By Gene and Katie Hamilton

A pressure shower valve is designed to control the flow of hot and cold water, protecting you from a blast of scalding water when someone flushes a toilet or turns on a dishwasher. If you've ever experienced such a blast, you know its jolting effect, which can be especially harmful to children or the elderly while they bathe.

These anti-scald controls are designed as replacement units and eliminate the need to tear open the wall to remove the old valve and lines, a major concern when remodeling. The design provides access to remove the old valve from the supply lines and space to install support blocking between wall studs for the new valve. A wide escutcheon or faceplate conceals the opening.

DIY Hassle Alert

This is not a quick swap, so if you're at all intimidated, hire a plumber. You'll pay $276 for labor and material to replace an old shower valve with a new thermostatic valve control. By hiring a pro, you're assured the installation will meet all the building code requirements, a worthwhile investment. If you have plumbing experience and tools, you can do it yourself for $140, the cost of the new control and save 49 percent.

Don't want to get involved doing this job yourself? Click here to get to Home Advisor, a free referral service that connects homeowners with local prescreened contractors.

The Spruce has more information about a Pressure Balance Shower Valve.

Now you know the average cost to install a pressure shower valve, which includes the labor and material, and what’s involved, so you can decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor. Don’t forget to adjust the cost to where you live by adding your ZIP Code.

Improvement and Repair Cost Updated 2019