mixer shower replacement

Question

I want to replace our old shower (exposed valve type) with a bar valve shower. the 15mm pipe connections are 160mm apart and all bar valves are standard 150. I know offset connectors might work but on forums, people say its difficult to get the connectors to 150 AND level. its a tiled wall so don't want to remove tiles, but short of fitting the same type of shower.......any advice?

Steven · Accepted Answer

the offset connectors definitely can do the work. just adjust them close to each other at the same level.

Matthew · Answer

160 mm seems unusual.Genearlly 150mm is the standard and has been for years.
you may be able to move one side or both a touch to allow the 150 pipe centers to fit the bar shower in.

Matt · Answer

you can get ones with adjustable centres like this

Chrome Exposed Single Lever Manual Shower Mixer Valve
Product Code: CSM4C

Dave · Answer

You can get adjustable mixer valves, but you could use a diamond drill bit and carefully cut your tile out if there is play on the pipes need to be confident to do that tho

Bashir · Answer

It is better not to remove the tiles. The 160 mm pipe spacing (instead of the standard 150 mm) can be resolved using offset connectors (eccentric unions) or flexible braided connectors.

However, to avoid the issues mentioned in forums, keep the following in mind:

* Use high-quality brass or solid offset connectors, not cheap plastic ones
* Installation must be done with very accurate leveling, otherwise misalignment or stress on the valves can occur
* Since the difference is only 10 mm, adjustable 150–170 mm offset connectors should work well
* Another good option is using a shower rail bar system, which can help hide minor alignment differences and provide more flexibility
* Avoid forcing standard bar valves into position without adjustment, as this may lead to leaks or strain on the pipework

Conclusion:
There is no need to remove the tiles. The correct solution is to use proper offset connectors with careful installation and alignment.

Jordan · Answer

160 mm seems unusual for it to be so close. Generally 150mm is the standard and has been for years.
you may be able to move one side or both a touch to allow the 150 pipe centers to fit the bar shower in

Muthu · Answer

Yes, offset connectors are the normal solution for exactly this problem, and 160mm centres isn't actually that far off. You're only correcting 10mm overall (5mm each side).
The horror stories on forums tend to come from situations where:

The original pipe centres are way off (140mm, 170mm, etc.)
The pipe tails aren't square to the wall
The wall outlets themselves aren't level

For a 160mm-to-150mm correction, a decent plumber should usually be able to make it work.

mixer shower replacement

Follow Us

Cookies

Manage Cookies

Essential cookies

Analytics & Tracking

Advertising