ArcaMax

A pressure balanced shower valve is designed to control the flow of hot and cold water to protect you from receiving a blast of scalding water when someone flushes a toilet or turns on a dishwasher. If you’ve ever experienced such a blast, you know its jolting effect, which can be especially harmful to children or the elderly while they bathe.

These anti-scald controls are designed as replacement units and eliminate the need to tear open the wall to remove the old valve and lines, a major concern when remodeling. The design provides access to remove the old valve from the supply lines and space to install support blocking between wall studs for the new valve. A wide escutcheon or faceplate conceals the opening.

This is not a quick fix swap, so if you’re at all intimidated, hire a plumber who will charge $270, which includes the labor and material, to replace an old shower valve with a new thermostatic valve control. By hiring a pro you’re assured the installation will meet all the building code requirements, a worthwhile investment. If you have plumbing experience and tools, you can do it yourself for $120, the cost of the new control, and save 56%.

Pro Cost: $270 — DIY Cost: $120 — Pro time: 2.1
DIY Time: 5.0 — DIY Savings: $150 — Percent Saved: 56%

========

To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.

©2023 Gene and Katie Hamilton. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.