, turn all the way to the left and the second showerhead runs; in between, both showerheads run. It's easy to adjust the volume between the two, although I have to say I just go mid-way and let them both run full force. I like the simplicity of having only one control and one handle on the wall. You can certainly configure it with three different handles if you prefer; I just wanted to explain how the Hansgrohe works if you're interested. -- Eric
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xmkx
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks Tundra! It's Grohe Talia. I haven't started the process of finding a contractor for my remodel yet because I need to figure out what I want to do before I start calling around. But I will definitely consult whoever ends up being the plumber.
xmkx
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks MongoCt. Doesn't make sense to me yet but I'm sure by the time my reno is done, it will seem like plain english to me ;) But now I know it can probably be done. BTW, you have CT at the end of your name. Are you in CT? I'm in Westchester County, NY and looking for someone for my remodel.
PRO
Cabot & Rowe
9 years ago
When searching for a new contractor ask how they were fixin to waterproof the shower. All of the shower, not just the pan.
xmkx thanked Cabot & Rowe
MongoCT
9 years ago
xmkx,

Yes, the "CT" is indeed for CT.

I do appreciate the offer, but I don't solicit work through the forums.

It may read as Greek now, but by the time you're done, you'll probably know more than you ever wanted to know about things you never thought you wanted to know about. lol

Best, Mongo
xmkx thanked MongoCT
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
9 years ago
I'd take a 16-year-old Grohe over the new shower head replacement junk my wife just bought for $100.00 or so. Want to trade?

The Grohe shower parts for our previous remodel were 2K or so. Once you've had the nice stuff, you can never go back...
xmkx thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
xmkx
Original Author
9 years ago
Cabot & Rowe, I definitely will! I learned the hard way not to just waterproof the pan! Mongoct, I did not think you were soliciting work. I've just read a lot of the comments you've posted and appreciated that you put so much thought into everything. Can't blame a girl for asking! Joseph Corlett, I'm realizing a lot of the old stuff was made much better. I renovated my kitchen and I realize the 15 year old DW I had there worked a lot better than my new fancy DW. Thank you everyone!
MongoCT
9 years ago
Not a worry! Best of luck with your project.

Can I reuse my current Grohe shower head, faucets, etc.

MongoCT

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