Difference Between Thermostatic Mixing Valves and Tempering Valves

At the point when you turn the tap on in your home or office, you expect that water should be at the correct temperature, be it hot or cold. The little gadget that helps to get this is either a tempering valve or a thermostatic blending valve. If you want them in your space, then a roof plumber will do the settings of these valves for you.

Before that, let’s understand the difference between thermostatic mixing valves and tempering valves.

What Is A Thermostatic Blending Valve? 

A thermostatic blending valve (TMV) is an incredible little device that mixes both hot and cold water to accomplish a specific, predetermined water temperature when delivering water through a tap.

What Is A Tempering Valve? 

A tempering valve is a 2-inlet or 3-inlet blending valve, which pulls water from your boiling water framework, blends it in with cold water and delivers it to a faucet. General household requires boiling water to be less hot than 50℃ in any case. Appliances, for example, dishwashers and clothes washers might have different settings.

Why Do We Have To Utilise A TMV Or Tempering Valve? 

The huge volume of water goes into your hot water tank throughout the day, which is an ideal place for a wide range of bacteria. One of which is the Legionella microorganisms that can cause pneumonia-like bacterial contamination and sickness, which can lead to someone’s death.

Your local 24-hour plumber can advise you to achieve a specific level of temperature of water by installing TMVs or tempering valves. These valves help you achieve the ideal temperature of the water, and at the same time, prevent bacterial growth. The bacterial growth can be prevented at a specific level of temperature like 60⁰ in a water tank, but this can also risk you by burning. TMV and tempering valves set the delivering water temperature to an ideal number, which can prevent burns. 

Difference Between TMV And Tempering Valves:

The working of TMV and tempering valves is the same, but they have differences at many points. These two valves generally adjust water, but at a different frequency. Here are some of the differences in these valves that you can check:

TMVs

• These valves are more accurate and respond faster to temperature changes
• They are more expensive in comparison to tempering valves
• These valves are mostly used for commercial applications.
• For the installation of TMV valves, you need only TMV accredited plumbers because they are a little harder to set. If these are not installed by any specific plumbers, there are chances, these valves will work well, and also, this will void the Australian government guidelines.
• TMV valves are generally more durable and last longer than tempering valves.
• TMV valves can be repaired when possible.
• These valves are accurate at 1⁰ C +/-.
• TMVs respond to pressure variation faster than the tempering valve.
• TMV valves need more regular service.

Tempering valves

• Tempering valves show a slow response to temperature changes when compared to TMV.
• They are more affordable and less expensive than TMVs.
• Mostly tempering valves are used for residential use only.
• They are much easier to install, and thus, do not require special licensing to install. Your regular plumber can install it. And for any fault, you can call a nearby emergency plumber to repair it.
• Generally, these valves last for five years. After that, you need to change your valve.
• The tempering valves are usually replaced and not repaired.
• These valves are accurate at 3⁰ C +/-.
• Tempering valves are slower at pressure variation than TMVs.
• They require less maintenance and servicing.

Where These Valves Are Used?

Both the valves are used at different places, for example:

TMVs can be used at:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Schools
• Child care facilities
• Hotels
• Shopping centres
• Aged care facilities
• Respite centres
• After school care
• And any other commercial centres

These valves can prevent a high risk of burns in these facilities where children, the elderly or staff use temperature water more frequently. 

On the other hand, tempering valves are used only for residential use for personal hygiene. Here, the temperature water needs is less than in other environments. So, the ideal set-up is the tempering valves.

Both TMVs and tempering valves have the same functioning, and that is, delivering water at the ideal temperature. However, there are differences as mentioned above, because of which they are employed in different places. But, these valves are important to keep the risk of bacteria as well as high-temperature burns at the bay. So, whenever you need to install these valves, ask your plumber and check the differences to get the right one for your use.