It has happened to most of us at one point or another: we are enjoying a nice leisurely shower; the shampoo is all soapy; Just when we are about to rinse our faces, someone in another part of the house turns on a faucet or flushes the toilet. Quick as a wink, the temperature of the hot water in the shower skyrockets and we get burned! For most of us, this type of mishap is simply an inconvenience that gives us pain and ruins our day; But for the most vulnerable people like infants, children, and older people who move more slowly, more severe burns are a very real possibility.
Did you know that 90% of hot water scald incidents occur at home? The effects of these types of burns are rapid and severe and can affect a person’s quality of life for many years. Fortunately, there are some simple plumbing solutions for hot water temperature spikes in the tub or shower – here’s an overview.
Mixing valves are easily installed by any quality plumbing service – they connect directly to the hot and cold water source that powers the shower or tub. When someone flushes a toilet while in the shower, the water line experiences a drop in pressure, either on the hot water side or on the cold water side; As a result, you lose the balance between the hot and cold water that you placed by hand for the shower and you will experience a rise in temperature. A mixing valve senses changes in pressure when they occur and automatically balances them again, effectively preventing accidental burns.
Plumbers usually carry two different types of mixing valves; the most common type is a pressure balanced mixing valve, and there are also thermostatic types. The main difference between the two is the engineering of how they work, but the goals of both are the same: to prevent temperature spikes before they happen and to keep your family safer. Another alternative is to replace your normal shower faucet with a pressure balancing faucet.
The bottom line is: if you’ve been accepting dangerous temperature spikes in your bathtub and shower as unavoidable hazards in your home life, you don’t need to put your hands up and just “live with it.” Contact your trusted Denver plumbing contractor or a contractor in the state where you live and ask about their solutions for temperature spikes. They are very likely simpler and more profitable than you ever imagined.