Installing a Thermostatic Mixing Valve

Users who are viewing this thread

tilleyd

New Member
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Minnesota
Hello,

My whirlpool tub runs out of hot water and I was advised by the water-heater manufacturer(AOSMITH Vertex) to install a thermostatic mixing valve and then set the water heater to the highest setting. They said this would also be more energy-efficient.

Now, I'm not a plumber but I do like to take on DIY projects. Can you please share a good brand Thermostatic Mixing Valve that is easy to install and does not require complex techiques? I would love to try installing one myself. Also a helpful video of the process would be greatly appreciated. Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,
Tilley
 

Terry

The Plumbing Wizard
Staff member
Messages
29,946
Reaction score
3,460
Points
113
Location
Bothell, Washington
Website
terrylove.com
I like the Honeywell

honeywell_am_1_a.jpg


https://terrylove.com/forums/showth...atic-Mixing-Valves-(-water-heater-tempering-)

I would not use an Apollo.
 
Last edited:

Tom Sawyer

In the Trades
Messages
3,625
Reaction score
34
Points
48
Location
Maine
A lot depends on the size and recovery rate of your water heater and the size of your whirlpool and the flow rate of the faucet.
 

essjay

New Member
Messages
25
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Pennsylvania
Are there any limitations to using a thermostatic mixing valve or are they set and forget? Any preventative maint. required?

The install instructions describe setting a temp strip on the mixed output and adjusting to desired temp. BUT, if there is a big temp swing in cold water supply between winter and summer months (think 30 degrees plus) will this valve be able to handle the swing? Have not found any documentation regarding this point.
 

tilleyd

New Member
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Minnesota
According to my conversation with Aquatic Bath & Tub, Terry is correct. These valves lock in the temperature, mixing in the correct amount of cold water, regardless of the initial water's temperature. Supposedly this will save me a lot of $$$ on my energy bill and also provide a longer lasting supply of hot water. I look forward to testing this out!
 

Jadnashua

Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
Messages
32,771
Reaction score
1,191
Points
113
Location
New England
Where I live, they are required on ALL WH installations/replacements as a safety feature. Running your tank hotter will not save you money for energy, since the hotter the tank, the more standby losses there are. It does not make much of any difference in the actual heating of the water, though, as it takes the same amount of energy to actually heat it. It does provide safety and an effectively larger WH (if you raise the storage temp) delivered volume, since it's mixing some cold into the output which means for each gallon of hot delivered to the fixture, you're using less than a gallon of heated water. It can allow you to get by with a smaller tank, which has some benefits in costs and space, though. It's not magic, though, when your tank cools off below the mixing valve, you'll get essentially straight out of the tank, depleting what little hot water's left faster since it will no longer be mixing in cold to 'temper' the output. These things are often referred to as a tempering valve.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks