Tempering Valve

The Importance of the Hot Water Tempering Valve

A hot water tempering valve is a crucial safety device that ensures your household water stays at a safe and consistent temperature. Its main job is to mix hot water from your system with cold water, delivering warm water at a regulated temperature – typically no more than 50°C.

This helps prevent scalding injuries, especially in homes with young children or elderly residents. Without a working tempering valve, water coming straight from the heater can reach dangerously high temperatures.

Tempering valves are now a legal requirement in many Australian homes and must be installed by a licensed plumber. At Metropolitan Hot Water, our team specialises in tempering valve installation, servicing and replacement.

Whether you're upgrading your hot water system or experiencing fluctuating temperatures, our experts will ensure your valve is functioning correctly.

Regular checks and timely replacements help maintain safety, efficiency, and compliance with plumbing regulations. We’re here to help you stay protected.

How Does a Tempering Valve Work?

A tempering valve is a small but essential component in your hot water system, designed to deliver safe, consistent water temperatures throughout your home. Here’s how it works:

• Blends hot and cold water: The valve automatically mixes hot water from the heater with cold water to reach a set, safe temperature – usually 50°C or less.
• Responds to temperature changes: It adjusts the mix in real-time to maintain a consistent output, even if water pressure or supply fluctuates.
• Uses a thermostatic element: Inside the valve, a heat-sensitive element expands or contracts to regulate the mix of hot and cold water.
• Prevents scalding: By capping the maximum water temperature, it reduces the risk of burns, especially for children and the elderly.
• Installed near the heater: It’s typically located on or near your hot water system to control water temperature before it reaches taps and showers.

At Metropolitan Hot Water, we install and service tempering valves to keep your home safe and comfortable.

Having an Issue with Your Valve?

Hot water valves are integral to your hot water system. When an issue with it arises, you need it fixed pronto.

A hot water mixing valve (or tempering valve) is a safety device that mixes cold with hot water to prevent scalding and burns when you use your hot water tap. Having a functioning hot water tempering valve is also a regulatory requirement on a state level.

When you have an issue with your hot water valve, you need an expert to fix the unit. They are a complicated piece of equipment that requires expertise and experience to handle.

Here at Metropolitan Hot Water, we have more than 25 years of experience in the hot water industry. As a national company, we have the luxury to only hire those technicians with extensive experience and exceptional professional reputations.

What is a Thermostatic Mixing Valve?

A thermostatic mixing valve is a specialised valve designed to blend hot and cold water to deliver a safe, consistent temperature to your taps and showers. Unlike a basic tempering valve, a thermostatic mixing valve offers high performance and greater precision – making it ideal for settings like hospitals, schools and homes with vulnerable individuals.

Thermostatic mixing valves prevent scalding hot water from reaching your outlets, reducing the risk of serious injuries like third degree burns. They also help protect your water supply from contamination by maintaining temperatures that discourage the growth of harmful bacteria (such as Legionella).

Over time, mineral deposits can affect the valve’s function, so regular maintenance is essential. TMVs must comply with Australian plumbing code standards and be installed by a licensed plumber.

At Metropolitan Hot Water, we install and service thermostatic mixing valves to ensure your system runs safely, efficiently and reliably – keeping your household protected and comfortable.

Our Emergency Plumbers are Available 24/7

Hot water valve issues can strike at the worst times – late at night, early in the morning, or right before guests arrive. That’s why Metropolitan Hot Water offers 24/7 emergency plumbing services, every day of the year.

Whether your tempering valve has failed, your pressure relief valve is leaking, or your hot water system has stopped working altogether, our licensed plumbers are ready to help – day or night. We know how important reliable hot water is to your comfort and safety, which is why we aim to be at your door within the hour* of your call.

Our fully stocked service vehicles mean we can often diagnose and fix the problem on the spot. There’s no need to wait until Monday or suffer through a cold shower. With Metropolitan Hot Water, you get fast, professional service – anytime you need it. Your hot water emergency is our top priority.

Metropolitan's Quality Assurance Guarantee

Metropolitan Hot Water is a highly respected name within the hot water industry. To ensure customer satisfaction, we work in line with our Quality Assurance Guarantee.

As part of this guarantee, you benefit from:

• Fully qualified and licensed plumbers that undergo regular training – our plumbers are always up to date with the latest industry products and knowledge
• A 12-month warranty on all workmanship, parts and materials supplied and installed by us
• $20 million public liability insurance
• More than 25 years of experience
• Range of finance options** for approved customers
• State-of-the-art technology in tracking and dispatch to ensure we are always on time
• Fixed prices whenever possible
• Certificates of compliance to prove we are always working in line with government standards and regulations

Range of Finance Options** Available

We understand the unpredictable nature of hot water plumbing and how it can cause financial inconvenience.

That’s why at Metropolitan Hot Water, we are proud to offer a range of finance options** for eligible customers that put the control back into your hands.

The finance plan can be managed in a way that suits you, in weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments, depending on the plan you select.

The application process is simple, with most of our customers getting approved within minutes. Your plumber can set you up on site and once approved, can start work straight away.

We also accept payment by cash, cheque, direct bank transfer and credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express).

For more information, contact Metropolitan Hot Water today for a hot water valve service.