It is always important for us to pay extra care and attention when we are setting up different components of the bathroom.
The shower controls and the showerhead are an important part of our bathroom and you will learn about setting them up in the extract below.
How high should shower controls be?
The shower control height must be within reach from a spot that will allow you to turn the controls without being exposed to the water. The proper height that fits this criteria is within 40 to 50 inches above the floor. However, you can place the controls a bit lower in case of seated showers.
Shower controls are a crucial part of our bathroom as they are responsible for regulating the flow of water, temperature of water, and many other settings. Therefore, they must be placed at such a height that is easy to reach.
The shower controls or the shower valve placement height can be adjusted according to your height but there are also standard installation height for both showers and bathtubs.
From the floor:
You can place the shower controls at a height between 40 to 50 inches above the shower floor but they should be away from the line of the water path or else the user will be drenched by cold or hot water when operating.
From tub:
For bathtubs, the shower controls can be installed at a lower height of 28 inches from the tub. The height of the controls should be well within reach of the user and be at the same height as the faucets.
Where should shower controls be placed?
The shower controls should be placed within the reach of the user to allow them to operate it without being drenched by the water from the shower head.
Although the height of the shower control is dependent on the height of the user, you can also install them according to the standard installation height.
The standard height for mounting the shower controls on the bathroom wall is between 48 to 52 inches above the floor but that depends on user preference.
The controls should be placed while keeping the location of the showerhead in mind as well – to ensure that you don’t get drenched while trying to turn the water on.
What are the different types of shower control and how should it be?
There are different types and variations of shower controls available in the market – each catering to different needs of the user. Below listed are the types of controls and what purpose each of them serve:
Thermostatic Shower Valve:
They consist of two valves and two handles that are responsible for controlling the water pressure and temperature while keeping the flow of water the same.
This shower control allows you to directly control the water temperature precisely which could prevent you from scalding.
Pressure Balancing Valve:
These valves are commonly used nowadays because of their excellent ability to automatically balance the water pressure between hot and cold water through sophisticated diaphragms and pistons that adjust themselves according to change in water pressure of hot and cold water to ensure a constant water temperature.
How to install shower controls?
Installing shower controls can be a complicated process and it’s best to do the installation with a plumber. However, if you wish to do it on your own, the process is as follows:
Turn off water supply:
Turn off the water supply for the bathroom if you have individual controls for that, or not turn off the main water supply.
Remove old shower controls:
Remove the handles, sprout and the flange from the old controls. Remove the handles by unscrewing the screws on the handle cover and pulling the handle off.
Next, remove the spout by twisting it counterclockwise and pull towards you. Lastly, remove the flange by turning it counterclockwise with pliers until they come off.
Assemble the new valve components:
Check the compatibility of the new valve components with the old pipe line. Then, prepare the components for installation by wrapping the ends of each connecting component with a few inches of plumber’s tape.
Install the new controls:
Install the controls by mounting the new valve in place and then placing the sleeve on top of it and then placing the flange and screwing the cover in place.
Make sure the cover is tightly sealed by using a silicone caulk to caulk the fixtures.
Turn back on the main water supply:
When all the installations are complete, turn on the water supply and check the new water controls.
How high should shower head be?
The height of showerheads should be able to accommodate the height of different users. Therefore, a showerhead at a height of 80 inches has been found to be the most suitable for people around the average height and is used as the standard height from the bathroom floor.
A showerhead controls the spread of water coming out when you turn the shower controls. They are located near the ceiling in the bathing area or the bathtub.
There are many varieties and types of showerheads available in the market that provide a varying experience to the users, such as Rain showerheads and Fixed showerheads among others.
When installing a new showerhead, you should consider the height of your housemates to install the showerhead at a suitable height. For the best comfort, you should place the showerhead three to six inches higher than the tallest housemate.
Rain showerhead:
Rain showerheads provide a unique opportunity to experience the summer rain right in your bathroom. Due to the design of the rain showerhead, it is required to be a bit higher than usual showerheads at the standard height of 84 inches from the bathroom floor.
Fixed showerhead:
Fixed showerheads are the standard showerheads that spray water from an inclined angle, therefore you can mount the fixed showerheads at a standard height of 80 inches.
How high should shower head be from the floor? How high should the shower head be from the tub?
The height at which the showerhead should be installed depends highly on the height of its users.
Before installing the showerhead you should take into account the height of the tallest person in the house – that should give a rough estimate for the installation height.
However, as a standard – the installation height of the showerhead is at least 72 inches if everyone at your house has a height below average, but for people of average height the showerhead should be at least 80 inches from the bathroom floor.
In case of a bathtub, the height of the showerhead from the edge of the tub should be between 32 to 38 inches.
Should shower head be centered?
Yes, a showerhead needs to be centered, else the water could spread into your bathroom floor or other directions. As a result, you will have an unsatisfactory showering experience.
Since there are different types of showerheads, you need to determine which type of showerhead you are using. If you are using a rain shower head, then it is absolutely necessary that the shower head be centered for the best user experience.
In case of fixed shower heads, they are usually adjustable at different angles which gives you the flexibility to turn the showerhead around as you see fit. For these types of showerheads, you don’t necessarily need to center them.
How to change the height of shower head?
You can change the height of a showerhead by installing a shower arm. The procedure has been detailed below:
Remove old showerhead:
Remove the old showerhead and clear the hole of any dirt and debris before proceeding to install a shower arm.
Prepare the shower arm:
Wrap the shower arm with plumbing tape several times to make sure it has a tight fitting with the pipe outlet.
Insert the Arm Into the Fitting:
Insert the shower arm into the fitting hole and turn it with pliers to ensure it is tightly fitted.
Attach the Showerhead to the arm:
Once the arm has been mounted, attach the showerhead to the end of the shower arm – make sure the ends are taped with plumber’s tape.
Apply Silicone Caulk on the wall:
Finally, use silicone caulk to seal off any crevices in the wall to ensure no water leakage.
Final Thoughts
The shower control height should be within reach of a position where you can turn the controls without becoming wet. This requirement requires a height of between 40 and 50 inches above the floor. In the case of seated showers, however, the controls can be placed a little lower.