Return spring - this works the opposite way to pistons as it will limit the amount of cold water entering the tap or shower head. It moves the piston back across the entry portals for hot and cold water flows when the thermostatic element contracts due to low temperatures. This helps prevent users from becoming too cold when using showers or taps.

Hi Alex, no first-hand knowledge of this particular type of backflow, but on the other hand, I don’t have first-hand about a lot of the safety issues we call out as home inspectors.

Piston - When the thermostatic element increases in size due to the temperature, the piston will move across entry portals of the hot and cold water flows, which will lessen the flow of the hot water and allow for more cold water to pass through - this will ultimately ensure that the same safe temperature is maintained.

Everything was made easy for me and I was reassured at every stage. I dealt with Tom also towards the end of the project and again so helpful. The project is now complete but I would not hesitate to recommend this company. This will be our go to company for future requirements.

The two most common places where these are installed are at outside faucets and at laundry sink faucets with garden hose threads. An external vacuum breaker is required at outside faucets if they don’t already have one built in. How do you know the difference? Look for the number “1019” or “1011” somewhere on your faucet. If it has that, you don’t need an external vacuum breaker. Check out the examples below; none of these faucets need an external vacuum breaker.

Mixing valves mix together hot and cold water so it is safe and more pleasant for those using taps or showers; thermostatic mixing valves sense the water temperature before it flows from taps or shower heads.

However, I did witness toilet tank water get siphoned into the drinking water of a home I was inspecting once. The water in the tank was black, and a big slug of that water came out of the tub spout as I was filling the bath tub. It happened right went I flushed the toilet.

How could your water get contaminated? Picture this scenario: I want to mix up some vegetation killer, so I buy the concentrated stuff, pour it into a garden sprayer, then put my garden hose in the bucket to fill it. I turn the water on, but I get sidetracked with a plumbing project.  I shut off the water to my house, and then open up the laundry faucet to drain the water out of the pipes. This will create a siphoning effect, which could actually suck the nasty chemicals in the garden sprayer back into my home, contaminating the potable water. An even worse scenario would be the city doing work on the water pipes, and the chemical gets siphoned back into the city’s water supply, contaminating a whole neighborhood.

There are a few things to look out for if you suspect that your mixing valve is bad and not working properly. Look out or:

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Thank you for explaining why the city of warren,MI has a requirement for installing vacuum breakers on sillcocks and laundry tubs. I believe it would require a completely stupid, thoughtless person to actually contaminate their potable water the way you’ve described it (something I’m willing to bet one of the five totally incompetent building inspectors has managed to do) but as improbable as the set of circumstances are that would lead to this you’ve made it make sense to someone with a good understanding of plumbing systems who keept wondering why you would need a vacuum breaker attached to something that closes completely with a valve and has water pressure pushing against it.

If only cold water comes out of your shower or taps, this indicates an issue with either your mixing valve or water heater.

If you experience any of these issues, it may be a good idea to ask a plumber to offer their advice, and you may need to purchase a newer mixing valve to replace your current one. Your mixing valves must work properly as they regulate the temperature of the water flow - which is particularly important for those who are vulnerable, such as children, the disabled and the elderly.

Thermostatic element - this part of the system is attached to a piston and is located in the valve, which is sensitive to the temperature of water flowing through it. As the water flows, the thermostatic element will either increase or decrease in size.

If you would like any advice on purchasing Thermostatic Mixing Valves, please contact the Commercial Washrooms team who will be happy to help with any questions you have.

How easy it will be to change a thermostatic mixing valve will depend on your type of thermostatic mixer valve. For example, if you have a concealed shower mixing valve, you may need a professional, as part of the wall must be removed to access this. Here’s how to replace a thermostatic mixing valve for a shower:

Our range of TMV2 and TMV3 mixing valves is compliant with Government Health and Safety standards for use in Hospitals and the Health Care sector, as well as in schools and other locations used by children and vulnerable adults at risk of scalding. They also referred to as blending valves.

This form must be completed and signed prior to us conducting any moisture testing. We cannot perform the moisture testing requested by the buyers without this form being signed.

We are a facilities maintenance company and used Commercial Washrooms for the first time on a commercial project. Gavin was the most helpful person I have dealt with for a long time.

You may need to identify the brand of your shower mixing valve if you’re looking to replace it, as different brands’ parts may vary. You can do this by closely inspecting your shower mixing valve for markings.

In order to perform this inspection, we need the permission of the owner. We should have access to all parts of the exterior. Any security systems will need to be shut off during the testing, which can take several hours. We use standard industry practices for conducting the moisture tests, which includes the use of a penetrating probe meter to verify the moisture content of the structural wood and sheathing of the building. 3/16” holes will be placed under most windows and other possible moisture entry areas. These holes will be filled with caulk when the testing is completed.

