One of the attractions of energy-efficient appliances is that they save us money. But what if there was a way to get these appliances to save us even more? Using a hot water heater mixing valve on your water heater may do just that.
Stick around to learn how to save money by minding your hot water mixing valve.
Table of Contents
What Is A Hot Water Mixing Valve?
A water heater mixing valve is a device that gives you control over the temperature of the water at the delivery point.
The delivery point is any water outlet in your house. These includes:
- sinks
- bathtubs
- showers
- dishwasher connections
- Washing machine connections
How Does A Hot Water Mixing Valve Work?
Your water heater does not come with a mixing valve. It is a feature you have to add to your water heater system. It gives you control over the temperature of your water.
Here’s how.
Connect the cold and hot water lines above the tank of your water. Set your water heater system at the temperature you want. Once you do that, the mixing valve blends the cold and hot water. Water at the temperature you set comes out of the faucets.
Benefits Of Having A Hot Water Mixing Valve
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- Increased heated water supply
- Prevents scalding
If the cold water gives out, the mixing valve also shuts the hot water flow.
- Prevents the growth of harmful bacteria
- Provides consistent water temperature
- Easy to install
- Needs little maintenance
- Affordable
- You use less hot water
- Saves you money
You can see that there are many benefits to getting a mixing valve for your water heater. The one we want to focus on is how it saves you money.
Save Money By Saving Energy
Every water outlet in your home is a sort of mixing valve. At these faucets, you can fix the water temperature to your liking. But, every time you use the heated water in the tank, a fresh supply of cold water flows in to take its place.
The longer the cold water stays in the tank, the cooler the water gets. If you do not use up all the hot water in the tank, it gets cold after a while.
The hot water in your pipes turns cold too. If your plumbing system does not have proper insulation, it gets colder faster.
When you call for hot water again, you have to:
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- Leave the pipe running
You must allow the cold water to run out of the pipe system if you want a hot shower.
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- Stand and wait
You must spend a minute or two waiting for the water to heat up and arrive at the faucet you want to use.
It may not seem like it, but in both these scenarios, you are wasting money.
Why Do I Need A Mixing Valve?
With the water heater mixing valve, you set your water temperature at the tank. The tank heats the water. At the same time, the mixing valve sends in the cold water to get the temperature just right.
The mixing valve reduces the amount of cold water that flows into the tank. That way, the water in the tank stays hotter longer. Your water heater does not need to reheat the water as often.
Adding proper insulation to pipes will also increase how long your hot water lasts. You can also insulate your water heater along with adding a mixing valve.
Doing so is an added expense. But, we’re looking at saving money in the future. You will get returns on these investments.
Save Money By Saving Water
We mentioned earlier that the water outlets at your house are mixing valves. You can use them to mix old and hot water to get the temperature you want.
But without a mixing valve, we still have to wait for the cold water sitting in the pipes to drain away. You lose at least 2.5 gallons of water with every shower you take. Add that to the other people in your household. That’s a lot of wastage.
Using a mixing valve gets rid of the wasted water problem.
A mixing valve keeps the water in the heater hot. Once you start the shower, you have almost instant hot water. There is no need to wait or flush the cold water out of the plumbing system.
When you use less water, you will see the difference in your water bill.
Important Water And Energy Saving Tip
Water is fast becoming a scarce resource. We must do all that we can to conserve it. As much as possible, try to get the members to shower around the same time. That way, you all use the same batch of hot water. You save time, energy, water, and money all at the same time.
Frequently Asked Question
Do I Need A Mixing Valve?
If you want to save money while using hot water, yes you do need a mixing valve to help you. Water heaters do not come with mixing valves. But every water heater manufactures suggests adding a mixing valve to the system you buy.
Does Turning Down Hot Water Heater Save You Money?
Water heaters have a preset temperature set by the manufacturer. That temperature is usually scalding hot. They are set at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. But bath water temperature is only 108 degrees Fahrenheit and you can set it lower.
The lower temperature will save you money and prevent scalding.
Can You Show Me How To Adjust A Hot Water Mixing Valve?
Follow these steps to successfully adjust your hot water mixing valve.
- Take off the cap on the mixing valve
- Find the spindle
- To lower the temperature, turn the spindle to the left.
- To raise the temperature, turn the spindle to the right.
That should do it.
Are There More Water Heater Savings Tips To Save you Money?
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- Thermostat Adjustment
You can save money by setting the thermostat to a lower temperature that will still give you a comfortable shower.
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- Maintenance
Your appliances should have a life expectancy of at least ten years.
Conclusion
Every household wants to save a penny or two. And even if the water heater is the most forgotten appliance, it is one that can save you money. But you must use your water heater in a cost-effective way to reap those rewards.
