What is the lifespan of a tempering valve?

A tempering valve will typically last 5-8 years. Typically it's not a part that is repaired, with a full replacement the best option when something goes wrong. Performance and efficiency can gradually degrade, with regular hot water servicing an ideal way to assess any potential issues. Although this might not extend the life of a tempering valve, it will help for safety and hot water longevity.

Is there a difference between a tempering valve and a thermostatic mixing valve?

Commercial properties and large scale buildings like nursing homes and schools often benefit from an alternative valve, the thermostatic mixing valve (TMV). A TMV operates in the same way as a tempering valve, however its delivery is faster and more accurate. Its temperature control also operates within 1°C, instead of 3°C, allowing for precise hot water delivery. Anyone can have a TMV installed, however, the increased price means it really isn't a necessity. So if your hot water isn't supplying a business, aged care centre, hospital or school, you can rely on a regular tempering valve.

What happens if a tempering valve fails?

In a worst case scenario a malfunctioning tempering valve will not be able to properly control the temperature of your water. That could mean it either fails to cool down hot water, or it provides water that's too cold. Either way, the internal valves are faulty and you're not getting appropriate temperature control. Most tempering valves do have an automatic thermal shut-off feature if there's an issue with the hot or cold inlet supplies. This will most likely negate the above concerns by immediately shutting off your water. As a result, you'll need to contact a plumber for a timely hot water service.

Tempering Valve

What’s a Hot Water Tempering Valve?

The tempering valve (aka mixing valve) is an essential safety device that every Australian hot water system should have. Your risk of suffering serious burns or scalding is greatly reduced thanks to this small valve.

The role of a hot water tempering valve is incredibly simple; it takes the hot water supply from your hot water system and mixes it with cold water. This lowers the overall water temperature to a hot-but-safe 50°C. You’ll still mix this with more cold water to shower or wash the dishes, but direct exposure won’t leave you burned.

While the tempering valve exists to look after the safety of you and your family, Mr Emergency directly looks after your tempering valve. Our licensed plumbers provide annual maintenance and servicing to ensure all aspects of your water heater are working properly.

Older hot water systems may not have the appropriate safety measures. Your hot water tempering valve could be damaged or faulty. To avoid any unknown risks, our local plumbers provide replacement and installation services for 100% plumbing code compliance.

A licensed plumber is also the only person legally allowed to commission a hot water mixing valve in line with full Australian Standards compliance.

So, if you’re after a professional service, call Mr Emergency now. We’ll keep you safe with long term hot water solutions.

Making Your Hot Water Safe

Tempering valves were first made a legal requirement through Plumbing Code of Australia changes in 2013. That means every hot water system requires one for maximum safety and to avoid scalding.

Water inside a traditional storage tank hot water system is heated to at least 60°C, and often up to 65°C. A high temperature is necessary in the prevention of legionella bacteria growth. When legionella enters the lungs it triggers a disease called Legionnaires’, which is similar to pneumonia and is potentially deadly.

Legionella can be found in water tanks where the water temperature is between 20-45°C. The bacteria dies at 60°C or above. That’s why hot water temperature is so crucial: anything below 45°C and your health is put at risk.

However, higher temperatures present a scalding risk. Scalding hot water will result in second and third degree burns in just seconds at 60°C, especially when children are exposed.

Thankfully, a tempered hot water supply is a handy way to mitigate potential harm. Tempering valves mix hot and cold water to lower the outbound flow to 50°C. Tempered water at 50°C takes closer to seven minutes for second-degree burns.

Common Types of Tempering Valves

All tempering valves probably look the same to the average homeowner. No doubt it’s a rarely inspected bit of hardware. But if you went to your hot water system now and looked for something shaped like a capital T, well you’d be looking at your tempering valve.

It’s connected to both the hot and cold water supply and is usually located close to the water heater. Inside it contains a thermostatic element which is incredibly sensitive to changes in temperature.

As a result, it expands and contracts depending on the water temperature, triggering an internal piston to move. This either opens or closes the hot and cold supply taps to balance the overall temperature.

Tempering valves are found on all types of hot water systems and are defined by their cap colour:

Blue Cap Tempering Valve: Standard household storage water heaters
Orange Cap Tempering Valve: Solar hot water systems/Heat pump hot water systems
Green Cap Tempering Valve: Instantaneous Gas hot water systems (orange often used also)
Red or Black Cap Tempering Valve: Large capacity systems/Commercial water heaters

You won’t have to worry about the colour of your tempering valve cap. Leave that up to your Mr Emergency plumber. We adhere to the Plumbing Code of Australia and will ensure your hot water system has the appropriate tempering valve installed.

A tempering valve works in storage tanks. It is not necessary in tankless continuous flow models as there is no stored hot water and therefore harmful bacteria can’t develop. Without stored water, there is no bacterial growth.

Whatever your personal hygiene purposes, it is highly recommended that you do not adjust tempering valves yourself. If you need the water temperature higher, please get a qualified plumber to adjust your mixing valve. That way you can always trust your heated water.

Tempering Valve vs Thermostatic Mixing Valve

In the world of water heating, you’ll come across two essential devices: the tempering valve and the thermostatic mixing valve (TMV). While both are designed to blend hot and cold water to deliver water at a safe and comfortable temperature, they serve slightly different purposes and operate based on different principles.

A tempering valve ensures that the hot water reaching your taps is at a temperature that’s safe for use, typically around 50°C (122°F). It’s simple and usually responds to the water’s temperature on the outlet side, adjusting the mix of hot and cold water to maintain the set temperature.

On the other hand, a thermostatic mixing valve is a bit more advanced. TMVs respond almost immediately to any changes in the incoming water temperatures, making them particularly reliable in maintaining consistent outlet temperatures.

These valves are commonly used in settings where precise temperature control is critical, like in hospitals, primary and secondary schools and nursing homes, to prevent scalding and bacterial growth.

In essence, while both tempering valves and TMVs aim to provide safe water temperatures, TMVs offer a higher level of precision and responsiveness. So, when considering safety and reliability, it’s essential to understand these differences and choose the appropriate valve for your needs.

Finance Options** Hot Water

Our customers can always rely on local Mr Emergency plumbers for a professional hot water service. We have plumbers on call 24 hours a day, which means you can enjoy after hours attendance if necessary.

From the smallest tempering valve replacement to a full hot water unit installation, our work covers jobs big or small. We also provide more than just a quick fix. Our focus is on long-term solutions.

When you contact Mr Emergency you can always anticipate a tailor-made service. Customer satisfaction is the number one priority. That’s why we also provide finance options** payment plans for eligible customers.

Any hot water plumbing job can be covered through one of our providers, Zip or Humm. This means you can choose to pay for service in manageable weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments, depending on your choice of provider. Some plans even accept a $0 deposit, so you pay nothing upfront.

Then we can get on with the job of installing a new hot water system, TMV or tempering valve, depending on what you need.

We also accept payment by cash, cheque, direct transfer and credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express). We offer upfront pricing, so you always know what you’re playing.

If your hot water system’s delivery isn’t up to scratch, contact Mr Emergency today. We’ll have a licensed plumber at your home for professional tempering valve services. Your hot water is in safe hands.