A mixing valve will help you get the desired water temperature as it mixes a hot and cold water supply before it runs out of your taps or shower head. Although it isn’t necessary to have a mixing valve, it is safer to have one in your plumbing system as it reduces the risk of scalding - this is particularly important for those who are more vulnerable, such as children, the disabled and the elderly, and in commercial settings where employee liability can be an issue.

I know they have to be called out in an inspection, but I have never actually heard of a scenario where something bad happened to somebody’s house because of the lack of a VB.

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If you have a laundry faucet without garden hose threads, you don’t need one of these devices. And you also don’t need them at the water supply connections for your washing machine.

When you Register for a Credit account, we will run a Credit Check using a third-party Credit Check Agency. Your Terms with Commercial Washrooms will be determined by the results of the Credit Check.

If you notice that the water running from your taps or shower is inconsistent, you may need to replace it with a newer model.

Where can I find a vacuum breaker? Vacuum breakers are sold at hardware stores and big box home improvement stores. You’ll typically find them near the outside faucets. The cheap one pictured at the beginning of this post doesn’t technically meet current plumbing code requirements because it’s not field-testable, but Minneapolis will let them slide.

So why do I need this thing? A vacuum breaker, commonly referred to as a backflow preventer, is a device that prevents the potable water in your home, and possibly your neighborhood, from getting contaminated. It’s basically a one-way valve.

Thanks for the great info. I found your site while trying to figure out what that brass thingy was on our outdoor faucet. Your explanation is fantastic.

We will make every effort to use a caulk that closely matches the color of the surrounding siding; however in some cases the holes may be noticeable upon close inspection. If the holes are of any cosmetic concern the property owner can have them painted with a matching paint.

Excellent efficient service for the Commercial Bathrooms, good cost on the parts I needed, efficient dispatch to Northern Ireland. Great customer service from Ralph

TMVs are recommended for installation with all taps and showers in all commercial washroom environments, including hotels, restaurants and other public washroom areas, as they prevent injuries such as scalding. Our Thermostatic Mixing Valves are available to suit 15mm, 22mm and 28mm pipework connections with additional options of integral isolators with many of our mixing valves.

Structure Tech specializes in the moisture testing of buildings for the purpose of determining if there is moisture located behind the exterior wall cladding. A moisture inspection of your property has been requested.

Many common questions and general advice on commercial taps and TMVs can be found by reading our blog. Of particular relevance is the questions and information on Washroom Taps.

While these scenarios aren’t likely, it has happened many times throughout the country, and the cost of fixing a contaminated water supply for a city is huge. The cost of a vacuum breaker is very little, about eight dollars. While Minneapolis enforces this plumbing code requirement at the time of sale, this isn’t a special requirement for Minneapolis. Vacuum breakers are still required by national plumbing codes all over the country, and they’re required throughout Minnesota by the Minnesota State Plumbing Code, section 4715.2100 (D).

If your taps or shower drips when the water is turned off, this could be a sign that your hot water mixing valve is not working properly. It may be a case of your mixing valve not being in the correct position, which allows water to escape.

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[…] Vacuum Breakers – aka backflow preventers.  This is a device that can be purchased at most hardware stores, and should be screwed on to the end of any exterior sillcocks, or indoor faucets that could accept a garden hose thread (typically the laundry faucet).   These are basically one-way valves that protect the city’s water supply from potential contamination.  Note the set screw in the vacuum breaker pictured to the right – this set screw should be tightened down until broken off to make sure the vacuum breaker is permanently installed. […]

TMV stands for Thermostatic Mixing Valve. They mix hot and cold water to safely add warm water to taps and showers, ensuring users are never scalded. This is particularly important in areas with more vulnerable users, such as children, the elderly, and the disabled. Our competitive range of Thermostatic Mixing Valves (TMVs) can be ordered online for fast direct delivery.

We work closely with many of the leading commercial plumbing manufacturers to sell safe and reliable thermostatic mixing valves designed to last and keep users safe from scalding. Suppliers include Bristan, Franke, Delabie, and Inta. All values are delivered from our UK stock and available within 48 hours. Available with manufacturer warranties.

If you’re selling a house in Minneapolis, get some vacuum breakers. When you have a place for a garden hose to connect to the municipal water supply, you need some type of backflow prevention, and that’s what these devices are for. This is one of the required repair items for the Minneapolis Truth-in-Housing evaluation, which is a required inspection for anyone listing a home for sale in Minneapolis.