Shower of power ... Sleepless in Chicago

Q: I'm thinking of taking out my 5-foot tub and building a big shower with several different spray heads around the walls and in the ceiling. What professional tips should I keep in mind when designing the stall? -- Andy in New Jersey

A: The first tip I can give you is to make sure your custom-shower unit runs as efficiently as possible.

I take the issue of conserving water very seriously and promote water conservation in speeches across the country. However, I understand that homeowners have the right to install what they want for plumbing fixtures as long as local codes are met. It's all about choice, and I'm the guy who can show people that it is possible to have a luxury shower stall and still save water.

My first recommendation is that since you are doing a major remodeling job in your bathroom anyway, make sure you install new water-saving faucets and a high-efficiency toilet as well. The water savings from your new high-efficiency toilet and faucets may offset or exceed the extra water use in your custom shower right there.

But don't stop at that. In the custom shower, you can also use high-efficiency showerheads as well. A standard showerhead uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute. "Performance" showerheads are designed to use 1.75 gpm and can still deliver a very strong spray. So, four performance showerheads may use the same amount of water as three standard heads.

Finally -- and here is the big one! -- incorporate diverter valves or two mixing valves into the shower to "zone" the system. A zoned custom shower will allow different parts of the shower to operate independently and this will save water because all the heads may not be on at the same time.

On high-end custom showers, a computerized mixing valve called a "DTV" (digital thermostatic valve) may be used to automatically move the water around multiple zones. Also, make sure you work with a licensed plumber on your project to ensure proper water pressure and draining for your shower stall.

Q: I recently moved into a downtown Chicago apartment and everything has changed from what I have been used to growing up. Recently, when my steam heat comes on, it sounds like a football player is hitting my radiator with a sledgehammer. It keeps me up all night! Is this normal, and is there anything I can do to stop this? Or do I have to get the building supervisor to work on the boiler? -- Dan

A: Welcome to the big city, Dan! Yes, from what I've heard, banging noises from steam heating systems is a common complaint, but in many cases they can be quieted down a bit. The most common cause of banging noises in a steam system is when the room radiators or steam lines get flooded with water, instead of draining back to the boiler.

Steam is a very powerful force. And when the hot steam from the boiler comes in contact with colder water in radiators, it can cause problems. You need to call your building's plumber or pipefitter as soon as possible to try and drain the trapped water. Servicing any heating system, especially steam heat, is a job for licensed heating professionals only. But, the good news is that once the water is removed, the radiators should stop making noises.

(Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call" and for hosting TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. For information, visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande(at)hgtvpro.com. Always consult local contractors and codes. For more stories, visit scrippsnews.com.)

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