Hot & Cold Shower Faucet Stems Different?

I'll be installing a replacement 3-handle Price-Pfister tub and shower faucet set shortly. It appears I'll have to install the set upside down, because the inlet pipes are above the existing faucet, and rearranging them is not an option. By installing it upside down, the cold valve will be on the left and the hot on the right.

I seem to recall that for at least SOME brands of shower/tub faucets, the hot and cold stems are made different. Anyone know if P-P is one that uses different stems for hot & cold? I suppose if they are different I can remove them and switch them in the inverted faucet set. But if they're the same, I'd rather not switch them.

Reply to
joshhemming
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IMHO, installing a shower/bath faucet with the hot and cold reversed is just plain dangerous - and dumb.

Think babies, the elderly and drunks.

While I have less of a problem with a drunk getting scalded, I really do care about babies and the elderly.

Reply to
DerbyDad03

What did the manufacturer have to say about this when you spoke with them on the phone?

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

*I thought the three handle sets weren't available anymore because the plumbing code required the one handled type.
Reply to
John Grabowski

On my Kohler faucets, they use two different valves. One closes in the clockwise direction (HOT), the other closes in the opposite direction (COLD). I imagine most faucet stems are also designed this way. I don't think most people expect the two valves to both open by turning in the same direction.

Smarty

Reply to
Smarty

By installing it upside down, the

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============================================================ He didn't say that the cold water will be on the left and the hot water on the right, he said that the hot and cold valve stems would be reversed, and was wondering if that mattered.

======================================================== Remove the ZZZ from my E-mail address to send me E-mail.

Reply to
Ron in NY

Failed reading comprehension did you? Read the first sentence.

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

If you mean that turning the right hand valve will give hot water, don't do it!!

I did that once on my basement laundry tub and figured "I'll be the only one using it, I'll remember" No, I didn't remember. After almost burning myself twice I rearranged the pipes. Hell of a looking mess now with a bix "X" of pipes above the tub. Habit will get you every time.

Harry K

Reply to
harry k

Just to clarify my original post:

I won't be moving the H & C copper supply pipes so installing the new faucet set upside down will not change the sides the Hot water is on. It will still be on the left side, but the hot water will go through the part of the faucet which was designed to handle the Cold water IF the set was installed in the conventional manner.

The valves in the new set both open in the same direction.

Aside from some brands' H & C shower stems opening in opposide directions, is there any other difference between the H & C stems on a given faucet set?

Reply to
joshhemming

No. And why not change the handles to correctly reflect what is coming out? Or can you get a single handle system?

Lou

Reply to
LouB

out? Or can you get a single handle system? Lou

I do intend to change the handles, or at least the "H" and "C" labels. All I was trying to find out is if it would be necessary to switch the stems, too. But since the consensus of the replies is that the only possible difference in the two stems would be the thread direction, there is apparently no need to switch the stems.

I didn't want to use a single handle system because I already had a new, old stock 3 handle P-Pf faucet set which I bought several years ago and never got around to using.

Reply to
joshhemming

It's good to double check the answers to questions like these, just in case the manufacturer was wrong with THEIR answer.

But still, I'm interested in what information you got when you called Price-Pfister on Thursday May 14th or Friday May 15th.

What did they say in response to your question?

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

I never tried calling the manufacturer. I'm sure the "new" faucet set I'm installing is old and obsolete so they probably couldn't tell me anything about. I decided to rely on the collective wisdom of this newsgroup's readers for advice.

Reply to
joshhemming

Why are you sure it's obsolete? How old is it?

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

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