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Bath thermostatic mixing valve

9 replies

catchyjem · 03/12/2021 11:18

I've recently moved into a new house and come to realise, now that the weather is colder, that there must be one of these valves on the bath tap as I can't get a hot bath! I was about to book someone to come and remove it when I read online that these valves are now a legal requirement?! So, what I'm wondering is can I have the valve removed or is that illegal? I just want to be able to have a hot bath as the water really just feels Luke warm to me. Or perhaps mine is set too low?

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PigletJohn · 03/12/2021 14:10

did it seem hotter in the summer?

have you got a combi boiler?

what happens to the temperature of the tapwater if you turn it to run at half-speed?

catchyjem · 03/12/2021 14:45

Hi! Yes it did seem hotter in the summer. It's a combi boiler and I think the cold water is coming straight off the mains which is very cold right now. I haven't tried running it at half speed. It seems to run quite slowly even when the tap is on full.

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PigletJohn · 03/12/2021 15:24

try it.

catchyjem · 03/12/2021 19:39

Thanks @PigletJohn so much! It worked. It might have taken a long time but letting the water in slowly, it was piping hot! I actually had to run the cold to cool it down at the end!

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Double3xposure · 03/12/2021 19:41

@PigletJohn deserves a MN Hero award 🥇

PigletJohn · 03/12/2021 19:57

that's combis for you

They can deliver X amount of hot water, heated by Y degrees

Or 2X amount of hot water, but only half a Y.

You won't notice it running a sink or basin, because the litres per minute through the tap are quite small. But filling a bath, you may demand a large flow or water.

For example, e.g. a 24kW combi may deliver about 10 litres per minute of hot water at a temperature rise of 35 degrees C, but a 40kW combi (rare) may deliver 16.4 litres per minute at a temperature rise of 35 degrees C.

If, in midsummer, the incoming water supply from the main was 15C, a 35 degree raise would take it to 50C, which is quite hot.

but if in winter, it was only 5C, a 35 degree raise would only bring it to 40C, which is not very hot.

So turning down the hot tap means that the same amount of heat per minute is delivered to a smaller amount of water, thus heating it faster.

Like a half-full kettlle boiling quicker than a full one.

Sometimes, bathtaps are restricted to reduce the flow of water and hide this effect.

Hot water cylinders work differently.

saleorbouy · 04/12/2021 00:38

Is there a temperature setting dial for the hot water on the front of the boiler. Normally there are two dials, one for radiator circuit temp and the other for hot water.
We increased ours in the winter months due to the lower ambient inlet temp.

Whitefire · 04/12/2021 09:21

This is really useful to me too. Someone through work has asked for it to be removed and it makes sense now that it has only just become an issue. (Not going to allow it to be removed)

catchyjem · 04/12/2021 11:34

Brilliant thanks. I think I understand what's happening now. We had a combi boiler in our previous property and never had this issue but then we never had a valve on the bath. Initially I quite liked the idea of stopping the water getting too hot as I have young kids so it is a good safety thing, but then I was getting frustrated as I like a very hot bath myself! I'll keep it as it is and just get used to running my baths in slowly, I don't mind waiting as long as it's hot Grin The temperature on the boiler is already set as high as it goes.

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