(03) 9583 0965 bruce@gbrand.com.au
Imagine taking a shower where you can fully control the mixture of hot and cold water and even its pressure. This is possible with a thermostatic shower mixer. With it, the temperature blending process can be done manually or automatically, and the temperature runs through the shower head is consistently maintained by the thermostats.
The Mixer Mate is a very convenient feature that allows users to regulate water temperature. The gadget works by continuously monitoring and by shutting down the entry of cold water the moment it gets too cold, and does the same with hot water when it reaches an unbearable state. It is the best automated way to maintain a steady temperature in the thermostatic mixer shower, despite the disproportions that occur within the water supply. The changes in the pressures and water volume are detected by mixer mate early on. A consistent water temperature assures a more pleasant shower experience, since there will be no unanticipated temperature surge in the supply of shower water.
Based on a recent survey, there are nearly twenty three million incidences of accidental bathroom injuries brought about by falls, and a great number of these tumbles can be attributed to scalds from abrupt changes in the temperature of shower water. With thermostatic valves installed in your shower systems, you will be able to set limits on the maximum temperature of your shower water. In most models, there are built-in features that prevent the temperatures to exceeding 100°C.
One of the most important components in the shower system is the mixing valve. Another equally important part of the entire setup is control of the temperature. The thermostatic mixing valve has the capacity to efficiently and easily manage both requirements for control and safety. With a single valve, the temperature of the water in the shower can be easily managed depending on the make and arrangement of the valve. It is a simple manual process of regulating the pressure and temperature of the water by turning the lever. With the mixer mate, you have complete control of the temperature and pressure of the water with nominal effort.
Mixer mate allows you to accurately monitor and adjust the heat and coldness of your water shower up to a half of a degree of your required of temperature. The gadget is able to measure the water temperature using sensors installed within the mixing chamber, and the moment alterations in the temperature are identified and detected, valves can be immediately adjusted in order to fine-tune the flow of water to get the intended temperature balance The mechanism guarantees that the temperature of the water is always within your desired range.
More and more homes have been equipping their bathrooms with features that ensure safety and heighten comfort. Among these enhancements are bath shower mixers. Shower mixers provide you the convenience of mixing hot and cold water to your desired temperature setting. With bath shower mixers, you can prevent scalding accidents. Plus, you are given other features of convenience that are not available with other shower heads.
Nowadays, people pay more attention to purchasing excellent household fixtures and appliances with the objective of making their homes more comfortable and convenient to live in, as well as boost its real estate market value. High quality bathroom equipment such as shower mixers are top picks. A lot of homeowners furnish their bathrooms with showers mixers because these items are considered cost-effective toilet solutions.
Buying the right shower mixer can be quite a challenge since there are a number of designs and types of showers heads and other accessories to choose from. It is important to choose a shower that matches your heating and plumbing systems. If you live in a house where hot water is already made available, you may want to go for a shower mixer that has the ability to combine hot and cold water. Thermostatic shower mixers can get rid of temperature fluctuations thanks to its thermostatic temperature control options. This makes these units safe for the entire family. Bathroom shower mixers are ideal for homes equipped with combination boilers, high pressure and gravity-fed heating systems.
Shower mixers combine hot and cold water from different sources. Once the favoured temperature controls are set, these gadgets will ensure that the water that comes out is at your desired temperature. You do not have to, every now and then, keep on adjusting the controls in order to achieve the coolness or warmth that you want. This type of convenience offers you full enjoyment of your showering experience, devoid of distractions.
Along with convenience, shower mixers that have been designed with thermostatic controls can ensure your safety while showering. These showers are controlled using a thermostatic valve and they have been designed with safety-cut-off features that automatically shut off the device whenever hot or cold feed fail. This prevents a situation where too cold or too hot water drenches you out of the shower. You can now stop worrying about being scalded by extremely hot water.
Showers are designed to uniformly spray water to the entire body, not like taps. Because of this, it is important to make sure that the shower water is not too hot, or not too cold. Shower mixers are a good choice for the kid’s bathrooms because children are less skilful at mixing water, which makes them more prone to accidents.
Mixer showers come in various colours but the most popular is chrome because it has the benefit of being able to easily match with any decoration in any bathroom. They usually come with other chrome accessories. Shower mixers can add a modern dimension to the bathroom.
The one, two and sometimes three-handled valve is always dependent on the user to manually control the water temperature and these types of valves can lead to two potential problems, scalding and thermal shock.
