The biggest danger of hot tap water scalding is it typically affects more surface area of the skin. The classic, horrifying example is a bath accidentally heated to a dangerous temperature. For this reason, young children and the elderly are especially vulnerable. Some important facts to remember:

Figures 1 and 2 suggest two methods of positioning a tempering valve to overcome tempering the entire installation/home.

Hot water heater tempering valvelocation

• In Australia, it is a legal requirement that all new and replacement hot water systems have bathroom tap water not exceeding 50 degrees. In Victoria, for child care centres, schools and nursing homes, the maximum temperature is 45 degrees.• Senior-aged Australians living in older houses, with hot water systems installed prior to regulated safe temperatures, are especially at risk.• Nearly all tap water burns that require hospitalisation occur in the home, specifically the bathroom. This is why the 50 degree-temperature for tap water rule applies to bathrooms only, not to kitchens or laundries.• For young children, scalds from hot tap water make up nearly eight per cent of hospital admissions.

Tempering valves, if maintained and serviced regularly, can last around 5-8 years. Our hot water plumbers report that failures generally occur due to a build-up of scale inside the valve, which effects the operation. By servicing your hot water system, cleaning line strainers and filters and flushing it every 12 months, will not only extend the life of your tempering valve but will extend the life of your hot water system all together.

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Therefore, the requirements apply to all new houses and where the heated water supply piping is being reconfigured such as in a bathroom renovation. The requirements do not apply if you are only changing over a water heater or replacing or repairing part of the heated water reticulation system.

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Dropping from 60 to 50 degrees in water temperature can be the difference between a lifelong disfiguring disability – possibly death – and a bad scald. The hotter the water, the quicker it will deliver a serious, full-thickness burn. This is where the epidermis and dermis – the skin’s outer and inner layers – are destroyed, and possibly the muscles and tissue below.

If you have a hot water tank but no tempering valve, it’s likely you have an older style home, built before regulations were introduced. For safety reasons, it is strongly recommended you have one installed as soon as possible.

You might also consider upgrading your hot water system completely – it’s worth remembering that Victoria, like most other states in Australia, offers a rebate for replacing old hot water systems with safer models (See additional info: https://www.victorianenergysaver.vic.gov.au/save-energy-and-money/victorian-energy-upgrades/save-with-these-energy-efficient-products/hot-water-systems).

Legally – in Victoria – no, as scalding from tap water most often occurs in the bathroom. For somewhere like a hospital or hotel, with industrial-sized dishwashers and washing machines, it’s not always practical to have controlled low-temperature hot water.

The three-way valve is connected to both your hot and cold-water systems. When you turn on the hot water tap, hot water is instantly pulled from the tank. The valve then adds cold water to the hot, using a submerged thermostatic device to ensure it reaches 50 degrees or less. Once the safe temperature is reached, the valve opens up and allows the water to flow to your tap.

Hot water heater tempering valvereplacement

Our local expert hot water plumbing professionals can help you determine whether you need a tempering valve or not. Contact us for help today.

The typical place for a tempering valve is right near the hot water storage system. There are different kinds of tempering valves, and depending on your source of power and the size of your storage system, a plumber can assess which one is right for your home. The types of tempering valves are often distinguished by their cap colour, most commonly:

Therefore, to prevent the growth of legionella, it is a legal requirement in Australia for all hot water to be stored above 60 degrees.

Hot water tempering valveadjustment

Some installations of tempering valves occur at the heated water outlet of water heaters, aka: hot water services, in a way that restricts the water temperature to the entire house. When installed in this location, although compliant, it will limit the water temperature to 50°c to all fixtures and appliances in the home. This may not be best practice where a higher temperature is required for the satisfactory operation of a fixture, eg: kitchen sink or Laundry trough or appliance eg: Dishwasher or Washing machine.

Tempering valves are simply a 3-way mixing valve that combine hot and cold water to produce warm water at the outlet to a pre-determined set temperature. Inside the tempering valve is a thermostatic element that is sensitive to temperature changes in the water. In response to temperature changes, the thermostatic element expands and contracts allowing hot and cold water to mix until the water reaches its desired set temperature of 50°c.

