Exposed Shower Valves Buying Guide

We've been seeing a rapidly growing trend for bar shower valves in recent years. We reckon this is most probably due to the fact that modern, minimalist bathrooms are the fashion at the minute and this particular style of valve certainly fits in with this image. But there's so much more to them than just stylish looks, as we'll explain in this guide.

 

Why should I choose a bar shower valve?

There are many reasons why you should consider installing a bar shower valve. Besides allowing you to adjust the flow and temperature of the water to your desired levels, they are ideally suited to more contemporary settings as their simplistic look will effortlessly harmonise with other modern components to create a designer feel.

 

They are also thermostatic, which is a great feature to have if there are numerous people in the house, especially young children, as this will eliminate the risk of scalding if one person turns on a tap elsewhere while someone is in the shower.

 

Bar shower valves are also very versatile when it comes to fitting as they are ideal for compact bathrooms due to their small size. If space is an issue then these valves are a highly practical option. They can also be easily integrated into an over-bath shower system too, due to the fact that they take up minimal room.

 

What else do I need to know?

Minimum water pressure

When selecting a new shower valve, you need to pay close attention to the minimum water pressure rating each item has (you'll find this listed in the product description for each product). If your shower doesn't produce enough pressure to meet the minimum requirements then it won't be able to function correctly. You can measure your water pressure with a pressure gauge.

 

Fitting

Bar shower valves aren't too difficult to fit yourself (although we highly recommend contacting a professional if you're not confident of your own abilities). As with all plumbing, ensure that your water is turned off prior to fitting. Once this is done you need to look at the existing pipework. The pipes behind the wall should lead to two copper pipes sticking out from the wall (this may need to be re-routed by yourself if you had a different valve type beforehand).

 

The exposed bits of pipe should be cut to the right size and holes should be drilled into the tile on either side of each pipe. Rawl plugs are then inserted into these holes which will house the wall plates that you will screw into position. The olives then need to be slotted onto the pipes to create a watertight seal. The valve should then be offered up to the pipes and attached accordingly. Double check you have a secure fit and you're good to go!

 

Multiple outlets

Bar shower valves can be attached to rigid riser diverter rails which will give you the option of controlling two independent shower accessories for a more enjoyable experience.