Non-Scald Shower Faucet Installation
Fluctuation in temperature or water pressure can cause people to slip, fall and suffer severe burns. Anti-scald protection on shower and tub valves eliminates the variance in pressure or temperature. Current U.S. building codes requires all new homes to have an anti-scald device -- a valve that automatically balances the pressure between incoming hot water and cold water supplies. There are three types of anti-scald valves: pressure-sensitive, thermostatically controlled and valves that combine both features.
Pressure-Activated Anti-Scald Valves
Anti-scald valves that sense a drop in pressure of cold water are called pressure-balancing systems. If someone flushes the toilet or turns on the cold water in the house, this type of valve senses a drop in cold-water pressure and it immediately reduces the hot-water pressure. If cold-water pressure goes to zero, it drops hot water down to zero, too. These are the cheapest type of anti-scald valves, typically selling for under $100 as of January 2010. A disadvantage to this type of valve is that it is either full on or full off. If you need flow and volume control in a multiple shower head system, switch to a thermostatic valve.
Thermostatically Controlled Anti-Scald Device
Thermostatically controlled valves are preferred over pressure balancing systems in modern showers when more then one shower head is running in the same shower. It allows you to have volume along with the right temperature. Thermostatic devices that react to temperature can be placed near the hot water heater, or in each room. These devices on average cost $400 to $1,000 as of January 2010. They are so expensive because they have more then one mechanism in control, one that controls flow rate and another that controls outlet temperature.
Pressure/Thermostatically Controlled Anti-Scald Device
The ideal situation is a device that controls both pressure and temperature. This is called a thermostatic/pressure balancing valve. Here you have the best of two worlds -- protection from both temperature and pressure variations. It has an automatic function where it will shut down completely for a cold-water failure and an anti-chill function that shuts down in a hot-water failure.
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