PressureReducingValve

Is your water pressure struggling? The Raleigh plumbers at Newcomb and Company can help. We can examine whether you need a PRV adjustment, replacement, or another plumbing service. Our experts proudly serve the plumbing needs of the larger Raleigh area, including Knightdale, Clayton, Garner, Cary, Durham, Raleigh, and beyond! Contact our plumbing experts to make your appointment today!

This service offers a variety of benefits to your home. Not only will increased water pressure improve the performance of your showers and faucets, but it may also provide better appliance functionality. For example, if your dishwasher, washing machine, and other water-driven appliances do not clean well, a new pressure regulating valve may help.

The wonderful little device that helps achieve the right hot water temperature is either a tempering valve or a thermostatic mixing valve, which can easily be mixed up but are actually two different things. To help you decipher between the two and figure out which one is best for your needs, take a read of the below information or give Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage a call on 1300 616 203 and we would be happy to assist.

When you turn the tap on in your home or workplace, you expect water at the correct temperature to be delivered – whether that be hot, cold, warm or something in between.

High water pressure can also lead to increased water waste. Your PRV may have been installed to help you save water/money. As such, your water pressure PSI may be tailored to meet the efficiency needs and preferences of a previous homeowner. For example, your pressure regulator valve may be keeping your home at 45 PSI, where you may be used to water pressure closer to 80 PSI.

Tempering valves are required to be installed in the following situations (in accordance with the Plumbing Code of Australia):

Pressure regulator

A thermostatic mixing valve, or TMV, is a great little gadget that blends both hot and cold water together to achieve a particular, predetermined water temperature when delivering water through a faucet.

A qualified plumber can install a tempering valve, however, a plumber with a TMV licence is the only one who can install a thermostatic mixing valve.

Water pressure regulator

We often think of high water pressure as a good thing, but overly-high water pressure can create serious and costly trouble for your home. Water pressure-reducing valves are installed for one (or more) of three reasons:

This means that all hot water system replacements should have a tempering valve installed. Some hot water system repairs do not require a tempering valve to be installed, but we suggest speaking to your plumber anyway to see if this is an option (it should be!).

Do you think your pressure regulator valve is restricting your water pressure? This valve can be easily adjusted by a professional plumber. First, an expert will inspect your regulator valve and read your PSI to determine whether you are below the area’s limits. A professional may also check to ensure that you are not facing another plumbing issue causing the low water pressure. Depending on your home and your settings, your plumber may be able to adjust your water pressure slightly so that your PRV can maintain its purpose while still giving you the pressure boost you need.

TMVs are generally used in environments that include high-risk persons, such as children, the elderly and the sick, that require a lower water delivery temperature (usually 45°C or 113°C as a maximum).

While all of these needs are important, sometimes they let your water pressure slip well below your PSI limits. If your pressure-reducing valve is the source of your water pressure issues, a simple adjustment can fix your plumbing problems.

For two reasons – for safety and in accordance with the regulations. For the safety of those using a tap and to avoid injuries such as scalding, a tempering valve or TMV ensures the water being released from the faucet is not above 60°C (140°F) for tempering valves or 45°C (113°F) for TMVs. Additionally, in accordance with Australian regulations (National Plumbing and Drainage Standard AS/NZS 3500.4: 2003), various water installations are not permitted to deliver water at a temperature higher than 60°C/45°C for different fixtures.

PRVvalve

Water pressure is measured in PSI (pound-force per square inch). Home water pressure can range from 45-80 PSI. For your home's safety, city-wide standards often require that your water pressure does not exceed 80 PSI, while some cities cap water pressure at 60 PSI.

We specialise in providing professional maintenance plumbing services – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week everywhere in Brisbane. If you have an emergency plumbing situation then contact our office and we will come to you ASAP!

Most newer homes meet these standards by connecting a pressure regulator valve (also called a pressure-reducing valve, or PRV) to their mainline. As the name suggests, this device works to regulate or reduce your water pressure. When a pressure-reducing valve is too tight or needs replacing, it can create low water pressure in your home.

If you have any further questions regarding tempering valves, TMVs or other hot water arrangements, give Brisbane Plumbing and Drainage a call on 1300 616 203 and we would be happy to discuss your hot water needs.

City guidelines often keep a strict cap on water pressure to keep homes safe. As mentioned above, this is commonly 60-80 PSI. However, the municipal water pressure is often much higher (up to 150+ PSI) to ensure fire hydrants and other city-wide water needs are met. Some homes naturally meet pressure guidelines, while others need pressure regulator valves. Without a PRV, overly-high water pressure may cause you to fail a home inspection.

Water valve

Tempering valves are generally used in residential homes for personal hygiene purposes, where water delivery is a maximum of 50°C (122°F)

This is a common plumbing question with a complex set of potential answers. Your water pressure issues may originate from a plumbing leak, which redirects water away from your showers and faucets. It could also be caused by an old showerhead or outdated plumbing fixtures. However, one regularly overlooked source of low water pressure is also often the easiest to fix: regulator valve issues. The Raleigh plumbers at Newcomb and Company are here with insight into this common plumbing problem.

Alternatively, low water pressure may indicate that your pressure-reducing valve is at the end of its lifespan, which will cause it to stop working. This issue will require a replacement PRV rather than an adjustment before restoring your water pressure. A plumber can inspect your pressure-reducing valve and let you know whether or not you need a replacement.

Pressureregulatingvalve

Tempering valves are adjustable and temperature-activated, meaning they moderate hot water flow when necessary to ensure water isn’t too hot when it is delivered to a tap. Hot water that is stored in a hot water storage system should be kept at a temperature of at least 60°C, however, water should be delivered through a faucet at a maximum of 50°C. A tempering valve works by blending hot water with cold water so it flows through your tap at the correct temperature, within 3°C +/-.

A tempering valve is a temperature-sensitive 2-inlet or 3-inlet mixing valve which pulls water from your hot water system, mixes it with cold water and delivers it to a faucet. General household use requires hot water to be no hotter than 60°C, however, appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines may have differing settings.

Why do cities, builders, and home inspectors care so much about your water pressure? It is to keep your plumbing systems safe and protected. Excessively high water pressure can increase the turbulence within your plumbing system, which puts your pipes, appliances, and home at risk. High water pressure can cause frequent leaks, pipe bursts, faucet troubles, connector failure, and more. Your pressure regulator valve could be preventing dangerously high water pressure.

A TMV works by mixing hot and cold water together to achieve a particular temperature (within 1°C +/-) to be delivered in various. The temperature is usually preset by a plumber or a qualified tradesperson who has installed the device, and the element within a TMV that is sensitive to thermal activity automatically arranges the appropriate levels of hot/cold water to create the correct temperature of the liquid.