Thermostatic Mixing Valves

It is a device that controls and regulates the mixing of hot and cold water to ensure a constant output temperature and prevent scalding. The thermostatic mixing valve precisely controls and regulates the temperature during bathing, showering, and hand washing. The valves are designed to maintain the desired water temperature even with changes in input pressure/flow. Mechanical valves are unable to adapt to these changes. Nowadays, thermostatic valves are also available in digital versions. They can be installed in bathtubs or as part of shower fittings.

Hot and cold water entering the valve is mixed so that the resulting temperature matches the user's settings. A thermal sensor inside the valve automatically mixes the hot and cold water to achieve the desired temperature. The mechanism then automatically compensates for any pressure/temperature changes to keep the preset temperature constant and prevent thermal fluctuations. In the event of a cold water supply failure, the valve detects the danger of excessively hot water and shuts off automatically. The water also shuts off in the event of a hot water supply failure, as a prevention against thermal shock. For more information on minimum and maximum temperatures, see the images below.

Main Components

Thermostatic Element
A temperature-sensitive element that expands or contracts depending on the temperature of the surrounding water. When the thermostatic element detects a change in water temperature, it instructs the piston to change the proportion of hot or cold water being mixed in the valve.

Piston
Usually connected to the thermostatic element. The piston moves back and forth across the cold and hot water inlets, changing the temperature of the resulting mixture.

Spring
When the thermostatic element expands (heats up), it moves the piston and compresses the spring. When the thermostatic element cools, it contracts, and the spring pushes the piston back.

Temperature Adjustment
Thermostatic mixing valves typically have separate temperature settings (usually locked under the top cover). This can be adjusted to position the piston differently, thereby adjusting the proportion of the desired hot and cold water, respectively their mixture.

Visualization of piston position settings and spring response in possible situations in heating systems
1) High "hot" pressure and low "cold" pressure
2) Low "hot" pressure and high "cold" pressure
3) Equal "hot and cold" pressure
4) Loss of pressure at the cold water outlet

More than 3/4 of serious scalds are suffered by children under the age of 5. By limiting water temperature and preventing sudden changes in its temperature, thermostatic mixing valves protect their users and are a logical prevention against serious injuries caused by scalding. Excessively high temperature in the bathtub is the cause of up to 70% of all scalds in households. Small children and their skin are much more sensitive to temperature changes and are therefore at greater risk. Another at-risk group includes people with various disabilities, who are unable to perceive risks or react to dangerous situations. Thermostatic mixing valves act as a prevention against these events. The maximum water temperature at the outlet, which is standardly used in heating systems, is 50°C. Many newly installed systems regulate the water temperature to 48°C to prevent scalding and thus causing serious injuries. Another serious danger that mixing valves can prevent is the risk of the "Legionella Pneumophila" bacteria. For this reason, the water must be heated to 60°C, which acts as a prevention against these bacteria. However, this temperature is dangerous for humans - it can cause burns. The most common solution is a thermostatic mixing valve, which can control the entire system. Recommendation: Whenever you are asked to inspect an old water system or to create a new one, perform the following simple test: Is there a valve that limits the hot water temperature? Is it functional? Does it maintain the correct water temperature – a maximum of 50°C? If not, install a new thermostatic mixing valve. The ESBE Basic 35–60° has the right temperature range and scald protection function, which stops hot water in case of cold water pressure loss.

TSVs are usually very reliable, and their lifespan will typically depend on the installation method, operating conditions, and maintenance quality - a key factor is, for example, water hardness. The standard lifespan is 5 years, during which time TSVs should be serviced, or replaced after this period depending on wear and tear.

Yes, the lowest adjustable temperature is 20-43 degrees.

TSVs respond quickly to changes in the selected temperature, which is ensured by professional certification that ESBE valves have. This certification is regularly verified by third parties to ensure that even during sudden temperature changes, scalding does not occur. However, it may happen that during a sudden change between the minimum and maximum temperature, there is an increase of about 7 degrees above the set maximum. Modern mixing valves can suppress this extreme above the maximum for 1.2, respectively 0.5 seconds - the time during which temperature extremes of 7, respectively up to 50 degrees, can occur.

Installation must be carried out exactly according to the instructions, typical errors that occur during TSV installation are:

1) When installing a mixing valve into a boiler, flow regulators are not used. This can cause problems in the winter months.

2) Not removing the flow regulator when installing into an open system can reduce water flow. If you have any doubts regarding product installation, contact the ESBE manufacturer or contact us at www.bola.cz.

Heat from solar panels is cheap but irregular, which is why a heat accumulation system and its subsequent redistribution into heating systems are used. When installing only one circuit, the system takes hot water from the top. If you install a second circuit and two ESBE Basic 35–60° valves, the valves will take hot water from the middle part for as long as possible to keep the water in the upper part of the tank hot. With two circuits and with ESBE Basic 35–60° on the primary side, solar energy is better utilized even on cooler days. In this way, water from the solar panel is released in the lower part of the tank so as not to disturb the hottest layer of water in its uppermost part. The longer the accumulation system can maintain a higher temperature, the faster the return on investment. At the same time, the valves ensure that the hot water system is protected against the possibility of scalding.