A neo-angle shower renovation in St. Thomas turned up more than tile and framing. Behind the wall, Triton Home Service found a shower valve connected with push-fit fittings and aging PEX-B pipe. Here’s what a proper shower valve replacement actually looks like once the wall comes down.
Tearing Out the Old Shower Enclosure
The project started with a customer-supplied neo-angle shower kit. Before installing anything new, Triton removed the old shower enclosure and wall paneling down to bare studs. That’s the only way to properly inspect framing and rough-in plumbing before building anything new.
What Was Found Behind the Wall
Opening the wall meant repositioning the shower valve for the new kit. That’s when Triton found the existing valve connected with push-fit fittings, on old PEX-B pipe. Nothing about it looked professionally installed.
“I don’t dislike push-fit fittings because they’re not permitted. I dislike them because homeowners think they’ve done the job right, when the fitting was never cleaned or deburred properly.” — Aron Oretan, Triton Home Service
Triton Field Note: Push-fit fittings need the pipe end cleaned and deburred before they’re pushed on. Skip that step, and the seal is never fully reliable. Aron has seen these fittings fail outright — flooding second floors and basements, or twisting loose by accident.
Why Triton Doesn’t Bury Push-Fit Connections
Push-fit fittings have a real place in plumbing. Aron uses them occasionally, but only as a temporary fix, and never buried permanently behind a wall.
In an emergency, a push-fit fitting can restore water fast when soldering isn’t possible. That’s the extent of it. Once the wall closes, Triton wants a connection built to last decades, not one relying on a rubber O-ring and a grab ring holding pressure.
The Fix: Hard Copper and Press Fittings
Triton removed the old push-fit connections and PEX-B pipe entirely. The shower valve was re-positioned and reconnected using hard copper pipe with press fittings, built to match the new neo-angle layout.
Finishing the Installation
With the valve secure, Triton fitted and levelled the customer-supplied neo-angle shower base, then connected the drain assembly.
[Photo: Neo-Angle Shower Base Installation, St. Thomas, Ontario]
Alt text: Customer-supplied neo-angle shower base positioned on the floor prior to drain connection during a bathroom renovation in St. Thomas, Ontario.
Caption: Customer-supplied neo-angle shower base fitted into place against bare studs by Triton Home Services in St. Thomas, Ontario, ahead of final drain assembly.
The acrylic wall panels went in last, custom-cut around the newly positioned copper valve and sealed.
(A final photo with the glass doors and finished drywall wasn’t captured on this job — the panels above show the last stage documented.)
Why This Matters for Your Renovation
A shower kit is only as good as the plumbing behind it. Triton offers full plumbing services for bathroom and shower renovations across St. Thomas and London, including a proper inspection of valve connections before your new kit goes in.
Plumbing certification is compulsory in Ontario, which is part of why hiring a licensed plumber for a shower valve replacement matters — it isn’t just paperwork. Book a renovation consultation online or call 226-270-5177 before your next reno starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a shower valve replacement?
It’s the process of removing and reinstalling the valve that controls water temperature and flow to a shower, often required when relocating a valve for a new shower kit.
Are push-fit fittings legal for plumbing in Ontario?
Triton’s understanding is that they’re permitted under code in certain applications. Triton avoids burying them permanently regardless, due to failure risk if not installed correctly.
Why did Triton replace push-fit fittings that weren’t leaking?
The fittings weren’t installed correctly, and push-fit connections aren’t intended for permanent, inaccessible use behind a finished wall. Replacing them prevented a future failure, not a current one.
What is PEX-B, and is it a problem on its own?
PEX-B is a legal, commonly used plumbing pipe material. Triton generally prefers PEX-A for its added flexibility and resilience, but PEX-B itself wasn’t the core issue in this job.
How much does a shower valve replacement cost during a renovation?
It depends on access and how much rerouting the new layout requires. A valve reposition during an open-wall renovation is typically more efficient than a standalone repair later.
Why hire a licensed plumber instead of doing it yourself?
Plumbing trade certification is compulsory in Ontario. A licensed plumber recognizes installation shortcuts, like poorly seated push-fit fittings, that can fail years later.
About the Author
Aron Oretan is the owner of Triton Home Service, a Red Seal Plumber and Red Seal Steamfitter with over 26 years in the trade. He holds the RSE designation and has spent five years teaching at Fanshawe College. Triton serves London, St. Thomas, and the surrounding Southwestern Ontario region with residential service, renovations, and ICI new construction.