Hot water scald injuries are the second most common burn injuries in all age groups, in the most prevalent occurrence of scald injuries can be found with non-compensating type shower or tub/shower valves in the bathroom. Scalding injuries commonly happens at home, most vulnerable to the serious water burn are young children and elderly. In cases of thermal shock, it causes slips and falls in reaction to sudden increase or decrease in water temperature. Additional untold numbers become ill due to water-borne bacteria like the Legionella , which is responsible for Legionnaire’s Disease, an acute bacterial infection of the lower respiratory track. Pontiac Fever is a less severe, non-pneumonia, flu-like disease that is associated with and likely causes by Legionella bacteria.
But can these serious, disfiguring and sometime fatal injuries be prevented?
The answer is an outstanding Yes! Fortunately, these three causes of hot water danger are preventable, by the help of Thermostatic Mixing Valves. The solution to help minimising cases of Thermal Shock is Thermostatic Mixing Valves, it maintains and limit mixed hot water to a desires, selectable temperature.
And to prevent scalding injuries, Thermostatic Mixing Valves maintain and limit the mixed hot water to a desirable selectable temperature. To prevent water-borne bacteria, Thermostatic Mixing Valves maintain and limit the mixed hot water to a desirable, selectable temperature allowing for the storage of domestic hot water at the higher temperatures necessary to reduce the risk of Legionella growth in the system. With widespread industry attention over the safe storage and distribution of domestic hot water due to concerns of tap water scalding, thermal shock and Legionella, Thermal Mixing Valves provide safe, accurate control of hot water from its source to its final use.
But how does Thermal Mixing valves work?
A thermostat in the mixing chamber of the valves senses the outlet temperature and then a thermostat automatically positions a seat assembly which controls the flow of hot and cold water supplied to the mixing chamber. In the event of a cold or hot water supply failure, the seat assembly moves to an extreme position shutting off the hot or cold inlet water port.
Talk to us today about Thermostatic Mixing Valves. Remember, regular periodic inspection of mixing valves is recommended to assure maximum valve life and a properly functioning system.
A mixer tap has so many advantages over a traditional two faucet system that more people are choosing to convert every day. The conversion process can be anything from dead simple to one that requires calling in the services of a good plumber. Below, we will explore what is needed to successfully upgrade to mixer taps.
The way pipes get water to faucets has changed in the last couple of decades. The traditional method was running small copper pipes to the fixture and soldering the water lines to the faucet intakes. In such cases, replacement of a faucet meant cutting off the old pipe, possibly splicing in an extension, then soldering the pipe to the new fixture. The method transitioned to a period where copper feed pipes were still used, but actually attached with easy on and off compression fittings that required only a pair of pliers to switch faucets. The most modern method uses flexible plastic pipes with compression fittings.
Any owners considering the switch who have copper feeder pipes need to consult a plumber. In some cases, the copper will need to be replaced by plastic piping or cut and soldered by someone with experience accomplishing this.
For those who have a modern connection that is accomplished with compression fittings, switching to a mixer faucet is a pretty straight forward affair.
First, ensure that you have everything you will need to accomplish the project. The first essential is the new faucet. After the faucet, the other thing on the shopping list will be sink blanks. Since a traditional setup has three holes in the sink, or four if a separate spray hose is part of the setup, and a mixer system uses only one of these holes, blanks will need to be installed to cover the open holes left when converting. A couple of tools will also make the transition painless – a bucket to catch water that drains out when the old faucets are disconnected and a good pair of pliers to manipulate the compression fittings are a good idea to have around.
Once everything needed is acquired, it is a very easy process to make the switch:
Turn off water at the valves under the sink.
Disconnect feed lines from the hot and cold intakes on the old faucets.
Remove all of the old faucet hardware.
Install the mixer hardware, reconnecting the feed lines to the appropriate intakes.
Install blanks to cover the holes.
Turn the water back on and enjoy your new mixer tap.
While the traditional standard setup for kitchen sinks is two separate faucets controlling hot and cold water that both feed into a central spout, there is a better option. Many have found that installing a kitchen sink mixer offers most of the same advantages found in a shower mixer.
A single lever is used to control the amount and temperature of the flow. This allows quick, one hand activation and adjustment of the water flow. For those with health problems that making turning regular faucet knobs difficult or impossible, this is an absolutely essential thing. Even people without health problems will likely discover that the one hand use allows greater freedom to multitask, and thus increases productivity in sink related tasks.
