"hot" valve/cartridge vs. "cold" valve/cartridge

[Awake]

On a tub fixture with separate hot and cold valves, am I right in thinking that the only actual difference between the hot-side valve and cold-side valve is the direction that it turns? I.e., is it really a matter of left-side cartridge/valve and right-side cartridge/valve?

I ask because, on the tub where I am replacing the fixtures, the old fixtures were set up in a rather non-standard way. Due to the placement of the fixtures, the original installation has the hot water on the left and cold on the right as you stand OUTSIDE the tub. However, I don't really want the handles on the new fixtures to turn to the outside; I want them to turn to the inside. Thus, I want to mount the hot/left cartridge on the left as you stand INSIDE the tub ... but changing that to actually be the hot water rather than the cold will involve some surgery to the way the existing pipes are run.

So bottom line: other than the fact that it is non-standard placement, is there any reason I can't run cold water through the hot valve, and hot water through the cold valve?

 

[Asktom]

Swapping sides will work fine.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[hj]

The only difference between the hot side and the cold side is the label on the handle. If you have "round" handles both hot and cold rotate the same way. Only lever handles rotate in opposite directions and the placement of the faucet determines which rotates CCW or CW.

 

[Awake]

Many thanks!