Shower Valves
Thermostatic Mixing
Courtesy of Brizo
Thermostatic valves have individual controls for water temperature and pressure.
Like pressure-balance valves, these valves can monitor fluctuations in pressure. However, they have the added advantage of being able to monitor and control temperature with precision.
Pros
- You can actually set your desired shower temperature. Some thermostatic valves come with electronic monitoring systems that let you adjust the temperature digitally and save different settings for different users.
- Thermostatic mixing valves typically have high flow rates, sometimes exceeding 17 gallons per minute. They can provide enough water pressure for custom showers with both showerheads and bodysprays.
Cons
- Thermostatic valves usually cost $300 or more, while pressure balance valves often start around $100. The extra cost is unnecessary if you don’t need the high flow rates thermostatic valves allow for.
- Even though they have controls that allow you to set the temperature of the water, thermostatic mixing valves cannot create hot water. So even if you have the valve set for a high temperature, once you run out of hot water, you’ll be taking a cold shower.