Thermostatic control is also an available option with sink mixers. The mixer has a sensor that ensures that the temperature remains stable by adjusting water flow on the fly when the supply of hot or cold water fluctuates. Thermostatic control is really the best way to avoid a nasty burn in the event that the cold water suddenly stops flowing to the sink.
Kitchen mixers will frequently have heads mounted on flexible hoses. This is a tremendous advantage when rinsing dishes or cleaning the area around the sink. Being able to direct a spray to the exact spot at the precise angle necessary vastly reduces the overall amount of rinsing required. This saves both time and money.
A good kitchen sink mixer is generally built in a far more robust manner than a standard kitchen faucet fixture. As an extremely simple fixture, manufacturers of traditional faucet sets often try to maximize profits by minimizing costs. Sink mixers, on the other hand, are a relatively complicated piece of plumbing and require more precise engineering and better materials to operate properly. Even a high end traditional faucet fixture will usually have rubber washers to prevent leaks, while ceramic washers are not uncommon in mixer fixtures. Where rubber will warp and degrade, ceramic maintains its shape and integrity. The cheaper washers will eventually leak when they degrade, while the higher quality ceramic washers will work perfectly for far longer. This is but a single example of how the more complicated engineering involved in manufacturing sink mixers proves to be an advantage over a traditional faucet.
To make life easier, more efficient and cost effective, having a good kitchen sink mixer installed as a replacement for the traditional faucet fixture is a decision no one comes to regret.
While many rave about the accessibility value and convenience of converting to a mixer shower, too few understand the aspect of better mixer showers that is literally the realization of generations of bathers – thermostatic control. Below, we will look at what thermostatic control is and how it benefits anyone who uses a shower equipped with it.
Thermostatic control is basically a sensor at the valve where hot and cold water are mixed together that monitors both temperatures of water. Should the supply of either hot or cold change, the valve itself compensates to keep the temperature steady, resulting in both safety and convenience benefits.
The safety benefit is essentially a protection from sudden bursts of flaming hot or icy cold water. Sudden cold water absence is the more common issue that occurs when someone flushes a toilet or turns on a faucet, which decreases the cold water available to the shower. The result is a stream of nearly pure hot water flying out of the shower head. If something happens to obstruct the hot water entering the shower, the opposite effect occurs, with suddenly very cold water streaming out. The danger of hot water is obvious, a person in the shower can get scalded. The shock of suddenly standing in very cold water can hurt people with certain health issues. Without thermostatic control, a person’s reflexes determine how long he or she stands in the suddenly dangerous stream of water, but with it the valve reacts before the water even gets to the shower head.
One of the benefits for people who prefer that showers be as brief as possible is the ability turn the water on full blast. Normally, this is not done because having the water on too high makes those shocking changes in water temperature more severe. With thermostatic mixer showers, full blast showers are perfectly safe for those who want to get the job done as quickly as possible.
Thermostatic control can be even more convenient for those who enjoy long, leisurely showers. A really long shower can drain the preheated water from the home’s water heater. The result of this is a shower that must constantly be monitored and adjusted to maintain that perfect temperature. With thermostatic mixer showers, this all goes on automatically so that the temperature remains constant as long as there are both hot water and cold water available.
One of the most meaningful driving forces in the improvement of our lifestyles is the continuing evolution of technology. Probably the most fascinating aspect of this evolution is the way it tends to follow a precise pattern each time: meeting the need, overcoming unforeseen issues and allowing people a retroactive fix. The perfect example of this happening right now is the way people are moving away from the traditional style of shower spigots and reaping the benefits of mixer showers.
The need that traditional showers met was that of blending water from a water heater with the general household water supply to create a warm shower. This need was met by running separate water lines with separate controls for hot and cold to allow the person taking a shower to choose how hot the shower should be. This worked well for generations.
After happily using traditional showers for ages, a new challenge arose. It arose from a good thing – people were living longer than ever. This challenge was the simple fact that people living longer meant that more and more suffered from crippling conditions that came with those extra years, conditions like arthritis. For those who suffered from severe arthritis, working the traditional rotary knobs on showers was painful at best and impossible at worst.
