A tempering valve is used for tempering the hot condensate or hot water discharge from commercial equipment going to a drain to comply with local, national, and international plumbing codes. According to the IPC (International Plumbing Code) and most state codes, the maximum allowable temperature entering a sewer system is 140°F (60°C) to avoid damage to existing piping.
Commercial dishwashers, humidifiers, and sterilizers produce 180°F+ (82.2°C+) wastewater. This high-temperature discharge damages PVC piping, which can cause failed inspections, costly fines, interruptions to day-to-day business operations, and damage to personnel.
Tempering valves mix cold water into the equipment discharge to reduce the temperature to acceptable levels before it reaches any PVC piping or public sewers.
How Does a Tempering Valve Work?
Thermostatic drain tempering valves monitor water temperatures and control the cold water supply that mixes with the hot discharge, eliminating the risk of water or waste exceeding 140°F (60°C) going down the drain. If the hot effluent is above the specified set point of the valve (offered in 5-degree increments from 120°F to 140°F), the actuator senses the rising temperature. It signals the DTV to open to allow cold water to temper the discharge fluid.
The DTV drain tempering valve is a mechanical valve that eliminates the need for electrical solenoid valves or thermostats. It opens only when the effluent exceeds the specified set-point temperature, usually 10°F below the full open temperature, conserving water by automatically turning off cold water when not needed.
Where is the Tempering Valve Located?
The DTV tempering valve’s inlet is connected to the cold water supply and installed into the drain line of commercial or industrial equipment. Hence, the flow passes over the thermal actuator, which senses the temperature of the water going to drain and prevents over-temperature conditions.
What Are Common DTV Applications?
Applications such as commercial kitchens with dishwashers, schools, hospitals and healthcare facilities, dentist offices, hotels, and prisons with any type of high effluent drainage from labs, laundry or facilities with commercial laundry or equipment that requires tempered water before draining.
A steam condensate drain cooler, or Drain Tempering Valve (DTV), is typically used in commercial dishwashers, washers, sterilizers, automatic cleaning equipment, or any application discharging scalding water.
Drain Tempering Valve Solutions
ThermOmegaTech’s thermostatic Drain Tempering Valve (DTV) is an effective solution for commercial/industrial facilities because it prevents damage to PVC piping, complies with plumbing codes, and meets drain temperature limitations.
It is self-operating, minimizes water waste, is easy to install, and is clog-resistant. Compared to other solutions, the DTV is a compact design, adaptable to almost any drain size, and operates automatically to keep drain water within appropriate plumbing code limits.
DTV Case Study: DTV & Lab Remodel
Maintaining plumbing code compliance, particularly regarding drain water temperature, was a key priority in a recent laboratory remodel at a California university. The facility faced challenges safely discharging high-temperature effluent from autoclaves and lab equipment. To solve this, the project team installed ThermOmegaTech’s CircuitSolver® Drain Tempering Valve (DTV), which automatically cooled hot effluent before it reached the drain.
The DTV’s self-operating, temperature-based design ensured reliable performance without the need for electricity or manual intervention. As a result, the lab achieved a simple, maintenance-free solution that safeguarded both infrastructure and code compliance while conserving water.
Read the case study here.
Protect Your Drains and Water Lines with ThermOmegaTech
If you are starting a project that could result in a high-temperature discharge into the drain/sewer, it needs to be tempered with cold water so as not to damage the drains or piping. A thermostatic drain tempering valve is the most efficient solution for controlling the water temperature and preventing damage, fines, and scalding.
Drain Tempering Valves help protect infrastructure, enhance safety, and reduce environmental impact in high-temperature wastewater applications by automating the cooling process and ensuring compliance with plumbing codes.
Getting started has never been easier! Contact ThermOmegaTech to learn how our DTV will protect your client’s systems, piping, and drains.
Other case studies here.