Valve with timer on hot water line

[TomD]

Is there a valve with a timer that can be installed on a hot water pipe so that the valve shuts after, say, ten minutes of flow?

 

[Mliu]

I've never heard of such a device. One could be custom-built, but why?

It would help if you told us what, exactly, you're trying to achieve and why. Is this to stop your kids from taking more than 10-minute showers?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

Would https://www.homedepot.com/p/TimeOut-1-2-in-Brass-Washing-Machine-Automatic-Shut-off-Ball-Valve-2354/203535788 do it for you, or do you have some other requirements?

There are also devices called shower timers.

There are timers for garden hoses for watering such as https://www.homedepot.com/p/Outdoor-Garden-Hose-Mechanical-Water-Timer-MWT-08/303632017 .

 

[Mliu]

There are timers for garden hoses for watering such as https://www.homedepot.com/p/Outdoor-Garden-Hose-Mechanical-Water-Timer-MWT-08/303632017 .

Of course, these cannot be installed in piping. And I'm doubtful they'd last long in an application using 100% hot water.

 

[Plumbs]

I haven't heard of one just for an individual line. They do make valves that you can put on the incoming line to the water heater that shut off water when a leak is detected. Some come with a WiFi connection so that you can shut off when you want to. It won't be automatic but you can set a timer to shut it off when you need to.

 

[Mliu]

They do make valves that you can put on the incoming line to the water heater that shut off water when a leak is detected.

Just to be clear, these "smart valves" are intended to be put on the house main to shut off all the water in the event of a leak. Of course, there's nothing to prevent you from putting it on the cold water supply line to the water heater as long as you're willing to shut off ALL the hot water (as opposed to a designated hot water branch). These valves are not rated for installation on hot water pipes.

If you do choose to shut off the cold water supply line to the water heater, you MUST install an appropriately-sized expansion tank between the shut-off valve and the water heater.

 

[Plumbs]

Just to be clear, these "smart valves" are intended to be put on the house main to shut off all the water in the event of a leak. Of course, there's nothing to prevent you from putting it on the cold water supply line to the water heater as long as you're willing to shut off ALL the hot water (as opposed to a designated hot water branch). These valves are not rated for installation on hot water pipes.

If you do choose to shut off the cold water supply line to the water heater, you MUST install an appropriately-sized expansion tank between the shut-off valve and the water heater.

I agree about the expansion tank. However they do make automatic shutoff systems specifically for water heater lines. Here's one example: https://www.amazon.com/Aquanta-Netw...ocphy=9007554&hvtargid=pla-487936849195&psc=1

There are many others that do the same thing.

 

[Mliu]

I agree about the expansion tank. However they do make automatic shutoff systems specifically for water heater lines. Here's one example: https://www.amazon.com/Aquanta-Netw...ocphy=9007554&hvtargid=pla-487936849195&psc=1

There are many others that do the same thing.

Thanks for that info. I had never seen those products specific for water heaters. The ones I was familiar with shut off the whole house. I guess the water heater specific models are intended to only detect for the presence of water in the water heater pan. The whole-house valves can shut down all the water when a leak is detected anywhere a sensor is placed.