The new solution to deal with this issue is mixer showers. These showers use a special valve to create a single point where the hot and cold water are mixed. By combining this valve with modern ergonomic thinking, a simple to use interface was developed which allowed even sufferers of crippling conditions to use the mixer showers easily and painlessly.
Thanks to modern engineering, the retrofit of traditional shower systems to more effective mixer showers is also less painful than such conversions would have been in the past. People contemplating a change in shower types often picture a huge renovation project that results in walls being destroyed and tiles being replaced. The clean and nondestructive installation of a mixer shower is just another of its benefits. In a simple bolt on solution, an antiquated shower can be updated to the far more accessible mixer shower.
An easy transition to a superior product that makes its use both better and more convenient is the dream result from any new technology, and exactly the result people are discovering with mixer showers.
When people get a new faucet, they generally have three options: chrome, stainless, or nickel. Below, we will explore some of the pros and cons of a chrome finish versus a stainless faucet.
First, let us look at how they are different. A chrome faucet is generally made of a lower quality steel which is then coated with a veneer of chrome. A stainless faucet is usually made of stainless steel all the way through. In terms of functionality, there is virtually no difference between the two.
Generally speaking, a chrome faucet will be less expensive than a stainless version of the same item. Made mostly of a lesser quality material, it is easy to understand why.
This one is pure taste. Most chrome faucets are very shiny. The finish is much like a mirror that when clean and polished, shines beautifully. The run of the mill stainless faucet has a brushed finish that is more of a matte finish than a really shiny one. The shiny chrome finish tends to collect fingerprints more readily than the matte stainless, so more cleaning may be required.
Another aspect of appearance that is worth considering is how well the faucet fits the room. For decades, virtually all faucets were chrome finish. Because of this, assuming its shape is appropriate, to most, a chrome faucet will not look out of place in any building from hovel to castle. Stainless faucets, on the other hand, have a more modern appearance to most people. Some may find stainless a jarring contrast in a more traditional setting.
In pure terms, stainless is definitely more durable than chrome finished faucets. The steel of which it is comprised is harder than the steel that usually comprises chrome faucets. In practical terms, though, there is really no difference. With normal use, there is no way anyone is actually going to break either type. The mechanisms that control the water flow are almost always the problem when a faucet actually fails and that is a function of how high the quality of manufacture is, not the material of the faucet itself.
The difference in cost between chrome and stainless faucets is small enough to consider negligible when dealing with a product that will often last decades. Every other aspect is a matter of taste. Neither is inherently better, so getting the right fit is simply a matter of choosing what looks best.
With more people turning to mixer showers as their bathing option of choice, many are left wondering what’s so great about them and how they are better than typical traditional showers. Below, we will look at a couple of the factors that make mixer showers an increasingly popular choice with knowledgeable buyers.
The first major advantage a mixer shower boasts over the traditional shower is accessibility. Once installed, a bather can use the simple lever to easily turn on both the desired amount of spray and the desired temperature. Compared to a typical shower with its rotary controls, the control lever of mixer showers is easier in any conceivable way. Because of this ease of use, people who have trouble with traditional shower knobs, sufferers of severe arthritis or otherwise disabled persons, love the freedom that mixer showers introduce to their lives.
The second advance that mixer showers demonstrate is something that has been a dream since hot lines were first introduced to homes – automatic temperature control. Lack of temperature control has been a crippling limitation of typical showers for so long that the concept has become a meme. Comedy television shows are full of examples where someone is in the shower and someone else who wants to somehow punish them does so by flushing the nearest toilet. The resulting scream as their comfortable shower instantly becomes a boiling torture device is met with laughs. Anyone who has had encountered this phenomenon in real life knows that having water that is near boiling in temperature spray across your naked body is nothing to laugh about. By incorporating thermostatic control into the valve of mixer showers, this danger becomes a thing of the past.
With the easier temperature control, mixer showers also allow something else that most of us find more satisfying in a shower, increased flow. In the past, there was only one possible defense against the sudden spike in temperature that a typical shower allows. That defense was not running too much water in the hope that the sudden lack of cold water will be buffered by the fact that very little hot water is running. The thermostatic protection built into many mixer showers allow the water to be turned on more without this worry, resulting in shorter showers as the healthy flow makes rinsing far more efficient.
Switching from one way of doing things typically involves a pros versus cons calculation. Moving from typical showers to mixer showers is an area where things get better on every front.
Phone: (03) 9583 0965
Mobile: 0411 072 132
Email: bruce@gbrand.com.au