Today, I walked a job site (where I had not provided the valves) and found some pretty silly (and needlessly expensive) stuff going on in the master shower.

The client wanted a raincan and a regular showerhead as well as 4 body sprays and a handshower. They were sold a single 3/4" Grohe thermostatic valve to cover all but the handshower. The handshower was on a separate 1/2" pressure-balanced valve. Well, the Grohe 3/4" thermovalve is rated at 16 gallons per minute at 45 psi - a bit more at a higher psi rating. If all of the flow restrictors remain in place and everything is turned on at once, there will be disappointment.

To run properly, the raincan will produce about 8 gpm - unless it's a larger can. The body sprays will produce a total of 10 gpm. (We're already over 16 without even looking at the showerhead.)

Luckily, the client said he never plans to have everything on at the same time. That's a good thing - but it's also a shame. This could have been avoided by using 2 thermostatic valves (which would have the added benefit of allowing two people in the shower to enjoy two temperatures -- it was a big shower) or by switching valve manufacturers. I have a 3/4" thermostatic valve that will produce about 25 gpm. Everything could have been on one valve - and the cost would have been less.

The plumber did a pretty good job of installing; he just installed inappropriate materials provided to him by the plumbing supplier.

At the same site, the 3/4" lines were reduced to 1/2" as they headed toward the oversized master tub. So .... good thing the tub has an internal heater, because the water will be chilly by the time it's full. Always use 3/4" lines when plumbing an oversized tub - one over 60 x 32 or so. Luckily, it's not too late for this client to change this. His wife bathes daily, so she will be very happy with the change.

And --- there are much better materials out there for shower walls. Green board just doesn't cut it anymore. My own shower was rebuilt a few years ago. Despite my request that concrete board be used, the tile setter used green board. We're now looking for a new tile setter since the water found its way between the grout and loosened the tiles on the threshhold. The tiles fell off; and the cobbler's kids have no shoes.

Have fun today!

Kaitlyn

713-961-1324

Kaitlyn@CustomPlumbingAndHardware.com