What valve do I need for my shower setup?
You are looking into installing a new shower setup and you come across this terminology for shower valves; pressure balance, thermostatic, shared, and non-shared...honestly it can be a tad confusing.
There are two main valve types we will be diving into today and learning what the difference is between these two valves, but most importantly which one is best for your next shower project.
A Pressure Balance Valve
As you can see from the image to the left, the pressure balance valve is used for a single-function showerhead.
Or this valve may also be used as a tub/shower combo if the tub filler has a diverter lever on it.
Thermostatic Valve with Built-In Diverter
F943-VO - This is our most popular valve.
Why should I buy this valve?
The F943-VO gives you the functionality of a large custom setup in one compact valve. With a flow rate of up to 8 GPM, it allows you to control 3 different outlets in the same shower without compromising on style or function.
The thermostatic function gives you the experience of a high-end, custom shower, at a fraction of the cost.
- Higher flow rate than pressure balance
- Have 1, 2, or 3 outlets
- Share 2 outlets at a time
- Set temp and leave it
Stand Alone Thermostatic Valve, paired with volume control valves
This is used in custom showers to get the maximum flow rate and control of outlets.
The stand-alone thermostat just controls temperature.
The mixed water is then piped to volume controls, one per outlet.
The volume controls can all be turned on at once, or individually. We have ½” or ¾” volume control valves but most people go with ¾” in order to get the most flow.