Agreed it's a pain to verify, I wrote the part number on the back of the wall plate after replacing mine last week. But if it's a faucet from a major brand, it might be on their website. It seems like each one only has a few different sizes. Answer from Firehed on reddit.com
The Shower Head Store
theshowerheadstore.com › home › blog › types of shower valves explained: ultimate guide
Types of Shower Valves Explained | HammerHead® Showers
3 weeks ago - Many newer homes use PEX, while older homes tend to rely on copper. Before you choose a valve, check your plumbing or ask your plumber which connection type you need so you do not end up with a valve that cannot be installed.
Vevano
vevano.com › blogs › bathroom-resources › shower-valve-types
Shower Valve Types 101 — How to Choose the Right Shower Valve
December 4, 2021 - The thermostatic valve is regarded as superior to a pressure balancing valve, and it is the most expensive valve type. ... The shower mixing valve, or a manual valve, is the oldest of the shower valve types and is most often found in older homes.
Videos
11:58
HOW TO IDENTIFY OLD TUB/SHOWER VALVES FOR PLUMBING REPAIR - YouTube
Who Made Your Shower Faucet? Tips to Find the Brand and ...
16:11
You Won't Believe You Can Replace a Shower Valve Without Breaking ...
01:21
Shower Valve Installation : How to Find a Shower Valve ID Number ...
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From 3 Handle to Single Handle Shower Valve | Step-by-Step Moen ...
Hooked Home
hookedhome.com › home improvement › home improvement
Old Shower Valve Identification Guide | (1950s-1970s Valve Types) - Hooked Home
October 26, 2024 - Depending on the number of handles, if you are dealing with single-handle valves, two-handle valves, or diverter valves, check the valve’s functioning and whether it needs multiple turns or just a few turns.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/homeimprovement › is there an easy way to tell what shower cartridge you need by just looking at the end that sticks out the wall?
r/HomeImprovement on Reddit: Is there an easy way to tell what shower cartridge you need by just looking at the end that sticks out the wall?
December 9, 2022 -
Maybe I am just talking out my ass but why must they make it so difficult to identify by making you to turn off the main water and removing the part to find the number or taking it to Home Depot to match when they can just simply put a model number on the stem end for anyone to see??? It would be so much easier to order the part or at least check inventory status for the closest supply store before having to remove the whole cartridge.
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Agreed it's a pain to verify, I wrote the part number on the back of the wall plate after replacing mine last week. But if it's a faucet from a major brand, it might be on their website. It seems like each one only has a few different sizes.
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Mine is moen brand (it’s marked on the shower handle). Google took me to a page on their website that shows they have 3 different styles and how to tell them apart. For moen, you could tell by the location of the screw holes. I’m not sure if other brands are similar.
Deltafaucet
deltafaucet.ca › shower-cartridges
Shower Cartridge Identifier
We cannot provide a description for this page right now
JustAnswer
justanswer.com › home-improvement › aui5w-i-m-trying-identify-shower-valve-home-built.html
Expert Guide to Identifying Old Shower Valves | JustAnswer
Based on the information from the large trim plate, it is most likely a Mixet or possibly a Delta. At that time, Mixet was the only standard pull-out cartridge shower valve available.
Hooked Home
hookedhome.com › home improvement › home improvement
Old Shower Valve Types You Should Know (With Pictures) - Hooked Home
November 19, 2024 - It doesn’t have advanced features or sensors like self-adjusting the water temperature and water pressure like in thermostatic valves or pressure-balancing valves. There are common examples of manual valves like compression valves, ball valves, etc. Once you’ve understood the types of old shower valve, it’s now time to understand how can identify them?
The Home Depot
homedepot.com › diy projects & ideas › home decor ideas › bathroom ideas & projects
Types of Shower Valves - The Home Depot
September 7, 2023 - A traditional type of shower valve is the mixing valve. It's designed to draw water to the shower head from the hot and cold taps. Mixing valves are primarily found in older houses.
Bostingner
bostingner.com › blogs › what type of shower valve do i have?
What type of shower valve do i have? — Bostingner
December 4, 2023 - Shower mixing valves or manual valves are the oldest type of shower valve and are most commonly found in older homes. This type of valve mixes cold and hot water from the tap and sends it to the shower head.
Lowe's
lowes.com › home › diy projects & ideas › buying guides › bathroom
Shower Valve 101
April 30, 2024 - In bathrooms with a shower and tub combo, a diverter valve sends water from the tub to the showerhead. There are three different types of shower diverter valves: a tee valve, a two-valve diverter and a three-valve diverter. The differences between ...
