Hooking Up a Shower or Tub Faucet

Installing a Shower or Tub Faucet

Installing separate 3/4-inch lines to supply the shower ensures good water pressure and protects from temperature changes when another faucet is turned on or the toilet tank refills. Tap into the cold and hot water lines as close to the water heater as possible.

Choose the tub or shower faucet before you run pipes. Follow the manufacturer's directions for plumbing the faucet. If your faucet does not have integrated shutoff valves, install shutoff valves in the lines to the valve.

Assuming an 18-inch-tall tub, position the faucet about 28 inches above the floor for a tub, about 48 inches for a shower. You may want to compromise and position it about 38 inches above the floor.

Prestart Checklist

Time
About half a day to run supply lines and install a tub/shower faucet

Tools
Drill, tubing cutter, multiuse wire brush, flame guard, propane torch, damp rag, groove-joint pliers

Skills
Accurate measuring and drilling, working with copper pipe

Prep
Tap into the hot and cold water lines and run 3/4-inch pipe up into the room; if needed, move a stud to make room for the plumbing behind the tub

Materials
Tub/shower faucet, copper pipe and fittings, flux, solder, pipe-thread tape

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Step 1

Most faucets come with a plastic cover that protects the faucet and serves as a guide for the depth at which it must be set. To determine where to place the braces, consider the total thickness of the finished wall -- often 1/2-inch-thick backerboard plus 1/4-inch-thick tiles.

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What If... You have other faucet setups?

A three-handle faucet may require that supply pipes be spread farther apart than for a single-handle faucet. Threaded adapters screw in for the supplies, spout, or shower arm. A faucet with integral shutoffs comes with a large escutcheon (cover plate) so you can more easily reach the shutoff valves.

Step 2

Determine how high you want to locate the spout (make sure it will clear the tub), faucet handles, and showerhead. Install a 2x6 brace for each. Anchor the braces with screws rather than nails so it's easier to move them if they need adjustment.

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Step 3

Assemble all the pipes in a dry run. Install 3/4-inch pipe up to the height of the faucet, add reducer couplings or elbows, and run short lengths of 1/2-inch pipe to the threaded adapters on the faucet. Add hammer arresters. Anchor the faucet according to manufacturer's directions.

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Step 4

Once you are sure of the connections, sweat all the fittings. Start at the faucet, then move on to the shower arm and spout connections. Run 1/2-inch pipe up to the shower arm and down to the spout; attach drop-ear elbows at both spots.

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Step 5

Finger-tighten a threaded nipple -- either brass or galvanized -- into both drop-ear elbows. Once the wallcovering is in place, remove them and install the shower arm and tub spout.

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