Many years ago, I went to a seminar in Williamsburg, Virginia. The hotel was old -- with a standard 3-valve tub & shower valve. In this part of the world, they don't use water heaters. They use boilers. I jumped in the shower before going to my class one day. Somewhere in the hotel, somebody flushed a commode; and I was blistered -- not just red -- literally blistered on my arm and back. I was much younger then -- and much more agile -- and I know I moved quickly, but I still was badly burned. The hotel comped my stay and picked up the doctor bill, but I'd have rather skipped the burn altogether.

Now, you can skip the burn by having anti-scald valves put in your showers. This is code in most areas now; but it remains optional in outlying and many rural areas.

Anti-scald valves recognize the amount of pressure coming into the valve from each of the hot and cold water lines. When the pressure from either line abruptly cuts back, the valve has five (5) seconds to cut back the pressure from the other line. (Some valves will take less time, but 5 seconds is code.)

Well, I don't know about you; but I assure you I'd be out of that shower in less than 5 seconds. However, there are people - young children, the elderly, people with injuries, people with skin insensitivity - who either cannot move quickly or cannot feel themselves being burned. Where I had burns just on my arm and back, these people could have burns over much greater areas of their bodies --- burns that could threaten their lives or even cause their deaths.

There are two types of anti-scald valves: pressure balanced and thermostatic. More about these in my next blog.

Have fun today!

Kaitlyn

Custom Plumbing & Hardware

713-961-1324