However, pressure balance valves are … When the valve is on, it is all the way on (2.0 gallons per minute in California). Read more about the two types of shower valves below. Sometimes customers ask if they really need a pressure balance or thermostatic valve, why can't you simply turn down your water heater to avoid burns? "How can I tell if my water heater thermostat is accurate?" Which shower valve works best? Overall, a thermostatic shower valve turns out to be a better option as compared with a pressure balance valve. The best solution is to set the thermostat to the higher temperature, and install anti-scald valves at fixtures. Some reasons some prefer a pressure-balance shower valve is that they can have a lower initial cost, it does provide scald protection, and it provides moderate comfort. Single control Pressure Balance valves sense the ration of cold and hot water as the user turns the handle. The advantage with thermostatic valves is the direct control over output temperature; while your water heater can be set to 140° F to protect against bacterial contamination, the water coming out of your shower head can always be 100° F (a maximum output temperature is set on the valve). This is because thermostatic valves react to the temperature, not the pressure of the water. If that’s Greek to you, here’s a look at both types so you can make your selection based on knowledge about their function and their pros and cons. My valves are Hansgrohe dual control valves (one temperature lever & one flow control lever) and it appears that dual lever valves typically do not use "pressure balance" technology. A big clue that you may need a new shower valve is when you find yourself enjoying a nice, relaxing shower and it gets ruined by someone flushing a toilet or starting a load of laundry. With a pressure-balance valve, although a maximum is set, cranking the handle can result in scalding temperatures if the water heater is set at a high temperature (remember that only the ratio of hot to cold is controlled by these valves). These incidents can range from annoying to highly dangerous: extremely cold or hot water can make us jump, panic, and scramble. Thus, it makes maintenance work safer and easier to do. Some people try to not purchase a temperature-controlling shower valve and instead try to adjust the temperature on their water heater directly. If you are remodeling an outdated bathroom, it’s going to take more than an extravagant shower head, new grout, marble tiles, glass doors, etc. A thermostatic valve can control what the water temperature actually is, while a pressure-balance shower valve can only control the ratio of how much hot water there is to cold water. Check out our thermostatic shower reviews to know our top picks and why we think they are the best value for your money. Manual. As usual, it depends on the homeowner’s preference and your budget. Thermal shock and scalding can happen very easily. If only a mixing valve at the water heater is used, be aware that it will do nothing for swings in temperature: when that toilet is flushed, you'll likely lose cold water in the shower. I recently installed a pressure balance valve with a single handle in my new shower to replace an old dual handle system. I am considering Delta 17 series or 17T series shower kit. When the single handle is at the midpoint the pressure is good. Thermostatic shower vs. Pressure-Balancing Shower: What’s the Difference? The pressure balance shower valve will sense this change and immediately make up for it by reducing the hot water to balance the hot and cold ratio once again. There is a changed thermostatic control called a temperature limiter. Choosing your shower rough-in valve is simple once you decide between a pressure balance valve or thermostatic valve set up. We, however, recommend installing a thermostatic shower valve. Delta R10000-UNWSHF Multichoice is the best thermostatic shower valve choice for you. CRC 1331326, 1241 West Tharpe St. Suite 8 Tallahassee, FL. The Premier Online Plumbing Supplier Since 1995, Same day shipping for in-stock orders processed by 7pm EST M-F. OR - find plumbing supplies starting with. Pressure balance shower system With a pressure balance valve, you have one lever that is your on/off function and controls only the temperature of the water, not the volume of the water. Even if your shower seems fine, there could be major performance issues that you know nothing about. The water can go from a perfect temperature to scolding hot or very cold in seconds, causing you to either get burned and/or slip and fall. Like... really important. We've touched on it before: showers are important. 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