Single-Handled Tub/Shower Parts

Q. "I don't know what year my faucet was installed or manufactured. How can I be certain what type of cartridge is in my faucet, the old style or the new style?"
A. There are two ways. One is to turn your water off, remove the cartridge and compare your cartridge with the pictures we show on our site. The old style and new style cartridges are very different in appearance and the stems (handle shafts) are very different. The other way does not involve turning your water off. You just need to measure the outside diameter of the bonnet nut. The outside diameter of the bonnet nut for the old style cartridge measures 1-15/16" while the outside diameter of the bonnet nut for the new style cartridge measures 1-11/16".
Please note: If your bonnet nut measures 1-15/16" O.D. and your handle turns counterclockwise to turn the water on and does not lift up to turn the water on then you have either a pressure balance tub/shower valve or a back to back tub/shower valve.

Q. "Certain parts have been discontinued and replaced by "like Valley" or "will fit" parts. What does this mean?"
A. Valley went out of business in the late 1990's. Many of the original OEM parts are still being manufactured to OEM specifications but unfortunately many are no longer made and have not been available for a number of years. We would of course like to offer only OEM Valley parts but since that is not always possible, we do offer some "like Valley" or "will fit" parts that are the most suitable replacements we have been able to find. We stock many of the "like Valley" or "will fit' parts for our customers who either can't or are not ready to replace their quality Valley faucet yet.

Q. "The Valley old style (before 1993) escutcheon shows the two mounting holes on the bottom but my existing escutcheon has the two holes on the top. How will this escutcheon work as a replacement for my Valley shower valve?"
A. The original old style escutcheons Valley provided with their valves had the screw holes at the top, above the center of the valve. In later years, and up to the present, the only Valley escutcheons made for replacements have the screw holes located below the center of the valve. The original brass "rough-in" shower valves (part behind the wall) were made with threaded mounting holes both at the top and the bottom but only the top holes were used. The replacement escutcheon will need to be screwed into the bottom threaded mounting holes. Since there is always a possibility the original valves may have not been threaded by mistake, you will need to check to make sure your valve has the available threaded holes to mount the escutcheon. Otherwise you will have to mount the escutcheon upside down. Thus, the temperature indicators will be wrong.

Q. "Should I use some pipe dope or thread sealant tape on the threads where the bonnet nut threads onto the valve?"
A. You should never use thread sealant tape or pipe thread compound on any threaded faucet valve parts. Single control faucets are designed with o-rings, fiber washers, and rubber seals to prevent leaks. When the proper parts are used in the correct places, to repair a faucet, no other sealants of any type are needed.