Water Heater Tempering Valves: Uses, Types and Wear Signs
The therapeutic benefits water provides when taking a hot shower are incomparable; even a brief wash-up could make one feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Be that as it may, there’s a fine line between taking a hot shower that’s relaxing and one that burns your skin.
The key to balancing it all out lies in the efficient tempering valve - a small but powerful device. As a crucial component of modern plumbing systems, its purpose is to make handling hot tap water safe. It’s designed to limit the water temperature you get out of the tap, i.e. prevent the water from getting too hot by being set to a certain maximum temperature.
It does so by mixing the hot water from the hot water system with the cold water from the general water supply, relying on smart sensors to check and control the temperature. As a result, it also helps protect your water system and make it more efficient. Additionally, using less hot water means cutting down on the energy bill while also protecting the environment with a lower carbon footprint lifestyle.
Tempering Valve Uses and Types
First of all, be careful not to confuse tempering valves with thermostatic mixing valves (TMV), which are more expensive and are highly accurate as they react instantly to temperature change above 45°C. While the thermostatic mixing valves are more suitable for public facilities like schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, the tempering valves are a common sight in residential settings.
To make the most of this crucial addition to your plumbing system, choose the right solution by selecting from tempering valve products with different cap colours. This can further help you abide by the Australian Building Codes Board’s (ABCB) Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) requirements like the AS3500.4.2 standard, and avoid problems with harmful bacteria like legionnaires.
The different options of hot water tempering valve products we have available from Direct, RMC, and AVG brands include:
Standard Tempering Valves
For electric, heat pump, and gas storage tanks, there are the standard tempering valves which are found with blue, black, and yellow caps. Blue is a typical choice for application with electric water heaters, whereas black works with large capacity systems present in commercial settings. Green is another option used in gas storage and tankless continuous flow systems.
High Temperature Tempering Valves
When it comes to having continuous flow hot water systems and solar applications, this calls for the use of orange and some yellow hot water system tempering valve options.
Transfer Valves
Although it depends on the brand, as some manufacturers can use colours like red interchangeably with orange and yellow for high temperature hot water systems, heat pump, and solar systems, red is usually a transfer valve. This one delivers a high-temperature water supply to laundry and kitchen sinks.
Ranging Sizes
Made to cater to the different needs with varying plumbing line sizes, there are different sizes of temperature control valves for hot water available, such as:
- 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm for residential use, and
- Larger 65 mm valves or a combination of smaller valves for commercial use.
Additional Features
While there are traditional valves that are manual and require hand adjustment, there are also advanced options of water temperature regulating valves that come with automatic adjustment for added flexibility.
For peace of mind, it’s advisable to look for a design with a temperature gauge to help you out with easy monitoring. Another helpful feature is insulation, as it makes the tempering valve water heater solutions provide more optimal performance.
In some cases, with certain appliances or situations like maintaining or repairing a water filter, a by-pass valve can come in handy for untampered water.
Buying Considerations
As mentioned, there are different brands offering tempering valves in a range of colours and sizes, so it’s essential to ask the right questions and do your research.
First, assess your household’s water heater, specifically focusing on its type and size, to know what type and size of the tempering valve you require. It wouldn’t hurt to also consider your household’s hot water usage, keeping the number of bathrooms and fixtures in mind.
And, to be on the safe side, look for products made to comply with the strict Australian standards and check with the local building code requirements for your specific location.
When in doubt, contact us for tips and advice with your shopping, and get a professional plumber’s help with the installation, valve adjustment, repair, or replacement. This is to ensure the valve functions at its best for what it’s designed to do.
When it’s well-chosen and properly installed, it’s also more efficient and works without overwhelming your hot water system with overheating or underheating. Think of it this way: hiring a plumber is an investment that can save you from costly repairs and replacements down the road.
How to Tell If a Tempering Valve is Bad?
There will certainly be signs. While valves are a durable plumbing system tool, especially when you buy high-quality designs, they too have their own lifespan, lasting from 5 to 8 years. Ideally, to be on the safe side, you’d be advised to change them after 5 years of use.
Regularly monitoring this tool is essential for preventing issues and nipping problems in the bud. One sign that indicates something’s wrong is the water going cold or the hot water pressure getting low. Depending on the material, some cheaper valves can corrode with time, experience significant wear, or even get clogged with mineral deposits.
Other signs could be noises, temperature fluctuations showing the valves aren’t as efficient as before, and the valves and/or hot tap dripping even when the water is turned off. Regular maintenance by draining the tank twice a year to prevent mineral build up and yearly professional servicing are as important as timely valve replacement in keeping the hot water system up and running.
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