How to Install an Anti-Scald Shower Valve | Ask This Old House

Richard Trethewey replaces a three-handle shower valve with a single-handle anti-scald valve. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Shopping List for How to Install an Anti-Scald Shower Valve:
- Single-lever pressure-balance shower valve with cover plate [amzn.to/2ZScZqk]
- Emery cloth [amzn.to/2MX73dT], for buffing clean copper pipe ends
- Lead-free solder [amzn.to/2MXXprp] and flux [amzn.to/2NRJanr], used for soldering
- Plumber's putty [amzn.to/2LrRCqW], for creating a watertight seal around the valve's cover plate
- Cotton cloth [amzn.to/2NQ0DwI], used to buff the valve clean
Tools for How to Install an Anti-Scald Shower Valve:
- Pliers [amzn.to/2LnfjSk]
- Screwdriver [amzn.to/2N3Nlxd]
- Cordless drill [amzn.to/2ZQS4nM]
- Handle puller [amzn.to/2ZR52Se], used to remove stubborn valve handles
- Pipe wrench [amzn.to/2ZQilT1], used to unscrew stem units from the valve
- 1/8-inch-diameter masonry bit [amzn.to/2MUIZIA], for boring holes through tile
- Oscillating multi-tool [amzn.to/2MWl2Au] and carbide-grit blade [amzn.to/2MVzjgP], used to cut tile
- Hammer [amzn.to/2UuaXvL] and 1/2-inch cold chisel [amzn.to/2LkaGse], for chipping tile off the wall
- Wet/dry vacuum [amzn.to/2O2xEpJ], used to collect dust
- Reciprocating saw [amzn.to/2NQJfI5] with metal-cutting blade [amzn.to/2NRIG0L], for cutting out the old valve
- Tubing cutter [amzn.to/2ZRN6Ha], used to cut copper pipe
- Plant mister [amzn.to/2LkBJ6F], used to mist the wall cavity with water prior to soldering
- Propane torch [amzn.to/2Lk34pF], for soldering
- Digital thermometer [amzn.to/2MWxOin], used to check hot-water temperature
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How to Install an Anti-Scald Shower Valve | Ask This Old House
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[@ShiverPlumbingTN]

Richard makes it look easy. That jobs commonly 4hrs of hard work ! Not a 1st time DIY project. Folks this is why so many homes still have their original tub faucets .

[@shawniscoolerthanyou]

I know that the spirit of most of these videos is about DIY, but seeing how easily he did all of that just convinces me to hire a professional. Especially when special tools like a handle puller are involved.

[@dylanw8823]

This guys a beast. Not only letting the owner watch over his shoulder but have a camera watch his every move. Working while being watched is the worst!

[@jameygorman817]

Dylan W not if you know what your doing. People watch me everyday doesnt bother me. But maybe everyones different

[@joeyraupp4290]

maybe to some people, but not him.

[@HackThePlanetNow]

I fix cellphones for a living and I have no problem letting people watch. I like it actually.

[@nsbyband5239]

They can watch all day but they say 1 word about how my job should be done I'm outta here

[@AxcelGamer97]

Sounds like you're not comfortable with the quality of your work. I always watch anybody working in my house. I do it to ensure that nothing gets taken, if it's a shifty worker, or because I genuinely have an interest in this kind of work and want to know more about it. I'd even like to learn how to do some basic stuff and why not learn from somebody I'm paying to do the job?

[@stever5887]

It's a pleasure to watch Rich at work; he's a master at repairing plumbing problems. I watch the show to catch Tom Silva working on various construction projects and Rich doing jobs like this. Their work ethic is inspiring and they help make my day.

[@crumplezone1]

An industrial plumber or electrician is a job for life, good tradesman are worth every penny

[@shawniscoolerthanyou]

Absolutely agree. What it maybe took him 45 minutes to do with ease, I would spend eternity on and still screw it up.

[@PatrickPoet]

Whenever I watch you solder in a wall it makes me think of my dad's brother Bill in Philly who was a plumber as well. His/my Dad's family always made everything into a heroic story and Bill's had something to do with wiping and solder better than normal human beings.

