Hot Water Danger!
Every year, thousands of people in the U.S.A. suffer serious thermal shock or scalding injuries in their bathtubs, sinks and showers. This problem doesn’t happen to often with traditional water heaters, but indirect water heaters, and booster (any kind of storage tank running off of the boiler) can cause serious problems. Boilers in the warm months will only go up to about 120 degrees and the water most likely won’t get hot enough to burn you, however in the winter/ cold months the boilers internal temperature will be at least 140 up to 180 degrees to meet the heating demands! If you don’t have a thermostatic mixing valve installed on your indirect water heater, the water flowing threw your house could be the same as the boiler. Meaning in the winter months you will have 140 – 180 (scalding hot water) coming out of your shower heads, and faucets. This is a big safety issue for babies,children, seniors, and everyone that has a central never systems for that matter!!!
Problem: Thermal Shock
Thermostatic Mixing Valve
Often, injuries in the shower are caused by slips and falls in reaction to a sudden increase in water temperature. Ideally, if the supply of cold or hot water is lost, the water flow should be shut down immediately. Termination of flow would eliminate the instinctive but dangerous reaction to move quickly away from a too hot or too cold water stream.
Solution:
Watts Thermostatic Mixing Valves maintain and limit mixed hot water to desired, selectable temperature, helping to minimize thermal shock.
Problem: Scalding
More than 90% of scalding incidents occur in the home. The tender skin of very young children and the slow reaction time of the elderly and the handicapped make them most vulnerable to serious hot water burns.Scalding injuries are tremendously painful, and the effects can last for years. Scalding occurs for a variety of reasons. In some cases, water heater thermostats are faulty, or set too high. In others, temperature regulating valves at the domestic hot water source are either malfunctioning or missing altogether. Water heaters are normally set to temperatures above 131°F (55°C) to prevent development of harmful bacteria, such as Legionella, in the water supply. Water at temperatures above 106°F (41°C) are painful. At a temperature of 131°F (55°C), a child can be scalded in less than 4 seconds.
Solution:
Watts Thermostatic Mixing Valves maintain and limit the mixed hot water to a desirable selectable temperature, helping to prevent scalding injury.
How Thermostatic Mixing Valves Work.
When a faucet is opened for warm or hot water, a thermostat in the mixing chamber of the valve senses the outlet temperature. The thermostat automatically positions a seat assembly which controls the flow of hot and cold water supplied to the mixing chamber. If the mixed outlet temperature increases, the thermostat will expand moving the seat assembly to allow the cold water inlet port to open more fully and at the same time restricting the hot water inlet port. Conversely, if the mixed outlet temperature decreases, the thermostat will contract moving the seat assembly to allow the hot water inlet port to open more fully and at the same time restricting the cold water inlet port. In both cases the mixed outlet water temperature is automatically and continually maintained at the preset temperature within the tolerances of the valve. In the event of a cold or hot water supply failure, the seat assembly moves to an extreme position shutting off the hot or cold inlet water port. A mechanical adjustment and key permits selection of the desired outlet water temperature within range of the valve.
Indirect water heater with a Thermostatic mixing valve
In the picture on the right is thermostatic mixing valve installed on a indirect water heater.
A thermostatic mixing valve costs about a 100 dollars. For a good one such as any mixing valve made by the Watts company.
I don’t know if their is such a thing as a cheep mixing valve , because I never bought tried to buy one. Risking the safety of children over trying to save 20 -40 bucks is a isn’t something I’m ever going to do, and you shouldn’t either. When buying a mixing valve, make sure it is made of solid brass, from a company that’s been on the block for a few years. Warranties are always great to have too. Whether you will ever need it or not, warranties show me that the manufacture stands behind their products, so look for one.
Do you need a plumber? If you live in Connecticut just give contact us a call and we’ll be over in an hour or so!
We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas.
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