Help me figure out what I need (shower faucet)

[tripleshot]

Our master bath shower needs a new faucet handle fixture. It’s a just a standup shower with a one handled faucet that turns the water on and off (no tub). We don’t need a new shower head. We’re hoping the plumber can fit us in Monday, so I’m trying to find a replacement to buy at Home Depot or Lowe’s. He recommends Delta or Moen. Our house is only 7 years old, so I’m assuming everything is pretty standard.

I see a lot of the faucet/shower head combos like this.


Can I just get the handle fixture? And is there any certain specs I should look for or they all the same standard size, etc?  I found ones like this but it seems I may also need to buy a valve or another part? Delta link Classic 1-Handle Temperature Control Valve Trim Kit in Stainless (Valve Not Included).  Basically I have no idea what to search for or buy, but it seems it should be a pretty straightforward replacement.  Can anyone help me? I am way out of my element and DH is the same.

[k3am]

I can’t say with any certainty, but when we were doing our shower, they needed to know what brand we were going with so they’d know what size fittings to go with for the handle. (It could all be a load of BS, I don’t know)

That being said, if you know what brand you currently have, it might make sense to stick with the same brand?

[atarianna]

You say you need a new handle, what is wrong with the current/former handle? If you have American Standard, moen or delta (and some other large brands too) they have lifetime warranties. If it’s leaking, it’s likely just in need of a cartridge replacement which can be sent to you for free from the mfg and can be easily changed out yourself.

If there is a more major issue requiring replacement, if you stick with the same brand, most of their Shower trims should fit their rough in valves.

[tripleshot]

Jan 14, 2020 23:10:46 GMT -5 atarianna said:

You say you need a new handle, what is wrong with the current/former handle? If you have American Standard, moen or delta (and some other large brands too) they have lifetime warranties. If it’s leaking, it’s likely just in need of a cartridge replacement which can be sent to you for free from the mfg and can be easily changed out yourself.

If there is a more major issue requiring replacement, if you stick with the same brand, most of their Shower trims should fit their rough in valves.

There is only super hot water, no cold water. We replaced the cartridge a couple years ago in both bathrooms. I think it’s just a shitty builder grade handle (Pfister maybe? It starts with a P) and we’d like to switch to Moen or Delta assuming those are higher quality and won’t break every 2-3 years. Am I mistaken and this is normal to replace the cartridges this often? Basically I just want a working shower with a long lasting part and I don’t care how I get there. I welcome any advice because DH and I are not handy people.

[hamster]

Sadly I can confirm that at least Delta and Moen are not interchangeable, and you have to go with whatever brand is roughed in.

I image some are probably more universal, but you may need to call and talk with a plumber to find that out.

That said, I like my Delta faucet better. The Moen has this stupid temperature limit built in and in order to change it I have to disassemble and recaulk. I take really hot showers, so I get salty about it on a daily basis.

[atarianna]

From a quick google, I think it should be covered under Pfister warranty as long as you are the original owner. Sometimes they check on this, sometimes they don’t.

If you’re wanting a non-pfister brand, you will need a new rough in valve, but honestly, you probably need a new one anyway. The handle is simply a trim and won’t affect function so if there is an issue, it’s with the valve parts.

Once you find one you like, I highly recommend buying on eBay. There are knockoffs on there, but also many genuine parts for 70-80% off retail. I am currently trying to sell an extra trim we had for like $40 instead of the $175 retail. Also, talk to your plumber before you buy. Sometimes they won’t warranty their work if they don’t provide the parts.

Also, get a couple of quotes. Some trade professionals are anything but professionals and can swindle people who don’t have much clue on house stuff. Don’t get taken.

[Deleted]

Do you have a plumbing supply house in your area? We have one close by that sells to the general public, you just need to have an account with them. Honestly, anything that you buy from Lowe's or HD is going to be as junky as builder grade. Plus, by going through the supply house, you'll have the added benefit of an expert to help you make the appropriate selection.

[tripleshot]

@sameoldstory it doesn’t look like we have one in my area. The closest ones are an hour away.

[Susie]

Delta definitely sells the shower valve trim separately from the shower head.  We have the Addison line in our recently renovated bath:

www.deltafaucet.com/bathroom/collections/addison-bathroom-collection

We have the In2ition shower head and the 17 series valve trim.  That has separate levers for temperature selection and water pressure, so you can set the temperature and then just turn it on and off.  I like it.

[redheadk]

We had to replace ours. My dad (a builder) and the plumber both said to purchase the same brand that was already installed because our access to the parts inside the walls requires cutting through the sheetrock in my closet.

Luckily our existing brand was Moen which is acceptable so we just purchased basically the same thing you have in the OP from build.com. We had purchased faucets from them in the past and were happy with the quality (higher than HD and Lowes).