Dear Pat: Whenever one of the kids flushes a toilet while I am showering, the water gets very hot. Would installing a new type of shower valve help, and can you give me some do-it-yourself tips ...

If you can solder a copper pipe, you should be able to install a pressure-balancing mixing valve yourself. A decent-quality valve will cost about $125.

Q: Dear Ed: We have an older shower stall, and the mixing valve has to be replaced. The valve is installed in an area hard to access, and we need to open up the tile. The present tile can’t be ...