Mixer valve or larger tank?

Queen50 · Feb 9, 2014

We have a 40 gal electric hot water tank about 6 years old. It was always adequate for the two of us, but our household has temporarily grown to 7, and we added a 3-piece bath in the basement.

Sometimes we run low on hot water, what with all the showers, laundry, dishwasher running more often, etc. Would a mixing valve on the hot water tank help? I would like to avoid a bigger tank, as I expect them to move on in a year.

Smooky · Feb 9, 2014

You could try just turning up the temperature on the hot water heater. I would add a mixing valve if you have small children etc in the home that may burn themselves.

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Jadnashua · Feb 9, 2014

Codes vary, but where I live, a tempering valve is required on all WH installations, or replacements. Yes, running it hotter with a mixing valve will make it function as a larger tank with lower temps. Standby losses go up because there's a bigger temperature differential, but depending on the tank, it may not be much.

Reach4 · Feb 9, 2014

Tempering valves are not required on the water heater. The dishwasher, clothes washer and who knows what else are allowed to get hot water. There are places that require the tempering valves for bath tubs, sinks, and showers. You could meet that by using the valve for all of your formerly hot water, but you can do it more selectively too.

Terry · Feb 9, 2014

A 40 gallon electric is pretty small.
Is this an under counter water heater?

You can safely get more from that water heater safely with a tempering valve.
https://terrylove.com/forums/showth...atic-Mixing-Valves-(-water-heater-tempering-)

Jadnashua · Feb 9, 2014

Reach4 said:
Tempering valves are not required on the water heater. The dishwasher, clothes washer and who knows what else are allowed to get hot water. There are places that require the tempering valves for bath tubs, sinks, and showers. You could meet that by using the valve for all of your formerly hot water, but you can do it more selectively too.

NH has amended the IPC requirement to include culinary purposes, cleaning, laundry, or building maintenance...so, since a WH can easily be set higher, to prevent exceeding the max temperature requirement, while it doesn't say you need a tempering valve, since it could easily exceed the max, you need to install one. Effectively, where I live, you must have one to pass an inspection. http://www.nh.gov/safety/boardsandcommissions/bldgcode/documents/bcr300.pdf#page=20

As I said, where I live, you need one.

Queen50 · Feb 10, 2014

Terry said:
A 40 gallon electric is pretty small.
Is this an under counter water heater?

You can safely get more from that water heater safely with a tempering valve.
https://terrylove.com/forums/showth...atic-Mixing-Valves-(-water-heater-tempering-)

No, it's just a regular Kenmore water heater.

Mixer valve or larger tank?

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