How Do Faucets Control the Temperature of Water? - Ken's Plumbing

One of the best things about modern plumbing is that it just kind of works. You don't necessarily have to think about where your water goes when it drains or how a faucet can produce hot and cold water, but when you start thinking about those things, it can be hard to figure out how everything actually works.

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Take the hot and cold water thought for example you know you have a water heater so where is the cold water coming from? And how does turning a knob or two get you the right temperature inside when you set the thermostat on the water heater outside?

Now that we've got you thinking, let's solve this plumbing mystery...

How Your Home Gets Hot, Warm, and Cold Water

Whether you have individual knobs for hot and cold or one master knob that controls everything, your faucet is connected to two water lines: the hot water line which runs from your water heater, and a cold water line that runs from your main water line.

Of course, turning on only the cold water nozzle (or turning your singular knob all the way to the right) will give you only cold, and turning on only the hot water nozzle (or turning your singular knob all the way to the left) will give you only hot water. Turning on both handles (or adjusting your singular knob to be not fully left or right) will allow water from both water lines to mix before coming out of the faucet according to the ratio of hot to cold you've selected.

But, believe it or not, the hot and cold handle(s) aren't actually what control the temperature of the water. Depending upon your faucet, there's some combination of different valve-like devices, such as mixer taps, single handle mixers, temperature control valves, and thermostatic mixing valves that are all controlled by the handle(s) to get you your perfect temperature shower.

So there you have it, the answer to a plumbing question you didn't even know you had! If you're having trouble getting hot or warm water, it may be time to start shopping for a new water heater. When choosing a hot water heater, you need to take into consideration the size of your house (or business), the number of people living in your home, how much hot water you use on a daily basis, and even maintenance.

If you need help making the right choice, give us a call at (864) 242- or contact us online — we're here to help with all of your plumbing needs!

If your facility does not have anti-scald faucets and valves, you risk placing members of your community at risk of first, second, and even third-degree burns. 

Installing scald protection products in your buildings will not only improve public safety, it also ensures that you remain compliant with federal, state, and local mandates.

Here's what you need to know about anti-scald fixtures and fittings. Take a moment to understand the technology behind these devices that keep you and the rest of the community safe when patronizing your facilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Water at 155º F will burn you within one second of contact, and at 160º F can scald a person in half a second of contact with skin. Children are the most vulnerable to scalding.

• Anti-scald technology balances the pressure between cold and hot water flows. Install anti-scald devices in sinks with faucets that have a single handle for water temperature controls.

• Anti-scald valves are also called mixing valves or temperature valves and work by adding cold water to ensure the hot water is never hot enough to scald someone.

• There are three types of anti-scald devices, including thermostatic mixing (Type T), pressure-balanced (Type P), and combination fittings (Type T/P). 

Facts About Scalding

Children, the elderly, and those with certain disabilities are the most vulnerable to getting burned by water that is too hot. Here are some alarming facts about scalding:

• Scalding is the most common injury in infants and young children (Seattle Children's Hospital) 
• Approximately 20% of all burn injuries are from scalding incidents (SF Gate)
• Nearly 75% of scalding cases in children are preventable (John Hopkins Medical)
• Roughly 450,000 patients seek treatment for burns requiring hospital visits that involve skin graphs and plastic surgery (Beacon Health Systems)

How Does Anti-Scald Faucet Technology Work?

Anti-scald faucets and valves are devices in your plumbing fixtures that prevent water from getting too hot. Federal, state, and local municipalities typically mandate these devices according to building codes to help keep the public safe by preventing painful burn injuries.

While nearly every state has anti-scald device requirements in commercial and residential structures, older buildings may still have outdated fixtures that do not meet these requirements. 

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These protection devices balance the pressure between cold and hot water flows and are generally not expensive. The device senses when someone is using insufficient amounts of cold water, risking scalding, and adjusts as the water temperature changes. It does this by limiting the amount of hot water that can move through the chamber of the fixture. 

Faucets with separate hot and cold water controls do not require anti-scald valves like those with a single handle operation, touchless fixtures, and metering faucets. Although, you will still want to install a scald guard for dual-handle fixtures. You control them using adjustable knobs and set the water to the correct temperature.

What is an Anti-Scald Valve?

Also known as a mixing valve (or tempering valve), anti-scald devices add cold water to the hot water before it leaves the faucet, even if a person only uses the hot water setting on the handle. This function keeps the water from getting hot enough to scald anyone. 

Bacteria can grow in water with temperatures below 120º F. That can leave water unsafe for use. When water heaters are at 140º F, the water inside the tank is free from harmful bacteria.
 

However, water at that temperature can lead to second or third-degree burns with less than five minutes of exposure. Installing an anti-scald valve will help users avoid these painful burns.

You can install these fittings in:

• Showerheads
• Tub spouts
• Kitchen Faucets
• Restroom Faucets

3 Types of Anti-Scald Faucets and Valves to Keep Your Patrons Safe  

Protect the most vulnerable people against scalding. Install one of these anti-scald faucets and valves at your facility to keep the water from getting too hot and keep your patrons safe:

1. Thermostatic Mixing (Type T)  

Type T faucets and valves have a thermostatic element inside of the unit. You never need to recalibrate the fixture if you change the temperature on the building's hot water heater. These fixtures and fittings are somewhat more expensive than Type P models. 

However, they are worth the added expense because these faucets and valves allow you to set your water heater to higher temp settings. That enables you to ensure that the water is hot enough to kill bacteria that could be in the water supplies.

The graph below shows the three most common thermostatic anti-scald faucets available from Chicago Faucets, a Geberit Company, one of the world's leading manufacturers of plumbing products, using TempShield® Technology. Use this chart to compare water temperature control features, power supply options, ADA compliance, flow rates, and whether the model is vandal-proof. 

2. Pressure-Balanced (Type P)  

This type is the least expensive of the anti-scald models available. It allows you to control water pressure using a piston or diaphragm inside the fixture. These components move in to react to changes in water pressure. One downside of a Type P is that you must recalibrate the faucet if you change the water heater's temperature. 

3. Combination (Type T/P)  

When you install a Type T/P anti-scald fitting, you get the best of both Type P and Type T. The pistons within the fixture balance water pressure while the thermostatic element reacts to the temperature of the water. 

The price point on these devices falls between the other two types. Although, expect to pay more for commercial-grade faucets and valves. These devices are more durable to withstand the wear and tear of high-traffic facilities.

Installing Anti-Scald Faucets and Valves  

Once you have found the anti-scald devices you need for your facility, American Home Shield offers an installation how-to for anyone looking to replace the fitting. Although, we highly recommend that you have some form of plumbing experience. Otherwise, you may want to hire someone with plumbing expertise.

At Chicago Faucets, we offer durable commercial-grade faucets, fixtures, and fittings that not only withstand the abuse of heavy use but they also offer safety features like anti-scald technology so that you can keep everyone who visits, works at, or lives in your facilities. 

Are you interested in learning more about Temperature Control Water Faucet? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!