Shower Faucet Basics You Should Know
Válvula para ducha
A valve is any plumbing device that controls the flow rate of water. It's what makes a faucet or shower work. In the case of a shower faucet, the valve controls and directs the flow of water through the shower arm and shower head and/or a tub spout.
Rough and Valve Cartridge
For shower faucets, including Delta® tub and shower faucets, the valve often comes in two parts: the "rough", which is also commonly referred to as the "valve" or "rough-in valve," and the "valve cartridge." Hot and cold water supply lines come together at the rough where the water is mixed by the valve cartridge to the selected temperature before it's piped to the shower head or tub spout.
Trim or Trim Kit
The "trim" or "trim kit" is what you see in your shower, including the handle, shower head, and tub spout, and is available in a variety of styles and finishes. For Delta tub and shower faucets, the trim kit includes the cartridge for the shower valve.
Purchase Alert! When buying your shower faucet, be sure to check if the rough comes with the trim kit or if you need to purchase it separately.
What does it mean when something is installed "behind the wall"?
By now, you've already read "behind the wall" a couple of times in this article. What exactly does that mean? In a shower, the rough for the shower is installed while the wall is open—that is, when the studs of the wall are still visible and plumbing (hot and cold water supplies, pipes, etc.) is accessible. (In custom showers, roughs for diverters, integrated diverters, volume controls, and body sprays are also installed behind the wall.)
When the rough is installed, it's connected to the hot and cold water pipes in your home. Because the wall is open, this installation typically happens early in the construction or remodeling process—before the shower enclosure is installed or constructed.
That's why installing the right rough is so important. Once the shower enclosure is installed, it can be costly to open the wall back up to change out the rough.
Delta product engineers designed the MultiChoice® Universal Valve to avoid just that. With the MultiChoice Universal Valve installed, you can change your shower faucet style and functionality at any time without altering the plumbing behind the wall. Whether you change your mind during the project or decide to upgrade later, the MultiChoice Universal Valve gives you flexibility. For custom showers, the MultiChoice Universal Integrated Shower Diverter gives you the same freedom.
What trim kit do you need?
Although the style and finish vary, there are three primary trim kit options to choose from for shower only, tub and shower, and tub only applications:
1) Shower trim includes the handle and escutcheon (the wall plate behind the handle), shower arm (the piece that connects to the pipe that comes out of the wall) and flange (the plate that covers the hole for the shower arm), and the shower head.
2) Tub and shower trim includes the handle and escutcheon, shower arm and flange, shower head, and a tub spout with a diverter. The diverter allows you to redirect water from the tub spout to the shower head. Different types of diverter tub spouts are available, including pull-up (the most common) and pull-down.
3) Tub trim includes the handle and escutcheon and a tub spout without a diverter, also known as a "non-diverter" tub spout.
Many shower only and tub/shower trim kits come with a specific shower head, but you can also opt for a trim kit without a shower head. This allows you to pick the shower head or hand shower that perfectly suits your needs. See "Selecting the Perfect Shower Head or Hand Shower" section for guidance.
While there are many shower heads to choose from, there are fewer tub spout options. Beyond the design and type of diverter, consider the reach or length of the spout. Make sure it extends far enough into your tub.
Renovation Alert! Manufacturers have different types of shower valves, and each manufacturer's trim is specifically designed to work with their valve(s). Why is that important to you? Simply replacing the trim during a remodeling project isn't always possible. The trim must work with the rough that's installed in the wall. If you are unable to change the rough in the wall, you'll need to know which manufacturer's rough is installed and select trim that fits (if available).
Creating the Shower Experience You Want
Now that you know about the basics, let's focus on getting the experience you want from your shower. We'll also provide a few technical terms you may see during the shower faucet selection process.
Keep the User in Mind
The first step in creating the ideal shower experience is determining who will be using it. Is the shower just for you, or will you share it with a partner? Will children or guests be using it? Everyone has different needs and preferences, so it's important to keep the user in mind while selecting products. For example, you may want more adjustability in a shower designed for growing children or if you plan to live in place.
Understanding the Difference Between Pressure Balance and Thermostatic Shower Valves
As you search for shower faucets, you'll often see the terms "pressure balance" and "thermostatic." These terms describe two different ways showers help prevent sudden temperature changes while you're showering—like when the toilet is flushed somewhere else in the home.
A pressure balance valve cartridge automatically adjusts the flow of hot and cold water entering the valve to maintain a consistent outlet temperature, despite fluctuations in hot and cold water supply pressure. A thermostatic valve cartridge works like a thermostat to control the temperature of the water. It measures and monitors the temperature of the water exiting the valve, and automatically adjusts the hot and cold water mix to maintain a more precise water temperature.
Although they work differently, both pressure-balanced and thermostatic valve cartridges maintain a consistent outlet temperature to ensure a comfortable showering experience. To learn more about how these technologies work, check out our Delta Monitor® Pressure Balance and TempAssure® Thermostatic Shower Innovation Page.
Controlling Temperature Only or Both Temperature and Volume
Shower faucets are also available in single- and dual-function models, which means you can choose to control the temperature only or both temperature and volume.
