Turning the water off in the bath/shower?

Question

I know how to turn off the water to the house....but is there normally a shutoff valve in the wall behind the tile, to turn the water off to just the tub/shower ? I know there is a shutoff valve on the bathroom sink, because I can see it and I have used it before, but don't know what is behind the wall of the tub until I tear into it. Should I expect a shutoff valve or not?This house was built in the 70's and we have found a lot of strange things they did back then.

I am remodeling the bathroom, so I will be tearing the tile off the wall. So it does not matter is I have to tear up the wall.

Answer 1

You may or may not have shut off valves to your tub/shower. The only way to tell is to look.

If the other side of the wall that the faucet is mounted on, you have it made. If it is a closet or some other hiding place that is even better, but it really doesn't matter.

First step is to go to the hardware store or home center and purchase an access cover. They ususally come in sizes from 6"
x 6" on up to 48" x 48" and even larger. The purpose of these are to make an area inside a wall readily accessabe for things like working on plumbing. Next, read the manufacturers' instructions on the size of hole that the access cover will handle. Then find the approximate location of the faucet on the opposite side of the wall and layout your access hole to be cut. Cut it, look in and see if there are shutoffs. If there are great, if not then install a set of ball valves while you have the main water shut off to work on your faucets and install the acess cover when you are done.

I always use ball valves as they are less likely to calcify and more likely to work when you need them to. They are the ones which only turn 1/4 turn to shut off or turn on. They are available in all materials and in sweat on, screw on and compression fittings and cost about $10 each.

Answer 2

most showers and baths do not have shutoffs. you will probably hav to shut the whole house down. after you do open a faucet on a lower level to drain the pipes that you will be working on. there are a few shower valves that have shutoffs on them under the cover plate. i'm not sure when they started to use that though, or how common it is. i saw that on this old house, and rich said some brands did it. good luck, hope this helps.

Answer 3

There are close off valves at your house of residing, call a plumber and he will turn it off or you could...yet be certain you recognize which valve to close. occasion: have you ever appeared under your sink interior the bathing room and seen the faucets that close the water off? There are units on your bathtub, they may be interior the basement, on the factor of the water heater.

Answer 4

the only way to know for sure is to open it up. there shouldnt be one there, but you never know whn you are working behind someone else. if your remodeling, turn off water to house then install valve. then restore water to house. but remember, the more fittings in your wall the more potential leaks. good luck

Answer 5

Nope, your shower won't have a shut off valve, you'll have to turn off the water for the house.

Answer 6

No. You will have to turn it of at the main. It wouldn't be very useful if you had to rip out the tile or cut a hole in the wall to use them..

Answer 7

stops on wall, & for shower & tub you must kill it to the whole house!!!

@ water meter, or if lucky a shut off where your supply enters the house!

if working on only hot water side, shut off the water heater!

Answer 8

Sorry, but it is the main valve fot the house.