Adjustable volume showers extinct too?

[labman]

Well the cartridge in the shower went bad. The one I paid $20 to order on line less than a year ago because it is so old nobody stocks parts for it anymore.

So I decide to rip it out and put in a new one. Guess what, all the ones I look at are the stupid non adjustable volume. We are on a well here and the shower is a long way from the hot water tank. To get hot water fast, I like to open it wide open get the hot water, adjust the temperature and cut the volume back to where it doesn't flush me down the drain.

So I am taking the dog to the big city today and stop in at the big box store. Well, they have dozens of faucets, but they are all the same stupid design as the ones I hate in hotels. the kid at the desk says it is due to the federal limit on volume. I think it is time for the incumbents to be on the endangered species list.

Can I even buy a tub only faucet that is adjustable and rig it for a shower?

 

[greenaccord02]

This is for your own good.

 

[expat]

Nanny State!

Order one from Canada, Land of the Free (where water is concerned)

 

[Steve S]

Big box stores seem to have the lowest quality parts / stuff.

 

[AndyinAL]

We recently moved into a fairly new house with no provision for volume control. It's not pretty but I installed a brass ball valve right behind the shower head. I tried finding a nice small chrome one but had no luck. I can now have full flow or cut it way back for those times when you just want hot water running over you without blasting 7 gallons per minute (don't tell the green police - I'm not running the "restrictor plate" with the 3/16 hole in it). She also likes the reduced volume capability for shaving her legs without worrying about using so much hot water. BTW, I was lucky that the shower head is installed fairly high so the couple, three inches added by valve and nipples was not a problem. I hate those installed at eye level or lower... what were they thinking???

Whole set-up cost less than $10 and is easily reversible. Probably saved more than that in water and heating costs already. YMMV

 

[XS650]

Has anyone here torn into a cartridge valve to see if it was practical to modify for higher flow?

 

[labman]

Having only discovered the problem 6 hours ago, I am still considering alternatives. The valve to regulate flow might be a solution if I first solve getting more flow. Different brands of cartridges may lend themselves better to drilling them out than others. Wonder if there is old stock on Ebay?

 

[severach]

Pressure balanced valves aren't to restrict flow, they are to maintain a consistent temperature when water pressure changes. The shower head is the volume limiter.

Shower valves must be pressure balanced so you don't get scalded with hot water when someone flushes a toilet. I prefer the Moen non pressure balanced single handle to all other brands and styles. They are the most pleasant to use, the most reliable, and will have the longest parts availability because a single cartridge design covers all single handle models in kitchen, bath, and lavatory. I switched my shower to an original Moen single handle before pressure balanced pushed them out. It looks like Moentrol valves use the same easy to use flow control cartridge as the original Moen single handle and are pressure balanced.

The Moentrol flows more GPM than the Posi-Temp.

Generally tub and shower valve bodies are the same with plugs in the parts you don't use.

 

[mechtech2]

severach - you sound like you know your stuff!

I also find it is the shower head that has the restrictor in it.

 

[Gary Allan]

If your wallet is thick enough, you have multiple shower heads. I think that's the vendor preferred work around.

 

[labman]

It really doesn't matter where the restricter is if the faucet is on/off like a switch. I want to be able to regulate the volume. None of the single handle tub and shower faucets I have looked at seem to do that anymore.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: labman
It really doesn't matter where the restricter is if the faucet is on/off like a switch. I want to be able to regulate the volume. None of the single handle tub and shower faucets I have looked at seem to do that anymore.


Originally Posted By: Gary (the pot stirrer) Allan
If your wallet is thick enough, you have multiple shower heads. I think that's the vendor preferred work around


Gary solved you problem, you just need 4 or 5 on/off switch valves working in parallel.

Are you desperate enough to just put in two individual valves like in the olden daze?

Could you adapt a cartridge valve from a sink faucet that also controls flow? Unfortunatly my sink faucets are also flow controlled, maybe you can find a single handle sink faucet that isn't.

Dual function shower valves that allow control of temperature and flow exist
http://www.deltafaucet.com/professionals/marketing-sales/literature/delta-lit/16DFC-5039.pdf

If you Google high flow shower valve, shower valves of up to 13 gpm show up. Prices I saw were high for the 13 gpm, but if you look further you might find something.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
Gary solved you problem, you just need 4 or 5 on/off switch valves working in parallel.

Zactly! No shortage of flow here..

 

[expat]

You need the Comando 450 Shower head!!!
Don't say I told you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMITcQUe-9M

 

[Mr_Incredible]

I just had to do all that plumbing stuff on our tub. Silly me, I broke something and they don't make replacement parts for a 50yr old faucet.

Bought new H/C handle faucet from Lowes. I get around the shutoff need by using one of those detachable shower heads with a multitude of shower settings. One of the settings is (very) low flow. Alternately, if we weren't so enamoured of of detachable shower heads I would probably get one of those little on/off button things to put just behind the shower head.


On/Off Switch for Shower
http://ucanhealth.com/goto.php?page=detail.php&graph1=523-1581-0000

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan

Quote:
Gary solved you problem, you just need 4 or 5 on/off switch valves working in parallel.

Zactly! No shortage of flow here..

A walk in bidet!

 

[Gary Allan]

Keep it tidy!

 

[labman]

Originally Posted By: severach


The Moentrol flows more GPM than the Posi-Temp.



Yes, but is the flow adjustable?

 

[labman]

It looks like it is. I have done some digging on my own and am looking at this, http://www.efaucets.com/detail.asp?Product_Id=3150

Now it specifically states ''Valve and Trim''. I am seeing ''trim only'' some sites for not much less. That should be the whole works shouldn't it?

 

[labman]

I will be giving this a pass, http://www.moen.com/iodigital