[@manojmago4205]

these guys are living institution.....learning source for millions people forever

[@N3VADAN]

Something about This Old House that the others on KZbin can’t touch. I love their videos.

[@TheArfdog]

Emmy winning

[@jamesreynolds5776]

There's no pretensions or rushing through.. just good old-fashioned education 👍

[@TexasGTO]

2:18 "and you really don't want to replace all this shiiii... Tile!" lol

[@QargZer]

TexasGTO he did a great job catching himself lol

[@amirhouseingholinia2023]

TexasGTO LOL man you got sharp ears

[@adamepb]

Lmao I heard that too I was like holy cow

[@joelsawyer569]

He might have said shingle...

[@robertb7362]

I was about to bring this up! "replace all this shiiii" lol

[@plumbingstuffinoregon2471]

Wow! That bathroom looks almost all original from the 40s or 50s! Very cool! I do like the look of the original handles way better, but it's nice to have an anti scald valve.

[@abc123fhdi]

looks like it had a copper re-pipe at some point wonder how they did that without taking out the tile.

[@ILVT_Plumbing]

I agree

[@briancuprisin4571]

Richard is the best/most helpful of the "TOH" crew.

[@stevew270]

Whoever came up with the anti-scald valve idea was a damn genius.

[@stephensnell1379]

You can say that again

[@stephensnell1379]

I love it when Richard says-"Don't go over the limit"

[@brownpride5125]

I just love to watch this KZbin channel with a nice people and the knowledge they have is great to watch and you learning the easy way to learn thank you so much!🙏

[@bkoz319]

4:28 drops running drill into tub and knicks the side of it

[@marqueemark5917]

haha, cast-iron tub, no biggy

[@Freedom-gn2ch]

Hi there I am from Great Britain I enjoy watching videos about plumbing I have seen 3 different plumbers do what you did today and I was wondering why none of them has never used anything to stop the water going through the middle you're the only one who has done that well done you could never beat a professional

[@thanatossassin]

"I think it's time to give it a test drive!" *Old lady strips*

[@theorangepersonman]

I love the tile, so vintage

[@Bremend]

So magical he put a circular object on the toilet and it didn't immediately roll off

[@TheTruthSeeker756]

Perfect like usual. Richard the Master

[@carlosgomes3758]

i really like the way hes teaching how to fix things thanks

[@bosse641]

Richard is so enjoyable to watch with his fine skills and manners. .....has he ever worked as teacher? ......he would make a great teacher that's for sure.

[@RealBigR]

+John Grytbakk He is a very personable guy.

[@RealBigR]

+John Grytbakk He is a very personable guy.

[@RealBigR]

+John Grytbakk He is a very personable guy.

[@RealBigR]

+John Grytbakk He is a very personable guy.

[@RealBigR]

+John Grytbakk He is a very personable guy.

[@kavezananderura2666]

i am a student at I.O.L V.T.C and pluming is something i like in my life

[@tcash2402]

I think Richard just love saying escutcheon

[@jaysmith6013]

Thomas Cass and “full city water pressure”

[@welfarewagonrepairs]

4:28 hear him scratch the tub with the still running drill

[@fortcastlevgn2368]

WOPW SHT IS THAT TRUE?

[@AccountSpace]

I criged a bit

[@veergauba]

@@AccountSpace It's probably a cast iron tub, so didn't do much.

[@AccountSpace]

@@veergauba i could have scratched the paint and starts rusting

[@kevini4295]

Loved this episode. That lady seems so sweet. Hope she is doing well.

[@brianallard8915]

Yeah Same!!!!!

[@ajggar732]

Love them cutaways!

[@fernandorodriguez4382]

I’m impressed that faucet is nice.

[@sainarshad2663]

Learning everyday something new from you guys. Thanks

[@expertnugget]

Sain Arshad do not take anything from these people it's all scripted

[@compitaviga4898]

Really good plumber nice job 👍🏼

[@seventh-oneproductions]

Yes, a lot of good information in this video!

[@torobravo8023]

I love this guys, excellent video, thanks for sharing

[@carlosnieves3782]

#1 The best way, Thankful.

[@CarlosLopez-hi3pk]

I'm addicted to this channel

[@KCostelloe]

Make it look so easy!!

