An aged care thermostatic shower retrofit can add thermostatic control to an existing shower without removing tiles, but the site’s hot water supply still has to meet some basic conditions. Checking those first shows whether a direct retrofit suits the facility or whether plumbing changes are needed.

What Does an Aged Care Thermostatic Shower Retrofit Need?

The Mixermate to Mattsson thermostatic shower is suitable for mains pressure water systems or pump systems over 100 kPa only. Gravity-fed systems are not suitable.

The hot water supply to the shower also has to be at least 50°C for the thermostat to work correctly. If a tempering valve or thermostatic mixing valve upstream is set below 50°C, the shower thermostat will not work. The options are to run a separate hot line to the shower directly from the hot water unit, or to seek approval to set that valve to 50°C.

The retrofit is installed without removing tiles or altering the plumbing. It replaces the existing shower taps, and the old taps can be put back at any time. Our thermostatic shower page sets out the operating conditions in full.

Which Site Checks Decide Retrofit Suitability?

Before ordering an aged care thermostatic shower retrofit, confirm these points for each shower:

• Water supply: Mains pressure or a pump system above 100 kPa, not gravity-fed.
• Hot water temperature: At least 50°C reaching the shower.
• Upstream valves: Any tempering valve or thermostatic mixing valve, and the temperature it is set to.
• Existing taps: What is currently fitted, since the retrofit replaces the existing shower taps.
• Facility requirements: The hot water rules that apply to your building, covered below.

A photo of the current shower taps and a note of the pressure and temperature readings will make the first conversation with us faster. Our guide to thermostatic mixer taps in aged care bathrooms looks at how thermostatic taps are used in aged care and dementia-friendly bathrooms.

Hot Water Rules That Apply to Aged Care Facilities

A retrofit does not replace site-specific plumbing compliance. Part B2 of the Plumbing Code of Australia sets maximum heated water delivery temperatures at sanitary fixtures, with a lower limit for the residential parts of aged care buildings than for most other cases. Requirements can also vary between states and territories.

Your plumber or compliance adviser should confirm what applies to your building and resident group before you order. We can talk through how the retrofit fits your setup, but we cannot confirm compliance for your building.

Find a Practical Approach to Shower Upgrades

Where the water supply, hot water temperature and existing connections suit, an aged care thermostatic shower retrofit avoids tile removal and plumbing changes. That can mean less disruption than a full bathroom rebuild. Because the old taps can be put back at any time, one practical option is to start with a single bathroom before planning a wider rollout. Our Mixermate benefits page covers the retrofit format for aged care and disability applications.

If you are planning upgrades across one bathroom or several, contact us with your water pressure, hot water temperature and current shower setup. We can talk through whether the retrofit suits your site.

The post Aged Care Thermostatic Shower Retrofit: Is Your Site Suitable? first appeared on Mixermate Australia.