Mixing Valve Installation - Really, More Plumbing Videos?

It seems we have project that come in bunches! We have been working on our plumbing in our home since we installed the outdoor wood furnace. We have most everything routed correctly and now we solve the issue of extremely hot water. Our furnace puts out more than 150 degree (65c) hot water. At the faucets, it is a sold 150 degrees (65c). This is way too hot for our kids. Today I install a mixing valve to temper the water. Of all our plumbing projects, this goes relatively easy. Of course I had a leak to chase for a couple days but I got that buttoned and this project is over! For now. I'm wondering what will be our next plumbing project... my vote is cattle waterer or something that involves working outside. Not in our dungeon of a basement.... Thanks for watching the video! More videos on the way soon. Here is a link to the mixing valve on Amazon. Keep in mind that if you want to install one don't undersize it. If your pipes are 3/4" use a 3/4" or larger valve to ensure you don't restrict the water flow. Also be sure to put yours behind a filter. The come with screens but don't rely on them.
amzn.to/3vfk0BJ
This an "affiliate link" where you can purchase the same item we bought. As we understand affiliate links, if you use this link we may receive a tiny commission on the sale because we showed you the product. Sort of like that movie Office Space. It the tiny fractions of cents that add up, that nobody notices and over time we make money.

[@toddd3648]

Teflon tape AND pipe dope ALWAYS.

[@MillGapFarms]

Thanks for watching Toddd3648 and leaving your thoughts. Next time, I will add tape to the adventure! Kevin

[@unclemaple]

Great video and wow did you help me out . I was planning how to run the pipes and stumbling . Just rotating it 90 degrees like you said right at the start. Man oh man sometimes we just need someone elses eyes and knowledge. Thank you bud and God Bless !!!

[@MillGapFarms]

Unclemaple, you made my day with your comment! Thanks for watching our video but more importantly, thanks for your kind words! Hope to see you in the comments again soon. Kevin

[@jorgeespinoza9155]

Thanks for the video. My wife and I built a new home from scratch. The inspector said we still need to install a water mixing valve/temperature control valve. My contractor, home depot and the plumber didn't know what that was or why it's required for our new build. Now we know what it is. That's half the battle.

[@MillGapFarms]

Jorge, I'm glad it helped you. I had never used one until we got an outdoor stove and it really heats up the water. Even blended, it is crazy hot. One point of caution Jorge, check your water for hardness. If you have hard water and high temperature water, you could experience problems like we have, with the minerals clogging things up. Once we put our softener in, a lot of our water issues went away. Thanks for watching our videos and sharing your thoughts! Kevin

[@kenmelottejr6379]

Great video! Very helpful, thank you!

[@MillGapFarms]

Glad it was helpful! Our is still not mixed as cool as it could be. Our hot water is crazy hot! Thanks for your comment! Kevin

[@josephwinner4475]

No, no, no if you have a regular hot water heater do not turn the thermostat to 120 deg. Code says you must run a mixing valve in the system to prevent legionair bacteria from running the tank at too low a temperature. (This is especially true if you have well water with no chlorine in the water). 145 at the tank thermostat and 120 deg coming out of the mixing valve is code and proper and will give you more overall hot water!!!

[@MillGapFarms]

Thanks for posting the comment Joseph Winner 4475. We don't use our hot water heater anymore. I'm sure it's functional. We use an outdoor furnace and when the water comes into the home, it is 180 degrees Fahrenheit. We are using the mixing valve to temper the water where it won't burn us. The furnace heats our home and domestic hot water. We do have well water. Thanks for taking the time to share the details you did. I gained another used piece of knowledge! Kevin

[@briansimmons6300]

Would have really like to see how you made the final mixing adjustments, and how that was completed.

[@MillGapFarms]

Mr. Simmons, Initially I thought about buying a thermometer that would be in line on the pipe so I could really dial it in. After a little more thought on that, I decided to use the deep sink right below where the valve was installed and my maple syrup thermometer. We have two little ones and in reality the real test was would it burn them coming out and is it hot enough for my wife's scalding hot showers... I errored on the side of not burning the kids. Our outdoor furnace will generate 180 fahrenheit all day long...non stop. Blending was definitely necessary. As was softening the water. I hope this helps. Let me know if I can help you If yo need more info. Thanks for watching and commenting! Kevin

[@00tonytone]

U the man a plumber wants 500 to change that part

[@MillGapFarms]

Thanks for watching 00tonytone. And leaving your thoughts. I'm glad this helped you! Kevin

[@ZazuRider13]

The mixing valve looks nice and beefy, Kevin. Should last a long time. Priced nicely too. Similar units for darkroom labs run between $300 to $1000(!) They do have a thermometer attached so you know right then and there what the output is. A cost-conscious work-around would be the valve you installed coupled with a thermometer holder attached to the output. Yes, those are available. Cheers!

[@MillGapFarms]

ZaZuRider13, I didn't think about the thermometer until after I installed it. I set it up by feel. Get this... the whole reason this started was because of the heat exchanged we installed for our hot water... and then re-installed a new one because it stopped working... the new one is starting to slow down too.... I put it behind a filter but it looks like something is happening in it and it might have debris in it again... Argh!!! We can still take showers but not two of us at the same time... crazy huh!? At least I know how to fix it in relatively short order... Thanks for watching! More videos coming out soon! K

[@sagos5301]

Hello, may i ask you what will happen if the hot water supply cuts off? If for example we have a problem in the hot water boiler and need to stop the hot water supply until we repair it. Does the cold line continue supplying the house with water or the hole system will stop? Thank you?