[@kar15bigdog]

Would be nice to see how he did behind the tile

[@ZerokillerZerokiller]

Amazing work

[@tlowery04]

nice old spout and handles

[@peterryan7827]

Such a neat and tidy job,and that cover plate is excellent.but as you showed ,cutting those old tiles is a concern for cut etc,and the timber with the blowlamp.the times i have come up against this worry ,and flooded it with water before and after ,jus un case,and still gone home and its still on my mind,

[@vincentponce4276]

That was so freaking awesome !

[@badersulieman3619]

Always great show

[@louisekevins7815]

Job well done!

[@BrandonLedbetter]

I love this guy

[@rrofficial8553]

i always enjoy your working guys do you guys already have the next generation all of you????

[@alolipa]

I learn something new every time I watch this guys

[@mikesahle1193]

Thank you 🙏 great knowledge with great 👍 job .

[@fd8133]

your so great! I wish you can reinstall fix my faucets in the house I need to fix my faucets here

[@tepigfan1599]

3:07 us band people are like "we use that for our mouthpieces"

[@hironielapatha3502]

Cool stuff!

[@hughbo52]

NEVER give up your option for water volume! Two handles will give you more volume than one. Wish I'd not gotten stuck with one. Kudos to this guy for the quality of his work.

[@hughbo52]

@Pyroman / What brand did you buy? Mine is Moen, put it about 10 or 12 year ago while putting on an addition .

[@foxgamingofficial8710]

My family needs this

[@surimaribo24]

amazing video keep it up .

[@KhalidAli-lb2lc]

Thank you

[@Skateforlifelad]

Love the content, wish he was my journeyman Putty only on the top side just in case any water does get in it has a place to escape and also air to dry

[@mescnick]

Thanks

[@DavidGomez-co4uy]

very good the instalation shower valve ...i am the argentina

[@jamesstaton3653]

David Gomez

[@gunsnstuff4040]

They failed to show him piping in the new valve in that tiny opening. Most cases you have to do this procedure from the reverse side.

[@petervachon6989]

In this case, it wasn't needed as he determined in that small space where to cut while taking into account how much the ends need to come into the fittings and then cleaning the ends so they will fit in the valve as a "dry fit" to which he then applied the flux to the connections and was ready to solder. Sometimes, you don't get lucky and would have to work from the rear as you mentioned.

[@oldhardrock2542]

I would have liked to see getting that valve in after cutting the old pipes. I have two i need to change. One I can get to the rear, one I can't.

[@tory-anntorres8001]

We love this program. We can not wait for Monday to come every week. I have not seeing the new parts that you purchase to replace in this case the anti-scald valve, is there a place on your site where you publish the manufacturer model cost and where you bought it? thanks. Luis Torres

[@louietheplumber3609]

Good stuff

[@juliaisabelmartinez9103]

que grande nesecitamos en Argentina..

[@Steve14737]

he makes it look so easy lol

[@mjswag3184]

I love ask this old house

[@expertnugget]

mj swag did you it's scripted l

[@moyunus9617]

Very nice video Sir

[@mohdmujeeb4384]

Nice you works im plumber 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jacerunyon1142]

You are awesome!

[@cmetube]

That's a very nice cast iron tub they don't make any more.

[@mustafizurrahmanchowdhury7136]

hi richard you are guru as i have my idea on plumbing and some interesting points to develops. so need more to understands your mechanisms , will you friend give more teachs me

[@westfield90]

I wish I could call him to my house. A few hours ago my handle flew off and it was water everywhere with such force. The mixing cartridge was held inside with just a little Allen wrench pin which the guy working on it didn’t tighten enough. So out it flew and so did gushing water. Mine does not have a thread like this one did

[@anjiesabater826]

Great video. Just what i needed. Question: Is there a product for a single handle anti-scald valve with out a diverter to the tub spout. I need to replace my three handle valve for our shower room which doesn't have a tub spout?

[@longlee1839]

very good teacher I rated ***** plus

[@MasteringHow-To]

Wonderful job!

