Are shower controls supposed to be anti scald by code in new (1 yr old) construction?
Location if Ft Meyers, Florida (Lee county).
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
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Both IRC and UPC say this:
"Listed anti-scald/pressure balance valve req'd 120* max"
I would assume that includes new construction as well as Florida, though I don't reside in that area.
Hmmmmm...... shower controls are just basic Moen single handle. No temp limits, etc.
I do not see anything special installed around the water heater, as in temp mixing valves.
Can setting the water heater temp limit to 120* satisfy the code? Otherwise, mebbe my sis got ripped off on her 1 yr new house here in FL.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
I would definitely set the water temp to 120* just to be safe, as far as satisfying the code by doing that you'd have to talk to an inspector. The water heater should have a temp control on it, have you unscrewed the panels on the tank and looked inside? (turn off the electric before you check)
Was that the only issue with your sisters new house that would warrant her getting ripped off or were there many others?
If I built someone a new house, of course I would try my best to build it to code, but I'm sure even I myself could overlook something small like that. Where I live in Ct. there is no mandatory testing to build a home, which is pathetic in my opinion. Modern code is complex. Things like anti-scald shower faucets I'm sure get installed unknowingly and go unnoticed at inspection.
Are you sure it'snot an anti-scald valve? is there a part number on the valve that you could look on the company web site to see what the specs are? Hard to imagine a shower valve mfgr would take the chance on a lawsuit."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Contrary to what the code says most valves don't have true temp limits.If the valve just goes from cold to hot and does not have independent control of flow then it is most likely meets the code.What they have is a pressure balance control so that if the pressure on the cold side is reduced then the hot side will be reduced so that the you aren't scalded.The tempature "control" is just an adjustable stop under the handle to limit how far to the hot side you can move the handle..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
This is the unit, the valve body with stop-checks. There is no balancing spool on this unit.
http://www.moen.com/shared/pdf/l2353pt.pdf
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
No. I build homes in Fort Myers.
What code is used for Ft Meyers (Lehigh Acres)?
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Its ok. They set the HW temp and then adjust the limit on the valve so that with the water at its hottest you won't get scalded. And I believe there's a balancing valve inside. I really doubt non-non-scald valves are available anymore.
Not sure how this unit balances since there is no balance spool like other Moen units.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Is it just me or does setting the water heater @ 120* feel lukewarm
I agree. Especially in winter; I want my back to turn lobster red. DW and I have separate controls, luckily.
Forrest
120 at the tank is probably not 120 at the nozzle. Stick a thermometer in the water and see what you get.
120 is pretty hot.
And, if you get to take a truly hot shower, your female companion and you must be on completely different schedules.
Most men like hot showers just as much as women. We have also learned that if we take five minute shower, and she spends thirty minutes in there and runs out of hot water, we took it all.
The setting on your water heater should be at 140*+ to kill off any germs like legionella. Then you need a tempering valve to keep the "hot" water at the faucet from scalding anyone. And I do not mean a globe valve at some fixed blending position.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Is there a problem with the shower valve? If so, change it out. I hope this isn't one of those kind of deals where you are looking for someone to blame for something.
Why? Would it impact you personally in some way? Just curious.
But I hope this isn't a case where you, Mark, are jumping to conclussions.
Mark, in a concurrent thread
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=90889.1
about said shower valve I found it was malfunctioning. No hot water was flowing from it after less than 12 months of service. I took off the cover plate to check it out. I was suprised that this shower valve appeared NOT to have antiscald capability. Hence my question(s).
Does this put you at ease now?
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?