[@MillGapFarms]

Thanasis Sagonas, Thanks for watching our video. What I believe will happen in your situation is that you'll still have water throughout your home but it will be at a lower pressure on the hot side. If you don't have a check valve on the hot side somewhere behind the hot water or a shut off valve you may have to shut off the cold water supply to the blending valve. As I'm thinking about it, I would guess there is a shut off valve on the boiler as it leave to go to the supply lines to the home. Once that is shut off the unit can be serviced and no water will go backwards. Going back to my first idea, you will have water, although cold, at your hot water faucets. It will most likely be at a lower volume or pressure. A word of caution, don't change the setting on the blend valve to get more volume or pressure on the hot water side. That will cause you some frustration once your boiler is repaired and you have to figure out what setting is best for your home. Thanks for watching our video and leaving you question in the comment. Good luck with your repairs! Kevin

[@sagos5301]

@@MillGapFarms Thank you very much. Your response is very helpful.

[@MillGapFarms]

You are most welcome. I would be curious to learn how your repairs went. Thanks Kevin

[@kevins9688]

This damn thing has reduced the tap temp to 114 deg F in my house. The unit is a Zurn wilkens valce and screw on it does not budge. What should i do, replace it?

[@MillGapFarms]

Kevins9688, thanks for watching our video. First thing I would to is remove it and put it in vinegar or citric acid. Most folks have vinegar. Soak it for as long as you can. If you can't get it to budge, time for a new one. It sounds like you've got minerals caked in it. I'm not familiar with that model, since I've only installed this type. Would you mind going to our website www.millgapfarms.com and sending me an email or an email. That way you could email me a photo of what yours looks like. Zurn is a great company. I am thinking there is a way to service it. The valve we are using is not terribly expensive. Here is an affiliate link to it...amzn.to/3sxdjyV These are easy to install and should take less than an hour. Have all your pieces parts ready when you start the process. Let's talk a minute about the root problem.... how long have you had 114f water? That seems really low. Are you sure your hot water heater is working correctly? If you have a two element heater one element could be out and thus the input into the mixing valve is very low. I hope some of this helps. I look forward to hearing your solution. the other Kevin!

[@user-tt5pz4wn1x]

What is your heat source?

[@MillGapFarms]

We have two. The primary is a gas furnace. But with the cost of propane and the fact we have instant hot water on our propane water heater, we moved to a outdoor furnace. It uses wood, which we have plenty of and it works like a charm! The water coming into the home is 180 F. Thanks for watching and posting a comment. Kevin

[@cameltoehunter]

Why did my builder put one of these on my hot water tank when my tank has a digital temperature control ?

[@MillGapFarms]

First Canadian Hustlr, your profile picture is amazing. I thought I had a fly on my iPad! If you go to our website millgapfarms.com send me a picture of what it looks like. I may be able to give you some more insight into it. Be sure to give me a picture pretty far back so I can see all the plumbing. On a house with a water heater only it does not make sense. Thanks for watching our video and sending me this question. You definitely have me curious. Thanks Kevin

[@wallacegrommet9343]

Plumbing code requirement to prevent scalding injury. However, for prevention of tank colonization by harmful bacteria, setting the water heater temperature higher is recommended, so the mixing valve reduces water temp to a safer level before it reaches faucets. Bonus: more hot water at the faucets.

[@MillGapFarms]

Mr. Grommet, Thanks for you info on this video! Very helpful! Thanks for watching, Kevin

[@joed3565]

Anyone ever tell you that you look kinda like Bruce willis?

[@MillGapFarms]

Believe it or not, yes folks have told me that. More so when I'm heavier such as this video. Thanks for watching and sharing your comment! Hope you will watch other videos on the channel and even subscribe! Thanks, Kevin

[@KBradAdams]

What a POS! they installed one in my home and my bath water is luke warm. The rest of the house including my kids shower and baths are scalding... I can not even adjust mine? Plumber told me he couldn't adjust it or take it off but suggested I just take it off and turn it around?

[@MillGapFarms]

Mr. Adams, I think your problem is with your plumber. I bringing in water that is 180+ degrees Fahrenheit and I am able to dial in the temp so all our fixtures are not scalding. It has to go in front of the hot water supply to the rest of the home. I will say it took me a little time to get it adjusted right. Mainly because I didn't install a temperature probe after it. That would have made the dial in time much much less. Go to our website and send me a couple photos of yours. Maybe I can give you a couple pointers on how to get it work right. Thanks for watching our video and taking the time to leave a comment. Kevin

[@KBradAdams]

@@MillGapFarms Any idea what happens if I turn the Mixing Valve around backwards? I have called 3 plumbers and all have said the same thing. They can not move it. This mixing valve is just used for our soaking tub... no other faucet in the house has one and it is the only one that does not get hot enough. The adjustment is turned all the way to the hottest setting for the mixing valve. One plumber said I could turn off the water, take the mixing valve off and turn it around and it would give me as much hot water as I want. What are your thoughts?

[@TheRealShowtiming]

Mine too! Worked hot for the first couple weeks maybe but over a year it's not even warm. I can't even get to it to adjust the hot level. It's attached to the master bed tub that has bubblers. Brand new manufactured home

[@TheRealShowtiming]

Any fixes lmk

[@KBradAdams]

@@TheRealShowtiming my fix was I bought a hot tub and don’t use the sh…ty soaking tub anymore.