| Understanding What a Shower Valve Does | | | | diverter switches between one of three outlets. In |
| A shower valve is that part of the shower which | | | | addition a diverter has an off position which cuts the |
| controls the flow and mix of hot and cold water into | | | | supply of water to all the showers outlets. Diverters |
| the rest of your shower. It does this using a | | | | do not supply water independently to the shower |
| combination of diverters, flow controls and | | | | outlets, only one can be on at a time. In addition |
| temperature controls. | | | | diverters do not allow fine control over the rate of |
| How does it do it - Diverters, Flow Controls and | | | | flow, although there may be some control each |
| Temperature Controls | | | | outlet is basically full on or full off. |
| Temperature Control | | | | Thermostatic and Manual Shower Valves |
| All valves usually have a single temperature control. | | | | Thermostatic shower valves include an inbuilt |
| The temperature control varies the proportion on hot | | | | anti-scald safety mechanism which cuts off the flow |
| and cold water that is mixed allowing the | | | | of water if the temperature of the mixed water |
| temperature of the resultant mix to be controlled. | | | | exceeds a (usually) pre-set value. Some thermostatic |
| Once the water has been mixed by this part of the | | | | valves also allow the water temperature to be set |
| valve various flow controls and/or diverters then | | | | and maintained, but this is rare, most thermostatic |
| direct the mixed water to the various functions of | | | | valves just provide an automatic safety cut off |
| the shower. (By function we mean any of the | | | | mechanism. Manual valves do not provide this safety |
| shower outlets, e.g. overhead shower, slider rail, body | | | | feature. |
| jets etc. | | | | In general a shower will be supplied water from the |
| Flow Control | | | | same mains system and boiler as all the rest of the |
| A flow control is simply a valve controlled by a handle | | | | plumbing in the house, this means that changes in |
| or lever on the valve. It takes water that has already | | | | water usage in other parts of the house can effect |
| been mixed by the valve and restricts its flow from | | | | the flow of water to the shower and more |
| full off to full on allowing fine control of the rate of | | | | particularly can cause a reduction in the supply of cold |
| flow between these two extremes. Each flow | | | | water to the shower. This results in the mixed water |
| control generally controls the rate of flow from a | | | | being delivered by the shower containing a higher |
| single valve outlet and from there to a single shower | | | | proportion of hot water meaning that the water |
| function. To control a shower with two functions | | | | temperature rises. Its in just such situations that |
| such as an overhead shower and a hand held shower | | | | thermostatic valves protect the use of the shower |
| one option is to use a shower with two flow | | | | from injury. |
| controls, each flow control independently controls the | | | | Exposed and Concealed Shower Valves |
| rate of flow to a single outlet, this means that you | | | | Generally showers can be classed as exposed or |
| can have both controls on at the same time, this is in | | | | concealed. A concealed shower is one where most of |
| contrast to diverters (see below). | | | | the pipe work associated with the shower is fitted |
| Diverter | | | | inside the wall and in particular the shower valves |
| A diverter is a switch used to direct water that has | | | | shower outlets are inside the wall. An exposed |
| already been mixed in the valve to one of two or | | | | shower by contrast has a shower valve with outlets |
| more valve outlets. A two way diverter switches | | | | on the outside of the wall and the pipe work |
| water between one of two outlets and a three way | | | | supplying the various shower functions are visible. |