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Prepare New Valve — Solder the New Valve

Intermediate16 hours

Part of project

How to Convert a 3-Handle Shower Faucet to a Single-Handle Valve · Step 6 of 9

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In this video

Prepare the new Delta valve for installation. First, unscrew the bonnet nut and remove the plastic test cap and internal cartridge. This is crucial to prevent the heat from soldering from damaging these plastic and rubber components. Using a wire brush, clean the inside of the three sockets (hot in, cold in, and shower out) on the valve body to prepare them for soldering.

Goal: Make the new valve ready for soldering

  • Failure to remove the cartridge before soldering will likely melt it, requiring a replacement.

Used in this video

  • Pliers (Tool Type: Hand Tools, Pliers Type: Slip Joint) — Unscrewing the bonnet nut.
  • Wire Brush (Tool Type: Painting Tools, Cleaning Tool Material: Metal) — Cleaning the inside of the valve's copper sockets.
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FAQs

This project is rated 'intermediate.' What specific skills or prior experience are essential for successfully converting a three-handle shower faucet?

An intermediate rating means you should be comfortable with basic plumbing tasks, including cutting pipes and making secure connections. Experience with soldering copper pipes is crucial, as the new valve typically requires soldered connections. You'll also need basic carpentry skills for opening and repairing the access wall.

The estimated time is 16 hours. What aspects of this conversion project take the most time, and can it be completed in a single weekend?

The 16-hour estimate accounts for significant stages like creating wall access, carefully removing the old valve, precisely soldering the new one, and thorough leak testing. Repairing and finishing the access wall also adds considerable time. While possible to do in a weekend, spreading it over a few days allows for drying times and meticulous work, especially for leak checks.

What are the critical safety considerations, especially regarding soldering and working with plumbing behind the wall?

Always turn off the main water supply before starting. When soldering, ensure excellent ventilation to disperse fumes and have a fire extinguisher nearby; protect surrounding studs with a heat shield. Wear appropriate PPE, including safety glasses and gloves. Thoroughly drain pipes to avoid steam buildup during soldering.

What are the most common mistakes DIYers make during this type of shower valve conversion, and how can they be avoided?

A common mistake is improper soldering, leading to leaks. Ensure pipes are clean, flux is applied correctly, and joints are heated evenly. Another error is not thoroughly leak testing before closing the wall; pressurized water should run for several hours. Also, double-check the new valve's orientation and depth before securing it.

Transcript
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clean. We're going closely on these delta valves and stuff. They always stamp what part of the valve needs to be in the up position and stuff. So this is obviously going to the show that are hot or cold. We don't have it tubs. We're going to be capping that on. But the old valve came out. What they had done is they have offset 245s kind of like that in order to get to the valve and have it. So it sits just right coming out of the valve and catch that shower. And that's what we're going to have to recreate as well as some street 90s happen to copper, street 90s coming off of the hot and the cold we have covered up. We're going to go ahead with a wire brush and cleaning inside of this in the hot and the cold. We're not worried about cleaning inside of the bottom. Like I said, this is only for a shower. We're not going to be putting any threaded fittings on here. They're going to be soldered in inside. Now that we've cleaned those sockets out, we're going to take the bonnet nut off this. And this is just a test cap. I shouldn't be anything left on inside of there. But we're going to be applying heat this so we want nothing that's going to melt on us. All right, so we've got a couple copper, half inch street 90s. I'm going to apply some flux to the street ends. They've already been sanded and cleaned. Put that flux on the street end. I'm going to take, we're going to put them on a hot and a cold side for the valve like this. See that? Put some flux on a hot and cold side. The two lines are wrong. Sounds like people are waking up and making breakfast. Unfortunately, the water is off to the house. Just like that. I'm going to put some up here on this for the shower head. It doesn't going to be tricky doing this one handed, but this is

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