A shower valve hole is where your hot and cold pipes meet. It allows you to control your shower’s temperature and water flow. Knowing the Delta shower valve hole size empowers you to change out your bathroom fixtures.
Delta Shower Valve Hole Size
To find your Delta shower valve hole size, you should look for a tag on the supply line. It’s the easiest way to find critical information about your plumbing. If you can’t find it there, you can look at the packaging or owner’s manual if you still have them.
What Is the Delta Shower Valve Hole Size?
The Delta shower valve hole sizes are universal, meaning you can use any Delta trim kit with Delta valves and know they’ll align properly. The standard Delta valve sizes are half an inch, but you need a larger hole in your shower wall to install them.
Delta used to have different sizes of valves, so if your shower is a model from before 2006, you might have larger valves. Many plumbing lines also have openings larger than half an inch, so you need an adapter to connect the Delta valve.
Though the valve opening is just half an inch, the overall size of the wall hole depends on the specific model of kit you get. Building and plumbing experts typically drill a three-inch hole, but the Kerdi mixing valve requires 4.5 inches.
You need to identify the model to determine the specific trim size on your Delta fixtures. Many Delta valves have a tag on the supply line that can help you pinpoint the model and related parts. Check the box or owner’s manual if there’s no tag on the line.
In some cases, there’s a series name embossed near the handle. Knowing this information can help you find the valve size on Delta’s Service and Parts site. You can even take a photo of the valves or related fixtures for older parts and email them to Delta for identification.
Once you find your valve or fixtures online, you can access the owner’s manual or find dimensions. Make sure to double-check the valve opening sizes to ensure it will connect to your plumbing. If not, you can get an adapter. The dimensions will also give you an idea of how large of a hole you need to cut in the wall.
Standard Valve Hole Sizes
There’s no standard shower valve hole size. You always need to consult the manufacturer’s manual to see the size of their fixtures. Delta is a prominent manufacturer of bathroom fixtures, which is why they went to a universal size over time. But their size isn’t necessarily compatible with other brands, so you must verify your information.
Types of Shower Valves
There are different types of shower valves, including:
- Diverter valves
- Mixing valves
- Pressure balanced valves
- Thermostatic valves
- Transfer valves
Each type of valve has a unique purpose and, depending on the manufacturer, a specific valve hole size.
Diverter valves are most common because they control everything. You can change the water’s flow and temperature in one valve. It also directs the water to the showerhead or the tub faucet, depending on the direction you turn it.
You’re likely to find mixing valves on old houses. These valves bring water from both the hot and cold pipes, so you’ll either freeze yourself or burn your skin.
Pressure-balanced valves have a piston inside that dilutes hot water to prevent scalding. They’re a major safety precaution, so you want one in your shower.
Thermostatic valves regulate both temperature and water pressure. You set them yourself to prevent forceful water flow and hot temperatures. If you’re working in a kids’ bathroom, it’s worth installing a thermostatic valve for safety.
Transfer valves let water flow to both the showerhead and the tub faucet at the same time. They also have the safety features of the pressure balance valve to prevent burns.
How To Cut a Shower Valve Hole
To install new Delta bathroom fixtures, you might have to cut the correct size of valve holes. You’ll have to fit the entire valve body into the wall behind the shower, so you’re cutting larger than the half-inch valve opening as listed above.
First, you need to find out what type of bathroom wall you have. A few of the most common wall materials include:
- Acrylic
- Ceramic tile
- Fiberglass
- Porcelain
Next, gather the right tools. You need a saw to cut the hole. Again, the type of saw you use depends on the shower wall material. You’ll likely use a carbide grit or diamond-edged hole saw based on the above substrates.
Make marks on the shower wall according to the measurement of your Delta shower valve. Hold the piece up to the wall to ensure everything lines up before you make a single cut. You want to know that the entire valve body fits into the hole you’re cutting.
Put tape on the wall around your marks. This step keeps the material from shattering or splintering when you start drilling nearby.
Now that you have the hole ready, you can install the Delta shower faucet or the Delta shower valve according to the instructions.
Once you have the valve connected to the plumbing, you can install the trim kit. This trim covers the hole you had to cut for the valve body. It gives you an opening to connect the bathroom fixture to the valve so you can control the water. But it covers the rest of the hole, so your bathroom looks sleek and attractive. Above all, the trim also prevents leaks and water damage.
The Bottom Line
As there’s no standard size for shower valve holes, knowing the Delta shower valve hole size keeps you from making a mistake in the bathroom. The manufacturer offers a universal size for their valves, so you can easily connect any Delta fixtures. Carefully cutting the tile and wall to insert Delta fixtures can transform your bathroom completely.
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