Can I fit a thermostatic valve to a bath/shower mixer tap?

[TinyTina]

Hi,

I'm having a new bathroom installed and having issues getting the right bath/shower set up. Shower has to be over bath as no space for a seperate one. We have kids who have baths and need it to be easy for them to rinse their hair during them. AT present we have a lovely Victorian style bath/shower mixer tap where the hand-set sits in a cradle on top of the taps - excellent for our bath needs but it isn't much good for showering as no thermostatic valve and the temperature fluctuates too much. We need a better showering set up, but the shower controls still need to be reachable from sitting in the bath so that people can rinse their hair in the bath without standing up. I would really like to keep a bath/shower mixer with hand-set in cradle and just have one with a thermostatic valve to solve the temperature fluctuation issues, and add a slider rail for when people are using it to have a shower. But I can hardly find any of these bath/shower mixers with a thermostatic valve, and none at all that I actually like the look of. So my question is, can a thermostatic valve be fitted in some way? This is the kind of thing I am looking at. Kensington Angled Bath Shower Mixer Deck Mounted (Quarter turn with White accent) | SKU KE19 | Burlington Bathrooms - https://www.burlingtonbathrooms.com/product/kensington-angled-bath-shower-mixer-deck-mounted

 

[Deleted member 120897]

Depending on your setup, could it be easier to fit a thermostatic mixing valve under the bath, or do you like really hot baths?

 

[Basher]

There seem to be a slightly greater choice of wall mounted versions - might that be practicable? (Controls could be mounted so accessible from the bath)

The Bath Co. Camberley rain can thermostatic exposed mixer shower and bath filler

Click here to find out more about The Bath Co. Camberley rain can thermostatic exposed mixer shower and bath filler

victoriaplum.com

Otherwise they are quite an investment!

BL 8823 Classic black deck mounted thermostatic bath shower mixer — Lefroy Brooks (UK & Europe)

Adjustable temperature safety override stop (preset to 38° C) Ceramic levers and shower handle Also available with Easy clean rose STYLE Two Hole FINISHES Silver Nickel, Chromium Plate, Antique Gold, Polished Brass Other special finish options are also available DOWNLOADS Technical Sp

uk.lefroybrooks.com

Hollys of Bath Exposed Thermostatic Bath Shower & Kit TBSMHD-8

Hollys of Bath Vintage Chrome Exposed Thermostatic Bath and Shower Mixer with Kit This traditional victorian bath shower mixer & kit is part of the special Hollys of Bath Range. Hand crafted and customized with either chrome, brushed nickel or polished nickel, this timeless bath shower mixer...

www.tapsdirect.co.uk

I don't think it would be practical to 'modify' a tap to incorporate a thermostatic mixer, though as per Undertrained, you could install effectively the same thing before the tap, in which case I don't think you would have so much control over the temperature range.
I would encourage you to keep looking, as there seem to be a few Victorian/Edwardian thermostatic mixer taps with hand shower attachments out there, and some modern style ones. One might take your fancy!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Note if on gravity eg cylinder and cold water tank sorry but you won’t win / can’t install one without installing a pump

 

[William Norman]

You could add a blending valve to the pipe work to set the max temp of the hot water coming out the tap / shower from the tap.

Search Results

www.rubberduckbathrooms.co.uk

Only issue is you bath water will also be at this temprature, and as you will be filling the bath with hotwater only, the bath will take longer to fill. This will depending on your pipe work and boiler set up, ie high or low pressure.

As for a shower rail, there are many you can get for a couple of pound and all have a standard shower bracket/fixing for the shower head, which normally hold the head via the hose, so you may need to change the hose you have on the current handset

also if the handset is heavy it might not hold in the riser rail and fall which could damage the bath.