Shower Valves - Different Types of Shower Valve
Shower valves can be classified into basic types according to the number and type of controls they have. This article describes the different types of shower valves commonly used, their controls and how they work.
Nearly all shower valves belong to one of five basic control combination's that can each supply a given number of outlets in a specific way. The four basic types, what controls they have and what they do is described below. In addition shower valves may be thermostatic or manual and these terms are also explained.
Type 1 - 1 Control, 1 Outlet (Sequential Shower Valve)
A sequential shower valve has a single temperature control and a single outlet turning the temperature control from the off position turns the rate of flow full on further turning of the control changes the temperature from cold to hot.
Type 2 - 2 Controls, 1 Outlet
This shower valve has a temperature control and a rate of flow control. Water is supplied to a single outlet. Typically this type of valve would be used to supply a single overhead shower head or instead perhaps a slider rail with removable hand held shower.
Type 3 - 2 Controls, 2 Outlets
A two control shower valve with two outlets has a single temperature control and a diverter. The diverter will have three positions, in the off position neither outlet is supplied with water, the remaining positions each direct water to one of the two water outlets. Diverters do not normally allow for fine control of the rate of flow of water and should be considered as on/off switches. A typical application for such a shower valve would be to supply an overhead shower and a removable hand held shower on a slide rail, one or the other could be supplied with water but not both together.
Type 4 - 3 Controls, 2 Outlets
A three control shower that supplies only two outlets will have a temperature control and two rate of flow controls. Each rate of flow control will control the flow of water to one of the two outlets. With these shower valves the rate of flow to each outlet can be controlled independently so that both outlets can be supplied with water at the same time. This might again be used with, for example, an overhead shower and a set of body jets. The body jest would be supplied by a single outlet, the other outlet supplying the overhead shower head, both the overhead shower and the body jets could be used at the same time and the rate of water flow to each could be adjusted independently and with relatively fine precision.
Type 5 - 3 Controls, 3 Outlets
Where a shower valve has three controls and three outlets one control will be a temperature control, one will be a rate of flow control and the other will be a diverter. The diverter will switch between one of two outlets whilst the flow control will supply the third outlet. The outlets supplied by the diverter cannot be on at the same time but can be on at the same time as the outlet supplied by the flow control. A typical set up using such a valve would be for it to supply water to an overhead shower a slide rail and a set of body jets with two supplied via the diverter and the third via the rate of flow control.
Thermostatic Vs Manual Shower Valves
Shower valves are also described as thermostatic or manual. A thermostatic valve includes a safety device which cuts off the flow of water from the valve if it exceeds a certain pre-set temperature. This is to prevent scalding in the event of a reduction of pressure of cold water going to the shower valve, this can happen when other water outlets in the house are used, for example kitchen taps, washing machine or dishwasher.
For more detailed information about the range available visit use to find out more about Shower Valves.
Type 1 - 1 Control, 1 Outlet (Sequential Shower Valve)
A sequential shower valve has a single temperature control and a single outlet turning the temperature control from the off position turns the rate of flow full on further turning of the control changes the temperature from cold to hot.
Type 2 - 2 Controls, 1 Outlet
This shower valve has a temperature control and a rate of flow control. Water is supplied to a single outlet. Typically this type of valve would be used to supply a single overhead shower head or instead perhaps a slider rail with removable hand held shower.
Type 3 - 2 Controls, 2 Outlets
A two control shower valve with two outlets has a single temperature control and a diverter. The diverter will have three positions, in the off position neither outlet is supplied with water, the remaining positions each direct water to one of the two water outlets. Diverters do not normally allow for fine control of the rate of flow of water and should be considered as on/off switches. A typical application for such a shower valve would be to supply an overhead shower and a removable hand held shower on a slide rail, one or the other could be supplied with water but not both together.
Type 4 - 3 Controls, 2 Outlets
A three control shower that supplies only two outlets will have a temperature control and two rate of flow controls. Each rate of flow control will control the flow of water to one of the two outlets. With these shower valves the rate of flow to each outlet can be controlled independently so that both outlets can be supplied with water at the same time. This might again be used with, for example, an overhead shower and a set of body jets. The body jest would be supplied by a single outlet, the other outlet supplying the overhead shower head, both the overhead shower and the body jets could be used at the same time and the rate of water flow to each could be adjusted independently and with relatively fine precision.
Type 5 - 3 Controls, 3 Outlets
Where a shower valve has three controls and three outlets one control will be a temperature control, one will be a rate of flow control and the other will be a diverter. The diverter will switch between one of two outlets whilst the flow control will supply the third outlet. The outlets supplied by the diverter cannot be on at the same time but can be on at the same time as the outlet supplied by the flow control. A typical set up using such a valve would be for it to supply water to an overhead shower a slide rail and a set of body jets with two supplied via the diverter and the third via the rate of flow control.
Thermostatic Vs Manual Shower Valves
Shower valves are also described as thermostatic or manual. A thermostatic valve includes a safety device which cuts off the flow of water from the valve if it exceeds a certain pre-set temperature. This is to prevent scalding in the event of a reduction of pressure of cold water going to the shower valve, this can happen when other water outlets in the house are used, for example kitchen taps, washing machine or dishwasher.
For more detailed information about the range available visit use to find out more about Shower Valves.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Shower Heads for Low Pressure Water
- How to Build a Shower Pan
- Shower Pan: Panel Installation
- Shower Head: Where to Get the Best Deal?
- Unclogging a Showerhead
- The Best Shower Head Adds Value to your Finished Basement Bathroom
- London Builders: Sheer Appeal of Your Shower Part two
- London Builders: Sheer Appeal of Your Shower Part One
- How to replace a shower head
- Hand Held Shower Head
- Best top rated handheld shower head
- Shower heads with filters