Help with tub rough-ins (w/ pics!)

[Stefaan]

Hi all, looking for some friendly advice here. I am re-doing our bathroom myself and learning as I go. In terms of plumbing we purchased, what I consider, high-end hardware from a company called Watermark through Bender Plumbing. We've just received the rough-ins so I'm starting to plumb/layout the valves as per our design. The layout will be as follows:

Hot / Tub Spout / Cold / Diverter / Shower wand

In terms of layout, everything is inline and spaced evenly (~4" apart) to mimic the sink which is the same trim. I may need to increase spacing after my test today, but we'll see. I have no idea how this process usually works and I would love your insight into whether any you think it's strange that neither the manufacturer or Bender supplied me with any information as far as how to mount or plumb any of the valves. Since the valves are all individual, and none of them have flanges for mounting, it's going to take a lot of creativity to have this all look and perform as designed.

So here is what I started doing today. I'd love to hear your thoughts, but please don't be too critical, this is rough. I realize that my fitted elbows are a little out of wack so things are not square. I actually really enjoy figuring this out, but I would love input as far as whether I'm over complicating things, or if I'm on the right track.

Thanks for looking and for any input you may have!

 

[Plumber69]

Im frightened by this. This looks not only bad but extremely wrong

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Plumber69]

Heres one I did. Im not sure what your plan is with the volume controls. Hot and cold still have to be hooked up to the main rough in which you capped off

 

[Stefaan]

Heres one I did. Im not sure what your plan is with the volume controls. Hot and cold still have to be hooked up to the main rough in which you capped off

This is very helpful to see. I think I need to space things out and, to your point, there will be a T for the hot/cold to enter the diverter at the bottom. I forgot to mention that.

 

[Plumber69]

This is very helpful to see. I think I need to space things out and, to your point, there will be a T for the hot/cold to enter the diverter at the bottom. I forgot to mention that.

Your plan still does not make sence. Maybe someone will do you a drawing

 

[Stefaan]

Im frightened by this. This looks not only bad but extremely wrong

I understand that this is not professional by any means and could be considered frightening. I should have waited another day to take a picture when things are a lot less haphazard, but if there is something that I'm doing here that is extremely wrong can you tell me so I can learn and make it better?

 

[Stefaan]

Your plan still does not make sence. Maybe someone will do you a drawing

Hmm, ok - I have hot and cold lines coming in from the bottom. Each goes through the respective volume control and t's into the bottom of the diverter valve. From the diverter, the hot/cold mixed water goes to either the tub filler (between hot/cold) or the shower wand (right of diverter). Does that make sense?

 

[Plumber01]

I'm pretty sure I'm looking at 1 diverter valve and 2 volume control valves. Did you pick these items out by yourself or did "Bender Plumbing" assist?

Where is you're thermostatic mixing valve at? We'll start there....

 

[Stefaan]

I'm pretty sure I'm looking at 1 diverter valve and 2 volume control valves. Did you pick these items out by yourself or did "Bender Plumbing" assist?

Where is you're thermostatic mixing valve at? We'll start there....

That is correct, 1 diverter valve and 2 volume control valves. This is all sourced by Bender.

The only thermostatic mixing valve is for the shower on another wall. So, to be clear, hot and cold pipes come from the basement, branch off to either the shower (a thermostatic valve and then volume control) OR, if you are taking a bath, to this system (volume controls, diverter, tub spout or shower wand).

Does that make sense?

 

[Jeff H Young]

yes its a little off the wall . just draw it up neatly on paper . this can scald you with no pressure ballance or thermostatic.

 

[Stefaan]

yes its a little off the wall . just draw it up neatly on paper . this can scald you with no pressure ballance or thermostatic.

"Off the wall" meaning unconventional, right? So could I just add an in-line pressure balance for the bath setup to prevent scalding?

 

[Plumber01]

Yeah. You need a mixer. Thermostatic or pressure balanced. You can't just feed hot and cold to a diverter valve.

I'm surprised you're source didn't explain that while selling you those products.

 

[Stefaan]

Yeah. You need a mixer. Thermostatic or pressure balanced. You can't just feed hot and cold to a diverter valve.

I'm surprised you're source didn't explain that while selling you those products.

Yea, me too. So there is no way to use a separate hot and cold valve and prevent scalding?

 

[Plumber01]

Ok, wow, I finally see what you were trying to accomplish!


There is a way to plumb it how you want but you would have to start over. First you would need a thermostatic mixing valve ASSE 1070 certified. It could be located in a remote but accessible location. You would then send safe warm mixed water to your hot side and cold to the cold side. You could then set up the control valves, spout and hand held how you like to match the lavatory faucets. Perhaps someone here can give you some useful links to a mixing valve or google it.

 

[Jeff H Young]

i see you forgot the tee. i guess itll work but not legal because of not being pressure ballanced

 

[Plumber69]

i see you forgot the tee. i guess itll work but not legal because of not being pressure ballanced

It wouldn't. You would get hot water out of cold vise versa

 

[Plumber69]

Im still confused. Your installing a tub with a shower
You have Spout, shower head and wand?
or just spout and wand?
Im thinking you over killed what you really needed

 

[Stefaan]

Hey All, I really appreciate you trying to make sense of this with me instead of just giving me a hard time for not being a professional plumber. I am determined to figure this out. I have drawn up a crude diagram that shows the east wall with shower and south wall with bath setup ( I probably should have started with a diagram, huh?)...I think it will be helpful. Let me know your thoughts, thank you.

 

[Jeff H Young]

that should work. Not 100 percent sure on tub if they allow the wand with it valved that way no protection from pressure differances just a standard tub would be fine though. btw agree those valves dont allow for easy strapping
Didnt mean to give you a hard time but that assembly was a horrible example and was hard to make any sence at all of it.

 

[wwhitney]

You need a "water temperature limiting device." E.g. if under the IPC:

https://up.codes/viewer/colorado/ipc-2018/chapter/4/fixtures-faucets-and-fixture-fittings#412.5

Cheers, Wayne