Shower – How difficult would it be to convert a regular US-style shower faucet into a thermostat faucet

shower

I have a regular US-style shower faucet at home which looks like this:

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I would like to convert it into a faucet that has a built-in thermostat, so that I could always have the same water temperature while showering. I see various products being sold for adding a thermostat to one's shower (such as this one from Grontherm), but I would rather not buy one if I'm not sure I can install it.

How difficult would it be to add a thermostat to my shower? Do I need a plumber or is it something I can do on my own? I'm open to hiring a plumber, as long as the installation won't require tearing down half the wall to fit in the new faucet.

Best Answer

It already is that.

That's what that handle is. Depending on the type of valve, it is either

  • a thermostatic control that you rotate left/right to the desired set temperature (no choice of flow), or
  • a joystick, in which left/right is thermostatic control, and in/out are flow control. Rather like a Delta faucet.

Build like a Victorian

The knotty problem of backside access to a tub faucet is one the Victorian-era builders were well familiar with. It was "on their watch" that indoor plumbing leapt to popularity. They had a clever solution: Put a cabinet door on the backside of the faucet. In my house I can trivially access the tub-faucet backside. It's trimmed like a perfectly civilized cabinet door, and provides full access to valve backside, trap, and supply plumbing. Changing the tub faucet, drain lever or trap is a 20 minute job, and yer done.

A more cunning installation might put a bookcase there with a removable back, for instance.

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