Shower Handle Valves - 2 Lengths

3 years ago

Hello - I'm updating my shower and want to put on new shower handles, but the valves coming out of the wall are two different lengths. The left one is 2" and the right one is almost 3". Can anyone give me advice what to do here? Can I cut the right valve back an inch? I really do not want to rip open the tile, as its just my workspace bathroom and I'm looking to not do a gut here. See the photo below.

Thank you!

Featured Answer

kudzu9

3 years ago

They are probably that way because the incompetent who installed them set the hot and cold supply piping connections at two different depths in the wall. The valves are the same length; they are just set at different depths. If you can unscrew the "shorter" one without breaking it, it may be possible to screw in a fitting to extend it out so that it sticks out about the same amount as the "longer" one. Just unscrewing the valve mechanism won't help you: you need to get the whole valve assembly off.

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Comments (8)

kudzu9
3 years ago
No, you can't just cut into a valve to shorten it. Who installed those valves like that?
bryanthegrower
Original Author
3 years ago
They were like this, most likely from when house was built. lots of sloppy work. im gutting my other 2 bathrooms but this one is just in the basement so looking for a quick fix. theres got to be something I can do here
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kudzu9
3 years ago
The only way you're making them protrude the same amount is by going into the wall and redoing the plumbing so that the two connections have the same setback. Can you access the plumbing from the back side of the wall? If you can't redo the plumbing, the "fix" is to put the handles on and live with it.
bryanthegrower
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you. I cant access from behind unfortunately as that is where the sink is and the wall is also tiled. What about if I remove the valve with a socket wrench? Is that possible without cutting the tile? And use new valves? I guess the risk is they would still be uneven. I just cant for the life of me understand why they are different lengths
bryanthegrower
Original Author
3 years ago
@kudzu9 thanks so much, do you know what a fitter would be called? im a beginner at plumber (though probably better than the person who plumbed my house upon build) so if you can tell me what specifically to ask for that would be great. thank you
bryanthegrower
Original Author
3 years ago
@User i agree its crazy but there doesnt seem to be any leaking or mold problems as i have had the home for 2 years now. this bathroom will get little to no use so just trying to update it cosmetically.

as for the original plumbers, its typical for my area in upstate NY, lots of bad work done, especially in the 90s when my house was built. the other 2 bathrooms I am doing a complete gut renovation
kudzu9
3 years ago
bryan-

if that valve assembly can be unscrewed, you would add a short extension -- like 1" -- with male threads on one end and female threads on the other. Something like this:

Just take the valve assembly into a plumbing or hardware store so they can match the threads. But since I can't see inside the wall, I can't be certain that it can be unscrewed.