[@sams6090]

but isn't it a good idea to have that putty all around so when ever people touch it, it doesn't provide a pivot point without support? Just thinking of how over time it will start to bend slightly and rock ultimately causing the putty to come loose and allowing water to seep into the walls. Would it also be a good idea to provide some kind of insulation within that void that is now behind the plate? With the tile/concrete up, it didn't have a void and so less noise went through. OR is that just not a thing that's really possible or an issue and i'm just thinking of too many extreme scenarios that aren't likely to ever happen?

[@krisone5253]

Grandpaw Johnny Plumber said that once his torch flame went up inside the wall. He grabbed the fire, and put it out in his hand!

[@nonodidin6005]

merci

[@zebra5591]

I got one of those

[@Danielmieczyslaw]

very good video

[@nukestrom5719]

Pro job

[@johnathangeorge1109]

I personally like the three handle design better, but also like the anti-scald feature. Does something like that exist?

[@krisone5253]

LOOK AT HIM GO. RICHARD TRETHEWY IS LIKE MY GRANDPAW IN THE , 1950'S INSTALLING PLUMBING FOR THIS MODERN WORLD 🌎🌍

[@johnporter4628]

There is not sufficent information in this video to warrant it being categorized as a DIY. This is a nice video insofar as it explains how the new valve works and shows the steps of sizing and cutting the hole and removing the old valve. However, it really skips a lot in terms of installing the new piping. That would be ok if the viewers were informed that much was being left out. There is not even a disclaimer in the written notes below the video.

[@morlthree]

I just commented on this exact point!! This would have been the perfect video, too, as there aren't many videos on this topic.

[@tombryan1]

Always cut the tile about an inch lower than the original valve because as you can see he installed the new valve lower due to the supplies having to be cut. Hw barely covered the opening with the escutcheon and handle trim.

[@leandrochoque8936]

Master plumbing

[@dylanreischling4151]

I have those old 3 way ones. The exact set actually. The issue is they leak really bad

[@angertone213]

Time for you to give it a test drive, ...Richard quietly stays in the room.

[@HCkev]

Just learned what an anti-scald valve is... For years my wife and I were set on not flushing the toilet while one or the other is in the showers, I just tested and we actually have an anti scald valve lol

[@FanoFinz]

Awesome job. That scald protector is great. Last year my nephew got 2nd and 3rd degree burns because of scalding water in the bathtub. I hope people do put scald protectors on their faucets because the water can get hot enough to scald people.

[@Andrew-rs7tp]

I love this show as a kid and now

[@dizleran9276]

We are not worthy ! We are not worthy! 🙌🙌

[@abdermnbadrahmed4094]

Good

[@nighthawkj30A4]

I wonder what brand of shower valve kit Richard used. House i live in was built in 1964. Has the same set up

[@RonyBonyman]

"Are you gonna leave holes in my wall heh?" 4:40

[@dcee966]

When he told her to give it a test drive I thought we were going to see the grossest porno ever 😂😂😂

[@abdelhaklarisso5700]

مهنة جميلة جدا كم اعشق اللعب بتلك القطع البراقة و المتقنة الصنع ناهيك عن راتبها

[@mav48185]

I don’t get scalded. I get frozen when the washer is on haha

[@checkyoursix5623]

Moen offers a feature called Posi-Temp. I wanted that feature so someone in the shower in bathroom # 1 wouldn't get scalded when someone in bathroom # 2 flushed the toilet. At the time I did a bathroom make-over with new fixtures & plumbing, that Posi-Temp feature wasn't available on their standard products in the Big Box stores, but you could special order them - same product name & model, but WITH the Posi-Temp feature, for about $ 10 or $ 20 extra per unit. Don't know what they do these days ...

[@JohnSmith-tg6dx]

Good idea for a kids bathroom.

[@Mike1614b]

the hot water temp coming from the water heater should not be set above 120F- esp if there are kids, disabled, or elderly people i the house. 135F will scald you fast, it's dangerous. BTW the average temp of a "hot shower" is 100-102F.

[@ranjankumartarai9599]

I saw most of your videos i want to work with you

[@anthonygraceffa4827]

Ritch in this state hot water limit at shower head is 11o degrees not 118

[@donovanjohns6208]

The putty looks similar than the Play-Doh.