Unreliable Shower Temperatures
At one time or another we've all experienced startling water temperature changes when showering. Jokes about standing in the shower when the water starts to run cold . . . or very hot, sound funny, but aren't nearly as amusing when you are the one who's sustained a bad burn or fallen in the tub.
Why does it happen? Is it the Shower Head, or something else causing the problem? What can you do to stop it? To find the answer, lets take a look at your pipes. When you are showering and there is an additional demand for water because someone turns on a faucet or flushes the toilet, there is a drop in pressure in your cold water pipes. This results in a temporary change in the ratio of hot to cold water coming out of your Shower Head. In this instance, the reduction in the amount of cold water will cause a temperature spike until the cold-water pressure returns to its previous level.
Instead of telling everyone in your home to stop using the water when you are showering, or causing yourself inconvenience by keeping your water heater at a low setting as a precaution, you can install special anti-scald equipment to ensure a consistent water temperature to your Shower Head.
Anti-scald valves maintain water temperature by monitoring water pressure and adjusting water flow accordingly. They can accurately maintain the temperature of your shower water to within two to three degrees. In fact, in order to eliminate the problem of accidental scalding and temperature related falls many areas now require the installation of anti-scald valves in new home construction.
The configuration and condition of standard Shower Heads does not affect the temperature of your water. Water pressure changes that alter the balance of the hot and cold water coming out of your pipes is the culprit, and the one way to ensure that you always have a regulated temperature when showering is to use an anti-scald valve in your shower system.