Tempering valve adjustment - required to be done by licensed plumber?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Tempering valve adjustment - required to be done by licensed plumber?

pih

649 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#303149 19-Jan-2023 16:53

So if this was at home I'd have no qualms about doing it myself to get the desired temperature, but I'm asking on behalf of a business where the outlet water temperature actually matters (exactly why is unimportant to this discussion).

Do I need to get a licensed plumber to alter the tempering valve, from a legal standpoint? I can only find information on installing tempering valves, which confirms my suspicion that there's no law forbidding it.

FWIW, the tempering valve is easily accessible and requires no special tooling to adjust, and I can accurately measure the result with an IR temperature meter.

Bung

6480 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3024339 19-Jan-2023 20:59

I think any exemptions only apply if you own the property and are living in it.

pih

649 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3024344 19-Jan-2023 21:18

Bung: I think any exemptions only apply if you own the property and are living in it.

But that's sort of my point: exemptions to what exactly? I know I can't install one legally, but there doesn't seem to be any law saying you can't adjust your own tempering valve - or anyone else's, for that matter (short of some sort of sabotage / criminal intent I suppose).

It almost seems trivial, like "am I allowed to change the temperature of my shower mixer?" But given it is a non-consumer level plumbing hardware matter and a business is involved, I thought I'd ask a random crowd of strangers for their opinion and see if anyone knows anything more.

SATTV

1648 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3024501 19-Jan-2023 23:04

Your just turning the valve. There is no special skills involved as long as the water temp does not exceed 55 deg c You should be good
There was talk of having the max tap temp of 50 deg but I don’t know if this has been bought in yet.
John

I know enough to be dangerous

pih

649 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3024520 20-Jan-2023 07:17

SATTV: Your just turning the valve. There is no special skills involved as long as the water temp does not exceed 55 deg c You should be good
There was talk of having the max tap temp of 50 deg but I don’t know if this has been bought in yet.
John

Thanks, I assumed as much. If anyone is a licensed plumber I'd love to hear from you.

TinyTim

1042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3024524 20-Jan-2023 08:02

We just renovated our laundry which involved moving the hot water cylindar and plumbing around it. I told the plumber the water coming out of the taps was too cold, he said he couldn't adjust it but I could, and left the spanner for me to do so.

Bung

6480 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3024529 20-Jan-2023 08:22

Which taps? The laundry is not required to be supplied by the tempering valve. The plumber could have given you hotter water at the laundry tub without compromising the bath and shower safety.

djtOtago

1149 posts

Uber Geek

#3024533 20-Jan-2023 08:32

Most tempering valves I have come across have a max setting of 65 Deg.

Also check that the cylinder is actually heating the water hot enough to start with.