Perhaps you have experienced it...you're enjoying a nice, relaxing hot shower when all of the sudden the water turns ice cold. This unpleasant surprise is brought to you by uneven water pressure between the hot and cold water supply. When the hot water is running in the shower or bath, other demands such as the flushing of a toilet or turning on a washer can cause the water temperature to drop as the pressure is diverted.
A pressure-balancing tub and shower faucet is designed to balance the incoming hot and cold water pressure to compensate for fluctuations in water flow. By keeping the temperature at a constant ±3°F of the set temperature, even if other water supplies are turned on and off, the temperature in the shower will remain constant and comfortable.
It's important to understand that a pressure-balance valve is only designed to prevent temperature fluctuations by sensing and controlling the ratio of hot water to cold – it's not designed to prevent scalding. To safeguard against thermal shock and scalding, the most effective measure is to install and anti-scald device. We recommend installing anti-scald devices in all homes with young children.
Have questions about your home's plumbing? Give Grand Lake Plumbing and Heating a call. We can help with all your home plumbing needs.