Kohler
resources.kohler.com › webassets › kpna › ietm › 1288570_3 › index.html
KOHLER: Identifying Single-Control Shower Valves - Interactive Electronic Technical Manual
Identifying Single-Control Shower Valves · Click Here to Get Started ·
Hunker
hunker.com › 13416398 › how-to-determine-the-shower-faucet-type
How To Determine The Shower Faucet Type - Hunker
May 8, 2023 - Mixing valves are most commonly found on old faucets with separate hot and cold handles. Water can be diverted away from the tub spout to the shower with a diverter handle or a diverter plunger on the tub spout. ... There are several types of diverter valves that direct water where you want it to go in a shower and tub combination.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/plumbing › shower valve parts (old)
r/Plumbing on Reddit: Shower valve parts (old)
May 6, 2023 -
Hi, I hope someone can assist me. My bathtub faucet started leaking. Initial Google searches suggest the cartridge in the shower valve is to blame. I removed the handle and the rim to try to get to the cartridge, but I get stuck here.
+ I'm assuming I need to remove this cap with the ridges around it too get to the cartridge, correct? By turning counter clockwise?
+ It is on there pretty tight. I used vinegar to get the handle off as it was corroded to this piece, but the same trick didn't work to remove this piece. Is there a special tool I should be using, or a new trick anyone can suggest?
Thanks in advance! 🤞🤞🤞
Top answer 1 of 3
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Its a Old delta... the dome part is what spins off.. typical delta repair kit with the ball and seats and springs.. You don't need a pipe wrench that will warp the metal.. just use channel locks and try from different angles
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I had to use my giant channel locks on a shower valve one time. I tried WD-40. I tried tapping on it. I tried heating it up with a torch. No luck. It wasn't until I busted out the big guns that the thing finally budged. I'm sure it looked ridiculous to use but it worked. Just ensure you brace everything the best you can so you don't end up twisting the copper pipes.
Quora
quora.com › Do-older-shower-faucets-from-the-80s-have-the-same-stem-and-valve-fittings
Do older shower faucets from the 80s have the same stem and valve fittings? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): No, but sometimes you can find the correct part or aftermarket replacement without having to go to a plumbing supply house that once sold that specific brand. A company called Danco does this for Lowe's and it's pretty good at replacement stuff up to about 50 years old. Take the...
Farm Food Family
farmfoodfamily.com › home › home decor › bathroom › 5 types of shower valves explained (with pictures)
5 Types Of Shower Valves Explained (With Pictures) - Identification Guide
September 10, 2021 - This is the old hot and cold shower system in which there are two separate valves to twist and adjust to get the desired temp and water pressure. It sure had its glory days but it is no longer recommended because it may cause scalding when the water pressure suddenly changes when someone uses the sink or flushes the toilet. The most recent type of shower valves would be the diverters and the transfer valves.
Moen
moen.ca › moen-101 › valves
Valves | MOEN 101 | MOEN
Discover the full line of Moen professional valves including U by Moen, Moentrol, Thermostatic, Posi-Temp, Two or Three Function Transfer valves.
The Shower Head Store
theshowerheadstore.com › home › blog › essential features for all shower valve types
Essential Features for all Shower Valve Types
August 10, 2025 - All shower valves types use brass for the valve body, but where you will notice a difference is with the ‘guts’ of the valve. The cartridge and all of its components that are housed inside of the valve are strained every time you use the shower handle. On old models, especially from the national brands, you're likely to find complicated seats and springs that can easily lock up over time.
Plumbing Forums
plumbingforums.com › general plumbing discussion › showers & tubs
4 Handle Shower/tub valve 1950s | Plumbing Forums - Professional & DIY Plumbing Forum
March 13, 2021 - I’m assuming it would be beneficial to replace the valves to a standard 3 handle setup. the question I originally had was if anyone has ever seen this type of install. Like I previously mentioned both shower and tub valves are joined together. Click to expand... Yes I have many times. But if you’re replacing it, it doesn’t matter. Just tear it all out and install your new valve. ... Click to expand... Sure. A tub and shower valve. It’s just old.
Today's Homeowner
todayshomeowner.com › bathroom › bathroom appliances › types of shower valves and controls
Types of Shower Valves and Controls (2025) | Today's Homeowner
The mixing valve functions just as the name implies. Its simple function is to draw water to the shower head from the hot and cold taps. Depending upon the control system, this may be as simple as a central knob that diverts water from your tub’s tap, or a single knob on standalone showers. Found mostly in older homes, mixing valves are no longer popular and can be dangerous, as they cannot regulate sudden changes in water temperature.
Published April 8, 2025