Why I like Thermostatically controlled Shower Valves

This is interesting. I didn't even know thermostatically controlled valves existed.

 

Look at the differences between a thermostatically controlled valve and all others:
- a thermostatically controlled valve is controlling the outlet temperature, regardless of the pressure changes or inlet water temperatures of both the hot and cold both momentary and long-term (as when the season changes or the WH starts to cool off)
- all others, you manually adjust the proportion of hot/cold...a pressure balanced valve will try to retain that balance, but has no real effect if the inlet temperatures change, only a pressure change.

So, essentially constant outlet temperature through pressure and supply changes with a thermostatically controlled valve, or a relatively constant proportion of the hot/cold supplies mix.

My vote is the thermostatically controlled valve.

 

Thanks for sharing, this is good stuff

 

I picked up two delta tempassure valves, with rough trim and cartridge, for about 200 each. Thought that was pretty good for a thermostatic. Any other good options that don't cost an arm and a leg?

I also noticed a nice byproduct from this upgrade. The shower is far from the water heater, so normally there is a period of waiting for the hot water temperature to stabilize. With the thermostatic, you can just hope in as soon as the water is comfortable, and it will ramp up to the desired temperature without further adjustment. Saves some time and wasted hot water every day, it wouldn't surprise me if this one mostly pays for itself before the next renovation. I suppose that depends on how long the cartridges last, but I'm hopeful it will be at least 10 years.

 

I have a Grohe thermostatically controlled valve. THe volume control started to leak after 15-years and was easily replaced. The thermostatic cartridge is still going fine. 10-years should be an easy goal to reach.

 

Interesting you bring this up small world. I have been retired since 911. But my partner who just retired was on that job was Hunts Point don't even have to look at the link. He told me about it and still does. I am telling you that you have no idea how it affected him. I can't tell you how many 911 calls I have been to for burns to children from scalding. I can also tell you how the parent is tried to be blamed for child abuse. Yet IMHO when being in the apt. Be it a family in a shelter, city housing or even private house. Looking around how things were around the house. Showing how caring and devoted these parents or care givers were to these kids. There is no way these people deliberately burnt their children. Some were stupid leaving their kids in a bath tub for just a couple of seconds. To go deal with something in another room. But thats all it takes In most of the calls I was on it was the exception to the rule. I spent 2 yrs Downtown Manhattan and Midtown and 10 yrs in Harlem. Then the Bronx and finally Rockaway. You knew when an adult or a caregiver was responsible for doing something on purpose to their child. I was a Medic in Chicago in some of the worst areas of South and West Chicago. The Cabrini Projects, and the same was true there. Still it always seemed the city or landlord tried to pin it on child abuse.

I am no plumber a handy guy yea. I came to this site for advice on something to do with my new Navien combi boiler. Just started looking at different posts. But I started life out has an auto mechanic in Rockaway. Became an automotive design engineer/mechanical engineer. Then took a 180 turn and went into the Emergency services profession. I remember every child abuse case, shooting, stabbing and burn case I have been on over 23 yrs. I went to many of those children's funerals. The memories this post has just brought up.