How to Hook Up Water Lines for a Shower

Locate the hot and cold water lines that run to your bathroom. Locate the water supply cutoff valves closest to the bathroom pipes and turn them to the off position. Use your pipe cutter to open both pipes at their end point so that copper lines can be installed to divert the water supply toward the shower faucet.

Attach 1/2-inch copper tubing to the open water supply lines and run them to the shower faucet location. Attach a 1/2-inch double female coupling without threads to the open pipe using your propane torch and lead-free pipe solder to make the joint. Slide the coupling onto the open pipe so that it extends past the end of the pipe by about halfway. Heat the pipe and the coupling for a few moments, moving the torch constantly so the heat is even. Touch the pipe solder to the seam between the coupling and the pipe until it melts and fills the gap. Repeat the process with the other pipe.

Attach a length of copper tubing to the open end of the coupling in the same manner. Run the tubing to the shower valve installation location, using wooden wall studs as mounts. Press the pipe against the studs and place pipe brackets over them. Use your screw gun and the screws provided to fasten the pipes in place.

Install a piece of 2-by-4 inch lumber between the wall studs where your shower faucet will be mounted. Attach the piping to the wood with a bracket, and use your pipe cutter to cut it to the proper length. Install a 90-degree copper elbow to the end of the pipe with your torch and solder. The elbow should end with a threaded female opening.

Wrap the threaded ends of your shower faucet valves with Teflon tape about three times around. Insert the valves into the open elbow and tighten with your adjustable wrench. Turn on the water supply cutoff valves and test the lines.