A single-function valve control only allows you to adjust the temperature of the water using the handle. A dual-function valve control has separate levers or dials for water volume and water temperature. Once the water temperature is set, it will remain the same for every shower until you decide to adjust it. The separate volume control allows you to adjust the water flow without changing the temperature.
With the Delta MultiChoice Universal Valve installed, you have one single-function option and two dual-function options to choose from: single-function pressure balance (Monitor 13 and Monitor 14 series), dual-function pressure balance (Monitor 17 series), or dual-function thermostatic (TempAssure 17T series) showers.
Selecting the Perfect Shower Head or Hand Shower
Next to the safety of the valve, shower heads are the most important component of your shower. Shower heads and hand showers offer a variety of different settings and may provide added benefits, like making it easier to clean the shower stall. You have multiple shower head options to choose from to create your dream shower.
Wall mount shower heads offer some adjustability (e.g., most heads can pivot slightly—approximately 20 degrees in any direction) and are available with one spray setting (single function) or multiple spray settings (multi-function). Shower head spray patterns vary greatly from soft and relaxing to fast massage.
Ceiling mount shower heads vary in size and are typically single function only. Since they're mounted on the ceiling out of reach, they offer limited, if any, adjustability. Some ceiling mount showers have built-in lighting. The Delta LED Pendant Rain Can Shower Heads are great examples.
Raincan shower heads typically have a large surface area. Both wall and ceiling mount raincans are available. Depending on the size of the raincan you choose, you may also need a longer shower arm with an outlet that points downward—like the Pivotal® Shower in the image above.
Hand showers are available with multiple spray options and can be mounted on the wall or on a slide bar. When mounted on a shower slide bar, the hand shower can move along the bar to be positioned for users of varying heights or to shower while seated. Some ADA-compliant grab bars also have an adjustable slide mechanism for a hand shower, and ADA-compliant hand showers are also available if required. Hand showers are great for showering yourself, loved ones, or pets, and they also make it easy to clean and rinse the shower stall.
Today's hand showers often come with innovative technologies to improve your shower experience. For example, Delta SureDock™ Magnetic Hand Showers dock securely with MagnaTite® Docking. An integrated magnet on the back of the hand shower snaps your hand shower into place and holds it there, so it stays docked when not in use. With a high-pressure, wide fan spray, the Delta ProClean™ Hand Shower cleans shower surfaces at least two times faster than standard sprays, powering off soap scum and shower messes. Be sure to check out all the features to find the best option for you.
Combination or two-in-one showers include two showers that can be used separately or together, depending on how you feel or what task you'd like to accomplish. They also come with another big advantage: they install in minutes on a standard shower arm, so there's no need to alter the plumbing behind the wall.
A variety of different combination of shower configurations are available. For instance, the Delta In2ition® Two-in-One Shower has a fixed shower head that surrounds an integrated hand shower. Delta HydroRain® H2Okinetic® Two-in-One Showers are designed a little differently. These models feature an overhead pivoting raincan with either a shower head or a hand shower.
Shower columns also make it possible to get the benefits of both a shower head and hand shower but offer more design flexibility—all without altering the plumbing behind the wall. With the Delta Emerge® Shower Column, for example, you can choose any overhead shower head and hand shower to customize the look. An integrated three-way diverter makes it easy to run the shower head only, the hand shower only, or both together.
Dealing with Mineral Deposits: A common problem on any shower head is mineral buildup—those tough-to-clean white deposits on the spray face. Some shower heads have spray holes designed to minimize buildup or help remove it easily. For instance, Delta shower heads with Touch-Clean® Spray Holes make it easy to wipe away any mineral residue without chemical cleaners, whereas shower heads with Delta H2Okinetic PowerDrench® Spray have self-cleaning spray holes that help prevent lime and mineral buildup over time.
Sustainable Shower Faucets: Conserving Water without Sacrificing a Great Experience
The maximum allowed flow rate for shower faucets in the U.S. is 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm)—a standard set by the federal government. In some locations, local or state standards are more stringent—such as 1.5 or 1.8 gpm. The relevant standard must be met regardless of the size of the shower head or the number of spray holes. In other words, the size of the device and the number of holes do not indicate how much water will flow through the shower. To determine the flow rate for a shower faucet, shower head, or hand shower, look at the product information, packaging, and/or technical specifications.
It's hard to test a shower head before you buy, so how can you ensure a water-saving shower head will deliver a great shower experience? One option is to look for WaterSense®-labeled shower heads, which conserve water and perform well. The WaterSense program was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to label water-efficient products and provide resources to help people save water. Importantly, the WaterSense program not only sets a water-saving flow rate for shower heads, but also dictates performance standards like spray force and coverage to ensure you get a great shower.
Another option to ensure you get a great shower is to look for innovative technologies that transform the water to deliver a better experience. H2Okinetic® Technology is a perfect example. Delta H2Okinetic Shower Heads create advanced, unique water patterns, efficiently delivering 3x the coverage of a standard shower head and the feeling of more water and water pressure (coverage is measured in accordance with EPA WaterSense® Specification for shower heads, March 4, 2010).
Water pressure and your shower: The water supply pressure coming into your home may impact your showering experience. Consult a plumbing professional if you have concerns about incoming water supply pressure.
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