Just to clarify...you want two shower heads? A fixed shower head and a hand held?

If so, then yes, you will need both valves.

The first valve is your mixing valve. That's how you turn on the water and select the temperature.

The second valve is your diverter valve. The diverter will direct the water from the mixing valve to the head you wish the water to come out of.

Jeez you're fast! Thanks. Yes, I want both. Will the diverter allow me to use both at the same time? I don't know if I will do that but I'm trying to figure out every possible angle.

Usually, a 3 port diverter valve can be plumbed to allow both to be used at once. But, you will want to make sure you have sufficient water pressure to do that.

Usually, a 3 port diverter valve can be plumbed to allow both to be used at once. But, you will want to make sure you have sufficient water pressure to do that.

And that where you live does not restrict the total output to a gpm amount that is less than that of the two shower heads combined.

gina - if you're not set on Pfister, you can get a single valve that controls both shower heads. Hansgrohe makes them. I have a Thermobalance II, which allows me to use one or the other; a TB III can be plumbed to allow you to use both heads at the same time. Their new valve is called a Unifit, I think, and it allows a lot of flexibility. All of these have a temp control, volume control, and diverter function built in, as far as I know.

"Will the diverter allow me to use both at the same time?"

Yes.

Thanks everyone. I read through all the local codes and didn't see such a restriction. I will discuss with the plumbing contractor. Pfister fits my budget - all the fixtures for double sink vanity, bath tub, shower and powder room add up - this stuff's more expensive than I remember. Inflation? I know the Toto toilets have gone up a lot since six years ago.

Two heads isn't an issue, especially with today's GPM restrictions on heads.

The number one thing that I see overlooked plumbing-wise in multi-head showers is if you have more than three heads in a shower (to include body sprays), then you have to increase the size of the drain from the standard 2" drain to a 3" drain. Or use two 2" drains.

I read through all the local codes and didn't see such a restriction.

I mentioned it because your Member's Page states you are in CA, and I thought you might fall under the CalGreen water restrictions.

Mongo, we probably will never use the heads together - just wondering if it was possible.

How would you connect a 3 way diverter to allow you to use either or both the shower head and the handheld at the same time?

I used a single thermostatic valve made by California Faucets that has a large temperature control in the center of the bezel, flanked by two smaller levers for water volume control, which allow the two showerheads to be used together or alone in any proportion, with all three levers contained in one valve unit. They're available with round or rectangular metal backplates, in several colors/finishes, with numorous style choices for the knobs and levers. Like it a whole lot.

I used a single thermostatic valve made by California Faucets that has a large temperature control in the center of the bezel, flanked by two smaller levers for water volume control, which allow the two showerheads to be used together or alone in any proportion, with all three levers contained in one valve unit. They're available with round or rectangular metal backplates, in several colors/finishes, with numorous style choices for the knobs and levers. Like it a whole lot.