Most tempering valves have a thermal shut-off feature that closes the hot and cold inlet valves should a fault occur. Another obvious sign would be a noticeable change in water temperature. If this occurs, you should always call your local licensed plumber to fix the problem and NOT attempt to repair it yourself. The potential risk for scalding to you and your family is very real and not worth the risk. Call a Licensed hot water plumber in Melbourne ASAP if you think you have a faulty Tempering valve.

The requirement to limit certain water temperatures applies to all new heated water installations. A new heated water installation is defined as either:

Hot water heater tempering valveproblems

To protect against the growth of Legionella bacteria, it is a legal requirement that any stored heated water be kept at a minimum temperature of 60°C.

The typical lifespan of a tempering valve is around eight years. If you notice your hot water tap is immediately running hot, it’s time to call a plumber.

In the home, however, the risk is greater. The popularity of mixer taps – one handle for both hot and cold, means it’s terribly easy for a curious child to badly scald themselves at your kitchen sink. If you have young children or other vulnerable household members, the safest option is to lower the hot water temperature for all household taps. Remember the difference between five seconds (60 degrees) and five minutes (50 degrees) for a full-thickness burn.

Our expert team of professional hot water plumbers will test and set your tempering valve to the required temperature as part of the installation process.

A tempering valve is a device fitted to a hot water storage system to regulate temperature. It’s only necessary for hot water storage systems – that is, a tank of water stored in or outside the home, typically heated by electricity or gas. Tempering valves aren’t usually required for continuous “on-demand” hot water systems, where the water is heated as you use it, as these systems are built with temperature controls.

While all hot water storage systems must be kept at a minimum temperature of 60 degrees Celsius, the water flowing from your taps must not be above 50 degrees, so a tempering valve works by mixing hot and cold water together to produce a safe water temperature.

Tempering valves are essential safety components for your home and a simple but vital way to protect vulnerable members of your family. To keep your home safe, call or email the experts at Andrew J. Robertson Plumbing today.

Hot water heater tempering valveadjustment

Hot water from the tap is one of the greatest luxuries of modern civilization, and one we take for granted every day. But did you know there’s a whole set of dedicated plumbing regulations designed to keep your hot water safe? Not just in terms of cleanliness, but also to ensure hot water doesn’t put your family at risk of life-threatening burns. A simple, three-way device known as a tempering valve ensures a safe temperature in both your hot water tank and taps.

To prevent scalding, the delivery temperature of water for personal hygiene purposes, primarily bathroom taps, is legally required not to exceed:

Legionella loves to grow in warm water, with a special fondness for pipes and other plumbing apparatuses. Inhalation through a poorly maintained air conditioning unit, or an old bathroom tap, can lead to a rare but severe illness called Legionnaires’ Disease. If not caught in time, Legionnaires can be a deadly form of pneumonia.

No, you can’t. Our licensed expert hot water plumbers are trained and qualified to adjust and set your tempering valves. Adjustments to a tempering valve can only be made by a licensed plumber in Melbourne and must not be set higher than 50°c.

Hot water heater tempering valvereplacement cost

While Legionnaires’ Disease is much more likely to happen in a large-scale commercial or industrial setting, there is still a risk of it occurring in the home. For this reason, a licensed plumber installing or working on your hot water tank will ensure the temperature remains at this level.

No. Tempering valves must be installed – and adjusted – by a licensed plumber. Trying to do so yourself is literally playing with fire – in the form of scalding hot water – and presents a significant risk to your personal safety. You are also legally responsible for any injuries an unlicensed worker that you hire might suffer.

• Electric or gas-powered water storage systems – blue or yellow• Gas-powered only – green• Extra-large water storage systems – black• Solar and heat pump water storage systems – orange

Whether your hot water system has burst in West Brunswick, or your tempering valve needs to be installed in Essendon or you need your hot water system serviced in Moonee Ponds where here to help, 24/7 365 days of the year.

It might seem like the easiest solution, but doing so introduces another major health risk: the growth of legionella bacteria.