Tempering Valve

Hot Water Tempering Valve

A tempering valve keeps the water delivered into your home from your hot water system at a safe temperature, which helps to avoid scalding or other possible injuries.

The valve is fed by the hot water and cold water pipes. Also known as a hot water mixing valve, it blends cold and hot water to prevent the temperature of your hot water supply from exceeding 50ºC.

According to the Plumbing Code of Australia, you are required by law to install a hot water mixing valve when you install a new hot water heating system. While you may have the ability to set it to a temperature higher than 50ºC, doing so goes against the plumbing code. This applies to all types of systems which includes solar and heat pump powered models.

How Does A Tempering Valve Work?

Using a thermostatic element submerged in water, the 3-way mixing valve can selectively open and close pipes to allow hot and cold water in. It does this by expanding and contracting in response to temperature changes. This controls a piston that opens and closes the hot and cold inlet pipes, thus regulating the temperature.

The ratio of hot and cold water varies in order to maintain the water at 50ºC. Tempering valves are accurate within 3ºC.

Your plumber sets your hot water storage tank to heat water to a minimum of 60ºC. This temperature is legally required to prevent bacterial growth from developing in storage tanks. However, it’s still too hot at 60ºC for safe usage, so the plumber installs a tempering valve after this, set at 50ºC. By mixing hot water with cold water to achieve the required 50ºC, you decrease your hot water usage and therefore your hot water demand.

Where You Will Find a Tempering Valve

Tempering valves are typically designed to be installed near the hot water system. Most can be installed in any orientation, vertical or horizontal, and have regulations related to installation distance depending on the type of water heater. Pressure-reducing valves may be installed where necessary, and most tempering valves require isolating valves on both inlet sides as well.

Tempering valves are not needed on gas powered tankless continuous flow models, because they are already set at 50ºC. Meanwhile, any large capacity systems that heats water in storage tanks at a higher temperature must have one installed. This is because the storage tank temperature must be set to at least 60ºC to kill off harmful bacteria such as legionella bacteria.

Professional Hot Water Maintenance

Only a licensed plumber, such as the experts at Metropolitan Plumbing, can install or replace a hot water tempering valve. Due to the incredibly specific nature of fine-tuning the part, you need an expert’s hand to set it to the correct temperature.

Plus, our technicians can also assess all aspects of an old or new hot water system, including the pressure limiting valve.

The pressure limiting valve limits the pressure coming into the hot water system to 500 kPa. You only need this valve if the water pressure going into the system is too high.  There is no need to limit the pressure that isn’t there.

24/7 Hot Water Service

Metropolitan Plumbing has experienced and local plumbing professionals who can service your current hot water system or provide you with a hot water system replacement. If something goes wrong with your hot water tap or tempering valve we can be at your door within an hour* of your call – or any time of the day.

We also offer upfront pricing and an exciting range of finance options** for eligible customers, so we can take care of any hot water system replacements, repairs or installations straight away.

Just choose a payment plan with one of our providers – Zip or Humm. You have the flexibility of weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments. Some plans even accept a $0 deposit, so you pay nothing upfront.

Your plumber can take you through the easy application process on site and approval usually takes only a few minutes.

We also accept payment by cash, cheque and credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express).

Book With The Hot Water Systems Specialists Today

If you’ve reached boiling point with the water temperature in your home, and need to get your instantaneous or stored hot water at a more manageable and safe temperature, get in touch with Metropolitan Plumbing today. In addition to tempering valves, we can replace all valve types including the inlet valve, sliding valve and more. We’ll have a plumber at your door in a flash.