Exposed Shower Systems are popular in renovation projects because they avoid opening finished walls, keep service parts accessible, and shorten installation time compared with fully concealed valve bodies. From a manufacturer’s standpoint, the best installations share three things: stable water pressure, correct pipe alignment, and verified anti-scald temperature control.

AIDIER designs exposed shower systems for repeatable field installation in wholesale and OEM/ODM projects, with controlled tolerances on the bar body, connector spacing, and finishing consistency to reduce rework during site assembly.

Before You Start: Confirm Site Conditions

1) Verify water pressure and stability Many homes operate within a broad range, but plumbing standards commonly treat 80 psi as the maximum static supply pressure and require pressure regulation when it is higher. For consistent shower performance, a moderated range is often targeted, and WaterSense testing references flow performance at multiple pressures including 80 psi.

2) Confirm expected shower flow rate In the US market, the long-standing federal baseline frequently referenced is 2.5 gpm, while WaterSense labeled showerheads are capped at 2.0 gpm, described as a 20 percent reduction versus the federal level. This matters for sizing, because undersized supplies or clogged filters show up immediately as low flow on an exposed system.

3) Confirm anti-scald control strategy Modern plumbing expectations typically call for an approved shower control valve with anti-scald performance. Code text commonly references ASSE 1016 compliant shower control valves for temperature protection at the point of use.

4) Decide safe temperature limits Scald risk rises sharply as temperature increases. A peer-reviewed medical paper notes that 140°F can cause a serious burn in about 3 seconds, while 120°F can take about 10 minutes. For installation setup, this supports using a maximum temperature limit stop and commissioning the valve rather than leaving it at a factory default.

Tools and Materials Checklist

• Adjustable wrench and torque discipline to avoid twisting fittings

• Level, tape measure, marker

• Drill, appropriate bits, wall anchors for tile or masonry

• Thread seal tape or approved thread sealant for threaded joints

• Silicone sealant for wall penetrations

• Bucket and cloth for flushing lines

• Pressure gauge if the project requires documented commissioning

Key Specs at a Glance

Step-by-Step Installation

Step 1: Shut off, drain, and protect the finish

• Shut off main water supply or localized shutoff valves.

• Open the lowest faucet to relieve pressure and drain residual water.

• Mask tile edges and protect finishes to prevent wrench marks.

Step 2: Mark the mounting height and centerline

• Determine the finished showerhead height based on project requirements.

• Mark a vertical centerline and use a level to ensure the bar body will sit straight.

• For multi-unit projects, standardize the dimension set so replacement parts are consistent across rooms.

Step 3: Flush the supply lines before connecting the valve body

Before the exposed valve body is installed, briefly flush hot and cold lines into a bucket:

• This clears solder debris, sand, and scale that can block check valves, screens, or cartridges.

• Debris is one of the most common causes of uneven hot-cold balance on first start.

Step 4: Install wall mounts and escutcheons

• Drill and anchor wall mounts according to substrate type.

• Seal wall penetrations to prevent moisture migration behind tile.

• Do not over-compress decorative covers, since distortion can reveal gaps later.

Step 5: Connect hot and cold supplies to the exposed mixer

• Confirm left-right orientation to match local convention and product marking.

• Apply thread sealing correctly on threaded joints and keep sealing material away from the first thread to avoid internal contamination.

• Tighten evenly. Do not use the valve body as a lever, as this can twist internal parts and misalign the bar.

Step 6: Mount the bar body and check alignment

• Secure the mixer onto wall mounts.

• Re-check level and symmetry.

• AIDIER systems are typically built with controlled connector spacing and rigid bar straightness to reduce the need for field bending, which helps installers maintain a clean visual line in hotel and apartment projects.

Step 7: Install the riser, showerhead, and hand shower set

• Assemble riser pipe, brackets, and top showerhead.

• Install the hand shower holder and connect hose.

• Confirm hose routing does not rub sharp edges.

Step 8: Pressure test and leak check

• Turn water on slowly to avoid water hammer.

• Check every joint with a dry tissue test, especially at concealed wall penetrations.

• If supply pressure exceeds 80 psi static, install or verify a pressure-reducing valve upstream as required by applicable code practice.

Step 9: Commission temperature limit stop and function

• Set maximum temperature limit stop during commissioning, not after complaints.

• Validate stable temperature when another fixture is turned on, since pressure swings can occur in real use.

• This is also where specifying ASSE 1016 compliant control becomes meaningful in project documentation.

Common Installation Mistakes and Fast Fixes

Uneven hot and cold or “temperature hunting”

• Cause: debris, reversed supplies, unstable pressure.

• Fix: flush lines again, clean screens, verify left-right connection, verify pressure regulation.

Low flow at showerhead and strong flow at faucet elsewhere

• Cause: clogged screens, kinked hose, partially closed stop valves.

• Fix: inspect inlet filters, straighten hose routing, confirm shutoffs are fully open.

Drip after shutoff

• Cause: trapped water in head, cartridge contamination, sealing damage from over-tightening.

• Fix: clean cartridge area and avoid over-torque during assembly.

Why AIDIER Is a Safer Fit for Project Installations

• Manufacturing consistency that installers feel immediately: controlled assembly tolerances and finishing stability reduce alignment issues on exposed bars.

• Compliance-ready configurations: selection pathways that support temperature control expectations such as ASSE 1016 referenced shower control requirements.

• Supply resilience for commercial schedules: dual production bases and standardized QC flow help stabilize lead times for wholesale rollouts.

• OEM/ODM execution for unified bathrooms: coordinated sets across shower systems, faucets, and accessories to keep visual language consistent and simplify spare parts planning.

A correctly installed exposed shower system should deliver stable flow, predictable temperature control, and a clean wall finish with serviceable access for years of use.