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Same-Day Plumbing Services Across Sydney’s Inner West and Sydney-wide! $0* call-out fee Get a Fast Free Quote
Same-Day Plumbing Services Across Sydney’s Inner West and Sydney-wide! $0* call-out fee Get a Fast Free Quote
$0* call-out fee
50C at bathroom outlets
Tempering valve install
Standards-compliant setup
Hot water can scald you in seconds if it reaches your shower or basin at full temperature. A tempering valve controls the heated water delivery temperature before it reaches your outlets, keeping it at a safe, consistent level without changing how your hot water system stores or heats your water.
Champion Plumbing & Drains installs, services and replaces hot water temperature control valves across Sydney’s Inner West. We assess your setup, recommend the right valve for your system, and set it to the correct delivery temperature before we leave.
For most homes in Sydney, a tempering valve is the standard solution for controlling bathroom hot water temperature. It blends your hot and cold water before it reaches your outlets, capping the delivery temperature at a safe level. Simple, reliable, and required under Australian plumbing standards for new and replacement hot water systems.
A tempering valve is a mixing device installed on your hot water supply line between your storage system and your outlets. It blends incoming cold water with heated water to deliver a consistent, capped temperature at your showers, baths and basins
It does not affect your dishwasher, washing machine or kitchen outlets. Those draw water from the system at full temperature.
Your hot water system can still store water at a temperature high enough to prevent bacterial growth. The tempering valve makes sure that water is at a safe temperature before it reaches you.
Tempering valves are installed on the hot water supply line that feeds into your bathroom outlets, including showers, baths and basins. Most houses with a storage hot water system will have one fitted, or will need one fitted to be compliant with AS/NZS 3500.4
They are usually found near your hot water unit, in a meter box, or in a cupboard close to the system. The installation point will be accessible so the valve can be tested and serviced by expert plumbers regularly.
For most residential properties, Australian Plumbing standards require a maximum temperature of 50℃ at bathroom outlets. A tempering valve is set to deliver your water at or below that temperature.
This keeps the temperature comfortable for showering, while also reducing the risk of scalding under normal household use. The 50℃ limit applies to most properties in the Inner West and surrounds.
If your home doesn’t have a tempering valve and the hot water system has been replaced since the 1990s, it may not be compliant. We can check what is fitted and tell you what the next steps are.
A thermostatic mixing valve, or TMV, is similar to a tempering valve but is built for stricter tolerances and includes a failsafe mechanism that shuts off flow if the cold water supply suddenly stops. This prevents undiluted hot water from reaching your outlet if the supply pressure suddenly changes.
In properties where the people living there are vulnerable, Australian standards state a maximum delivery temperature of 45℃. This applies to aged care facilities, nursing homes, childcare centres or similar environments.
This lower limit needs a TMV instead of a standard tempering valve, as TMVs maintain accurate temperature control even with fluctuations in supply pressure or cold water temperature.
In a residential property, a TMV may be the right choice if the people living there are elderly, are living with a disability or have young children.
Property managers or apartments with shared hot water systems may also have situations where a TMV is the better option. Longer pipes in these systems can cause the temperature to change before the water reaches individual outlets, and a TMV can address this.
A TMV costs more to supply and install than a standard tempering valve, and it has more complicated internal components that require testing and documentation to maintain compliance. For a typical residential property, a tempering valve set to 50℃ meets the requirements and is reliable with routine annual servicing.
Using a TMV in a standard house is not the wrong thing to do, but it is not a necessity in most cases.
If your home doesn’t have a tempering valve and the hot water system has been replaced since the 1990s, it may not be compliant. We can check what is fitted and tell you what the next steps are.
Tempering valves and TMVs will break down over time. Internal parts will wear, cartridges clog with mineral deposits, and valves can move outside of their correct temperature range without any obvious signs. Regular testing and servicing keep these devices performing as they should be, and keep your property compliant.
A tempering valve delivering water at 55℃ or 60℃ looks identical to one working correctly. You can’t tell by looking at it. The only way to check that it’s performing as it should be is to test the temperature at the outlet.
We recommend testing every 12 months for tempering valves, and testing should also be carried out any time you notice a change in your hot water delivery temperature.
Servicing a tempering valve typically means inspecting the valve, testing the temperature at the outlet, checking the condition and replacing parts when needed. In most cases, a service can fix a valve without needing to replace the system.
If the valve is damaged, has reached the end of its life, or the internal parts can’t be swapped out, replacement is the better option. We carry common valve sizes and can complete most replacements in a single visit.
TMVs need more structured testing than standard tempering valves. Testing will include checking the temperature, checking the failsafe, and keeping a record of your servicing results.
We carry out field testing for TMVs in residential and multi-residential properties. If you manage a property with a shared hot water system and need to confirm current compliance, we can help with that.
We keep the process simple and make sure everything is tested and explained before we leave. During our visit, we will:
Pricing varies depending on the job. We give you upfront, fixed pricing before we start.
For a full breakdown of how we price our work, see our pricing guide.
We install and service hot water temperature control valves across Sydney’s Inner West, including Ashfield, Burwood, Concord, Croydon, Drummoyne, Five Dock, and surrounding suburbs. If your suburb is not listed, call us and we will confirm coverage.
For more information on our full range of hot water work, see our hot water services page. If your situation is urgent, our emergency plumbing team is available when you need us.
If your tempering valve has not been tested recently, your hot water is running hotter than it should, or you need a new valve installed, call Champion Plumbing and Drains or book online. We will assess your system, give you upfront pricing, and get it sorted.
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It blends hot and cold water before it reaches your shower or bath, keeping the temperature at a safe, consistent level. Without one, water at your taps can be as hot as your storage tank, which is hot enough to cause serious burns.
No. Tempering valves need to be installed and adjusted by a licensed plumber, and any adjustment needs to be followed by an outlet temperature test. It’s a quick job and can be done same day for Inner West properties. Call our team today to organise your replacement.
Most will last around 5-10 years depending on your water quality and how much you use. Getting your system tested every 12 months will pick up on any issues early so you’re not caught off guard.
In most cases, yes. Australian plumbing standards require one for new and replacement hot water systems. If yours has never been tested or was not fitted during your last system replacement, or if you’re just not sure, it’s worth a quick check.
Both control delivery temperature of your water, but a TMV is built to tighter tolerances and includes a failsafe if cold water supply fails. Tempering valves suit most houses. TMVs are used in higher-risk settings like aged care, childcare and certain apartments where 45℃ is required.
If your hot water is hotter than usual, the temperature keeps changing while you’re in the shower, or you are getting a reduced flow, these can be signs that your system needs attention. Contact our local Inner West plumbers today and we can test it and give you a clear answer.
Not necessarily, but you should always have it tested after you replace your hot water system to check that everything is still working properly. This is part of our hot water system installation services.
It depends on your unique building set up. Apartments on shared or centralised hot water systems may need a TMV depending on the delivery temperature and your building requirements.
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