Best fittings for shower valve.

[bwolfgra]

I am planning to update a shower to get us through a few years before we can fully remodel. It currently has an old 3-handle pfister valve and I’m planning to update to a modern single handle as well as move the handle farther up the wall.

It is in a tight space and my solder skills are limited, so I’m trying to find the best way to extend the feed lines and connect everything. Fortunately, whoever installed it left an access door.

Is this a place where push to connect or crimp style fittings would be recommended? I’m not sure if it would be better to use copper or run pex from where I cut off the existing copper.

Thanks

 

[Breplum]

don't bother. update internals if you are dying to do something.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Sylvan]

Stick with copper and get a Delta shower body (anti scald) with integral stops

 

[DIYorBust]

It doesn't sound like you're comfortable soldering. Here's and idea that might work for you. You could remove the shower valve body, and instead install drop ears, get some chrome brass fittings(elbows etc) and escutcheons, and then install an exposed shower system like this one:
https://www.build.com/grohe-34-159/s900525
You can get much cheaper knockoffs on amazon.

It has a shower port on the bottom you cannot see in the photo, but you can verify in the manual. Then attach your hand shower holder over the hole for the showerhead, there are various ways you could do this. Then you'll want to put a plate over the center hole from the old valve. Yes, you'll have to think a little and measure things, like chrome brass elbows and nipples, and try to make it look nice, but you wouldn't need to modify the wall or solder anything. And it doesn't need to be perfect, it's just going to be a few years. DIY or bust my friend.

 

[John Gayewski]

Looks like you could get some stainless nipples two 90's, coulpings and unions and just use threaded.