Hi,
I spend most of my time at Cooks Talk, but am in the process of planning an inexpensive bathroom remodel for a bathroom that hasn’t been touched in about 50 years. We’re keeping the old alcove tub, but need to replace the tub and shower faucet, and I just wondered if there’s anything I should be looking for, or any brands that are especially good or especially bad? We currently have a water-saver shower head that puts out a very fine spray, but doesn’t have a whole lot of pressure. Is there a way to improve the pressure without increasing the water use? Any help would be appreciated. Keep in mind this is not a million dollar house, and we are not interested in a million dollar bathroom. But I would like to have a decent shower for guests to use. Thanks.
Sandy
Replies
Sandy, if you take off the shower head is there good pressure?
Good pressure in the sink faucet?
Tile in the tub/shower surround? Access behind the faucet?
What kind of pipes supply the water?
Stay away from Price Pfister.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I don't know about the pressure if I remove the shower head because I haven't tried it. But, I just noticed that when the shower is on, there's also a whole bunch of water still coming out of the tub faucet, so I'm wondering if that's the problem. I would assume that will be fixed with a new faucet, right?Sandy
Sandy, the diverter that pushes the water up to the shower head is merely a dam. It stops the water going out the spout and sends it up to the shower head. If the seal isn't good at the dam, then the amount out of the head is compromised.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Thanks for the confirmation. I guess I will assume that any new faucet by a reputable company (Delta, Moen, Kohler) will improve the situation.Sandy
Don't get Moen! We have had big problems with them for one tiny white replacement faucet handle. They are not at all helpful and replacements cost a whole lot! We are now going to buy new - NOT MOEN!
I don't know what kind of problem that you have had with Moen, but just call them up and then will send a free replcement cartridge..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Oh no they won't! They either wanted $90 for the porcelain cross handle - just one of them - or all the original paperwork on the faucets - which we don't have, not having installed them.
I have used Moen in my last two homes. Only had one problem with a cartridge. Called customer support and had a new one in three days. After closer inspection I found trash in the old cartridge. It was new plumbing and probably not flushed out before installation.
I think it was American Standard that I had major problems getting parts for. I will stay clear of them.
Like CCD9 said. It's not that easy. Just like anything else you need to do some legwork in order to get one that you are happy with. In the past you had less choices and that might have been good. But now there are a lot more choices and some of them might disappoint you. So do your legwork and find the one you want.
Did you look at the link I put in my post to a Kohler? It's close to $500. At that price I'd make sure ( as best you can) that you are getting the shower/tub kit you want.
I did look at the link, and unfortunately that's way beyond my price range. I was hoping to get something for under $200.But I will stay away from Moen (and Price Pfister) now that I've been forewarned. I've been trying to do my homework on this, and maybe I'm just not very good at internet research, but I'm finding it difficult to get any information.Sandy
What calvin said. A lot of these spuds ( tub spouts) are very cheap so problems with them are common. Some of them aren't meant to be fixed. They are meant to be replaced because they are made so cheaply.
This definitely makes me feel better about replacing the faucet. Thanks.Sandy
"I just noticed that when the shower is on, there's also a whole bunch of water still coming out of the tub faucet, so I'm wondering if that's the problem. I would assume that will be fixed with a new faucet, right?"As Calvin and popawheelie have mentioned, it sounds like the tub spout is the problem.You may well not need to replace the valve. Tub spouts can easily be purchased individually.You may be able to solve this for just a few dollars.
Rich Beckman
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Like Calvin said you need to investigate where the water pressure drops.
Like most things these days the price of a good shower/tub valve is a bit of sticker shock.
Here is one that was recommended by a plumber on this forum. I haven't looked hard at it yet. But as you can see the whole unit isn't cheap. I wanted brushed nickle and ceramic valves.
http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?from=thumb&frm=null&module=Bath+%26+Shower+Faucets&item=140802&prod_num=16213-4§ion=2&category=8
I had to change out my facets on our tub/shower, thought it would be a simple change out....NOT. Home a little older than yours, had a 10" center facet set up. Had to bring the pipes in closer, and retile the facet area in the tub to accomadate the 8" facets.
Not fun, that was a coulpe years ago, now DW want to redo thae bathroom, tear out tub, tile, ect......
Actually the house is about 130 years old, but I'm guessing the bathroom was done about 50 years ago, although it might be older. As it turns out we're going to demo all the tub walls anyway, so I'm hoping the plumbing won't be anything out of the ordinary.
Never had any trouble with moen stuff that I put into our house about 12 years ago. My father in law had a handle break on a shower valve about 10yrs old (he had no proof of purchase etc...).. I emailed a picture to moen and they sent a new one (no charge) within a week or so.
I wasn't sure if they would be available in your area but I see your in NH, I'm in MA.
In this area the mainstay for plumbers, for a very good, simple shower valve is the Symmons. The company is headquartered in Braintree, MA.
In what you posted, I assume you want to replace the shower valve and the tub filler and shower head. If your shower is that old and the pressure is that poor, you probably have issues in the valve (that the mixer where the hot and cold water supplies blend, then go to the tub filler or shower head) if so, its better and probably cheaper to replace the valve rather than get parts. The symmons valve is the valve with differences for if you have a tub or just shower, etc. The trim kit is the decorative part of the handle, etc. that you see. For that I like the Allura trim kit the best. If you or your husband, relative, etc. are handy, re doing the valve with the tub filler and shower head isn't too difficult.
Last time I bought a symmons was a few years ago and at that time they were about $110 for the valve kit with the allura trim and shower head and tub filler. With the price of copper and brass now, I would be surprised if they had not gone up in price. Symmons valves are one of the very few good things that home depot sells, or you can get one from a plumbing supply house. In your area, there should be a fergusons supply or FW Webb. If you go to HD, they'll have one on display but open the box and make sure its still a good all brass valve and hasn't been cheapened.
http://www.symmons.com/products/res_product_list.cfm?category=1&function=1
http://www.ferginc.com/