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Let’s enhance the beauty of your bathroom with a new bath/shower faucet. A bath/shower faucet is used to fill your bathing area with water. So if you’re looking for a change in your bathroom…something that will immediately impact its looks and serviceability …you'll be delighted with the faucets that are available today. Here’s how to educate yourself so that the faucet you choose is perfect in every way:
If you are replacing a shower faucet, you may do so without purchasing a new valve and without opening up your wall too much, provided that you use the same brand of faucet as the valve in the wall. For example, if you have a Kohler K306-K-NA valve in your wall, you’d want to choose a Kohler trim set that is made for that specific valve. If you are making a new bathroom, or are ready to put a new valve in your wall, then go ahead and pick out any shower faucet!
Color Finish
Most faucets come in a variety of colors to match your bathroom decor. Interestingly, while chrome is the most durable, it's also the most affordable. Alternative coatings are substantially more expensive. Yet, different finishes do provide a great customized look and can make a good bathroom great. Some of the most popular finishes today are brushed nickel, satin nickel, polished nickel, and brushed chrome. Different manufacturers tend to supply different finishes and colors. Some of the finishes that bath/shower faucets are available in are as follows:
Black
Chrome
Gold
Neutrals (ex. Biscuit, Almond)
Nickel
Polished Brass
White
Number of Handles (Show me examples!)
A key element of any bath/shower faucet is the amount of handles it has. There are three options available to you:
1 Handle - No functional limitations
2 Handle - No functional limitations
3 Handle - Can only be used in a bath and shower combination. This is because the center handle is designed to divert water from the tub to the shower.
Pressure Balance:
At this point of time, it is code/national law that all new bathrooms be pressure balanced. Pressure balance is needed to prevent your faucet from spitting out water of extremely high temperatures in the event that cold-water pressure fails. This can happen if a sink or washing machine is being operated throughout the house while you are taking a shower.
However, if you are replacing an old system, you are still permitted to use non-pressure balanced system. This is only the case because it would not be fair to require everybody who already has such a non-pressure balanced system to redo his or her bathroom. But be smart. If you’re renovating your shower, make sure to install a pressure-balanced system. For only a small increase in price, there is no reason to compromise the safety of you and your family.
Pressure Balance Valve - If and when the cold water pressure fails, the valve will quickly reduce the hot water pressure as well. This will sustain the hot/cold water ratio, and thus, the temperature of the water will not be affected.
Temperature (Thermostatic) Control Valve - A sensor recognizes if fluctuations in temperature occur and thus will sustain the desired temperature regardless of cold pressure shortages that may occur.
Pressure Balance/Temperature Combination Control Valve - This is the best type of valve one can hope to have, but is only offered by select manufacturers. They are the most expensive of the above options, but provide the most optimal control.
Volume Control Valve - This valve turns a shower either on or off. It also allows you to control the amount of water to be dispersed from the showerhead at a given time. If you are planning to install a shower system, and you have a thermostatic valve without an integrated volume control, it is best to get separate control valves for each location where water will be dispersed (ex. Hand-shower). This will allow you to choose between many combinations of shower outlets at any given time.
Diverter Valve - When you have a bath and shower faucet, this valve permits you to select between these respective bathing options. If you are planning to install a shower system, and you have a thermostatic valve without an integrated volume control, this is not the optimal valve to use because it will not allow all showerhead options to be utilized at the same time. However, in the circumstance that you desire more shower channels than your current valve can support, the diverter can solve this problem.
Anti Scald Protectors - This is a relatively inexpensive option for a faucet that will automatically stop your shower in the event that water reaches high and threatening temperatures. However, this feature alone will not satisfy building code requirements.
Handle Type (Show me examples!)
Select the handle design that looks the nicest to you. Keep in mind that lever and cross handles provide the easiest grips. Remember, the finish on the handle does not have to match the finish on the showerhead. There are three basic styles that you can choose from:
pressure balance / temperature control combination valve
temperature control valve
knob
cross
lever
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