How to Fit Bar Mixer Shower Pipework
This article describes how to 1st fix pipework for a bar mixer shower valve installation.
Introduction
When setting up a bar mixer shower valve such as the one shown, it is first required to run hot and cold pipework to the valve.
Setting Up a Bar Mixer Shower Valve
Please see Choosing a shower for your restroom to find out more on shower types and their viability for your bathroom.
This is done by recessing the pipes within the wall prior to tiling.
In this case research study I will be recessing the pipework into a restroom wall that has currently been dot n dabbed with moisture resistant plasterboard.
Doing the plaster-boarding before the 1st repair pipework makes it easier to get completely flat & level walls as you don't have the fiddly task of attempting to fit the boards around/ over the pipework (to name a few things.).
Walls likewise require to be square in the corners to permit a good seal (along the edge of the bath in this instance.).
Please see Preparing walls for tiling-- reboarding for more details associating with this topic.
Technique.
Using Bath to Mark Overflow/Waste and Center of Bath Taps.
The bath is temporarily positioned in position, and the centre line (that goes through the overflow/ waste and the centre of the bath taps) is marked.
This will assist us line the shower valve up with the taps for a more aesthetically pleasing finish.
The horizontal level of the bar mixer shower valve is then marked, which is generally around 130cm from the flooring. If you are planning to fit a bar mixer shower with a repaired riser and shower head, you will require to make sure that this height enables you to fit the shower in without it hitting the ceiling.
Correct Shower HeightIncorrect Shower Height.
Next the pipeline centres are marked with vertical lines at 150mm centres i.e. 75mm far from the centre line in both instructions. This is where the pipework will range from the valve, down the wall and connect to the pipework under the bath.
The majority of bar mixer shower valves accept pipework at 150mm centres as this is thought about standard-- if your particular model has a different pipe centre worth, then you require to show this at the marking out stage.
An area to be chased after out is then marked (into which the pipes can be recessed beneith the surface of the plasterboard.).
The approximate height of the bath rim is likewise marked at this stage.
Correct Shower Height.
The locations to be gone after out are then chased out utilizing a precise saw, making sure that they extend listed below the level of the bath rim, which is marked in pencil on the plasterboard.
Here we can see the pipework under the bath that will be extended up to feed the shower valve.
The hot feed will be run up the left hand channel, and the cold feed will be added the right-hand man channel.
This is because the hot feed will get in the valve left wing (as we take a look at it) and the cold feed upon the right.
This is a market requirement.
Since of this, the pipework under the bath is in line with this configuration.
You can see that the bath drain & trap has likewise been fitted at this time. When the bath was in position, a cross was marked on the floor through the waste hole in the bottom of the bath to mark the required place of the bath trap.
Copper Pipework Is Soldered And Then Placed Into The Channels.
2 pieces of 15mm copper pipework are then soldered together with a 90º elbow for each feed, which are then put into the channels as shown.
The horizontal pieces of copper (at the top) will eventually be cut down to enter into the back of the bar mixer valve.
The pipes are held level and square to the wall at 150mm centres (centred on the preliminary centre line) by a home-made jig which is screwed to the wall temporarily. This is necessary as attaching the shower valve relies on this stage of the work being done precisely:.
Pipes Are Held Level And Square To The Wall.
It is necessary the the pipes are recessed far enough into the wall so that the 90º elbow fitting does not protrude out beyond the ended up tiled surface.
This will guarantee that it does not interfere with the fitting of the bar mixer shower valve.
Incorrect Shower PipeworkCorrect Shower Pipework.
The pipes are then protected in place by utilizing either drywall adhesive, rapidset tile adhesive or a sand-cement mix.
If utilizing a mix including cement, please guarantee the pipes are covered in duct tape to avoid the cement from assaulting the copper which might result in pinholes and leaks developing gradually.
The mix is pushed in and around the pipes and is utilized https://plumberglasgow247.co.uk to support the cut edges of the plasterboard.
Mix Is Levelled Off Flush With Surface of Plasterboard.
This is then levelled off flush with the surface area of the plasterboard, guaranteeing access to the bottom of the pipes is left open so that they can be linked up later.
Batons are screwed and glued to both walls surrounding the bath, and these will assist to take the weight of the bath when it has plenty of water and/or occupants. This will avoid it from dropping, which can result in damaged silicon seals and water ingress issues.
Briefly Position The Bath to Allow For The Pipework To Be Connected.
The bath is then temporarily positioned in position to enable the pipework to be connected.
The existing cold and hot pipework is connected to the appropriate pipework in the wall that will feed the shower valve.
Arrangements are likewise made at this phase to link the bath taps-- through versatile push fit tap ports in this circumstances.
As with the shower valve, hot is on the left and cold on the right (as you take a look at the tap) so this makes pipework much easier.
Jig Is Removed And Voids Are Filled With Adhesive.
As soon as the adhesive holding the pipes has gone off and the pipes are firmly held in the right position, the jig can be eliminated and any staying spaces filled out with more adhesive.
As the pipework is now linked to the cold and hot supplied, stop ends can be seen in place at the ends of the pipes.
The bath is now be set up, and you can see the primary silicon seal around the edge of the bath in this picture.
Tanking And Tiling The Walls.
The walls are then tanked and tiled.
Setting Up a Bar Mixer Shower Valve.