Is it possible to jog the shower supply line above the valve?

[ofrogg]

I've tried searching my brains out for an answer to this question, but haven't found anything here...

I am remodeling my bathroom and am roughing in the tub/shower supply plumbing. I'm using a Kohler pressure balancing valve, K-304-K (or close). Unfortunately, the straight shot up from the valve to the shower elbow runs into an existing electrical box in the adjacent kitchen... Can I leave the valve, shower spout, and tub spout centered and simply jog the shower 1/2" copper supply to the shower around it? if I used 45 deg elbows, i'd be minimizing the pressure loss... but would it be enough of a minimizing?

HELP!?

-owen

[Gary Swart]

Making a less than straight run from the valve to the shower elbow won't hurt the water pressure/flow, but I would question the wisdom of an electrical box in close proximity to a potential water leak. Mind you, I'm not pro, but it just doesn't seem right to me. Could you relocate the electrical box? Well, of you can, but would it be a major problem to move it is really the question.

[hj]

Flow restriction only becomes a consideration when you get close to the maximum velocity the pipe can handle. That is seldom the case with a single item such as a shower valve, so you can reroute the piping, within limits, as much as necessary. And the fittings used are not usually critical either.

[ofrogg]

Yeah, moving that box would really suck. The kitchen electrical was done professionally and well, so I can only assume that it's ok. Right?

[hj]

Don't even worry about the box. lf you have a leak that MIGHT cause a problem with it, then you will also have a much more serious problem than the location of the box.